Greece aims to become energy hub, says Kotzias

The government aims to make Greece an energy hub, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said, expressing hope that doing so would bolster the country’s “geopolitical and geoeconomic potential” and strengthen regional stability.

In an interview with Avgi daily Kotzias said that Athens was looking forward to hosting pipelines carrying gas and oil from Iran, Azerbaijan, the Eastern Mediterranean, Iraq, the Kurdish-controlled areas, Russia and the US.

“Greece has good knowledge of the Middle East. It can sense developments and discern prospects in the region,” Kotzias told the newspaper on Saturday, stressing that Athens enjoys good ties with all states in the region.

Asked about the refugee crisis, Kotzias said Greece was paying the price for third countries’ decision to intervene in Libya and Syria.

“Nevertheless, some [governments] are trying to hold us responsible for the negative consequences of their own weaknesses and decisions,” he said.