In response to reports regarding his controversial conversation with the U.S. Ambassador to Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyle, the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, speaking from the floor of Parliament, categorically rejected the reports alleging that pressure or threats had been exerted against the Greek government.
Responding to a current affairs question from “Course of Freedom” MP Alexandros Kazamias, prompted by the relevant Wall Street Journal article, Mr. Papastavrou stated that there had never been any question of pressure being exerted on the Greek side to take any specific action, noting at the same time that such a thing would not be acceptable.
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The minister declined to comment in detail on the account of the conversation presented by the American newspaper. Instead, he shifted the focus to the performance of his duties, pointing out that his responsibility is not to comment on media reports but to defend the national interest.
He also made special mention of Greek-American relations, which he described as strategic and based on mutual respect. In the energy sector, he emphasized that cooperation between Athens and Washington has expanded significantly, making special mention of the presence of major American companies in the hydrocarbons sector as well as Greece’s role in the Vertical Corridor.
According to Mr. Papastavrou, capitalizing on the country’s geographic location through the Vertical Corridor strengthens Greece’s geopolitical position, and he noted that the government operates in accordance with the principles of competition and transparency.
“Our relations with the U.S. are sincere and deep-rooted. The U.S. State Department announced yesterday that Mr. Rubio will be visiting Greece. I met with Chris Wright; this is the seventh time we have met. Our energy cooperation is close. We have leveraged the country’s geographical position to play a leading role in the vertical corridor. Doesn’t this strengthen us geopolitically? Our relations with the U.S. are very close,” he noted. The Minister insisted, however, that there was no question of a threat toward the Greek side. “There could be no such threats. The long-standing relations between our two peoples allow us to play a leading role in the energy sector. The government strictly adheres to the rules of competition and transparency,” added Mr. Papastavrou.
It should be noted that the discussion was sparked by a Wall Street Journal article regarding a dinner in Athens last March. The American newspaper, citing sources, described a heated exchange between Gilfoil and Papastavrou regarding political developments in Romania. The U.S. ambassador’s office has disputed the way the newspaper presented that particular conversation.
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Source: KYPE
