SOFIA, Bulgaria, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Work toward execution of the South Stream gas pipeline to Europe needs increased attention, said Russian and Bulgarian leaders during talks in Moscow.
"Bulgaria has always worked hard and will continue working towards the implementation of this project," said Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.
The Bulgarian leader met with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, in Moscow, saying energy ties would be discussed at an international energy summit in Sofia scheduled for April, Bulgaria's news service The Standart reported Friday.
South Stream could bring roughly 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from Central Asia and Russia to Italy through the Balkans. A launch date is tentatively scheduled for 2013.
The governments of Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia already have sanctioned plans to build portions of the pipeline through their territory.
The two leaders reached agreements during the meeting whereby Bulgarian natural gas company Bulgargaz would receive Russian gas without mediation.
