Speculation over possible Greek participation in a plan to build a twin natgas pipeline connecting Russia with Turkey, the resurfaced “Turkish Stream” project, comes after this week’s bilateral agreement between Moscow and Ankara.
According to the accord, Russia and Turkey aim to commence operation of the two pipelines by late December 2019, the Russian daily “Kommersant” reported on Wednesday.
Warmed relations between the two countries and renewed interest in energy cooperation apparently “dusts off” an agreement signed by former Greek minister Panayiotis Lafazanis with his Russian counterpart A. Novak in St. Petersburg. The agreement foresaw the construction of an underwater pipeline transporting Russia natural gas – via the Black Sea route – to Turkey. A pipeline extension to Greece and then onwards to the west European markets was cited in the Greek-Russian MoU.
Nevertheless, the EU Commission at the time expressed objections to the prospect, as it was outlined in the agreement.
