43923 - EEZ and the Skopian issue

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Athina Kehagias

Many have tried to convince us that we had to accept the government’s moves in regards to the Skopian issue, because we were under economic pressures.
Afterwards we’ve learned that it was due to their own initiative without any pressure and especially from the European Union.
But we ought to realize that there is yet another argument which concerns the utilization of the hydrocarbons of the Greek EEZ .
Because when we already have made agreements for marine blocks 2 and 10, in the marine region Ionio, and we are expecting an agreement for marine fields West of Crete and South West of Crete this summer, we can no longer say that we have no prospects, especially when we are aware that these specific oil companies are ExxonMobil, Total, Repsol, Edison, who all want to be within the Greek EEZ, whereas, ExxonMobil and Total are already in the Cypriot EEZ.
Consequently, no one can say that we cannot overcome economic difficulties, and that we cannot resist upon the Skopian issue in regards to protecting the name of Macedonia.
On the contrary, the Greek EEZ and its utilization as far as the hydrocarbons are concerned, constitute a tool of liberation from this yoke as well, due to strategic intelligence.