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SOCAR opens representation in Europe

14 November 2012 09:07 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ali Ahmadov – APA-Economics. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has opened its representative office in Brussels. Rovnag Abdullayev and other representatives of SOCAR attended the opening ceremony.

Thereafter, there was held a session ‘EU and Azerbaijan: strategic partnership – Southern gas corridor and other directions’ with the participation of Vice-President of the European Commission Siim Kallas, EU commissioners, European Parliament, members of Belgian and Azerbaijani parliaments, representatives of Belgian government, diplomats, experts, oil&gas companies, finance and banking sector, mass media representatives.

Senior Fellow of the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation and well-known expert on international strategic relations Vladimir Socor noted that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the West in the East of Europe. He appreciated active participation of our country in the international humanitarian operations.

‘Azerbaijan is a symbol of tolerance in the post-soviet and region. As a modern Moslem state, Azerbaijan plays the role of bridge between the nations, cultures and civilizations’, added Socor.

Touching upon the importance of the Southern gas corridor for energy security of the EU countries, Socor appreciated efforts Azerbaijan in direction of realization of the corridor and called TransAnatolian gas pipe project as a step taken forward.

SOCAR President Abdullayev spoke about achievements in oil-gas industry, extension of geographical activity of Azerbaijan in Europe. Noting Azerbaijan’s significant role as an oil exporter, Abdullayev spoke about perspectives of South gas corridor project. He also informed about preparatory works on construction of TANAP project. He stressed that launch of SOCAR’s branch in Brussels would support energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and EU countries.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Araz Azimov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium, head of representation under EU Fuad Isgenderov noted that Azerbaijan and EU had not only energy cooperation, but also cultural and political cooperation. Deputy Chairman of Milli Majlis Valeh Alesgerov noted that support of TANAP project was not important issue for only Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia, but also for EU.

Presentations of SOCAR vice-president Tofig Gahramanov and chairman of Azerikimya PU Supervisory Board, MP Mukhtar Babayev on strategic development projects and development of oil-chemistry industry in the country were interesting for participants.

EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger noted that Azerbaijan achieved important position in world economy and spoke about SOCAR’s role in this development.