"Of particular focus will be realization of the Turkey-Greece-Italy gas pipeline, and potentially the Nabucco and other pipelines, with Azerbaijani gas, to help Europe bolster its energy security by diversifying its natural gas supplies." The Nabucco pipeline project aims to diversify central Europe's sources of gas supplies by linking eastern Turkey with Austria. The United States' administration regularly accuses Russia of using its energy resources, particularly its natural gas, for political ends in ex-Soviet republics. "What we are trying to do is to increase competition so that the European gas market isn't as dysfunctional as it is right now," the US deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, Matthew Bryza, told reporters. "We are not going to pressure anybody but we are going to do anything we can to help eliminate disinformation and smooth investment process, which means negotiate the framework agreements," he said. Mr Bryza added that in time, the improved competition should even help Russian energy giant Gazprom, which has "a huge market share already". Currently, Europe relies on Russia for around 25% of its gas supplies. Azerbaijan, understood to be a 'US-friendly' state, has – until this year – been heavily reliant on natural gas from Gazprom, but cut these ties after a demand for a two-fold price increase. A key partner in the Western-backed corridor for oil and gas pipelines built in the last two years, Azerbaijan now uses mostly locally-produced gas, and is increasing its gas exports to Georgia.