Posted on 10/13/2013 5:44:14 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Greece and Israel signed a joint declaration last week that further enhances their cooperation in the energy sector and acts as a guide for the development of relations of wider geopolitical significance for the two Mediterranean countries. It also makes clear that the two sides with proceed with a series of actions for the joint extraction and exploitation of hydrocarbons.
The two states “will examine ways and means for the better development of natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean and their transfer to the energy market,” reads the confidential agreement, which has been seen by Kathimerini. This phrase refers to plans for the construction of an underwater gas pipeline from Israel to Greece via Cyprus, bypassing Turkey.
Greek-Israeli cooperation stretches well beyond that pipeline, however. The declaration signed by Greek Energy Minister Yiannis Maniatis and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom, provides for more cooperation in the fields of natural gas as well as of renewable energy sources in the context of international and European organizations. The Greek government has already included in the European Union-subsidized “Projects of Common Interest” program both the gas pipeline and an underwater electricity cable to run from Israel to Greece via Cyprus.
Tel Aviv intends to make Israel a strategic investor in Greece’s energy sector. The joint declaration says the two countries have agreed “to examine the possibility of joint research,” which concerns the common initiative by Israel’s Ratio Petroleum and Greece’s Energean Oil & Gas for surveys in the northern Aegean, as well as future surveys that may take place in the Ionian Sea and south of Crete, and in areas that have not yet been selected for utilization. Talks last week touched on the tenders for the 15 hydrocarbon blocks in the Ionian and south of Crete, which Athens intends to put to tender next year.
In the context of closer relations, the agreement also encourages city twinning, aimed at developing energy-saving technologies. The Greek side intends to absorb know-how, particularly for island regions dependent on the mainland for energy.
I’m really not very wise about geo-political stuff but this seems like a good thing.
At least somebody gets to build a pipeline.
This is great, two historically important countries, under siege by the Islamic world, are working together to improve their energy situation. Great.
“Athens, Tel Aviv sign deal...”
Not to nitpick, but Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, not Tel Aviv.
True, but since most countries do not recognize that, Tel Aviv is often used in the media.
...plans for the construction of an underwater gas pipeline from Israel to Greece via Cyprus, bypassing Turkey.Splitting Russia from Syria used to be like pulling teeth...
Yes, it would be good news if Tel Aviv was the capital of a country. To my knowledge the only time it was a capital was for a brief period in 1948.
Yeah ... that’s sort’a what I was thinkin’
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Good. The Eastern Minorities Alliance (EMA) is beginning to coalesce. It’s inevitable, really.
The magic words are “bypassing Turkey.”
As part of the Islamic majority, they are naturally the enemy of EMA, and bypass we must.
Works for me. Let Erdogan burn Korans for energy.
It’s only a matter of time, between Israel and the US and the few real scientists elsewhere in the world, that petrolium becomes as obsolete as the overland route to India, with the same result. Muslims and their vile cult(ure) get shoved in the trash bin of history and forgotten.
No argument here. Could be geothermal, hydrogen fusion, or something nobody’s thought of yet. Be interesting to see what happens to Dubai when that day comes.
It’s obvious that Arabs don’t read science fiction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Gift_from_Earth
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