NATO secretary general Manfred Woerner, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The visit is the latest effort by the Premier to soften the impact of any US military withdrawal from the Island.

He will be accompanied by Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon. Sir John Sharpe and Cabinet Secretary Mr. Leo Mills.

Sources said yesterday Sir John would also meet with the UK ambassador to NATO, Sir John Weston, the US ambassador to NATO, Mr. Robert Hunter, and the NATO admiral responsible for Atlantic operations.

Although Sir John was off the Island last night and unavailable for comment, it is believed he will try to determine if NATO sees any value in Bermuda and the military base now operated by the US Navy.

NATO is constructing a new runway and hangar at the Base though that project was budgeted and approved before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Sir John met with the commander of HMS Malabar in mid-August during which he mentioned the possibility of meeting with NATO's top officers.

His tour of the Dockyard facility showed him the Base was hosting more ships than ever since the US Naval Air Station began cutting back its personnel.

During the tour, Sir John said he wanted to be in a position in his meetings to underline the value of Bermuda as a base for military operations.

"We want to make sure that we maximise whatever opportunities are available if we face cutbacks,'' he said.

Premier Swan began his diplomatic efforts in mid June with a trip to Washington where he met with President Bill Clinton and General Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In mid-July, he met with British Prime Minister John Major and Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd.

In Washington, the Premier sounded out US intentions for the Base and sought to remind his listeners of the long and strategic relationship between the US, UK and the Island.

The London trip saw the Premier secure the Prime Minister's backing for the Island's efforts to avoid an abrupt closure of the Base as has happened in Europe, the UK and the United States.