Russia might have to look for an alternative route for the South Stream gas pipeline if problems on the European Union's part with respect to the project continue, Russian President Vladimir Putin is quoted as saying by the Voice of Russia.
"If we continue to have problems with South Stream, and Brussels is constantly throwing a spanner in the works of this project, then we'll look at other options via non-EU countries," he said. In that event, Brussels will get "another transit country," President Putin said.
"Why they are doing this, in Brussels, I don't know. But if they don't obstruct us, then we are minded to carry out these projects, both Nord Stream and South Stream," the Russian president is quoted as saying.
The South Stream is a planned gas pipeline to transport Russian natural gas through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and further to Greece, Italy and Austria. The project is seen as rival to the planned Nabucco pipeline, which was ultimately abandoned after Azerbaijan opted for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.
