The Greek government takes a positive view of any development that would contribute to energy security in the region and Europe as whole, Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said in response to questions on the South Stream plan yesterday.
“We consider the new routing plan in our region as a positive development in diversifying Europe’s natural gas supply routes. As far as I have been informed, the European Commission takes the same view,” he said.
“Greece and Italy are closely cooperating in a big project for both countries, Turkey and the producer countries in the Caspian Sea, that is, the submerged Greek-Italian gas pipeline which is supported by the European Commission and whose construction will begin in 2008. Greece, which has developed into a big energy hub in recent years for the transportation of oil, natural gas and electricity, supports this policy of the European Union for the diversification of the transit routes for energy resources and the strengthening of its energy security,” Sioufas said.