The Minister of National Defence Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos made the following statement concerning the choice of the TAP natural gas pipeline by the Shah Deniz II consortium:
“It is a great joy for me that the TAP pipeline was finally selected, as this choice justifies our systematic efforts and diplomatic initiatives during the past year, since the Prime Minister assigned me, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the coordination and political responsibility of the entire process; a process that began in June 2012 and was typically completed this morning.
With this decision, Greece becomes the main agent of energy policy in the broader region of Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean. A decision which practically sets off Greece’s new geostrategic role, enhancing at the same time our bilateral relations with all the countries in the area and sealing the choices and the vision of the coalition government under Antonis Samaras.
I would like to thank, for the constructive cooperation and contribution to the whole undertaking, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Mr. Assimakis Papageorgiou, as well as the entire political leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also the officials serving in the headquarters, as well as abroad”