Bulgaria is interested in joining Blue Stream II, also known as South Stream project for the construction of gas transition system between Russia and Europe through the Black Sea pool, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov said.

Purvanov met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a regional energy conference in the Croatian capital of Zagreb.

South Stream is a system of new gas pipelines, which will connect Russia and EU countries. The marine part of the pipeline will reportedly be constructed on the bottom of the sea, starting from Russian compressor station Beregovaya and ending at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

The total length of the pipeline will reach nearly 900km and its maximal depth will exceed two km.

Purvanov said that South Stream project will be an important step in view of finding opportunities for energy diversification and achieving energy stability in the region and in Europe.

The project increases Bulgaria's role as a transit and distribution centre in Europe, Putin said. It will also have a positive effect on the international energy market.