Beta, 6 February 2012 U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will ask Bulgarian officials to end their country's energy dependency on Russia, according to reports. The media are quoting U.S. officials, who spoke ahead of Clinton's visit to Bulgaria. They also stated that beside requesting a diminished Bulgarian dependency on Russian natural gas and oil, Clinton would also promote "alternatives to existing oil routes, and development of new energy sources". The U.S. state secretary believes that Eastern Europe's reliance on Russia in the energy sector renders it "vulnerable", due to Moscow's "unhealthy" political pressure. Clinton's trip to Bulgaria came after she took part in an international security conference held in Munich, Germany.