Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia. January 12 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday called for diversifying routes of delivery of Russian gas to Europe and for finding new markets for Russian gas.

"The current manmade gas crisis has once again demonstrated the need to diversify routes of delivery of Russian gas to Europe," Putin told a joint news conference with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in reference to the current Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict.

Putin expressed hope that the Czech Republic as the current holder of the rotating presidency of the European Union would help bring the Nord Stream and South Stream gas pipeline projects to completion.

The Russian premier also suggested enlarging the capacity of Blue Stream, a gas pipeline leading to Turkey, and insisted on building more gas liquefaction plants and building a tanker fleet.

"It is also necessary for Russia to diversify its sales markets by including the American continent and Asian markets," Putin said.