The South Stream gas pipeline project is no alternative to rival Nabucco because Bulgaria staunchly supports diversification of energy sources and routes. This has been the message both Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov and Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev conveyed to the US special envoy for European affairs and Eurasia energy.

Clayland Boyden Grey arrived on October 7 for a one-day visit in what evidenced the growing interest of a number of states toward Bulgaria's energy policy, a statement on the Bulgarian Government website read.

The US official's schedule also included meetings with Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin and Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov, where large-scale energy projects in Bulgaria and the region were the overarching topic of discussions.

The visit took place a day before the session of the Bulgarian-Russian inter-governmental commission on economic and scientific-technical co-operation in Sofia. The delegations led by Dimitrov and Russia's vice-prime minister Sergey Sobyanin have put Russian energy projects, Belene nuclear power plant and the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, on top of the agenda.

Purvanov was reported by the Presidency's press office as calling for a single European energy policy, whose primary objective should be to reduce dependence on Russian energy resources.

The day before the Bulgarian President lashed out at the speed, dynamics and preferred means to form the common European energy security policy. He argued that debates within the EU erroneously focused on what should be averted rather than on drafting concrete measures to find new energy sources and new routes to supply natural gas.

The two officials, though, agreed the EU should bridge divergent stances on the energy package and fast-track related solutions.

Bulgaria's prime minister named Bourgas-Alexandroupolis and Bourgas-Vlora oil pipelines, Nabucco and South Stream gas pipelines, as well as Belene nuclear power plant as guarantors of Europe's energy security.

Speaking to Stanishev, Grey underscored the need for Europe to be active and united when building its common energy policy. The former ambassador to the EU argued Bulgaria had the relevant knowledge and expertise in conducting talks with Russia and former USSR Central Asia states, an asset Brussels needs, the governmental press office said.

In this vein, Grey pledged US support for elevating Bulgaria to the status of a regional and energy transit, distribution and logistics gas and oil hub.

Grey supported in principle Purvanov's plan to host a high-level international energy conference in April 2009. The forum is due to gather top officials from Southeastern Europe, the Black Sea and Caspian regions, Central Asia. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is reported to have confirmed his attendance.

He also communicated the interest of US companies toward the potential construction of new reactors at the site of the Belene nuke plant.