Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-06

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline deal in Athens this month, Putin visit pending

[01] Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline deal in Athens this month, Putin visit pending

Moreover, following a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Tuesday, Russian ambassador to Greece Andrey Vdovin told reporters that he brought up the issue of Russian President Vladimir Putin's participation at the signing ceremony, while calling the project a "significant step for the three-country cooperation. We hope it will be implemented."

On his part, Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said he will sign the agreement on behalf of the Greek government along with high-ranking representatives of Russia and Bulgaria, and specifically, Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and Bulgaria Regional Development and Public Works Minister Assen Gagaouzov.

Sioufas also noted the interest by Putin and Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev to attend the signing ceremony, which he said will come in the second 10-day period of March.

In announcing the development, Sioufas also praised cooperation between his ministry and the Greek foreign ministry, mentioning by name former FM Petros Molyviatis and current Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, as well as development ministry general secretary Nikos Stefanou along with Athens' envoys to Moscow and Sofia, Elias Klis and Danae Koumanakou, respectively.

The pipeline, connecting the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Burgas with the Greek port of Alexandroupolis in the northeastern Aegean, is expected to transport 35 million tons of crude oil per year with the possibility of increasing output to 50 million tons. It will be 280 kilometres long, of which 155 kilometres will be on Bulgarian territory.

The pipeline is expected to serve as an auxiliary route, by virtue of bypassing the congested Bosporus Strait, for Russian and Caucasus crude oil.

Caption: Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis, centre, walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on Monday, Sept. 4, 2006. The summit between the three leaders last September proved crucial to overcoming the last remaining differences over the pipeline agreement. ANA-MPA / G. Antoniou.

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