Prime Minister of Greece Konstandinos Karamanlis arrives in Russia on an official visit
On Tuesday, Prime Minister of Greece Konstandinos Karamanlis arrives in Russia on an official visit. It is his first visit to the country since March 2004, when he became Prime Minister.
The itinerary includes talks with Russian leaders on a broad range of bilateral issues and topical international problems that are of mutual interest, the Russian President's press service reports.
A number of bilateral documents are expected to be signed after talks.
Mr. Karamanlis's visit to Russia will be an important landmark in the long history of the two countries' cooperation, spokesman for the Greek government Teodoros Rusopoulos told journalists in Athens.
"The dialogue between Russia and Greece includes a range of issues, such as economy, trade, transport, telecommunications, energy and industry, as well as defense and arms," he pointed out.
Greece provides practical assistance for Russia's rapprochement with the European Union, for whom Russia is a strategic partner, he said. Also, Greece cooperates with Russia in the UN Security Council on issues that raise concern of the international community, he added.
During the Prime Minister's visit the parties are expected to discuss military and technical cooperation and construction of a gas pipeline from Burgas, Bulgaria to Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Greece is the only NATO member that actively purchases Russian arms. It uses TOR M-1 and Osa-AKM antiaircraft missile systems, as well as Zubr landing air cushion ships.
In early November, the draft political memorandum on the gas pipeline was coordinated in Athens. The project's participants - Russia, Greece and Bulgaria - intend to create an alternative to oil shipments via the Black Sea straits. The pipeline will be about 300 km long with an annual capacity of up to 35 million tons.
The Greek Prime Minister will stay in Russia till Thursday, December 9.
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