MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Lafazanis and his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak signed the memorandum earlier Friday.
"Greece wants to become a hub for energy diversification in the region. To implement Greece's wish, it wants diversified energy policy… Greece is a small country, but it can play a very important role for stability. Therefore at this difficult time for Greece we do not want pressure, but we need cooperation," Lafazanis said.
According to the minister, Athens is also ready to discuss the options for renewal of discussion on the Russia-led Trans-Balkan Burgas–Alexandroupoli oil pipeline project.
The Turkish Stream pipeline, proposed in December 2014, will run across the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey. The hub on the Greek-Turkish border will receive an annual 47 billion cubic meters of gas, while the entire pipeline project will have a full capacity of 63 billion cubic meters, according to Russian energy giant Gazprom.
Turkish Stream gas is expected to start flowing in December 2016.
