Azerbaijan, Baku, March 18 /Trend, E.Ostapenko/
U.S. successfully cooperates with Azerbaijan on energy issues, the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza said in an interview with Trend on March 18.
"Firstly a corridor was created to export oil from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Now a new generation of investments helps Europe diversify gas supplies," Bryza said.
He said today there is a need to address the issues of transit and gas sales. In addition, it needs to implement the agreement on gas transit, which was concluded between Turkey and Azerbaijan in June last year.
"We hope that both countries will soon settle the question," Bryza said.
He also said that currently the process of opening direct flights between the U.S. and Azerbaijan is going on successfully.
"Now the process is moving well enough. I am satisfied with this process," Bryza said.
The ambassador said the issue of opening direct flights between the two countries was discussed between him and the relevant authorities of Azerbaijan, particularly with the President of JSC Azerbaijan Airlines Jahangir Askerov.
The ambassador also said that the U.S. has provided technical support to assist Azerbaijan in working on these issues.
Over next years, Azerbaijan will receive new planes under a contract with Boeing, including two Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The acquisition of these planes will enable Azerbaijan Airlines to carry out flights, particularly to the U.S.
Talking about the cooperation between the U.S. and Azerbaijan, Bryza said that the two countries have many opportunities in different sectors of the economy, particularly in the agricultural sector.
"The agricultural business is an important way to diversify the country's economic growth and improve living conditions," Bryza said.
The ambassador said Azerbaijan also has great potential to develop renewable energy sources.
Bryza said the development of wind energy could be promising.
"I have heard about some proposals from various entrepreneurs who sounded like quite promising," Bryza said.
He expressed hope that the entrepreneurs can work with local executive powers to ensure confidence in the attractiveness of the business climate in the country for wind energy projects.
Today, the development of alternative and renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan is one of the priorities for the energy sector.