OMV, Gazprom affirm European partnership

VIENNA, April 23 (UPI) -- Austrian energy company OMV views its Russian partners at Gazprom as vital to ensuring energy security in the European community, its top executive said.

Gerhard Roiss, chief executive officer at OMV, met in Vienna with his Gazprom counterpart, Alexei Miller, to discuss geopolitical concerns in Europe.

Both sides said the amount of gas delivered by Russia to European consumers was in line with "seasonal habits" despite a lingering standoff with Ukraine, which hosts the bulk of Russian natural gas suppliers to Europe.

Roiss said Tuesday his company's 50-year relationship with Gazprom was a model for regional energy partnerships.

"I believe that the economic integration of Europe and our partners in Russia is the way to preserve the stability of our continent," he said in a statement.

OMV is a partner in Gazprom's twin Nord Stream pipeline running through the Baltic Sea to Germany.

Miller, for his part, said his meeting in Vienna showed Gazprom is committed to Europe.

"We appreciate the ongoing dialogue with business partners like OMV to secure the supply of gas," he said.