Russian Foreign Minister Visits Greece - Talks Energy & Transport

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Athens late on Tuesday night and throughout the day on Wednesday held a series of meetings with high ranking government officials.

The Russian FM was in Athens to explore the various privatization prospects in Greece, and among other things he also discussed Greece’s supply of natural gas from Russia. Also, press reports claim that the Russians are also interested in the privatization of the railway service operator Trainose and the Thessaloniki Port Authority as well.

Other items that were rumored to be on the agenda included Greece’s upcoming EU presidency in the first half of 2014, the situation in Syria and Egypt, Iran’s nuclear program, and the state of affairs in the Balkan region.

Reports said that Russia is prepared to help Greece overcome its difficulties and in this respect, it is positive on the prospect of making its natural gas supply to the Greek State gas operator DEPA more pocket friendly. Such a development would be positive for Greek energy intensive industries as well as thermal generators (PPC, IPPs).

In statements following his meetings with the President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos, Lavarov underlined his country’s support for Greece’s economic reform efforts and pledged to promote bilateral economic cooperation, while he said he that Russia respects the efforts that the Greek government has done to overcome the economic crisis. In such a framework, he added that Moscow was willing to “promote trade and economic cooperation.”

The Russian Foreign Minister also made reference to growing trade between the two countries and to an increase in the number of tourists from Russia visiting Greece, with arrivals expected to surpass 1 million this year.

Later on the Greek and Russian delegations also signed several bilateral agreements. One report in Kathimerini noted that bilateral talks also touched on the issue of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline project, with the Russians reportedly suggesting that more pressure be put on Bulgaria to support the initiative.

Before leaving Athens on Wednesday night Lavrov also attended the opening of the "Ioannis Kapodistrias Symposium. The event -which is set to wrap up on Thursday night- focuses on the modern-day relations between Greece-Russia, and is currently being held at the Athens Divani Caravel hotel.