Nabucco intergovernmental agreement signed in Ankara - UPDATED
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13 Jul 2009 14:42 ]
Ankara. Elmin Ibrahimov – APA. A summit dedicated to the signing of intergovernmental agreement on Nabucco project kicked off in Ankara, Turkey on Monday with the screening of the documentary about the project, APA correspondent reports from the summit.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hosting and moderating the event, said the project would provide reliable transportation of natural gas from the Caspian and Middle East, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iraq and Egypt. He said they were looking forward for Iran and Russia joining the project.
Austrian Prime Minister Werner Faymann spoke about the importance of the project and expressed confidence that it would be carried out successfully.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said his country was loyal to its efforts towards the realization of Nabucco project.
Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai emphasized the importance of the project for his country and Europe. He said the European countries are in the center of world financial crisis and faced with the difficulties to carry out the projects.
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said the project was not directed against anyone and was a step toward the European energy security.
US Special representative for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar and US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Republicans leader Richard Lugar said they hoped that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan would also supply the pipeline alongside with Iraq.
After the speeches, the signing ceremony began in Ankara.