GDF Suez joins Nord Stream project

PARIS, March 2 (UPI) -- Russian gas monopoly Gazprom signed a memorandum in Paris with French giant GDF Suez for supplies for the Nord Stream gas pipeline for Europe.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived Monday in Paris for a three-day visit his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy. His agenda includes energy and military matters.

Moscow is courting European partners to develop the South Stream gas pipeline through the Balkans and the Nord Stream pipeline through the Baltic Sea.

Alexei Miller, the chairman of Gazprom, joined his GDF Suez counterpart Gerard Mestrallet to sign a memorandum for supplies to Nord Stream, Gazprom announced.

"The Nord Stream is a strategically important pipeline for Europe," said Miller. "The value of the project is difficult to overestimate, as it will be an additional guarantor of energy security for millions of consumers and give them confidence in the future."

The memorandum between the two energy giants launches formal talks for supplying GDF Suez with up to 53 billion cubic feet of gas from 2015.

Finland earlier this year signed off on the final permits for Nord Stream construction, which is to begin in April.