President says Azerbaijan will hence take active part in ensuring energy security of its partners

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.4 / Trend/

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended Munich Security Conference`s "Energy, Resources, and the Environment: New Security Parameters" panel discussion on Feb.3.

Azerbaijan`s first lady Mehriban Aliyeva was among the participants in the event.

The panel discussion`s moderator introduced the Azerbaijani President as the keynote speaker.

President Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan`s oil production traditions, saying the country was first to produce industrial oil.

The president said Azerbaijan attached a particular emphasis to diversifying energy transportation routes.

The Azerbaijani leader said Azerbaijan was also known as a country with huge gas reserves, adding the country`s current proven gas reserves were more than 2.5 trillion cubic meters.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan placed a particular significance to ensuring energy security.

He noted Azerbaijan with its diversified oil and gas pipelines played key role in ensuring energy security of its partners.

The president stressed the importance of an agreement on the Southern Gas Corridor which he signed with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Baku in 2011. He said the agreement opened up wide opportunities for Azerbaijani gas to enter European markets through Turkey.

The Azerbaijani leader said energy security already became an important issue of national security.

President Aliyev said his country attached a particular emphasis to environmental protection and to creating and developing alternative energy sources.

The president said Azerbaijan would continue playing its role in ensuring energy security of its partners.

Other speakers at the panel discussion included European Union Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and others.