Romania and Azerbaijan are reviewing Nabucco. Elsewhere in the news, the European commissioner for energy considers a long winter, in the face of a hostile Russia. Last but not least, the world is close to a swine flu pandemic, according to the World Health Organisation.

Cotidianul reads Romanian Foreign Affairs state secretary for strategic business showed Foreign Azerbaijan minister Elmar Mammadyarov the latest Nabucco project evolutions. The two diplomats met in Baku to study the bilateral relationships. Azerbaijan could become a major Nabucco gas supplier, according to Aurescu.

Elmar Mammadyarov met Nabucco with scepticism, indicating that the project was not consistent, having financial, political and resource difficulties. "Not even the pipe’s trajectory is settled", the Azerbaijan official said. The pipe is designed to avoid Russia, passing through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria.

The main Nabucco suppliers could be Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Iran and Iraq are also considered. The project’s construction should start in 2010 and last until 2013. The EU backs this project with approximately four billion euros.

Romania and Azerbaijan also discussed strategic partnerships, security and military cooperation, regional evolutions, GUAM affiliation and the political situation in Moldova. Romania is also promoting NATO policy in Azerbaijan.

"We’ll have a long winter" the European commissioner for energy Andris Piebalgs said in Bucharest yesterday, referring to Russia’s threat to cut the pipe delivering gas to the EU if Ukraine does not pay its gas bills on time, Evenimentul Zilei informs.

The European commissioner stated that the EU is trying to lead both parts into finding long-term solutions to the gas problem. He admitted hat not all problems have been solved and he