TIRANA, Albania — Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov said Friday that Moscow might include Albania in the South Stream gas pipeline, which will carry Russian gas to southeastern Europe.
Titov said Russia would consider extending the planned pipeline to the small Balkan country, according to an Albanian government statement. Albania is not currently linked to any international gas pipelines.
Titov spoke after talks Friday with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
South Stream will deal a blow to the rival Nabucco pipeline, which is supported by the United States and the European Union.
Austria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Croatia have signed on to South Stream, which will lead under the Black Sea to Bulgaria. The joint venture between Gazprom and Italy's Eni will open in 2015.
