MATTHEW BRYZA: BLACK SEA REGION MAY BECOME CENTER OF TRANSPORTATION OF
POWER-BEARING SUBSTANCES
YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The U.S. is interested in
strengthening security in the Black Sea region, U.S Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State, co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza
stated at the January 15 conference "Enlarged Black Sea Region:
International and Regional Security Prospects". According to him, it
does not mean that the U.S. strives to increase the NATO’s role in the
region, it presupposes cooperation of regional countries in security
issues. M. Bryza attached importance to the fight of countries of the
"enlarged Black Sea region" against international crime. He said that
in the opinion of the U.S, the notion of "enlarged Black Sea region" in
particular presupposes the territory of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation.
The second group of strategic interests of the U.S. in the Black Sea
region is related to energy security. According to M. Bryza, the Black
Sea region may become a center of transportation of energy resources,
which proceeds from interests of Russia, Turkey and the countries using
these resources.
Expressing confidence that Russian companies will continue being
reliable partners in the issue of supplying natural gas to the European
market, M. Bryza at the same time attached special importance to the
existence of competition in this field. He assured those present that
the purpose of the U.S. is not a conflict with Russia or Gazprom
company, and he expressed a hope that the infrastructures of this
Russian company will expand even more and reach the Caspian Sea and
Siberia. M. Bryza said that in about 6-10 year the export of
considerable amounts of oil will start from Iraq as well. We believe
that the supplier of any commodity becomes more reliable when
competition is greater, he said. In his words, the U.S. is also seeking
ways of cooperation with Gazprom, it simply does not like a monopoly in
the energy sector. The U.S. is also in favor of alternative ways of oil
transportation. M. Bryza expressed a hope that the Black Sea region,
through which several oil pipelines pass, will also become a junction
of various projects on gas transportation.