The United States welcomes the opening of the pipeline linked to gas and transport systems of Greece and Turkey, Sean McCormack, the spokesman for the US Department of State, said at a briefing on 20 November.
"This southern route diversifies channels for delivery of energy resources, he noted. As far as I understand gas produced in the Caspian for the first time runs to Southeast Europe.
McCormack said that gas runs to Greece via Turkey, which is an important development, testifying that neighbors in the region can work together.
Washington actively lobbies deliveries via the 285km long Greek-Turkish pipeline and the Greek-Italian pipeline for Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe. The US Energy Minister Samuel Bodman attended the opening of the gas pipeline last weekend along with the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey, and the Azerbaijan President. "It is expedient that dependence of Europe on import of energy resources will increase over the following 25 years, he said. It means Azerbaijan and Central Asia can become new major sources of deliveries, along with countries of the North Sea region, Russia and North Africa, ITAR-TASS reports.