ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The most important issue surrounding the Nabucco natural gas pipeline to Europe is securing enough supplies, the Turkish president said in Ankara.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul made his comments while receiving his Bulgarian counterpart, Georgi Parvanov, for bilateral energy talks.
Bulgaria is a potential host country for the Nabucco pipeline. Parvanov said cooperation in the regional energy sector was a "priority." His comments echo Czech sentiments stating Nabucco needs European solidarity to move forward.
The pipeline faces setbacks as Russian energy giant Gazprom pursues the rival Nord Stream pipeline to Germany and the South Stream pipeline to Italy.
Gul during his meeting with Parvanov restated his commitment to moving forward with the project, saying several potential suppliers have expressed interest in joining the pipeline, Turkey's Today's Zaman said Thursday.
"Turkey attaches importance to this project," the Turkish president said. "The most important issue regarding this project is to obtain enough gas."
Azerbaijan and several major suppliers in the Caspian region are expected to provide the bulk of natural gas through Nabucco, though Iran and Iraq were recently discussed as potential sources as well.
Nabucco is scheduled to go online by 2013.
