USA TO EXPAND ENERGY CO-OP WITH ITS STRATEGIC PARTNER - AZERBAIJAN
Industry and Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Natig Aliyev met Friday with the visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza.
In meeting, discussed was energy cooperation on the Caspian region, the achieved results and prospects.
Noting that his country is keen in ensuring energy safety of the United States and Europe, Matthew Bryza said: “The USA government is for healthy competition in energy sphere, and the official Washington considers that it is inadmissible to use this factor for political purposes”.
According to Matthew Bryza, Azerbaijan plays important role in energy safety of Europe. He highly appraised prospects of gas transportation from Shahdeniz deposit in Azerbaijan to Greece, Italy and other European countries. The USA carries out intensive negotiations to support the process, he stressed, appreciating the Agreement reached between Azerbaijan and Greece.
Commenting the stand of official Washington in regard with cooperation of the Caspian-Baltic countries in the framework of common energy space, Mr. Bryza said: “Should the borders of common energy space, including Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine, extend to the Eastern Europe countries, this would be great contribution to the region’s energy safety”.
In meeting, also discussed was delivery of the Shahdeniz gas to Europe, the issues of construction of the Turkey -Greece pipeline on this purpose.
Industry and Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Natig Aliyev said he was invited by his Turkish counterpart to attend the opening ceremony on the Turkey-Greece gas pipeline in September. The Minister said the talks on transit fees for Shahdeniz gas via Turkey were held. Recently, the talks will continue in Greece, he underlined.
The parties also discussed the questions connected with Trans-Caspian project. Official Washington highly estimates Azerbaijan’s transit opportunities and continues negotiations on transportation of Central Asian, including Turkmen gas through Azerbaijan’s territory to reach Europe, Bryza emphasized. The United States is going to extend energy cooperation with its strategic partner, Azerbaijan, he stressed.
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