Russian President Putin in Croatia to discuss Balkan energy strategy

Russian President Vladimir Putin talked of energy cooperation when he arrived in Zagreb on Sunday to attend the Southeast European Countries Energy Summit, according to reports reaching here.

Putin, who was invited by his Croatian counterpart Stipe Mesic, is scheduled to meet Balkan leaders for talks on the region's energy strategy.

As a leading supplier of the world's energy, Russia is committed to cooperation with the Balkan countries in the energy field, said Putin at the meeting.

He said more trust would boost cooperation in the energy field and listed a series of pipeline and other energy projects inBulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia and Hungary designed to link the Black Sea and Caspian Sea and the European Union.

Croatian President Stipe Mesic said that the role of the Balkans as an important energy supply hub can only be achieved through cooperation.

Also present at the one-day meeting are leaders from Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania and Montenegro, who will discuss broad-ranging issues, including the diversification and secure transport of energy sources.

Source: Xinhua