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Richard Morningstar: Azerbaijan is still remaining as an important ally in the U.S energy policy towards region

24 December 2009 08:36 (UTC +04:00)

He mentioned that Nabucco is very important in terms of energy diversification and security in the region: â€œThis project opens up many possibilities. We continue to support all projects that involve the delivery of oil and gas to world marketsâ€â€“ US official stressed.

According to Mr. Morningstar, there are at least six former Soviet States within that region whose independence will be enhanced tremendously by the economic development resulting from the resources within that region and we have to work very hard to see that that occurs. He mentioned that, â€œAzerbaijan is in the top list of our priorityâ€.

â€œWe believe that such projects, in particular, Nabucco and Turkey-Greece-Italy (TGI) are very important in terms of energy diversification so that energy resources will be supplied not only from Azerbaijan, but also from Turkmenistan and possibly from Iraqâ€.

US envoy also mentioned that Washington still hopes Azerbaijan and its neighbors will maximize their production of oil and gas.
â€œThe energy independence point is very significant. The resources from the region should be able to go to the marketplace unfettered. The producers, in our view, should not be relying on competitive countries, such as Iran, to get the resources out. So energy is also a strategic interestâ€ â€“ he added.
According to Mr. Morningstar, the regional conflict issue is also, very important, by the cooperation among the countries in the region, by the economic development of the region, we think that can have a very positive affect in ultimately settling some of the conflicts.
â€œBy settling the conflict, I should add, countries around the region will be able to have, will be able to reap the fruits much more advantageously of the resourcesâ€.