Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-05-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek leadership receives US Dep. Sec't of State Steinberg

[02] South Stream deal signed

[01] Greek leadership receives US Dep. Sec't of State Steinberg

According to the latter, the Greek side briefed Steinberg on a series of issues of regional and Greek interest, including matters dealing with the Aegean, Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and the fYRoM "name issue", given that the US diplomat's next stop is Skopje.

On his part, Steinberg cited Greece's importance as a partner for the United States in SE Europe and in international affairs, mentioning the Greek military presence in Afghanistan and cooperation in WMD anti-proliferation efforts. He stressed that numerous contacts and exchanges at the highest level between Washington and Athens have occurred over the recent period.

[02] South Stream deal signed

Alexei Miller, Gazprom's managing director, and the president of Greece's National Natural Gas System Manager (DESFA), Nikolaos Mavromatis, signed the agreement for each party. Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis was also present at the signing ceremony.

According to an announcement by the two sides, the agreement defines the principles of cooperation during the project's pre-investment phase and determines the conditions and rules for mechanisms regarding the creation and operation of a joint venture that will be established on an equal basis -- an entity assigned the planning, construction and operation of South Stream's Greek section.

The joint venture will prepare a feasibility study for the natural gas pipeline on Greek territory. The study will include an analytical assessment of all the technical, legal, monetary, environmental and economic characteristics and indexes of the project.

Until the final investments decision is taken on the implementation of the South Stream project, an administrative committee and a joint working group that will be set up by Gazprom and DESFA, will deal with the detailed planning of technical operations and preparation of a feasibility study for the Greek section.

DESFA managing director Panayiotis Kanellopoulos said "the signing of the cooperation agreement between Gazprom and DESFA is based on the bilateral agreement between Greece and Russia," adding that "... Through this agreement, the two companies aim at the development and ultimately the implementation of a project of paramount importance, strengthening energy security in the wider region. We agreed on a flexible and effective model to implement this project."

Caption: ANA-MPA/EPA file photo / BERND SETTNIK

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