Greece is acquiring a new geopolitical role based on its participation in natural gas pipeline projects linked to central Europe, as well as on the strength of the country’s own energy reserves, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras declared today during his meeting with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In his comments to Merkel, the Greek Prime Minister noted that exploration work conducted in western Greece and south of Crete had exceeded initial expectations in terms of natural gas and oil reserves. “Greece can develop into a bastion of security after being considered a weak link just a few years ago,” Samaras remarked.

The two leaders also discussed the prospects of the Greek economy, progress of the country’s bail-out program, wider European developments, as well as foreign policy.