Are we better off as friends? Help please?

So my best friend told me that he really likes me, and likewise I really like him too. However, he's in England right now and I'm in Canada.. So he claims he has insecurities due to his previous relationship, and doesn't want to ruin our friendship at the moment. Despite him saying that, he talks about us getting married, calls me all the time, tells me I'm beautiful and what not. I really like this guy, but I have a feeling he's telling me all this just to keep me around. If he really really liked me wouldn't he pursue the long distance relationship considering the fact that he's only going to be in England for one more year, and then he's coming to Canada?