(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 21. Amid the current
energy crisis that the EU is facing, Azerbaijan stands as a
reliable supplier, Tomasz Poreba, a member of the transport and
Tourism Committee of the European Parliament, told Trend in an exclusive
interview.
“The EU has made a lot of mistakes in being totally dependent on
Russian energy sources, and now it is time to change it. Azerbaijan
is a great choice as a reliable supplier,' he said.
'Poland has fortunately predicted the situation that the EU is
facing now. In 2015 we immediately started to construct new LNG
pipelines, mostly from Denmark and Norway. We have also constructed
a gas port. Today Poland is the only country in the EU completely
independent from Russia's supplies. So this is a good example for
the supply diversification,' he explained.
'Getting gas from Azerbaijan is an absolutely unique
opportunity. Having the Southern Gas Corridor, we can easily
connect Poland both with our Baltic Pipeline, and the gas port,” he
said.
As a president of the New Direction think-tank, Poreba plans to
organize a debate in this regard together with the Azerbaijan's
Center of Analysis of International Relations.
According to the parliamentarian, the EU also strongly supports
Azerbaijan's efforts in developing its renewable energy sector in
order to achieve net zero target and stay on track with the global
climate change issues. Renewables sector, with solar PV and wind
energy in particular, is a very popular branch of production in
Poland.
Speaking further, Poreba noted that the scale of innovation and
developments that he has seen arriving in Azerbaijan is
impressive.
“This is my first time in Baku. I am really impressed about how
Azerbaijan and its capital are developing. This is a really
promising path. Baku is also very dear to my heart, because a lot
of Poles before the Bolsheviks time were expelled from Poland and
found a refuge in Baku. Let me also remind about Polish architects
legacy to Baku development. Architects like Kazimierz Skorewicz,
Józef Ploszko and Eugeniusz Skibinski left their marks designing
beautiful buildings in Baku. Moreover, there is a novel by a Polish
writer Stefan Zeromski called“The Coming Spring”, which is telling
the story of a young Pole who finds a peaceful living for himself
in Baku. So, Polish-Azerbaijani relations have been this close for
a very long time,” he said.
Poreba was also among the foreign officials who visited
Azerbaijan's liberated lands.
“When I first saw the volume of destruction in Karabakh I was
shocked. Armenian presence of 30 years has left Karabakh as a
“ghost” region basically, with ruined houses and destroyed cities
and villages. The most devastating issue is millions of land mines
left that complicate the restoration works even more. This shows
what humans can do to one another, and it is devastating. I think
everyone should see the scale of the Armenian destruction with
their own eyes. For me personally it was a very emotional visit,
coming from Poland, which has also been ruined completely after the
World War II,” he noted.
However, at the same, there have been a lot of optimistic and
encouraging talks with the representatives of the Azerbaijani
government regarding plans and ideas for Karabakh's restoration,
the politician noted.
“For example, there are a lot of opportunities for transport
connectivity development. I have visited the newly-build airport in
Fuzuli and saw project plans for other two airports in Karabakh.
This is really remarkable, how fast these projects have been
developing and coming to life,” he added.
As Poreba stated, transport connectivity is crucial in terms of
Karabakh's restoration, and also for Azerbaijan as a whole.
“Azerbaijan, through the Zangazur corridor in particular, could
connect to the Via Carpatia road. This is a highway network
connecting Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria,
Greece, and Türkiye, which is planned to be operational by 2025.
This will open an opportunity for Azerbaijan to be connected to
Europe from South to North through an alternative road. Now
Azerbaijan can take an opportunity to develop its infrastructure to
the greater extent,” he said.
Poreba went on to add that Azerbaijan is a very important
business partner for Poland.
“Azerbaijan is unique in terms of having organic food, in
contrary to the EU. If Azerbaijan will manage to keep free-of-GMO
food, the country will become a very valuable partner not only for
Poland, but to the whole Europe. Azerbaijani organic food could be
absolutely delivered to Europe as an alternative source. It is also
important to exchange practices, knowledge and know-how between
Poland and Azerbaijan. Poland can also offer its modern
technologies in the sphere,” he said.
According to the parliamentarian, e-commerce is also a really
promising sector for Polish companies in Azerbaijan.
“I am absolutely in favor of Azerbaijani-Polish cooperation in
education. Although, the partnership between Azerbaijani and Polish
universities can be stronger, and I will encourage my colleagues to
raise the issue and boost it further. Considering different
cultures it is really important to work on the establishing of
people-to-people contacts. Tourism sector is also very important in
this regard. With Polish LOT Airlines launching direct flights from
Warsaw to Baku this cooperation will develop even more,” Poreba
said.
“In general, this is a great moment for us today to strengthen
our cooperation. As a Polish parliamentarian I will put efforts
regarding strengthening the cooperation between Polish and
Azerbaijani businesses. There is already a permanent contact
between our governments. Azerbaijan is a very important partner for
Poland, and there is no doubt that having loyal, frank cooperation
will be a win-win policy for both sides,” he said.
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