Historic Trilateral Agreement

[akritas]

Historic Trilateral Agreement

The leaders of Greece, Russia and Bulgaria on Monday commenced a "mini summit" in Athens aimed at overcoming the last nagging obstacles towards the construction of an oil pipeline connecting the Black Sea with the northern Aegean, a project on the drawing boards since the mid 1990s. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis initially received visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin at his Maximos Mansion office for high-level talks on a variety of bilateral issues, with the two leaders subsequently greeting Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov for a meeting focusing directly on the pipeline project.

The finally trilateral meeting between Greece, Russia and Bulgaria in Athens on Monday, mainly focusing on the completion of the Bourgas-Alexanroupolis pipeline, was met with complete success. The three Leaders adopted a historic declaration on energy, while they also decided to expedite the procedures for commencing construction on the pipeline. The relevant agreement supporting the construction of the pipeline, which will include a specific timeframe for the completion of the venture, will be signed by the end of the year. The Greek PM spoke of a very important development and a historic decision, while all three leaders referred to the multiple benefits of this venture.
The pipe line estimated that will finish in the 2010.

Sources: NET, NET 105.8, ANA

[Orphic_Hymn]

It was about time...
ante.. maybe we'll see some Sukhoi flying over our sky..

[akritas]

Russia has won backing from Greece and Bulgaria for an oil pipeline project to link all three countries.



President Vladimir Putin met Greek and Bulgarian leaders to discuss the project during a visit to Athens. Proposals for the 175-mile (280km) pipeline have been under negotiation for the past 14 years. Pressure to adopt alternative routes and political disputes have delayed the project, which would cement Russia's status as Europe's key energy supplier.

Moscow's ambition

Mr Putin reached the agreement over the pipeline, described as a declaration of political support, during a one-day visit to the Greek capital.
The declaration paves the way for the next step in the pipeline's progress, an intergovernmental agreement, that should take place before the end of 2006.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42048000/gif/_42048584_bul_greece2_oil_map203.gif

The pipeline's route would bypass Turkey and reduce the number of oil tankers that need to pass through the congested and narrow Bosphorus Straits.

Oil would be shipped from Russia across the Black Sea to Bulgaria, and then pumped via the pipeline to a port in Northern Greece.

The new route would give Russian oil exports a direct path to the Mediterranean Sea for the first time.

Other options for avoiding the Bosphorus have been suggested, including a US-backed scheme to ship oil through Albania.

Russia supports the Bulgarian and Greek route as being the shortest and cheapest way to cut out the Bosphorus.

The cost of the project is estimated at about 1bn euros ($1.28bn; £674m).
Russian interests in the project will be represented by energy businesses TNK-BP, Gazprom and Rosneft.


Tanker jam
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is reported to have described conditions for signing an agreement as "ripe".

Fears over the security of Middle East oil supplies and concerns over tanker accidents and delays in the Bosphorus have added momentum to the project.
The existing route is so busy that tankers sometimes have to wait as long as 10 days to pass through the Straits.

If the project goes ahead, the pipeline could begin shipping oil in 2009 and reach its intended capacity of 800,000 barrels of oil per day by 2012. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov also attended the summit in Athens. As well as clinching the oil deal, President Putin was expected to discuss Russia's desire to expand a pipeline that carries its gas exports through Turkey and Greece during the meeting.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5312132.stm

[Flipper]

Hahaha, Russians are really alergic on passing the Turkish Straights...

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

Here lies the geopolitics mates. How does the US geel about this? Before we say we don't care think of this, oil and money means the US pays attention. If they are cut out, then it can be messy.

[Orphic_Hymn]

The way I see it, it doesn't seem like the US can do much.

Putin is the man right now and future looks really fruitfull for those that choose to side with him. His choice of alliances and the movements in exploitation and distribution of oil and gaz indicate that he's got the game exactly where he wants it.

Major 'openings' towards Kazakstan by suggesting to fully fund a joint Eurasian bank that will be in Kazakstani hands in order to obtain lucrative oil related agreements, approach to Uzbekistan (talks for the construction of the halted "Central Asia Gas Pipeline" to distribute oil towards India and Pakistan), agreements with China and Japan (60mil. ton per year pipeline), agreements with Germany, our own Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline that will take advantage of our huge nautical power..etc have put him in a beneficial position.

What others (US and UK) attempt to obtain by might, Putin obtains through politics.

[Elliniko DJ Nate]

The stupid Turks kept on increasing the taxes every year for Russian boats to pass through. Now Russia have found a solution, it also allows for the Greek fleet to get more business transporting Russian oil. :laugh: We should send Turkey some chocolates and flowers to thank them,

[akritas]

Russia, Bulgaria and Greece signed a final agreement in Athens on Thursday opening the way for the construction of an oil pipeline connecting the western Black Sea with the Mediterranean, an auspicious conclusion to negotiations that initially began 15 years ago for a project to bypass the congested Bosporus Straits.

