Rosen Plevneliev: The start of the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor is a new page of the energy security of Europe
2014-09-19 16:35:00
Bulgaria will intensify its cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sphere. The country is among the most important partners of Europe regarding diversification of gas supplies. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said at a meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The Bulgarian Head of State is on a two-day working visit to Baku on the occasion of the official ceremony regarding the start of the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor.
The construction of the Southern Gas Corridor increases the security of the supplies to Bulgaria, to the countries in South-eastern Europe and the European Union and is a contribution to the efforts of diversification, was stressed at the meeting. The interconnectors of Bulgaria with Turkey and with Greece are an inseparable part of the infrastructure of the Southern Gas Corridor.
The joint declaration, signed by the two Presidents Plevneliev and Aliyev highlights the importance of the Contract for the sale of gas between “Bulgargaz” and SOCAR dated September 2013 for the annual supply of 1 billion cubic meters of gas from the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan to Bulgaria, due to begin in 2020. “Bulgaria would like to underscore its willingness and intention to gradually increase the quantity of gas imported from Azerbaijan”, is also expressed in the joint declaration of the two Presidents. According to Rosen Plevneliev overcoming the dependency on one pipe is a key priority in Bulgaria’s energy policy.
During the meeting Rosen Plevneliev and Ilham Aliyev confirmed the determination of both countries to expand cooperation in spheres such as the pharmaceutical industry, the construction and building of infrastructure sites, tourism, culture and education, science and technology. The two presidents encouraged businesses in both countries to work on joint projects and investments.
Bulgaria will work towards deepening the cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan, underlined in their joint declaration Presidents Plevneliev and Aliyev. The signed agreements for facilitating the visa regime and re-admission which came into force recently are proof of the potential for further development of the relations between the EU and Azerbaijan, said Presidents Plevneliev and Aliyev.
According to the two presidents the work of the Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation should be intensified and they expect that in the near future its fourth session will be held in Baku. That will be an important impulse for the development of the bilateral economic relations, said the Heads of State of Bulgaria and Azerbaijan.
Tomorrow President Plevneliev will attend the official ceremony on the start of the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor together with representatives from Albania, the United Kingdom, Georgia, Greece, Italy, the USA, Turkey and Montenegro.
