(MENAFN- AzerNews)
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Elnur Enveroglu read more Yesterday, the working visit of the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev to Bulgaria could be marked as one of the most
important events. Welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic
Policies, Minister of transport and Communications of Bulgaria
Hristo Aleksiev, Foreign Policy Secretary of the President of
Bulgaria Roussi Ivanov and other officials, the head of state then
took part in the most important stage of the day - the document
signing ceremony between the SOCAR company and its partners from
Bulgaria (Bulgartransgaz), Hungary (FGSZ), Romania (Transgaz) and
Slovakia (Eustream).
![Presidents](https://menafn.com/updates/pr/2023-04/26/A_8abb9a17-e_Image_In_Body.jpg)
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Bulgarian counterpart
Rumen Radev attended the signing ceremony as well.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed by Minister of Energy of
Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Bulgaria Rossen
Hristov, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter
Szijjártó, Minister of Energy of Romania Virgil-Daniel Popescu and
Minister of Economy of Slovakia Karel Hirman was of another great
event in terms of Azerbaijan's paving the way for a new stage of
economic relations with the Eastern Europe.
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“Six months ago, I visited Bulgaria on an official visit. So,
I'm back in six months. At that time we participated in the
ceremony of inauguration of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector
project. The project, which made it possible to expand European
geography of Azerbaijan's natural gas supplies, and the project,
which helps already to strengthen the European energy security,”
the Azerbaijani President said as he addressed the ceremony.
President Ilham Aliyev also mentioned President Radev's visit to
Azerbaijan just a month ago.
“One month ago, President Radev was our guest in Azerbaijan. So,
this really demonstrates the level of cooperation between our
countries. It demonstrates the dynamism of our political dialogue,
and also demonstrates that Bulgaria and Azerbaijan are not only
strategic partners, but also two friends,” the President said.
In his speech at the signing ceremony President Ilham Aliyev
also underlined EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson's words
expressing the importance of signing the memorandum of
understanding between the abovementioned countries. As the
Azerbaijani President said our country as a reliable energy
exporter is capable of increasing gas export to a number of
European states, he also touched on the previously signed
agreements with nine EU member states so far.
“The MoU signed today, when implemented, will definitely
strengthen energy security in Europe, and allow Azerbaijan to
export more gas to many more European countries. As it was already
said today by Madame Kadri Simson, Energy Commissioner, and other
officials from the European Commission and other friends,
Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of Europe, I would say, not only
in the area of energy, but also in many other areas. Also, I'd like
to inform you that with nine EU member states, Azerbaijan signed
and adopted agreements or declarations on strategic partnership. So
that means that one third of member states of the EU are strategic
partners of Azerbaijan, and this partnership has a very important
future,” the head of state added.
Obviously, all the efforts and steps taken are not in vain.
Azerbaijan's provision of gas and energy to Eastern European
countries amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, is
also in the center of attention of the other side. The kind words
addressed to the head of the country by the President of Bulgaria
in this regard confirm once again that Azerbaijan is a true and
most reliable partner country in the literal sense of the word.
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“President Aliyev has proved that Azerbaijan is a reliable trade
partner. There is nothing to add to the fact that Bulgaria has been
reliably supplied by Azerbaijan for more than a year, according to
the agreement we signed more than 10 years ago. Despite all the
global political facts, Azerbaijan has rigorously complied with the
terms of the agreement. Azerbaijan is a strategic partner not only
of Bulgaria, but also of the entire European Union. This was
confirmed in July of last year, when Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum
with the European Commission on strategic cooperation in the energy
sector and, in particular, on the supply of additional gas to the
European Union,” the Bulgarian President stressed.
The opinions expressed at the signing ceremony once again showed
that over the past years, Azerbaijan has established itself as an
important and reliable energy partner of Europe. Even today, the
demand for Azerbaijani gas in the European energy market is
constantly increasing. It is no coincidence that our country plays
a special decisive role in the realization of the Solidarity Ring.
The steps taken regarding the Solidarity Ring, after the TAP
project, mean a new page in the energy policy of President Ilham
Aliyev. If Azerbaijani gas covered Italy through TAP, passing
through Greece, Azerbaijan will contribute to the energy supply of
more than 10 European countries with the implementation of these
new projects.
It should also be noted that the Solidarity Ring includes all
partner countries in Eastern Europe. In this regard, President
Ilham Aliyev's visit to Albania last year and his one-on-one
meeting with Albanian President Bajram Begaj and a series of
negotiations related to energy supply during the meeting are very
important. An example of this is the fact that the head of state
mentioned Albania at the signing ceremony in Bulgaria.
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“We are in the process of negotiations with Albania to build a
local gas distribution system, because the Southern Gas Corridor
crosses Albania's territory. As a member of the“Solidarity Ring”,
I'm sure, Slovakia will soon become our partner in energy as well.
We will increase the geography of our gas supplies from 6 to at
least 10 countries. I say at least, because I think this is not the
end of the story. We plan to expand furthermore our presence on the
European gas market. I'd like to underline the special role of
President of Bulgaria Mr. Radev in the initiative to create this
solid team of partners. The“Solidarity Ring”, I'm sure, will play
an important role in the implementation of our joint ambitious
plans,” the President underlined.
It is woth noting that the implementation of the Solidarity
Ring, in addition to moving the relations between the European
Union and our country to a new stage, also opens a new page in the
relations between Azerbaijan and the Balkan countries. It is
through Albania that the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline, TAP, the
backbone of the energy architecture of Southern Europe and the
Western Balkans, transports Caspian hydrocarbons to Italy.
President Ilham Aliyev and President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia
signed a declaration on their strategic partnership and alliance at
the end of November, strengthening relations between the two
countries at higher level.
Besides, Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also
connected by more than just shared cultural heritage; both
countries also suffered greatly as a result of ethno-territorial
conflicts. Minefields, war, and forced displacement are all
familiar recollections for Azerbaijanis and Bosnians. These two
countries have consistently stood by one another during hard times,
for each other's causes.
In a nutshell, Azerbaijan and the Balkan countries have more
opportunities and potential to improve relations. The meeting that
took place in Bulgaria yesterday and the important documents that
were signed can be considered a decisive tool for realizing these
possibilities.
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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews' deputy editor-in-chief, follow him
on @elnurmammadli1