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".