The gas interconnectors with Greece and Romania are a priority for our country and Bulgaria is working hard to ensure their implementation. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said at a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, which was held within the framework of the Bulgarian Head of State’s working visit in Baku to take part in the Third Global Forum.
The concrete parameters, as well as the funding of the gas interconnector with Greece have already been specified and the interconnector is expected to be ready in 2018, Rosen Plevneliev further said and voiced hope that the supplies of natural gas worth 1 billion cubic meters per year, negotiated with Azerbaijan, will start earlier than planned.
The construction of the interconnectors with Greece and Romania, which are part of the Vertical Gas Corridor, will contribute to Bulgaria’s and the region’s energy independence by connecting them to the South Gas Corridor. The Bulgarian Head of State recalled that the European Commission has announced that the gas connections with the neighboring countries are projects of interest to the community and are planned in the Strategy on a European Energy Union.
“We should focus our efforts on the energy projects which have a sure future,” the Azerbaijani Head of State said. Presidents Plevneliev and Aliyev were unanimous that the South Gas Corridor will reduce Europe’s dependence and Bulgaria’s and the region’s in particular to a single supplier and will create competition and conditions for lower prices.
The two presidents also discussed the opportunities for cooperation in the pharmacy sector. Bulgarian companies from the sector have expressed interest in making investments in Azerbaijan and in establishing joint ventures with local companies, President Plevneliev said.
Regarding the forthcoming opening of the first European Olympic Games, which Baku will host, the President pointed out that about 130 Bulgarian athletes will take part in the sports event. The Head of State highlighted the importance of the upcoming games and the impressive organization of the event, for which large-scale public projects have been implemented in the capital of Azerbaijan.
During his visit, President Rosen Plevneliev visited the International Center Nizami Gandzhevi, where he was briefed on the activity of the organization and the projects it is preparing. The organization has initiated the Third Global Forum in Baku, in which the Bulgarian Head of State took part as a special guest.