Matthew Bryza: "Azerbaijan should become a competitor in the sphere of energy supplies to South-Eastern Europe"

He noted that Greece receives 80% of natural gas only from Russian Gazprom, while some countries of South Eastern Europe fully depend on Gazprom's supplies.

The US Assistant Secretary of State noted that Azerbaijan should become c competitor in the sphere of energy supplies to South Eastern Europe. Thus, Greece intends to receive Azerbaijani gas along with Russian.

"It is difficult to attain the preservation and increase in existent supplies, complex diplomacy with Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan is needed. It is necessary to conclude a number of new generation contracts, which we are working at", said he.

M.Bryza called on the countries of the region to execute the project of Nabucco gas pipeline, which must rival Russian Southern Flow. He said Kazakhstan and Iraq could also join the project. The project implementation would provide a 25% rise in supplies within the next 5-8 years and ensure import diversification.

It should be noted that Greece intends to diversify energy supplies to the country. Thus, the country is taking part in the projects of Turkey-Greece and Greece-Italy gas pipeline and intends to get gas from Azerbaijan in the future.

/APA/