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President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijanâ€™s gas may be delivered to the European Union from next year

29 September 2009 08:55 (UTC +04:00)

First, the presidents issued a statement. Romanian President Traian Basescu underlined that Azerbaijani Presidentâ€™s visit was the outcome of the work done within over four years.
â€œThe documents that have been signed today cover our political dialogue, energy cooperation, economic cooperation, investment, security cooperation and mutual assistance within international organizations. Our energy cooperation is not restricted to the implementation of Nabucco project. We are also cooperating on establishment of liquid gas terminal in Constanta,â€ he said.

Basescu said they had touched on regional issues, frozen conflicts in the region, especially Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
â€œWe want to reiterate that Romaniaâ€™s position remains unchanged. Romania considers that the frozen conflicts should be solved only peacefully, basing on the norms and principles of the international law, respect for the statesâ€™ territorial integrity,â€ he said.

Ilham Aliyev the relations between Romania and Azerbaijan were developing successfully, the declaration signed on strategic partnership was the logical continuation of the recent work.
â€œI am sure that all the documents signed today pave the way for successful development of cooperation. There is great potential for the development of the bilateral relations and we will use this potential effectively. All important issues were discussed at the meetings, significant decisions were made about future cooperation. Political relations, as I have noted, are perfect. I am sure that new projects will be implemented in economic sphere. Oil and gas cooperation is successful and the future of this cooperation will be more successful. Azerbaijan has rich oil and gas deposits and these resources are delivered to the world and European markets. If contracts based on international practice are signed with transit countries, Azerbaijanâ€™s gas may be delivered to the European Union market from next year. Diversification of energy resources is important for both consumers and producers and our interests coincide. I am sure that Nabucco and other projects will be successfully implemented. Oil and gas cooperation is also covered in the Memorandum on strategic partnership signed between Azerbaijan and the European Union and energy factor is very important in EU-Azerbaijan relations.

As you have said, solution of all the frozen conflicts, including Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be based on the international principles and respect for the countriesâ€™ territorial integrity and I am grateful to You for your position. All the problems, including conflicts can only be solved basing on the norms of the international law. I am sure that if all the sides obey the norms of the international law, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict can be solved fairly and all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan may be freed from the occupants soon,â€ Ilham Aliyev said.

Then the heads of states answered the questions of journalists. The President of Romania said his country signed strategic partnership agreements with the United States and France so far and it was signed with Azerbaijan today: â€œThis strategic partnership covers political, economic, security and other spheres. I would like to notice that our governments will draw plan for implementation of political decisions passed between the two countries on the basis of declaration we have signed today with the President of Azerbaijan and other agreements as well. It is like a roadmap. When we analyze it in the future we will decide that is it successful step or not? The declaration on strategic partnership we have signed today with President Aliyev will be guidance for us. It is very real and contributes to the national interests of both countries and interests of the European Union as well. If we realize those priorities, the strategic partnership between the two countries will bring great success. Romania sees the principles described in this document not only from the view of its national interests, but it also contributes to the EU energy and foreign policy and EU initiatives in the Black Sea region and Eastern Partnership as wellâ€.

Answering the question about contribution of Nabucco project to the Constanta-Trieste pipeline, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said the projects proposed and carried out by Azerbaijan led to the implementation of other projects in the future. â€œIf Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline was not constructed, there would not be Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline and Nabucco would not be real today. The Nabucco project connects only with the exploration of Azerbaijanâ€™s gas infrastructure today. We see that this successful project leads to the implementation of other project. There is no doubt that successful implementation of Nabucco will lead to the construction of other pipelines for diversification in the region. We held discussions on both Nabucco and Constanta-Trieste projects. Azerbaijan supports both projects and I proved it once more todayâ€.

President Basescu also expressed opinion about the issue. â€œAzerbaijan State Oil Company intends to develop its activity in the European countries via Romania.
The company considers that there is an opportunity to enlarge crude storages in Constanta and it has already expressed intention to operate here. So the State Oil Company will use two possible ways to pump its resources. One of these ways is that Azerbaijan State Oil Company refines transit energy vectors in the Romanian refineries in Constanta and other version is that the State Oil Company transits crude through the enlargement of oil storages in Constanta to Trieste. I would like to notice that there is a large terminal in Supsa, Georgia. The high-tonnage tankers anchor there. I witnessed oil shipment in that terminal, which transports crude to the European markets via the Bosphorus and Dardanelles. I think it is also right wayâ€.

The President of Azerbaijan also met with Prime Minister of Romania Emil Bok. The issues of bilateral cooperation in the economic and energy fields were discussed and importance of Azerbaijan-Romanian cooperation for the development of Azerbaijan-EU economic relations was underlined at the meeting. The sides expressed confidence in further development of economic relations between the counties.