The Russian Embassy in Cyprus will soon start providing consular services in the Turkish occupied of Cyprus, according to a telegram from the Russian state news agency TASS, citing an embassy spokesperson. “We will start providing consular services in the northern part of the city of Nicosia in the very …
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EU approves new sanctions package against Russia after deal with Greece, Hungary
European Union governments agreed on Wednesday to an 11th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at stopping other countries and companies from circumventing existing measures. The new package, tweeted by Sweden as EU president, forbids transit via Russia of an expanded list of goods and …
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Greek businessman charged with smuggling military tech to Russia in NY
The United States on Tuesday announced charges in five cases involving alleged efforts to steal technology to benefit China, Russia and Iran including a former Apple Inc engineer and a Greek businessman. The cases detailed at a Justice Department press conference centered on allegations concerning the theft of trade secrets …
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High expectations natural gas off Crete could cover EU needs
Positive messages from ExxonMobil for an important natural gas field in Crete. Energy Minister says “there are expectations that it will cover the gap of Russian gas for 10 years in the European Union.” Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas spoke of “high expectations” from hydrocarbon exploration in the maritime …
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Greece less dependent on Russian gas in the first 10 months of 2022
Natural gas consumption decreased in December in Greece, falling to 5.05 TWh, or the second lowest level for the corresponding month in the last six years, after December 2019. At the same time, consumption for the entire year reached 56.5 TWh, reduced by 19.2% compared to 2021. According to Green …
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Russia: Delivery of Greece’s S-300s to Ukraine “very provocative”
Spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova stated on Monday that a potential delivery of Greece’s S-300 PMU1 missile defense system to Ukraine would be considered a very provocative move. “We consider plans to supply the Kyiv regime with S-300s or other Russian/Soviet air defense systems that will be …
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Austria investigates Greek suspected of spying for Russia
Authorities in Austria said on Monday they investigate a 39-year-old Greek citizen on espionage. The suspect is said to have worked as a spy for Russian military intelligence service GRU. The suspect, who faces up to five years in prison for “supporting a secret intelligence agency to the detriment of …
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EU reaches deal for $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil
The European Union reached a deal Friday for a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil, a key step as Western sanctions aim to reorder the global oil market to prevent price spikes and starve President Vladimir Putin of funding for his war in Ukraine. After a last-minute flurry of negotiations, …
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State Department against Turkey-Russia cooperation to form a natural gas hub
US State Department expressed on Wednesday the opposition of the United States to the agreement announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the creation of a natural gas hub in cooperation with Russia. “We have worked closely with our allies and partners to impose severe and unprecedented costs on …
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Putin: Russia could send Nord Stream gas to Black Sea for gas hub in Turkey
President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia could redirect Nord Stream gas supplies to the Black Sea, and even set up a major gas hub for Europe in Turkey. Speaking at the Moscow Energy Week conference, Putin said that Russia would continue to expand the geography of its gas …
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Erdogan says discussed with Putin flights from Russia to northern Cyprus
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by broadcaster NTV on Thursday as saying that he discussed the start of direct flights from Russia to northern Cyprus with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The breakaway Turkish state on the northern side of the divided island is only recognized by Ankara. Flights …
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Port in a Storm: Enhancing US-Greece Cooperation at Alexandroupolis
“The USA and its NATO partners urgently need to capitalize on the opportunities offered by the port of Alexandroupolis and by Greece more generally,” says an analysis of the significant strategic role of Greece after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The analysis has been prepared by the Jewish Institute for National …
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USA warns Turkey of S-400 from Russia or else face sanctions
The US State Department has warned Turkey to avoid “transactions with Russia’s defense sector” or else face sanctions. The warning comes a day after Russian news agency Tass reported that Moscow and Ankara had signed a contract for the shipment of a second batch of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. “The …
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Greece reiterates natural gas sufficiency, while drafting contingency plan
European countries are putting plans in place to manage gas supply and even ration power in case Russian gas flows stop completely or a planned outage at the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, starting on July 11, is extended beyond July 21. Greece reiterates its sufficiency in natural gs and at …
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Greece can handle potential natural gas supply cut-off from Russia, says Energy Minister
Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas said on Monday that Greece can handle potential natural gas supply cut-off from Russia. The minister stressed that Greece “faces one of the lowest risks in Europe in terms of supply sufficiency, provided that liquefied natural gas (LNG) is available.” However, “we are systematically …
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Greece’s Public Power Company prepared in case Russian gas flow stops
Public Power Corporation has worked out a plan to secure power supplies under an “extreme” scenario of Russia halting gas flows to Europe, its top manager said on Wednesday. PPC, which is 34% owned by the state, generates 50% of electricity in Greece and gas accounted for about 40% of …
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Greek PM: Sanctions against Russia must be adhered to by all NATO members
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made it clear that NATO’s mission to protect territorial integrity, human rights and international law is not merely empty rhetoric, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. Addressing the NATO Summit in Madrid on Wednesday, he noted also that the sanctions decided against Russia …
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EU Commission revises forecasts for Greece’s economy downwards to 3.5%
The European Commission has revised its forecasts for the Greek economy downwards, envisaging a GDP growth of 3.5% in 2022 and 3.1% in 2023, from 4.9% and 3.5% respectively in its winter forecasts made in last February. On Monday, the Commission released its spring 2022 report on economic growth in …
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Energy blackout? EU has an emergency plan for states and citizens
The European Commission has prepared an emergency plan for the case of an energy blackout. According to Spanish daily El Pais the Commission intends to present the plan on May 18. The plan contains several actions to be taken by EU member states for the worst case scenario in which …
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Greece among countries pushing for lifting Russian oil ban with EU-owned tankers
The European Union plans to abandon the proposal banning EU-owned ships from carrying Russian oil to third countries. Among the EU member states that pushed for the lifting if the export ban is Greece. According to a report, Bloomberg has learned and with those familiar with the matter, the proposal …
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