Aygul Tagiyeva, Trend Commentator
In modern world, diversification of energy supply and transport routes is the basis of security of not only separate countries but whole regions. Azerbaijan is one of countries, which has managed not only to provide its own energy security at the expense of discovery of large hydrocarbon reserves and diversification of energy export routes in some recent years but also to contribute to an increase of energy security of the regional countries.
One of the most urgent matters the country needs to settle at the moment is diversification of energy supply routes to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which has been in blockade for long years because of Armenia's occupation policy.
Today, one of the key routes of energy and transportation communication with Nakhchivan is the territory of Iran. The political situation around Iran, which has strained in some recent years, causes the necessity of availability of new energy and transport routes leading to the Autonomous Republic.
At the moment, the only alternative route of energy supply and transport link to Nakhchivan is the territory of Turkey. This country has already had experience of cooperation with Azerbaijan over energy supply to Nakhchivan. Particularly, Turkey was one of electricity suppliers to the autonomy for a long time.
Such route can become the basis for the provision of Nakhchivan's energy and transport security.
Another, no less important project is the railway Baku-Tbilisi-Kars that will interconnect the railways of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Project envisions construction of a new, 105-kilometer section with the peak throughput capacity of 17 million tons of cargoes per annum.