Hungary is committed to the success of the Nabucco project and stands ready to pursue intensive dialogue on energy matters with its American partners - Ambassador at large Mihály Bayer’s meetings in Washington

Mihály Bayer paid a visit to the American capital on May 5-8 in his capacity as ambassador at large in charge of the Nabucco gas pipeline project. Senator Richard Lugar, the Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee received him. Mr Bayer held talks with national security advisors to Vice-President Cheney: Damon Wilson, Head of European Affairs at the National Security Council, Douglas Hengelel, the deputy assistant secretary at the State Department responsible for economic, energy and business affairs, and energy coordinator Steven Mann. He held consultations with experts from the World Bank involved in the legal aspects of the Central European region and energy issues and visited the Center for Strategic and International Studies as well as the Hudson Institute.

The ambassador stressed that Hungary is committed to the success of the Nabucco project and stands ready to pursue continuous and intensive dialogue on energy matters with her American partners. He underlined the fact that Hungary had appointed an ambassador at large commissioned to deal with the Nabucco pipeline project was a sign of Hungary’s commitment. It is Hungary’s intention to give a jolt to the project’s preparations and the soonest possible creation of the governing and administrative conditions. In respect of the Nabucco and South Stream pipelines’ relation to one another, he said that not only is there a need to build both, but the guaranteeing of Europe’s gas supply requires the construction of further pipelines.

The American side welcomed the appointment of the Hungarian Nabucco ambassador and the officials expressed their willingness to consult regularly on ongoing issues. They confirmed that the United States is giving determined political support for the project. They considered it important that advances in the project should happen as swiftly as possible and prospects should include the connection of Turkmen gas fields besides gas piped from Azerbaijan. They stressed the importance of striking a government agreement before further steps are taken, as this would give a strong message to investors. They showed interest in the plan of Hungarian Oil Company, MOL related to the New European Transmission Systems and said they are ready to support its realisation.

(May 9, 2008)