Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21
By Leman Zeynalova, Anvar Mammadov – Trend:
There will be no reason for the US to stop the support to the Southern Gas Corridor project, Matthew Bryza, former US assistant secretary for South Caucasus and former ambassador to Azerbaijan, told Trend Nov. 21.
He believes the US President-elect Donald Trump will not want to do anything to change the country’s policy.
“Nobody has a clear view of what Trump’s policy as president will be for the South Caucasus. He hasn’t made any statements about it. In fact, many of his statements about foreign policy have been contradictory,” said Bryza.
The Southern Gas Corridor has far advanced, contracts have been reached to sell the gas, constructions are going on, he said, adding that there will be no reason to stop the support.
“I think there is absolutely no chance that the US will end its support to the Southern Gas Corridor, even though Trump wants good relations with Russia, which doesn’t like this project.”
Bryza noted that the US support now is far less important than it used to be, because, the Southern Gas Corridor is becoming a reality now.
The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian 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 project. Other sources can also join this project at a later stage.
As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of TANAP and TAP.