The European Union is interested in long-term energy contracts with Russia, including financial support for related projects, Greece's Development Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos said in a statement after conferring with Russian Energy Minister Igor Yusufov in Moscow on Monday, in his capacity as presiding energy minister for the EU. He said the ongoing bilateral dialogue will be completed with an official protocol, probably within 2003. Both sides expressed strong hope that Russia will also be able to sign the Kyoto Protocol on climatic change within 2003. Regarding the planned oil pipeline linking the Bulgarian port of Bourgas with the Greek port of Alexandroupolis on the Aegean coast, Tsochadzopoulos said further progress depended on Russian companies guaranteeing specific quantities of oil and hoped this would materialize in two to three months. He was due in Brussels to chair the EU Competitiveness Council yesterday and the Energy Ministers Council today.