(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 17. The EU highly
values its energy partnership with Azerbaijan, Tengiz Pkhaladze, a
non-resident senior fellow at the European Center for International
Political Economy (ECIPE), told .
'About 5 or even 10 years ago many had been delivering the
message that Azerbaijan has all the capabilities [to deliver more
gas], and that Europe should pay more attention to the energy
partnership with the country, to the Caspian region and its gas
potential, and develop it all together with Azerbaijan.
Unfortunately, Europe has been somewhat neglecting those
opportunities, and the priorities were given to other projects.
Today, I think, everyone in Europe regrets it. But it is better
late than never,' he said.
According to Pkhaladze, today the cooperation between the EU and
Azerbaijan in the energy sector does not only gain political
support but is also reflected in practical business
initiatives.
'But I don't think that whole responsibility should fall on the
shoulders of one party. Yes, Azerbaijan has all the capacities, but
it also needs alike reliable partners from the EU countries.
Azerbaijan should deliver, and the EU should make the biggest
financial pledge in this regard,' Pkhaladze added.
Although, as the expert pointed out, the interest in Azerbaijani
gas should not be divided by countries.
'This should be the interest of the whole of Europe. First of
all, the European Commission should express its will to increase
energy cooperation with Azerbaijan further. This will be the right
sign for the private companies across the world, for the UK and the
US companies as well,' he explained.
Regarding the recent launch of the Interconnector
Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) Pkhaladze noted that it is an essential and
important project for Europe today, as the region suffers from
Russia's supply cuts.
'This is a great example for other countries and investors to
follow and use this capability, and think about how to widen this
capability. Azerbaijan surely has the capacity, but, as I already
said, all the financial burden should not be placed on the country
alone. The interest is already there, and, eventually, it will grow
and transform into active business initiatives,' he said.
Further speaking, ECIPE senior fellow noted that Azerbaijan's
potential in exporting electricity, as well as electricity
generated from renewables, is huge and it is in fact possible to
launch it soon.
'Everything is possible if EU extends its connectivity project.
This means expanding critical infrastructure, such as electricity.
The EU should boost new processes and initiatives for connectivity.
Those are already developed from the EU to Georgia, and then to
Azerbaijan. Today new types of infrastructure should be developed,'
he explained.
'It is worth mentioning that Azerbaijan made an outstanding
impression at the first European Political Community Summit in
Prague. The remarks that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has
made demonstrate the country's willingness to contribute to
development and stability. Besides the significant progress that
has been achieved in regard to the peace treaty with Armenia,
Azerbaijan has also demonstrated itself as not just a reliable
energy supplier, but also as a country that really cares about the
stability in the world,' the expert concluded.
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