A
political approach to Russia's economic proposal to invest in a gas
pipeline running through Greece may prevent Athens from pursuing its own
economic interests, a Greek expert told Sputnik on Friday.
MOSCOW
(Sputnik) — Greece is currently weighing the political and economic
effects of Gazprom's offer for gas price discounts as well as potential
profits for its cash-strapped economy in exchange for building an
EU-bound gas line for Russian natural gas shipments.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said Tuesday he was approached
by US Secretary of State John Kerry who said the United States was
willing to make a counteroffer, although details were not disclosed,
according to the Associated Press.
Kotzias commented on his nation's considerations, saying they were purely economic, and not political.
George Kapopoulos, a senior political analyst for the Greek business magazine Imerisia, told Sputnik that Greece was at a crossroads.
Under the label of energy security for Europe, Washington has been promoting its own energy projects in the region in a bid to wean it off Russian natural gas. If Greece agrees to a joint energy project with Russia, this may put it at odds with Washington, which has long been critical of the European Union's reliance on Russian gas supplies.
If Greece refuses Russia, the United States may try to step in, although there is no knowing if it could out-compete Russia, which accounts for around 30 percent of EU gas imports.
Andreas Marazis, Junior Researcher at FRIDE, an EU-Spanish think tank on European development and dialogue, said it was impossible to predict the outcome without knowing the details of a purported US "counteroffer."
The Greek pipeline could be built by a consortium of Russian and European companies, according to Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.
Kotzias commented on his nation's considerations, saying they were purely economic, and not political.
George Kapopoulos, a senior political analyst for the Greek business magazine Imerisia, told Sputnik that Greece was at a crossroads.
"There are two attitudes to the energy
strategy. The first one corresponds to the reality, to the real supply
and transportation export. The second one has purely political and
geopolitical priorities, and it often leads to choices that do not have
economic logic."
The pundit added that Russia, a major gas supplier for Europe, cannot easily be replaced.Under the label of energy security for Europe, Washington has been promoting its own energy projects in the region in a bid to wean it off Russian natural gas. If Greece agrees to a joint energy project with Russia, this may put it at odds with Washington, which has long been critical of the European Union's reliance on Russian gas supplies.
If Greece refuses Russia, the United States may try to step in, although there is no knowing if it could out-compete Russia, which accounts for around 30 percent of EU gas imports.
Andreas Marazis, Junior Researcher at FRIDE, an EU-Spanish think tank on European development and dialogue, said it was impossible to predict the outcome without knowing the details of a purported US "counteroffer."
"Russia has made a concrete and seemingly
attractive offer to Greece, but since the US has not yet clarified the
precise details of its proposal, it is impossible to tell at this stage
if it would be competitive with that of Gazprom."
Russia is building a major gas pipeline across the Black Sea
to Turkey, continuing to its border with Greece. The Greek energy
minister told Sputnik in early April that the countries would sign a
memorandum of understanding on the Greek section soon.The Greek pipeline could be built by a consortium of Russian and European companies, according to Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.
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