Greece Formally Asks U.S. to Shut Bases by Year-End

The Greek government, a landlord pressuring a tenant, formally asked the United States on Wednesday to close four American military bases here by year’s end.

The request, a formality, comes as Greek and American negotiators prepare for their seventh round of talks later this month in search of a new bases agreement.

The Greek government said that the 1983 accord, which expires at the end of this year, requires five months’ notice for termination. Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, a Socialist who must call a new election within a year, needs leftist support for a reelection bid and has promised that any new accord will be submitted to a national referendum here. There have been U.S. bases in Greece since the 1950s.

Last year, the bases agreement brought Greece $343 million in U.S. military aid, and Secretary of State George P. Shultz recently told senators that he anticipates a new accord will be reached.

About 3,500 U.S. service personnel serve at four leased bases--two near Athens and two on the island of Crete--and at about 20 smaller facilities scattered around the country.