The signing ceremony was held at the presidential mansion in Athens in the presence of Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Bulgarian Premier Sergey Stanishev.
Stanishev and Putin arrived in Athens Wednesday evening to attend the signing of the tripartite inter-state agreement for construction of the long-awaited Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline.

In greeting the Russian president upon his arrival at the Maximos Mansion, Karamanlis said Putin's second visit to Athens in just a few months' time was an honour and joy for Greece as well as for himself and his government.
"This visit certifies the excellent relations between the two countries, and marks and symbolises the commencement of the construction of an important project, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline," Karamanlis said.


http://assets.in.gr/dGenesis/assets/Content5/Photo/787407_b.jpg

The Greek premier expressed pleasure that the agreement, and the decision taken at the trilateral meeting in Athens last September to manifest the three countries' determination for the ambitions project to proceed, was being materialised.
"I hope that this, and other common plans we have, will proceed with success," Karamanlis said.

Putin, in turn, stressed that the signing of the agreement was in the interests of not only the three countries directly involved in the project but also of the global economy, noting that it was an important project in the sector of global energy.

The Russian president added that the pipeline "allows diversification in the oil routes, to the benefit of our countries, our peoples and the economy".
Putin stressed Karamanlis' personal interest in advancing this issue, adding that his visit here was linked not only with the good relations between the two countries but also with the cooperation that exists in a number of sectors, and chiefly the sector of the economy. Citing Russian statistical data, he noted that the volume of commercial transactions has exceeded three billion dollars.

The Russian president further said that during his private meeting with Karamanlis, discussions would also cover international issues of common interest, with the focus on the Balkans.

Earlier, in greeting his Bulgarian counterpart before their meeting, Karamanlis expressed satisfaction over developments for the pipeline project.
Stanishev, in turn, stressed that his associates and the three countries worked with much determination for the realisation of the project, adding that there was still much work to do regarding the establishment of the international construction and supply company for the project so as to enable construction to begin in early 2008.

He stressed that the project will be beneficial for all three countries.
Stanishev further said that the project will put Greece and Bulgaria on the international energy map, bring new investments and create new jobs, while at the same time increase security in both countries.

Putin and Stanishev are also scheduled to meet with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, who returned from an official visit to Croatia late on Wednesday night.

Thursday's agreement was signed by Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, Russia's Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and Bulgarian Regional Development Minister Asen Gagaouzov.

A half-hour meeting between Putin and Papoulias follows statements by the three leaders, after which the Russian president will depart the country, whereas a meeting with Stanishev follows.

A meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov also took place at the foreign ministry on Thursday morning.

source :ANA-MPA

[akritas]

ATHENS, March 14 (Itar-Tass) - Russia is a reliable partner in the energy sphere, Dimitrios Kopelouzos, President of Kopelouzos Group, told Itar-Tass. Kopelouzos Group closely cooperates with Russian Gazprom.

According to Kopelouzos, Russia has been accurately fulfilling its commitments since 1996 – the year of the beginning of Russian gas deliveries to Greece. “This proves in practice the reliability of Russia as an energy partner,” he stressed.

Kopelouzos believes that economic relations between Russia and Greece have always been good. Some time ago Russia supplied to Greece the technology of building big power plants, which “continue to work without any failures.”
According to his information, the Russian-Greek Prometheus Gas Company, owned jointly by Kopelouzos Group and Gazprom, built all the high-pressure gas pipelines in Greece. “The building of the gas pipelines according to the technology, supplied by Gazprom, was done without any delays,” he stressed.

Prometheus Gas will be included in the international company, which will start the building and operation of the oil pipeline connecting Burgas (Bulgaria) and Alexandroupolis (Greece). A corresponding agreement between the governments of Russia, Bulgaria and Greece on cooperation in the building and operation of the oil pipeline is expected to be signed on March 15 during a visit of President Vladimir Putin to Greece. In the opinion of Kopelouzos, “there are all the economic conditions for the building of the oil pipeline.”

He said that Russia was actually heating Europe by providing it with energy carriers, and soon it will start heating China and other countries.

ITAR-TASS (http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11335985&PageNum=0)

[Melbourne Patriot]

Greek business should line up with Russian business to takeover as many of the key Turkish business assets as possible and then move through eastern europe. We should do with Russia in Eastern Europe what we have done alone in the Balkans.

[Istor]

What counts is the fact that we have EU's support for the pipeline.