8 Jul 2010 12:36

Ukraine calls South Stream project unnecessary

KYIV. July 8 (Interfax) - Ukraine remins adamant that the South Stream gas pipeline project is inexpedient.

"Ukraine thinks that South Stream is simply unnecessary. It is a very expensive project, which has no value because it is not based on additional gas resources," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko told a Thursday press briefing after negotiations with Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb.

Ukrainian gas pipelines can safely transport gas to Europe, so it is unnecessary to spend money on another gas pipeline, he said.

Stubb described Ukraine as a key country for energy security and transit.

He also said he believed in the diversity of energy supplies and supported North Stream, South Stream and Nabucco. The minister added that the support was short-term, because the demand for natural gas would eventually cease. That is why it is necessary to think about diversity of energy resources, Stubb said.