ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 16 2008

USA seeks ways to optimize relations with Russia in energy field in
black sea region

YEREVAN, January 16. /ARKA/. The USA seeks ways to bring its
relations with Russia in the energy field in the Black Sea region to
the maximum level, the U.S. Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza said in his report at the conference `Wider Black Sea:
Perspectives for International and Regional Security’.

`Our aim is not the confrontation with Russia in this area, but
improving the competitiveness,’ he said.

Bryza stressed the importance of the Black Sea region in terms of
energy and geopolitical security stating that `Black Sea countries’
energy issues are of strategic interest to the USA’.

`We pursue a common objective of security and regional economic
cooperation and are interested in the issues of development of
economy and market relations in the entire Black Sea region,’ he
said.

According to the diplomat, `people spend a lot of time analyzing the
intentions of the USA in relation to energy projects and ties with
Russia’.

`The truth is that Russia like other states specializing in
extraction of natural gas remains our reliable partner in natural gas
supplies to Europe,’ Bryza said. N.V. -0–