Hungarian newspaper advocates participation in alternative energy projects.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Text of report by Hungarian newspaper Nepszabadsag website on 11 April

[Commentary by Miklos Losonczy: "We should remain open towards both directions - Russia might use the Nabucco-Blue Stream dilemma to put political pressure"]

Many are worried that Russia will use natural gas pipelines to put political pressure. According to energy experts, the two projects (the Nabucco and the Blue Stream) are conflicting. Apart from identifying Hungarian interests, it is important to clarify whether those interests may clash with the energy policies of the EU.

Hungary, which is exceptionally dependent on imported natural gas, is interested in seeing at least one of the pipelines finished. The worst would be if neither of them was built. Taking into account the need to diversify our natural gas imports and the obligations arising from our EU membership, the Nabucco project is more favourable of the two (provided that all other conditions of the two pipelines are similar). If for some reason the Nabucco project fails to be …