Russia remains "reliable" gas supplier for Europe: Gazprom chairman

Russia will remain a reliable gas supplier for Europe, Viktor Zubkov, chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors said Tuesday here at the Central European Gas Congress.

"Russia has been and will remain prepared to serve as a serious economic partner for each European country and as a reliable natural gas supplier," said Zubkov.

"Although it's been said that all is well in Ukraine today, events of recent years have shown that this transit link only creates risks for gas supplies and sales," he added.

According to Zubkov, Russia hopes that the European gas market as a whole -- including Central Europe -- will keep developing long term.

"Development of gas networks will soon allow the creation of a single internal European gas market," said Zubkov.

Also on Tuesday, Zubkov met with Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, with the latter saying that energy security is a strategic goal for Slovakia and that the Slovak government is interested in continuing long-term cooperation with Gazprom concerning "reliable gas transit" across Slovakia. Enditem