Conflict spurs EU action in energy sector

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The Russian incursion into Georgia has prompted Europe to act swiftly in the area of energy security and the planned Nabucco pipeline, officials said Friday.

Speaking to the Azeri news agency Today.Az, Romanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolae Ureke stressed the importance of Caspian energy resources, ahead of an energy summit in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital.

"We try to maximally diversify sources of their supply, today they are supplied to Europe by the only route, and we want to diversify the supply sources to ensure competition, best prices, large volumes of energy sources," he said, noting the Caspian region has the greatest regional potential.

He called the planned Nabucco pipeline a top priority for European energy demands, noting Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is planning a major conference in February on the project of bringing natural gas to Europe.

"We think that Nabucco has all chances," he said. "There are sufficient funds for it, we have created a consortium, there is a wide list of the countries which are looking forward to the launching of gas supplies by this pipeline."