US Energy Envoy Morningstar: Nabucco Is No Holy Grail

Business » ENERGY | April 25, 2009, Saturday // 18:45
Bulgaria: US Energy Envoy Morningstar: Nabucco Is No Holy Grail US Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy, Ambassador Morningstar (left) with Bulgaria's President Parvanov during the Sofia Energy Summit. Photo by BGNES

The US Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Affairs, Ambassador Richard Morningstar said Saturday in Sofia the Nabucco gas pipeline was just part of the solution to Europe's needs.

"Pipelines are just part of the puzzle. Nabucco is not the Holy Grail that will solve the problem", Ambassador Morningstar said in his press conference after the end of the Sofia Energy Summit "Natural Gas for Europe".

"The US will take a broad approach, this is a very complicated jigsaw puzzle with many pieces", Morningstar said 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.

The US Special Envoy pointed out there had to 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.

Morningstar said he had had a very constructive dialogue with the Russian Energy Minister Shmatko at the Sofia Summit stressing the US 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 US Envoy declared while at the same time pointing out the US felt very strongly towards Bulgaria as a partner.

Morningstar was explicit that gas from Azerbaijan was a necessary precondition for the success of the Nabucco pipeline.

In his words, the project could well exist without Iranian gas even though the US was really trying to reach out to Iran, and His Excellency was hopeful about the prospects saying a possible carrot for Iran would the development of its energy sector in case of unfreezing the US-Iran relations.

Morningstar did underscored the USA had a clear interest in an energy secure Europe, which could serve as a stable partner for the United States, and emphasized the deep commitment of the Obama Administration to helping for Europe's energy security.

Ambassador Morningstar thanked Bulgarian President and government and the Bulgarian people for initiating and hosting the Sofia Energy Summit calling it "terrific".

 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Ambassador Morningstar's Answers to Question by Novinite.com's Ivan Dikov READ HERE

Energy » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Morningstar, Nabucco, Sofia Energy Summit, energy summit, Natural Gas for Europe, Obama Administration, azerbaijan, Nabucco, Russia, Shmatko

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria