details added (first version posted at 15:39)
Baku, Azerbaijan, July 11
By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:
Being a strategic partner and friend of Azerbaijan, the US will continue cooperating on the Southern Gas Corridor project and other projects to be implemented in the future, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the US Department of State Amos Hochstein told reporters July 11.
"Today, the delegation has met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev," he said. "We have discussed the energy security and the role of Azerbaijan and the US in partnership, Azerbaijani gas supply to Europe. This is part of the solution to the energy security problem of Europe."
"Under the leadership of President Aliyev, Azerbaijan has played an important role in transforming an idea into reality," he said. "The Southern Gas Corridor is being formed. The pipelines are being constructed. We are looking forward to its implementation. As a strategic partner and friend of Azerbaijan, the US will continue working with Azerbaijan on this and other projects in the future. The relations between the two countries are very strong. We intend to collaborate on further projects."
The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian Sea region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.
At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.
As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.
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