Energy Ministers of OBSEC (Organization of Black Sea Economic Co-operation) member states gathered, September 19 in “Xyatt Regency” Hotel for their regular sitting to discuss the issues of intensification of interaction in the sphere of energy.

Minister of Fuel and Energy of Azerbaijan Majid Kerimov announced that out of eleven OBSEC members, representatives of nine countries - Azerbaijan, Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia - are participating in the sitting, while those of the international organizations, Embassies and oil companies attend the one in observer or guest capacity. He said since this year, Azerbaijan has been presiding at OBSEC, the country co-operate with the European Energy Charter, and the Ministry Fuel and Energy itself has been a coordinator of this structure since 2002.

Vice-Premier of Azerbaijan Abid Sharifov extend to the sitting participants greetings from Prime-Minister Ilham Aliyev, and noted that OBSEC has good perspectives and is able to ensure successful co-operation between the countries participants in energy sector. “We are satisfied that today Azerbaijan plays one of the key roles in supplying the countries of the region with energy,” he said. The Vice-Premier pointed out as well that the country is implementing huge energy projects with foreign companies including Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Main Export Pipeline through which Azerbaijan oil will be delivered since 2005 to the world markets. Crude oil has been exporting by the country through Baku-Supsa and Baku-Nivirissiysk pipelines for several years. However, according to him, the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan resulted in occupation of 20 percent of the country’s lands and over one million refugees, impedes acceleration of the projects realization.

Addressing the sitting also were representatives of France, Russia, Kazakhstan and that of OBSEC Parliamentary Assembly. They noted the Baku meeting is of paramount importance as serves promotion of economic and political rapproachment between the OBSEC member states. According to them, to ensure economic security and create stability on the energy market, all countries should common opinion with respect to oil and gas issues. The meeting participants thanked the group of international experts involved in preparation of the ultimate version of the Baku Declaration. They especially emphasized the 11th paragraph of the Declaration according to which the conference participants express gratitude to President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and Prime-Minister of the country Ilham Aliyev for the warm reception and initiating of this event.

Then, an adoption ceremony of the “Baku Declaration on Energy Cooperation in OBSEC region” was held.

With the ceremony completed, the conference participants visited Sangachal Terminal.