国际英语新闻:Putin, Greek PM discuss gas pipeline extension to Greece

MOSCOW, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday discussed extending the Russia-Turkey gas pipeline to Greece and connecting it to another pipeline to reach Italy and beyond.

"We consider it very realistic," Putin said at a press conference following talks with Tsipras in Moscow.

He said that Russia is discussing this prospect not only with Greece, but also with Turkey.

According to Putin, Greece has nearly finished building a pipeline between itself and Italy but has no gas to fill it with, while Russia could supply "the real product" if it proves to be economically feasible.

Greece supports the principle of diversifying its energy sources, Tsipras said at the press conference.

He said that Greece has already built 80 percent of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline to supply gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, including Italy, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia.

"We have all technical conditions to include Russian gas in this pipeline as I believe it will help the European economy, cooperation and development of the entire region," Tsipras said.

Talks about the Russia-Turkey gas pipeline crossing the Black Sea, known as the Turkish Stream, were halted in November 2015 after a Russian fighter was downed by Turkey near the Syrian border.

Nevertheless, the pipeline construction agreement was signed in 2016 and works started last year. Its underwater part was completed last month.