Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline agreement signed in Athens
{{date|March 15, 2007}}

[[Image:Map of Burgas-alexandroupoli pipeline.gif|thumb|right|250px|Map of the planned pipeline]]
An agreement to begin construction of the [[w:Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline|Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline]] to transport oil from the [[w:Black Sea|Black Sea]] to the [[w:Mediterranean|Mediterranean]] was signed by [[Bulgaria]], [[Greece]] and [[Russia]] today.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of the [[w:President of Greece|President]] of the [[w:Hellenic Republic|Hellenic Republic]], [[w:Karolos Papoulias|Karolos Papoulias]], at the Presidential Palace in [[w:Athens|Athens]], with President [[w:Vladimir Putin|Vladimir Putin]] of [[w:Russia|Russia]] and Prime Ministers of [[w:Greece|Greece]] and [[w:Bulgaria|Bulgaria]], [[w:Kostas Karamanlis|Kostas Karamanlis]] and [[w:Sergei Stanishev|Sergei Stanishev]] respectively. 

The oil [[w:pipeline|pipeline]] agreement is the end of months of negotiations between the three countries and was saluted by the Greek government as a "momentous" agreement. According to President Putin, the agreement will not only benefit the three contributing members but will also be significant for the [[w:world economy|world economy]] and, furthermore, he added that ''"the pipeline allows diversification in the oil routes, in the best interest of our countries, our peoples and the economy"''. As for the Greek-Russian bilateral relations, Mr.Karamanlis stated that ''"this visit bears witness to the excellent ties between the two nations, signalling and symbolising the construction of a major project, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline"''. This the second time that Putin visits Athens to meet with the Greek Premier, however they had also previous meetings in [[w:Moscow|Moscow]] and [[w:Porto Carras|northern Greece]], during the last two years.    

Before the signing of the pipeline agreement, President Putin and Prime Minister Stanishev had the opportunity to meet with their Greek counterparts and discuss issues of bilateral and regional significance. Yesterday night, Prime Minister Karamanlis hosted a dinner in honour of the Russian and Bulgarian heads of state in central Athens.

== Related Wikinews ==
*{{wikinews|title=Russian President Putin visits Greece to discuss energy issues|date=September 4, 2006}}

== Sources ==
{{wikipediapar|Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline}}
*{{source|url=http://news.ert.gr/en/3/23995.asp
 |title=Landmark Agreement
 |author=Saloustrou Athina
 |pub=ERT
 |date=March 15, 2007}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Energy]]
[[category:Greece]]
[[category:Russia]]
[[category:Bulgaria]]
[[category:Europe]]
[[Category:Vladimir Putin]]
[[Category:Athens, Greece]]

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Map of the planned pipeline
An agreement to begin construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline to transport oil from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean was signed by Bulgaria, Greece and Russia today.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, at the Presidential Palace in Athens, with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Prime Ministers of Greece and Bulgaria, Kostas Karamanlis and Sergei Stanishev respectively. 

The oil pipeline agreement is the end of months of negotiations between the three countries and was saluted by the Greek government as a "momentous" agreement. According to President Putin, the agreement will not only benefit the three contributing members but will also be significant for the world economy and, furthermore, he added that "the pipeline allows diversification in the oil routes, in the best interest of our countries, our peoples and the economy". As for the Greek-Russian bilateral relations, Mr.Karamanlis stated that "this visit bears witness to the excellent ties between the two nations, signalling and symbolising the construction of a major project, the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline". This the second time that Putin visits Athens to meet with the Greek Premier, however they had also previous meetings in Moscow and northern Greece, during the last two years.    

Before the signing of the pipeline agreement, President Putin and Prime Minister Stanishev had the opportunity to meet with their Greek counterparts and discuss issues of bilateral and regional significance. Yesterday night, Prime Minister Karamanlis hosted a dinner in honour of the Russian and Bulgarian heads of state in central Athens.


category:Greece
category:Russia
category:Bulgaria
category:Europe
Politics and conflicts Economy and business Energy Vladimir Putin Athens, Greece