ECONOMY
SYRIA POISED TO PURCHASE 1-1.5 BILLION CUBIC METERS OF GAS FROM AZERBAIJAN
Baku, June 29 (AZERTAC). The first meeting of the joint Syria-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission for economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation has kicked off here today.
Co-chairmen of the commission include Syrian Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Sufian Alao and Azerbaijani Minister of Agriculture Ismet Abasov.
The Azeri Minister told of the history of bilateral relations. He pointed out the foundation of bilateral relations was laid during Soviet times as national leader Heydar Aliyev maintained friendly relations with President of Syria Hafez al-Assad. Those ties are now successfully continued by Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Bashar Al-Assad of Syria.
The Minister said relations would intensify after signing the protocol.
Alao noted Syrian President visited Baku in July last year, adding up to 20 documents were signed during the trip. The Co-chair noted the joint commission lays groundwork for cooperation in a variety of fields.
He highlighted agreements on elimination of double taxation, veterinary, saying memorandum of understanding on oil and gas had been prepared.
In the protocol signed between the Oil and Mineral Resources Ministry and Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Industry and Energy, the two parties agreed to transport 1-1.5 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas to Syria. According to Alao, his country is interested in signing the agreement. He pointed out, the agreement will allow Azerbaijan shipping its oil to other Arabic countries via Syria.