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KOMOTINI, Greece (AP) - Trade and energy officials from 12 Black Sea and Caucasus countries pledged Saturday to expand ties with the European Union through the development of major energy networks, including new pipelines to Caspian Sea oil fields.
"Everyone wins," said Evripidis Stylianidis, Greece's overseas trade minister at the end of four days of meetings. "Pipelines are good for the economy, for the environment, and for international development — and that helps peace and stability in the region."
Oil companies and regional governments are keen to find alternatives to shipping Caspian oil through Turkey's busy Bosporus Strait, already used to transport more than 50 million tons of oil a year.
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