EU Leaning Towards Nabucco, Says Diplomat
The former US ambassador to Azerbaijan has said it appears the European Union is leaning in favor of Nabucco West to transport natural gas to Europe, UPI reports.
Europe is supporting the Southern Corridor of natural gas transit networks as a way to break Russia's grip on the regional energy sector. A BP-led consortium working in the Shah Deniz natural gas field offshore Azerbaijan is expected to pick between the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline and the much larger Nabucco West by June.
Former ambassador to Azerbaijan, Matt Bryza, told news website New Europe in Athens that no matter which of those two projects wins out, it would be preferable in terms of conomics involved than Russia's rival South Stream pipeline.
South Stream would avoid geopolitically sensitive territory in Ukraine.
“My advice would be to pursue the gas pipeline system that makes the most economic sense for Bulgaria and that to me without a question is going to be the Southern Corridor. Whether it’s TAP with a spur to Bulgaria or Nabucco West with a spur from Bulgaria to Greece, there is no question about the superior economics of the Southern Corridor to South Stream. No question,” the American diplomat said.
Bryza, who has served at the State Department as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said Brussels has not taken a position and will not take a position. “But I think strategically knowing the people I do in Brussels and elsewhere that they would like it to see Nabucco."
See also: Southern Corridor's Final Countdown