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 Holy
Grail 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.