Greek, Azeri FMs promote energy cooperation

It was the third meeting between the two ministers within the year, something that indicates, as Avramopoulos said “the very high level of the two countries’ bilateral relations. The two officials examined the prospect of cooperation within the framework of international oraganisations and Avramopoulos briefed his counterpart on the priorities ahead of Greece’s presidency in the EU that begins on January 1. 2014, as well as the Greek plans that focus on the promotion and enhancement

Both sides agreed to work jointly in sectors that they can have a further cooperation (tourism, trade, culture and energy). The talks focused among others on the TAP natural gas pipeline, a project that Greece along with Italy and Albania totally support.

At a query whether he is satisfied with Greece-Azerbaijan’s cooperation in energy issues, the Azeri Foreign Minister said “The question should not be whether I am satisfied. I would say I am not satisfied because we believe that a huge opportunity that we should develop exists. As I said today the volume of the bilateral trade between Greece and Azerbaijan, only in the last year, quadrupled and reached one billion and most of it came from the energy sector. The main issues of our talks were oil and natural gas. Now we will discuss the development of a more specific cooperation in the natural gas sector. As Mr. Avramopoulos said regarding the start of the submission of tenders on the denationalisation of Greek State Gas Company (DEPA) and Greek Gas Transmission System Operator S.A. (DESFA), you are already aware that the State Gas Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) participates in the competition. Moreover, opportunities for different kinds of investments exist in the sector of energy and energy plants. We also said that a business forum must be established in which energy and other sectors will be included. So, the opportunities exist and the companies and the business world must know that, from the political perspective, we can further enhance our cooperation.”

Avramopoulos welcomed SOCAR’s participation in the privatisation process of DESFA something that certifies that substantial investing opportunities are open in Greece.

Aegean Airlines have already announced that will initiate direct flights from Baku to Greece starting as of May 28.

Asked on Greece’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Avramopoulos said that “the peaceful solution of the differences with respect to the international law and the national sovereignty is a fundamental principle of Greece’s foreign policy as well as of the European Union. The most important is the involved sides to express the volition, the political volition, a solution to be reached through negotiations” concluded Avramopoulos.

Source: AMNA