JOURNALIST: Mr. Minister, regarding energy cooperation, I would like you to clarify a little, with more details, what exactly this means.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: Our meeting today covered a wide framework of bilateral and European issues. Of course we focussed on energy issues, and as I said, my colleague and I agreed and laid the political framework within which an initiative is being launched for the creation of a pipeline that will make both Greece and its neighbouring countries – chief among these being Italy – strategic partners in the delivery of natural gas to the wider region of Europe.
But beyond this we talked about issues concerning our region, the Eastern Mediterranean. We talked about the crisis going on in Syria right now, and we talked about the Arab spring. Italy and Greece are two countries that can point up their stabile and stabilizing role in the wider region – always in the service of principles and values like democracy and the freedom and independence of peoples. In this spirit, political and diplomatic initiatives are being promoted for closer cooperation in the future. I am certain that the agenda adopted by the two governments today will usher in a new era in our bilateral relations.
But I return to what you asked me about initially: the main issue was the TAP, where we agreed to immediately move ahead with political initiatives so that Italy, Greece and of course Albania can work together to create the necessary political framework within which specific initiatives can be promoted. Mr. Papageorgiou, who is accompanying me on this visit, can give you technical details so that you have a complete picture of this very important meeting.
Of course, just one more reference to our shared experience of confronting the economic crisis. Of course the situations we are facing in Greece and Italy differ in many ways, but there are also many similarities. What unifies us is our shared decision to follow our European path in a Europe of solidarity, cohesion and development.
August 7, 2012