Baku, Azerbaijan, May 18
Trend:
Azerbaijan is already playing an important role for the energy security of Europe, President Ilham Aliyev said at the opening ceremony for the 3rd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.
"Azerbaijan plays a very positive role on the regional scale," he said. "Our initiatives are aimed towards strengthening regional cooperation, issues related to energy security."
He added that Azerbaijan's projects and initiatives go far beyond the region.
"These are the projects that connect countries and continents," he said.
President Aliyev said that if one looks at the transportation infrastructure, Azerbaijan is restoring a historic Silk Road, building a new railroad connection between Europe and Asia.
"We actually invest not only in economic development, and in better transportation facilities, but also in the people-to-people contact," he said.
The president went on to add that all of Azerbaijani projects related to economic and social development strengthen regional cooperation and mutual understanding between the countries and peoples.
President Aliyev added that Azerbaijan has invested a lot in economic and political transformation.
"When we became independent, we had to build a state, we had to transform political system, and therefore political and economic reforms were implemented in parallel," he said.
"We realized that energy resources will not be sufficient to provide Azerbaijan's sustainable development," President Aliyev said.
The president said Azerbaijan has been carrying out a very accurate economic policy, based on the country's natural resources and potential.
"It allowed us to achieve what we've planned in the very beginning of our independence," he said. "That is, economic independence."
President Aliyev said Azerbaijan has a very low foreign debt, which comprises only around 10 percent of GDP. The country doesn't depend on donors, sponsors, or financial assistance from international financial institutions.
"We managed to achieve the maximum degree of energy security of Azerbaijan and now we provide energy security for others," he said.
Azerbaijan is the initiator of the Southern Gas Corridor project, which will ensure Caspian gas supply to the European markets for the first time in history. This large project aims at diversifying the routes and sources of energy supply that will enhance the energy security of Europe.
At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the second phase of development of Azerbaijani gas condensate Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor project. At a later stage, other sources may join the project.
The gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of the field's development will be exported to Turkey and to the European markets by means of expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and construction of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
Around six billion cubic meters of the total volume of gas within the Shah Deniz-2 project will be delivered to Turkey and 10 billion cubic meters to Europe per year.