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Heads of State and Government hold joint press conference

14 September 2010 21:36 (UTC +04:00)

The Azerbaijani leader opened the meeting, which was dedicated to the Azerbaijanâ€“Georgiaâ€“Romania Interconnector (AGRI) project.

The President highlighted the history of oil and gas production in Azerbaijan, saying his country was one of the first oil producers in the world.

He said that after regaining its independence Azerbaijan embarked on cooperation with foreign companies to explore its oil and gas fields.

President Ilham Aliyev said diversifying transportation routs was a key priority in Azerbaijan`s energy policy, adding the country had â€œgood infrastructure, new pipelines to export its oil and gas in different directionsâ€.

The President said his country attached a particular emphasis to regional and international cooperation in energy sphere.

President Ilham Aliyev said the Azerbaijanâ€“Georgiaâ€“Romania Interconnector project â€œmarks a new page in energy cooperationâ€, adding â€œthe project has big potentialâ€.

Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili praised Azerbaijan`s contribution to strengthening the regional energy cooperation. He highlighted Georgia`s role as a transit country in transportation of energy resources.

Romanian President Traian Basescu highlighted the importance of the AGRI project. The Romanian leader praised Azerbaijan`s contribution to ensuring Europe`s energy security.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said joining the project was of great importance for his country. He expressed Hungary`s readiness to be â€œan active participantâ€ of the AGRI project.
President Ilham Aliyev once again emphasized the meeting`s importance in terms of implementation of the project.

Following the remarks by the heads of state and government Azerbaijan`s industry and energy minister Natig Aliyev made a presentation on the Azerbaijanâ€“Georgiaâ€“Romania Interconnector project. The meeting then featured discussions on the project.

The Azerbaijani, Romanian, Georgian presidents and the Hungarian Premier signed the Baku declaration on the AGRI project.

The signing ceremony was followed by a joint press conference of the heads of state and government.

President Ilham Aliyev said â€œwe are on the threshold of big development, and we have a strong willâ€.

â€œToday we are writing history,â€ he added.

The President said Azerbaijan had big experience in the energy sector. He noted balancing interests of the parties is one of the crucial conditions for the realization of the AGRI project.
President Ilham Aliyev said there were 7 pipelines in Azerbaijan which transport the country`s oil and gas in different directions.

The Azerbaijani leader said his country had fully ensured its energy security, which, he added, was part of national security.

The President said this year`s gas production forecast was 28 billion cubic meters, noting the country`s domestic demand was 10 or 11 billion cubic meters.

â€œWe export the remaining volume of gas, with part of it being stored.â€

â€œAnd our export levels do not limit our participation in other projects,â€ he added.

The President said: â€œEurope`s energy security is important to Azerbaijan as well, and it will open up wide opportunities for our country.â€

President Ilham Aliyev noted the importance of carrying out the project`s feasibility study, emphasizing the necessity of involving international financial institutions in the process.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili thanked Azerbaijan for â€œthe high-level organizationâ€ of the meeting.

He praised Azerbaijan`s development, saying â€œit first and foremost serves to improving the people`s well-beingâ€.

The Georgian leader highlighted the importance of the AGRI project. Mikheil Saakashvili stressed the importance of the fact that EU member states participate in the project along with regional countries. He said Hungary`s joining the project will breath fresh air into European Energy security.

Romanian President Traian Basescu said the realization of the AGRI project would create wide opportunities for successful implementation of the European Union Eastern Partnership program. He expressed confidence the project would also contribute to developing cooperation among countries in the Caspian region and European states.

Traian Basescu said there was necessary infrastructure for the implementation of the AGRI project, adding a major issue was building two gas terminals in Constanta terminal in Romania and Kulevi terminal in Georgia.

â€œAnd it means that the AGRI projects is one of the most economical projects,â€ he noted.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reiterated his country`s commitment to the AGRI project.

He expressed confidence the project would mark fruitful cooperation among the participating states.

Viktor Orban said that together with Romania Hungary would make every effort so that the Azerbaijanâ€“Georgiaâ€“Romania Interconnector project justifies itself in Europe.

â€œI believe the project will contribute to the European Union,â€ the Hungarian Premier added.
The press conference ended with a question-and-answer session.