Greek Deputy FM and visiting US State Dept officials discuss energy security in Athens

Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Economic Diplomacy & Openness Kostas Fragogiannis discussed energy security in successive meetings he held on Wednesday with visiting United States officials, ANA reports.

The Greek minister met with US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretaries Laura Lochman (Bureau of Energy Resources) and Gabriel Escobar (Bureau of European & Eurasian Affairs).

According to a ministry announcement, one key aspect discussed was the importance of regional cooperation in boosting energy adequacy and security in Europe through the diversification of both energy sources and supply routes. This included the strategic role of Alexandroupolis and the project for liquefied natural gas, while Escobar discussed the prospects of West Balkan countries' economic development and accession to Europe.

Fragogiannis stressed the importance of connecting energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean with the European energy market. This is a goal that Greece is actively promoting, and which will contribute to the region's broader economic and political stability, they added.

The meetings were attended by outgoing US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt and by Secretary-General of International Economic Relations & Extroversion Ioannis Smyrlis, who also heads Enterprise Greece, Greece's trade promotion agency.