US official: Europe needs alternatives to overpriced Russian gas

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) – Europe needs alternatives to overpriced Russian natural gas that enriches ‘’shady middlemen,” a U.S. official said Friday, putting forward the idea of Iraq and Azerbaijan as new suppliers.

Matthew Bryza, a deputy assistant secretary of state, took a swipe at Russia’s state-owned OAO Gazprom, saying the United States wasn’t fond of energy monopolies.


”We especially don’t like them when they threaten at least the economic security of our most important allies,” he said, criticizing the company for charging too much and trying to undermine Europe’s efforts to seek new sources and routes for more gas.

He said the U.S. government strongly backs the EU-sponsored Nabucco pipeline that aims to bring more gas to Europe from the Caspian Sea region that could help Iraq earn energy dollars and boost U.S. ally Azerbaijan.

AP