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European Parliament member: Azerbaijan’s open approach to Europe to strengthen mutual partnership

Oil&Gas Materials 13 June 2012 17:40 (UTC +04:00)
Azerbaijan takes a very open approach to Europe, which will contribute to the further strengthening of mutual partnership, Rachida Dati, Member of the European Parliament and former French Minister of Justice told Trend.
European Parliament member: Azerbaijan’s open approach to Europe to strengthen mutual partnership

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 13 / Trend M.Aliyev, A.Badalova/

Azerbaijan takes a very open approach to Europe, which will contribute to the further strengthening of mutual partnership, Rachida Dati, Member of the European Parliament and former French Minister of Justice told Trend.

"Azerbaijan is not only a country full of resources, but a country that also takes a very open approach to Europe, in particular to strengthen our partnership and with regard to the infrastructure projects that we want to develop in the Caspian area. This trade and energy partnership is a stepping stone towards strengthening our political cooperation with Azerbaijan and other countries in the area," Dati said.

Dati has expressed satisfaction following the position adopted on Wednesday by the European Parliament, calling for a strengthening of the energy cooperation between Europe and its international partners.

"I am particularly satisfied with the fact that the European Parliament stressed the need to develop further our relations with countries of the Caspian Sea area," Dati said.

She stressed that Europe's needs in energy are huge and increasing.

"A great part of our energy must be imported. Europe imports more than 60 percent of its gas and nearly 80 percent of its oil. These figures show just how dependent we are on third countries," Dati said.

"With the Treaty of Lisbon, Europe gained a new legal basis enabling it to build a strong common and coherent energy policy." She added.

This policy, European Parliament member believes, necessarily involves a common external action in order to face the challenges of energy security and the diversification of European supply sources.

At present, the diversification of routes and gas sources is a strategic priority for the EU.

The Southern Gas Corridor is the most priority project for the EU, which will allow it to diversify energy supply routes and sources and, therefore, to increase energy security of the European countries. Gas, to be produced within the second phase of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field is the main source for the projects within Southern Gas Corridor.

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