Turkey is willing to help Bulgaria diversify its energy sources, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has told his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev.

Gul has acquainted Plevneliev with the potential transfer of gas from the Caucasian region through the Caspian Sea, Turkey and Bulgaria to western markets, the Focus news agency informs.

Plevneliev has underlined the importance of Bulgaria's future gas link with Turkey, saying it would bring about a real diversification for the country.

"The interconnector link between Bulgaria and Turkey is of strategic importance to us and we hope that its construction will be launched very soon," he declared.

The Bulgarian President has reminded that his country wants its gas link with Turkey to become part of the Nabucco West gas pipeline project.

He also declared Bulgaria's support for the Tanap gas pipeline project.

Bulgaria moved to link its natural gas grid to those of its neighbors after the January 2009 gas war between Russia and Ukraine, which cut off the Russian gas supplies to Bulgaria for full three weeks leaving it without natural gas in the middle of the winter.