Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-01-02
CONTENTS
[01] Athens comments on Russia-Ukraine gas dispute
[01] Athens comments on Russia-Ukraine gas dispute
Russia's decision to cut off natural gas deliveries to Ukraine will not
lead to any prices hikes in the Greek market, Development Minister
Dimitris Sioufas said on Monday.
The Greek minister, in a radio interview, said the government was on
alert to ensure the smooth supply of natural gas in the domestic
market. Sioufas said Greece has not experienced any problems so far and
stressed that the Austrian EU presidency has acted immediately by
calling both Ukraine and Russia to overcome their dispute.
The minister acknowledged that Hungary and Poland already faced some
supply problems but reassured that both the EU presidency and the Greek
government were working closely to solve the issue. Sioufas will meet
with the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors later on Monday to discuss
the issue.
Sioufas said Russia, primarily, and Algeria were Greece's two main
suppliers of natural gas, while saying that the country's natural gas
along with liquified natural gas reserves were enough to ensure the
smooth supply of domestic needs. He acknowledged, however, that a
further escalation of the crisis could create wider problems. Sioufas
said the government will continue signing liquified natural gas supply
contracts with Algeria.
Finally, he said Ukraine was a member of Europe's energy charter and
stressed that the country had specific obligations to meet.
Caption: Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas. ANA / K. Mavrona.
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