Clinton sees opportunities in Greece
 
 
 US foreign policy chief cites US interest in fuel reserves, investment, pushes concensus
    
       In a wide-ranging interview with Skai TV, aired on Monday night,  visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to US interest  in oil and gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean and in possible  investments in the tourism and renewable energy sectors, saw  opportunities for Greece in the broader region, and stressed the  importance of Greece’s Socialist government seeking consensus with its  political rivals.
The former first lady told Skai that efforts to  locate energy deposits in the eastern Mediterranean were still in the  early stages but were of interest to the US. She also highlighted the  potential of Greece as a “regional hub” for the transport of oil and  natural gas.
Asked about possible investments by US firms, Clinton  said she believed that there are “great opportunities” and highlighted  the tourism sector and the relatively untapped renewable energy market.
As  reforms aimed at improving the climate for would-be foreign investors  are implemented, Greece will become increasingly “attractive” to  investors, she said.
Clinton also commented on thorny diplomacy  issues including a longstanding dispute over 
the name of the Former  Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 
saying that the Balkan state should not  join the European Union before the row is settled.
Questioned  about domestic politics in Greece and attempts by the government to  secure cross-party consensus on austerity, Clinton said such efforts  were crucial. She acknowledged the difficulties of getting rivals to sit  down and talk but said, “It is always the best approach.”
Before  leaving Greece for India, Clinton met the leader of the main  conservative opposition New Democracy party, Antonis Samaras.
The  opposition leader expressed his party’s opposition to the involvement of  private sector bondholders in a new rescue package for Greece.
                            
      
  
 
ekathimerini.com , Monday  Jul 18, 2011 (23:10)  
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Sull'ultimo paragrafo è la prima volta che mi trovo d'accordo con Samaras ... 
