U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Sofia for a trip aimed at convincing Bulgaria to break its energy dependence on Russia.
U.S. officials say Clinton is promoting alternatives to existing Russian-controlled pipeline routes, as well as the development of new energy sources in order to diversifying its oil and natural gas supplies.
U.S. officials say Clinton will tell Bulgarian authorities that Eastern Europe’s reliance on Russia for energy leaves it vulnerable to “unhealthy” political pressure from Moscow.
Clinton flew to Bulgaria after attending an international security conference in Munich.
Compiled from agency reports
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