Following yesterday's talks in Moscow, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Croatian counterpart Jadranka Kosor signed an agreement of cooperation during construction and operation of a gas pipeline on the territory of Croatia. As a result, Croatia will join the South Stream project and take part in the transport of large quantities of Russian gas to Europe.
Mr Putin noted that South Stream has already gained wide international support; it has been previously joined by Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Serbia, and Slovenia.
"The benefits for all those involved in the project, including Croatia, which joined us today, are obvious," the Russian prime minister said. "It ensures stable energy supplies to Europe and brings economic benefits to all participants."
For her part, Jadranka Kosor said that "the agreement creates a legal framework for Croatia joining South Stream and paves the way for the creation of a 50:50 joint venture."
"Naturally, there will be much discussion of details, but the main thing for Croatia is that it will be supplied with gas," Ms Kosor stressed.
At the end of last year, Gazprom's chief Alexei Miller said that the concern was studying a possibility of building a branch of South Stream to Croatia via Serbia or Slovenia. The distance across Serbia would be shorter, but currently, gas is supplied to Croatia through Slovenia. The final choice of the route will be made after the conduction of feasibility studies, which are shortly to be completed.
Alexander Latyshev