the Western Atlantic next week, The Royal Gazette understands.

The Tuesday meeting with US Admiral Paul Miller at NATO headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, will mark the beginning of the Premier's push to secure the most beneficial Base arrangement for Bermuda.

The meeting comes as a result of advice from NATO and US Congressmen that Admiral Miller's assessment of the Bermuda Base would be critical for any possible cost-sharing arrangements.

NATO has indicated interest in maintaining some sort of military presence in Bermuda.

The US Navy has yet to say whether it wants a presence in Bermuda beyond September, 1995, when Congress plans to cut off Base funding.

Tuesday's meeting could influence a Department of Defence report of its plan to shut down the Base. It is to be submitted to Congress by March 1.

Further negotiations on the future of the Base are expected to focus on the takeover of base operations such as the weather service, air traffic control and runway maintenance.