09:02, 23 April 2009 | GMT +5
Bulgaria to host energy summit ?Natural Gas for Europe: Security and Partnership?
ASTANA. April 23. KAZINFORM 28 countries from South East Europe, the Black Sea and Caspian regions, Central Asia, EU member states that are directly involved in development of the Southern Gas Corridor, the USA, the EU presidency, and the European Commission have been invited for a two-day energy summit to be kicked off in Sofia (Bulgaria) tomorrow.

Kazakhstan will be represented by Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Lyazzat Kiinov, Kazinform has learnt from the press service of the MFA.
The energy security issue is getting increasing importance, therefore the Sofia summit entitled ?Natural Gas for Europe: Security and Partnership? is supposed to provide an opportunity to hold a dialogue on this issue. Partnership among the key producers, transit countries and consumers should be stimulated on the basis of an active dialogue among the top officials of all the countries concerned.
The goal of the summit is to engage the key energy partners of the EU, such as Russia, the USE, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Egypt, in a dialogue of the EU energy security approach. The increasing demand for natural gas will be the main issue of the summit, hence its objecive is elaboration of what the European Commission calls ?energy interdependence provisions? in agreement with the partners.
Bulgaria?s energy policy is interconnected with its regional policy both in South East Europe and in the Black Sea region. The summit will consist of two sessions. The first session will focus on the tendencies, principles and policy on ensuring European energy security. The second session will be devoted to the discussion of the Southern Gas corridor.