SOFIA, April 25 - The Sofia Energy Summit ended Saturday with a joint declaration calling for greater cooperation and diversification of gas sources in securing Europe's energy supply.
In the declaration, participants said rapid development of gas infrastructure and strategic storages are necessary to "guarantee diversification of gas supplies to Europe in a sustainable and viable way."
With the purpose, close cooperation between producer, transit and consumer countries had to be established, the declaration said.
At a closing press conference of the two-day meeting, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said the summit encourages regional and trans-regional cooperation in natural gas supply.
"The natural gas producing countries, the transiting countries and the consuming countries all had their positions heard. We are pleased to argue that we have managed to encourage this cooperation," Parvanov said at the summit dubbed "Natural Gas for Europe: Security and Partnership."
According to the President, the joint declaration is about general principles and rules of involved countries in natural gas sector.
He said the summit fulfilled its key purpose -- to be a center of dialogue and understanding, of searching cross points of common energy issues in regional and trans-regional plan, to provide a platform for new for strengthening the European energy security.
"We can conclude that there is a shared political will to find the leading future-oriented solutions. The role of Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region in addressing Europe's energy security were brought into perspective," he added.
The two-day summit started Friday afternoon on the initiative and patronage of the Bulgarian president. Guests from about 30 countries and international organizations attended the meeting.
In the declaration, participants said rapid development of gas infrastructure and strategic storages are necessary to "guarantee diversification of gas supplies to Europe in a sustainable and viable way."
With the purpose, close cooperation between producer, transit and consumer countries had to be established, the declaration said.
At a closing press conference of the two-day meeting, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said the summit encourages regional and trans-regional cooperation in natural gas supply.
"The natural gas producing countries, the transiting countries and the consuming countries all had their positions heard. We are pleased to argue that we have managed to encourage this cooperation," Parvanov said at the summit dubbed "Natural Gas for Europe: Security and Partnership."
According to the President, the joint declaration is about general principles and rules of involved countries in natural gas sector.
He said the summit fulfilled its key purpose -- to be a center of dialogue and understanding, of searching cross points of common energy issues in regional and trans-regional plan, to provide a platform for new for strengthening the European energy security.
"We can conclude that there is a shared political will to find the leading future-oriented solutions. The role of Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region in addressing Europe's energy security were brought into perspective," he added.
The two-day summit started Friday afternoon on the initiative and patronage of the Bulgarian president. Guests from about 30 countries and international organizations attended the meeting.
