STAVROS DIMAS: We had an extremely useful and constructive discussion with the Minister, Deputy Ministers and officials from the two Ministries. We briefed each other, certain decisions were taken, and what we mainly did was have a method for our cooperation, so that we can programme the formulation of a coordinated and comprehensive energy policy in the midst of conditions that are constantly changing internationally, and with the problems, the difficulties – as well as the challenges and opportunities – that are being created.
We talked about the transporting of energy from Russia and the Caspian via Greece. We talked about the issue of exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in our country. We discussed the subject of, and the difficulties being created by, the situation in Iran, and of course our shared view is that all these matters require close and coordinated cooperation.
We set up a working group so that there can be ongoing monitoring, and I hope that we will have a much more effective policy. The Foreign Ministry will participate in the policy that the Energy Ministry is, of course, responsible for, but we will give all the support and cooperation needed for quickly confronting all the issues.
Georgios Papakonstantinou: Greece’s energy security and reduced energy dependency are obviously issues that concern the whole government, and within this framework there has for some time now been close cooperation between the Environment, Energy & Climate Change Ministry – which has primary responsibility on these issues – and the Foreign Ministry. I am very glad that we are continuing this cooperation.
As the Minister said, we really did have a constructive meeting. We have a number of pending issues before us, like the issue of the natural gas pipelines and the new energy landscape taking shape, the matter of promoting renewable energy sources and the “Helios” programme that our country is making a great effort on.
There are also issues that have to do with oil and the decisions taken by the EU with regard to Iran, issues that have to do with our relations with neighbouring countries, as well as the paramount issue of the efforts being made toward exploring our country’s potential in hydrocarbons – the interesting developments with the moves that have been made. We hope that by the end of the year, by the end of 2012, we will be able to start drilling and looking at our country’s real potential. The two Ministries are working together on all these issues. A working group has been put together to work on this, because beyond the energy dimension, there is a national dimension.
January 4, 2012