Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Friday joined east European leaders at a summit in Azerbaijan aimed at promoting energy routes to Europe outside Russia`s influence.

The Turkish president joined the leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine for a summit on energy ties that comes three months after Russia dropped bombs close to crucial energy routes through the Caucasus state of Georgia in a brief war.

Amid renewed criticism of Russia by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Gul steered clear of inflammatory rhetoric towards Turkey`s historical rival Moscow.

However, the Turkish leader emphasised Ankara`s desire for a greater diplomatic role in the region, after his government earlier proposed a new forum for cooperation in the South Caucasus.

`The crisis which broke out last August in Georgia confirmed that unsolved conflicts in the region constitute a major threat from the perspective of security and stability,` he said.

`Our idea is to transform the South Caucasus from a region that is known for its conflicts to a region that would set an example for cooperation,` Gul said.

Saakashvili condemed Russian attacks during the August war over South Ossetia, which he said were meant to put in doubt the viability of energy routes through the Caucasus.

`This was clearly meant to send a warning to Europe that no matter what, Russia wants to control Europe`s energy supplies,` he said.

The leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine have long met to discuss plans to strengthen the corridor of energy routes that passes from the energy-rich Caspian towards Europe, but Friday`s meeting was the first time they were joined by Turkey.

Turkey has become a growing player in the Middle East and Caucasus energy trade.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose energy-rich country is at the centre of the group`s efforts, said he was `looking forward to establishing broader energy partnerships in the region.`

Amid concerns in the region that US president-elect Barack Obama will see the Caucasus and eastern Europe as less of a priority, US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said he expected the next administration would stay engaged in the area.

`It is my firm belief that these efforts and this region of the world will also be a priority for the next administration,` he said.

Backed by Western governments, international energy firms have invested heavily in building a corridor of oil and gas pipelines from Azerbaijan through Georgia to Turkey, and then on to hungry Western markets.

The European Union is hoping to connect the network to its flagship Nabucco gas pipeline and both the EU and US are backing efforts to link Central Asian countries to the network through a trans-Caspian pipeline.

The summit follows the unveiling by the European Commission on Thursday of a new plan to boost energy supply security and cut back dependency on Russia.

The European Union`s executive body said it wanted to strengthen crisis mechanisms and boost oil and gas stocks to respond to any disruption in supply.

The plan envisages developing a `southern gas corridor` to transport supplies from the Caspian Sea and Middle East regions, bypassing Russia, as well as an energy ring linking Europe and southern Mediterranean countries.