Romania seeks regional energy role

BUCHAREST, Romania, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Romanian President Traian Basescu has held discussions with the U.S. representative for energy in Eurasia, Ambassador Richard L. Morningstar.

Agerpres news agency reported Thursday that during their discussions Morningstar stressed that Washington is interested in energy projects in the Black Sea region. Morningstar is in the capital Bucharest to attend the inaugural session of the Black Sea Energy Forum. The Atlantic Council of the United States, with support from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized the forum.

During his discussions with Morningstar Basescu noted that on Sept. 28 he signed a statement in Bucharest for a strategic partnership, mentioning the involvement of Azerbaijan in the Nabucco project with visiting Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

Basescu's government is interested in positioning Romania as a possible energy hub to counterbalance Russia's proposed Balkan pipelines, which parallels Washington's interest in export pipelines for exporting Caspian oil and natural gas bypassing both Russia and Iran.