SOFIA, April 26 - The gas pipeline Nabucco is important for Europe but not the only solution to the problem of energy security to the European Union and any pipeline in itself is not a panacea, the U.S. special envoy on energy issues in Eurasia, Richard Morningstar, said at a press conference after the closure of the Sofia Energy Summit on Saturday.
Morningstar participated in the two-day energy summit dubbed "Natural Gas for Europe: Security and Partnership," organized under the initiative and auspices of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.
"Pipelines are just part of the puzzle. Nabucco is not the HolyGrail that will solve the problem," Morningstar said.
However, most of European countries believe in Nabucco and that it must be build, so "we will help for realization of the project as much as we can," the U.S. representative stressed.
He pointed out that Nabucco needs to be based on profitability and on the interests of the European countries and companies, and the interests of the countries in the region.
According to Morningstar, the United States is willing to participate in the financing of the gas pipeline Nabucco, if there is any organized international pool for funding the project, considered as an alternative route for deliveries of natural gas which is not supported by Russians.
There are specific ways for the United States to support Nabucco, economic ways, not direct subsidies but international financing and access to funding. The decisions are to be made by the participating countries and the United States will help them through the negotiations in a constructive manner, Morningstar said.
The cost of the Nabucco project is estimated at some eight billion euros (10.4 billion U.S. dollars).
Morningstar was explicit that gas from Azerbaijan was a necessary precondition for the success of the Nabucco pipeline.
In his view, the project could well exist even without Iranian gas, but according to some experts, the participation of Iran as a supplier is very important to start the project, so the United States was really trying to reach out to Iran.
Morningstar said he had had a very constructive dialogue with Russian Energy Minister Shmatko at the Sofia Summit, stressing that the United States would listen to what Russia had to say.
"I will be straightforward -- Russia will continue to be a major source of gas for Bulgaria," the U.S. envoy stated while at the same time pointing out the United States felt very strongly toward Bulgaria as a partner.
Nevertheless, Morningstar also confirmed Washington's doubts about the profitability of Russian project "Southern Stream."
"Our feeling is that the financing of the Southern Stream will be costly and it is not clear how the material will come," said Morningstar.
Morningstar underscored that the United States had a clear interest in an energy secure Europe, which could serve as a stable partner for Washington, and emphasized the deep commitment of the Obama administration to helping for Europe's energy security.
Morningstar pointed out that efforts should be made for diversification of supplies but that was just part of the solution to Europe's energy security issues alongside internal changes including building inter-connectors, energy efficiency and conservation, climate change, storage, and alternative technologies.
The U.S. special envoy expressing his satisfaction with the fact that all 28 participants in the Summit have agreed to set very basic and very compelling principles with regard to natural gas, including diversity, transparency, and accountability.
Morningstar participated in the two-day energy summit dubbed "Natural Gas for Europe: Security and Partnership," organized under the initiative and auspices of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.
"Pipelines are just part of the puzzle. Nabucco is not the HolyGrail that will solve the problem," Morningstar said.
However, most of European countries believe in Nabucco and that it must be build, so "we will help for realization of the project as much as we can," the U.S. representative stressed.
He pointed out that Nabucco needs to be based on profitability and on the interests of the European countries and companies, and the interests of the countries in the region.
According to Morningstar, the United States is willing to participate in the financing of the gas pipeline Nabucco, if there is any organized international pool for funding the project, considered as an alternative route for deliveries of natural gas which is not supported by Russians.
There are specific ways for the United States to support Nabucco, economic ways, not direct subsidies but international financing and access to funding. The decisions are to be made by the participating countries and the United States will help them through the negotiations in a constructive manner, Morningstar said.
The cost of the Nabucco project is estimated at some eight billion euros (10.4 billion U.S. dollars).
Morningstar was explicit that gas from Azerbaijan was a necessary precondition for the success of the Nabucco pipeline.
In his view, the project could well exist even without Iranian gas, but according to some experts, the participation of Iran as a supplier is very important to start the project, so the United States was really trying to reach out to Iran.
Morningstar said he had had a very constructive dialogue with Russian Energy Minister Shmatko at the Sofia Summit, stressing that the United States would listen to what Russia had to say.
"I will be straightforward -- Russia will continue to be a major source of gas for Bulgaria," the U.S. envoy stated while at the same time pointing out the United States felt very strongly toward Bulgaria as a partner.
Nevertheless, Morningstar also confirmed Washington's doubts about the profitability of Russian project "Southern Stream."
"Our feeling is that the financing of the Southern Stream will be costly and it is not clear how the material will come," said Morningstar.
Morningstar underscored that the United States had a clear interest in an energy secure Europe, which could serve as a stable partner for Washington, and emphasized the deep commitment of the Obama administration to helping for Europe's energy security.
Morningstar pointed out that efforts should be made for diversification of supplies but that was just part of the solution to Europe's energy security issues alongside internal changes including building inter-connectors, energy efficiency and conservation, climate change, storage, and alternative technologies.
The U.S. special envoy expressing his satisfaction with the fact that all 28 participants in the Summit have agreed to set very basic and very compelling principles with regard to natural gas, including diversity, transparency, and accountability.
