Greek Energy Minister Kostis Hatzidakis welcomed his counterparts from Cyprus and Israel Georgios Lakkotrypis and Yuval Steinitz and US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon.
During their joint statements, the four ministers expressed their common will to strengthen their cooperation in the energy and environmental fields.
Lakkotrypis expressed his satisfaction over the three countries’ full support to Cyprus against the Turkish actions in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Lakkotrypis added that the creation of an Eastern Mediterranean gas corridor represented a common desire for all four parties, as it would provide a major energy alternative for the European Union.
He highlighted the importance of USA’s participation in multilateral alliances in the region, saying the US presence was highly important both in terms of corporate participation and of expertise.
Hatzidakis welcomed the fact that the joint declaration reflected all parties’ full support for Greece’s and Cyprus’ positions as regards energy issues, as well as for the sovereign rights of the Republic.
Hatzidakis also said that the four ministers agreed to strengthen their political and technical cooperation, with the creation of an Expert Group which will monitor the implementation of political decisions and to accelerate the processes for completing the EastMed agreement.
Fannon said that energy could pave the way to political stability and economic growth in the region and expressed the USA’s commitment to this cause.
He also highlighted Greece`s role as an energy bridge to the European Union, while stressing the importance of infrastructure projects such as the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) and the Liquefied Natural Gas Station in Revithousa.
Source: Cyprus Mail
