Greek Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, who was in Ankara in May for talks with Dervis, said the three countries will apply for lending from the European Investment Bank (EIB). “We discussed taking concrete steps to encourage closer co-operation between our two economies, especially in the areas of energy and transportation,” Dervis said. “Greece proposed making this a three-way cooperation and proposed Italy join.” Aegean rivals Turkey and Greece, hoping to become ‘energy bridges’ to European Union states, agreed in March to build a $300-million gas pipeline between the two countries to carry Caspian Sea gas to Europe. The 285-km long pipeline from western Turkey to Komotini, Greece, is due to transport 500Mcum of natural gas to Greece from 2005. “Co-operation between Turkey, Greece, and Italy paves the way for the three countries to become both both buyers and sellers in European countries, to increase their influence especially in the energy field,” Dervis said. Christodoulakis’ visit to Ankara, the first by a Greek finance minister in more than a decade, aimed to boost business ties between Greece and Turkey. “It will benefit our region for us to have smoother and more stable relations. Co-operation will benefit both Turks and Greeks,” he said. He went on to say that the EIB lending would encourage more investment in the three countries’ nascent energy projects. “With the help of the European Investment Bank, Turkey, Italy, and Greece can...encourage opportunities from international investors. Our goal is to achieve this as soon as possible.”