NEWS

The expansion of cooperation in the energy sector between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan was the main topic of the conversation in Baku between head of state Iliana Iotova and the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. President Iotova is in Baku to participate in the Summit within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.

 

President Aliyev congratulated Bulgaria on achieving political stability after the elections and having a regular government. Aliyev stressed the strategic importance of our country as a recipient of energy supplies from Azerbaijan, but also as a transit country for Europe.

 

President Iotova stated Bulgaria's ambition to increase the quantities of gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Europe through our country through the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnection.

 

Iotova and Aliyev discussed the Solidarity Ring initiative, previously proposed by President Rumen Radev, to double gas exports from Azerbaijan to the European Union following the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between five gas transmission system operators from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Azerbaijan. The potential of a second energy corridor for the transmission of green energy overland between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye and Bulgaria was also discussed.

 

The Bulgarian head of state stressed the importance of Azerbaijani energy investments, implemented jointly with Bulgarian companies. These are necessary and secure investments in today's world, torn by conflicts and insecurity, the Bulgarian president said.

 

Iotova and Aliyev also discussed cooperation in the field of high technologies. The Bulgarian president stressed that Bulgaria has a lot of potential in this area, pointing to the INSAIT institute. She recalled that Bulgaria is one of the six countries selected by the European Commission to build a gigafactory for artificial intelligence.

 

Educational and cultural ties between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan were also among the topics of conversation. The delegation led by President Iotova in Baku includes the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, Daniel Panov. He emphasised Azerbaijan’s contribution to the restoration of the Trapezitsa historical complex. Panov expressed hope that the Shusha Park will be opened in Veliko Tarnovo in the autumn – a project that is being implemented with the Azerbaijani side. President Aliyev praised Mayor Panov’s idea to name a park or street in Veliko Tarnovo in Baku.

 

President Iotova invited her Azerbaijani counterpart Aliyev to visit Bulgaria. For his part, Aliyev stated that he expects the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, to visit Baku.

 

The head of state surprised President Aliyev with a quote from the great Azeri poet, scholar and thinker, Nizami Ganjavi, who said that a person is born to be happy and no fate, no matter how evil, can change that.

The Head of State participates in the World Urban Forum Summit

The plant for the utilisation of used industrial and motor oils and the production of base oils of the first and second groups is the only implemented industrial project approved by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Bulgaria in 2023. This is also the first investment of such a scale in this area in Azerbaijan.

The meeting was hosted by Austrian Ambassador Andrea Ikic-Bohm and Slovenian Ambassador Natasha Bergel

Among the main topics of discussion was the diversification of energy sources in the context of global tensions and military conflicts