Russian oil giant Gazprom's deal to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan will not jeopardize Europe's Nabucco natural gas pipeline project, Agence France-Presse reported July 3, citing Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. At a joint press conference with Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu, Davutoglu said the projects were not viewed as competing, and that they can both serve energy interests. He said Nabucco was a "priority" and a "very important, strategic project" for Turkey, adding that the project would "ensure cooperation between the participating states" and "solve the general energy problem that faces mankind."