Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 16/ Trend , A. Badalova/
The major goal of Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's visits to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan was to discuss issues related to cooperation in gas sphere. Among the issues discussed the most important one was prospects of the Nabucco gas pipeline which is a priority for the EU.
The last gas crisis, caused by differences on price between Russia and Ukraine, left European countries without gas in the cold winter. The crisis has prompted Europe to accelerate construction of the pipeline. Topolanek's visit to the Caspian countries showed once again that the EU does not intend to linger any more and will make its utmost for speedy implementation of the Nabucco project.
"If Europe lingers, it may be late," said Topolanek. His speech is placed on the official Web site of the Czech Presidency of the European Council.
According to Topolanek, the presidency of the Czech Republic will seek to accelerate projects on cooperation between the EU and the Caspian region during meetings of the European Council in Brussels in March and during a summit of the countries interested in the South Corridor in Prague.
Topolanek said that Europeans had been slow to diversify energy supplies, despite the fact that besides the EU, geographically closest trade partners of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are also interested in the gas needed for Nabucco.
Thus, Topolanek's main task during his visits to the Caspian countries was to reveal the position of the countries, which are potential suppliers of energy to Nabucco, and to urge them to agree to export their gas through the pipeline.
There are no specific agreements regarding supplies via Nabucco. Only Azerbaijan said its willingness to pump gas through the pipeline. At a meeting with Topolanek, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizade reiterated country's position on this project.
He said Azerbaijan possesses great infrastructure and is ready to participate in the Nabucco project. But Europe is well aware that it is impossible to implement the project with the help of only Azerbaijani gas. The remaining candidates who are expected to fill up the pipeline display more reserved position.
The invitation Topolanek made to Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdimuhammedov during his visit to Turkmenistan to take part in the Nabucco summit in Prague on May 17 confirms his aims. On behalf of the European community, the Czech Prime Minister expressed his interest in stabile hydrocarbon supplies which Turkmenistan possesses in large volumes and seeks to diversify supply of its resources to world markets.
Berdimuhammedov stated that "country's energy potential allows to ensure implementation of any international projects.
In the Nabucco summit held in Budapest in January Turkmenistan announced that it is ready to participate in any gas projects and do its utmost to guarantee energy security for gas importer countries. This statement raised hopes that the country will act as an alternative gas supplier.
It will be complicated to deal with Kazakhstan on this issue. Though Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov said during Topolanek's visit to Astana that the supply of resources to the EU is key to the development of the Kazakhstan-EU relations, the country takes careful position towards the Nabucco project.
Nabucco aims to deliver natural gas from Azerbaijan and Central Asia to Europe. By building a pipeline from the Caspian Sea shore which will traverse Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, Europe aims to reduce gas dependence on the Russian gas. Despite uncertainties and suspicions about Nabucco's construction, the European Union displays hard stance and is determined to build this project.
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