MOSCOW (ANA-MPA/Th. Avgerinos) - Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said in a statement to the Russian news agency "RIA-Novosti" that the enactment and continuation of dialogue in the framework of the OSCE in the form of the "Cofu Process" will be the aim of the Greek side during the organisation's ministerial session which begins in Athens on Tuesday.

   "We approached major issues during the year. I believe that we succeeded in bringing all the sides close and we showed that we meant what we said and we shall act as 'honourable mediators'. However, the extra something that Greece brought to the OSCE, I shall agree, is the 'Corfu Process'," Droutsas said, adding that "the Greek Presidency tried to utilise as well the proposal by (Russian) President (Dmitry) Medvedev on a new European Security Treaty, as a start to a constructive and substantive dialogue."

   Asked about the course of bilateral cooperation between Russia and Greece, Droutsas said that in bilateral contacts one speaks of a "strategic relation" between the two countries and reminded of the close cooperation between the two sides "on major international issues and in particular our initiatives during the Greek EU Presidency on the promotion of Greek-Russian relations."

   Droutsas further said that "what is important for us are relations of substance and not of image and communication" and noted that "our priorities in the sector of energy are steadfast and aim at the strengthening of energy security and the securing of our country's energy adequacy and its promotion to a european energy hub."

   Lastly, the minister pointed out that "both the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline and the South Stream natural gas pipeline constitute steadfast priorities of our policy. They are considerable infrastructure projects having a repercussion on the entire region of southeastern Europe and we are proceeding with all the necessary actions concerning their speedy implementation. The environmental aspect has great importance for us, as well as for the Russian Federation."

   Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas