Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 3
By Aygun Badalova - Trend:
The decision by Russia to abandon the South Stream gas pipeline project will not particularly affect Croatia, because it can already now obtain energy supplies from different sources, Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said, the Croatian newswire, Dalje, reported.
He said that the EU had never been happy with the South Stream project, and that right from the start Croatia had been offered a branch because it was not on the pipeline's main route.
"That's up to the Russians and the countries through which the pipeline passes. Croatia is generally interested in things like that, but is not dependent because we have our own energy sources and alternative routes," Milanovic said, stressing that gas supply from Azerbaijan by the Trans Adriatic Pipeline was more important to Croatia.
During the negotiations in Turkey on Dec.1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that under the current conditions, as well as due to the unconstructive position of the EU, Russia can't continue the implementation of South Stream project. Later, CEO of Russia's Gazprom Alexey Miller said that the South Stream project has been shut down.