Greece, Turkey sign natural gas pipeline deal

Reuters ^ | 2/23/2003 | N/A

[a_Turk]

THESSALONIKI, Greece, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Greece and Turkey signed an agreement on Sunday to build a pipeline transporting natural gas between the two countries in a project which will ultimately channel the energy source from the Caspian Sea region to the rest of Europe.

Greek Development Minister Akis Tzohatzopoulos and Turkish energy minister Mehmet-Hilmi Guler sealed the agreement after the two neighbours had signed a memorandum of understanding on it last year.

"This deal will help Greece meet its energy needs and ensure that we act as a transit point for European countries," Tzohatzopoulos told reporters.

The $250 million pipeline will initially be able to pump 3.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually to Greece as of 2005 as the country moves to deregulate the sector.

Russia is currently the country's sole provider of natural gas, with liquefied gas coming from Algeria.

The EU wants fully to liberalise gas markets by 2006 in order to boost competition and bring down prices. Greece is currently looking into different methods as to how it can pass on the environmentally friendly energy source to its European Union (News - Websites) partners.

One option is to build an underwater pipeline connecting the country with Italy and another is to transport the gas through its Balkan neighbours.

"Europe needs gas. Its dependence on it will grow in the future," Tzohatzopoulos said.

The EU's drive to use cleaner energy sources and technological developments which boost its efficiency are among the factors that will keep demand for gas high, the development ministry said in a statement.

[a_Turk]

YES!

[a_Turk]

..

[Dog Gone]

If you're not careful, the Greeks and Turks might even end up being friends. What is this world coming to?

[Grampa Dave]

Okay! Someone is on Drugs! Either the writer or those of us reading this story!

No wonder the Russians hate the Turks and are in fear of the CIS dying and its former puppet nations become allies with Turkey and the USA.

[Sparta]

The Greeks and Turks working together on something, I'm just shocked.

[a_Turk]

It won't be long now. The irrational paranoia induced enmity between Greece and Turkey will be a thing of the past.

[Grampa Dave]

I hope that this centuries old hatred between the Greeks and Turks will be buried with the UN, Nato, Saddomite, the Murdering Mullahs of Iran and other worthy candidates for RIP!

[aristeides]

Well, there's been a rapprochement in the works between the two countries for a couple of years now. Did you notice how Greece was not one of the members of NATO blocking military support to Turkey the past few weeks?

What will the route of the pipeline be, has that been decided yet?

[Dog Gone]

I visited Greece for the first time a few months ago, and was surprised to find how much anti-Turkey sentiment exists there. It may take a generation of cooperation and friendship between the two governments to change that public sentiment.

[a_Turk]

The route is not determined as far as I know.

[a_Turk]

The Greek government stoked that hate for decades. Pangalos, the last high level terrorists supporter in the government, was ousted once his support for the PKK became public.

The final step in our reproachment will be the destruction of that statue in Athens of some dude pointing a weapon in the direction of Turkey. I think we'll have to wait another couple of decades for that to happen.

[Destro]

Free St. Sofia and see what happens.

[Destro]

fyi

[a_Turk]

Ladies first..

[Destro]

Actually its the poorer nation first.

[Sparta]

Bump

[Shermy]

Turkey, the valve between Iraq and Western Europe. :)