Azerbaijan, Baku, July 11 / Trend E. Ostapenko /
Azerbaijan plays important role to ensure diversification of energy supplies, U.S deputy secretary of state James Steinberg told media on July 11.
"Creation of diversified and reliable energy supplies and their transit is important for long-term economic and political security. Azerbaijani plays important role on this regards," Steinberg said.
Close energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia is not cause for anxiety, Steinberg said.
"We support diversification of energy supplies. Our goal is not exclude or oust Russian out of our plans but guarantee of many variants. So, we understand that Azerbaijan and other countries of the region must establish good relations with Russia," Steinberg said.
SOCAR and Gazprom signed the contract on purchase-sale of Azerbaijani gas for 5 years and export not less than 500 million cubic meters of gas per year in June. Supplies will be launched from January 2010.
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