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Istanbul hosts International Caspian Forum - UPDATED - PHOTOSESSION

Istanbul hosts International Caspian Forum - <span style="color: red;">UPDATED - PHOTOSESSION

06 December 2012 13:34 (UTC +04:00)

APA’s correspondent reports from Turkey that secretary general of Caspian Strategic Institute Haldun Yavas delivered a keynote speech at the event organized by the Institute.

The event aims to develop the regional cooperation, trade and investment promotion. The issues on energy, energy security, transport, economic development, investment opportunities and security will be discussed at the panel meetings.

Officials, experts, representatives of international organizations, companies, media and NGOs from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, the USA, England, Israel, Georgia are attending the forum.

Delivering a speech in the opening of the conference, Former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates noted the significance of energy security for the world and underlined the importance of energy resources under the surveillance of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea for non-stop supplying Europe with energy. He mentioned the importance of energy resources in the Caspian Sea in the restoration of peace and tranquility in Caucasus and noted that the fact that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict remains unsolved, has become an obstacle to regional cooperation in the energy sector. Robert Gates underlined the importance of the demonstration of strong by both governments for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Recalling the democratic election in Georgia last month, Gates underlined that the new government doesn’t need to act with revenge mood. He also expressed his confidence that the presidential elections will be held democratically in Azerbaijan next year.

Making a speech at the forum, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz noted the importance of TANAP project signed in June 26, 2012 for Turkey and Azerbaijan: “We have been holding talks with the European Union on membership, but the EU has not yet started discussion on energy. But at a time when we are experiencing this problem with the EU, TANAP project, which we signed with Azerbaijan, can be a very important factor in the uninterrupted supply of energy to Europe. The economic crisis in Europe creates difficulties in the disbursement of funds attributable to the share of each country in the financing of international projects. There are projects, which we do not participate, but we are ready to provide any assistance in the implementation of projects, which we are interested in.”

Head of the Social-Political Department of Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov, Head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Political Analysis and Information Provision Department Elnur Aslanov, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, President of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic Rovnag Abdullayev, Deputy Transport Minister Musa Panahov, MP, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign and Interparliamentary relations Samed Seyidov are making speeches at the panel meetings.

Awarding ceremony will be held at the end of the event.