(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Fatima Hasanova
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has received a
delegation led by Lawrence Meredith, Director of the Eastern
Neighborhood and EU Institutional Building Department at the
European Commission, Azernews reports, citing the Foreign
Ministry.
At the meeting, an exchange of views was held on the agenda of
cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU in various fields, in
particular in the fields of economy, energy, investment, transport,
etc, as well as on the regional situation.
Speaking of one of the key areas of cooperation with the EU,
energy security, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the
significance of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between
Azerbaijan and the EU on July 18, 2022, in order to collaborate on
the development of alternative energy sources. It was noted that
Azerbaijan places a high value on encouraging investments,
particularly in the know-how sector.
The EU's interest in investing in reconstruction and
construction work carried out in the territories of Azerbaijan
liberated from occupation was noted with satisfaction.
The minister gave detailed information about the current
situation in the region in the post-conflict period, the
large-scale restoration and construction work carried out by
Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation, as well as
about the provocations committed by Armenia, and the existing mine
threat. In particular, it was noted that the failure of Armenia to
fulfill its obligations arising from the tripartite statement of
November 10, 2020, is the main threat to peace, security, and
development in the region.
Lawrence Meredith said that the Memorandum of Understanding
signed on July 18, 2022, is important as a result of the work done
between Azerbaijan and the EU. It was noted that the initiative and
activity in the implementation of the Middle Corridor project made
Azerbaijan one of the important partners in the field of transport
and transit.
Meredith also stressed that the priority for the EU is investing
in economic development, small and medium businesses, alternative
energy, transport, and digital development. The position of
Azerbaijan on supporting innovation in these areas was especially
noted. He also noted the importance of cooperation and solidarity
to eliminate the mine threat.
The meeting also saw an exchange of views on other issues of
mutual interest.
The EU and Azerbaijan cooperate in different sectors of the
economy. The EU invested over $21.5 billion in Azerbaijan's economy
from 2012 to 2021. Azerbaijan's trade turnover with the EU amounted
to $9.3 billion last year, which is 38 percent of the country's
foreign trade. The Delegation of the European Commission to
Azerbaijan was opened in Baku in February 2008.
Azerbaijan started commercial gas supplies to Europe through the
Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) on December 31, 2020.
A joint statement on energy cooperation with the EU was signed
more than ten years ago. The EU-Azerbaijan energy cooperation has
reached a new level and is still ongoing within the framework of
the Southern Gas Corridor. The EU places a high value on energy
supply diversification, and the Southern Gas Corridor is
particularly important in this regard. In 2021, European countries
purchased 8.2 billion cubic meters of gas, with an increase in
volume expected in the coming years.
---
Follow us on Twitter
@azernewsaz
Tags: azerbaijan eu eastern partnership azerbaijani minister of foreign affairs jeyhun bayramov