US ambassador to Bulgaria Nancy McEldowney has called for the resumption of the Russian natural gas supplies to Bulgaria.

The January 5 2009 cut off of natural gas caused an energy crisis in Bulgaria, which is completely dependent on Russian natural gas supplies and has only its minimum reserves to count on.

"The cut off of natural gas to Bulgaria is completely unacceptable and we join the calls of the Bulgaria Government and the European Union for the immediate resumption of the gas supplies. While the sources of the dispute between Ukraine and Russia are complicated, it is clear that the Bulgarian people should not be victimised as a result of this dispute," McEldowney said in a January 7 2009 media statement.

The episode underscored the critical need to diversify sources of natural gas, as well as other energy supplies, she said.

"Energy is a critical resource for all of society and it is imperative that supply agreements are made in a direct and transparent manner that ensures security and avoids vulnerability to the manipulations of monopoly suppliers," the statement said.