New Energy Chapter in SE Europe

Historic Agreement
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis described the agreement on the single energy market in SE Europe, signed in Athens today, as a landmark for the wider area.
The treaty binds all Balkan countries to deregulate the natural gas and electricity markets at a business level by 2008 and at a household level by 2015. The treaty also provides for a future collaboration on oil, telecommunications and air transports. Turkey held reservations on signing the agreement, regardless of the fact that the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mehmet Guler, was present at the ceremony. Turkey disagrees with certain terms of the agreement referring to environmental issues. However, Greek government sources voiced the estimation that Turkey will sign it until June.