Greeks discovered the magic pipeline that is supposed to pour hot money in the kids’ beach buckets. In thus, in advance. Russia will allegedly pay to Greece full €5 billion once the signatures will dry on the agreement paper. The amount is said to be “future” profit for Greece arising from the pipeline transit charges. The signature of the pipeline memorandum of cooperation between Russian and Greece is reportedly imminent, already next week. And consequently the payment in advance, Greek government hopes.
The gas pipeline Turkish Stream through Greece is the unexpected Russian gift to its cultural and historical Greek brothers in a time when the debt-ridden country is at risk to be unable to pay its creditors and declare “default within the eurozone” as it is nicely said in the international press.
This has been in the press in the last two days, Greek newspaper “Agora” this information has been confirmed by Greek government sources. The super payment in advance was agreed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras last week in Moscow.
“The agreement can be signed also on upcoming Monday,” the government sources told Agora. Or “Tuesday,” according to German weekly DER SPIEGEL.
“The government is hoping to get much needed funding over the Kremlin. As a result, it will postpone the negotiations with the Euro–partners to June.“
Last Wednesday, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller came to Athens, reportedly to prepare the agreement’s “terms and conditions.” On following day, Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Panagiotis Lafazanis met with the Energy Commissioner of the European Commission in Latvia and discussed with him the issue.
The gas pipeline Turkish Stream through Greece is the unexpected Russian gift to its cultural and historical Greek brothers in a time when the debt-ridden country is at risk to be unable to pay its creditors and declare “default within the eurozone” as it is nicely said in the international press.
The Turkish Stream will transport Russian natural gas through Turkey and Greece to the rest of Europe. The project is expected to start operation in 2019.
Apart from creating jobs in a country with at least 25% unemployment, and the 5-billion-euro payment in advance, the European think-tank “Bruegel” has calculated also other benefits for Greece. “Gas bill discounts”, for example, €100 million per year.
Bruegel calculates the Annual Transit Charges for Greece at €380 million.
“Russian-Greek gas cooperation will surely not have a direct structural impact on the Greek economy. The overall impact of Turkish Stream on the Greek economy will be rather limited in macroeconomic terms.
In other words, Russian-Greek gas cooperation might have an impact on the political and geostrategic relations of the two players (…), but it will surely not have a direct structural impact on the Greek economy.” (full article Bruegel)
Macroeconomics? Direct structural impact? Long-time planning? We are in Greece, folks. So let’s calculate, how for many years Russia will pay Transit Charges in advance and hope that the reports are true.
”Russian gift to its cultural and historical Greek brothers”???? Are you kidding ? Tell me one country that has received “gifts ” from the Russians and not suffered decades after!
I know, irony does not come well through the internet.
Isn’t that the same for every “super” power bringing gifts? It comes at a price, always does. So why pick on Russia when doing exactly what the others do? At least, their “gift” is not Haliburton or Blackwater.
Tell me one country that has received “gifts
” from any superpower and has not suffered for decades after…
One anonymous source
Der Spiegel = CIA