Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend A.Gasimova / The project on construction of Trans-Caspian Pipeline for transportation of the gas from Middle Asia to the world market via Azerbaijan will be discussed in Ashgabat in the near future. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Matthew J. Bryza, intends to discuss this issue during his visit to Turkmenistan on 11 July.
He said in Washington at the press conference that Azerbaijan has made publicly over the last few months to expanding its gas production and providing large volumes for export to Greece and Italy. In 2007 Azerbaijan intends to supply nearly 400 mln cu.m of gas to Greece via Turkey.
Commenting the US-Azerbaijani consultations in Washington, Bryza said that the sides focused more on the infrastructure security. "There is a large -- a huge supply of natural gas in the far western reaches of Turkmenistan, which, if the market decides, will make its way to Europe via Azerbaijan. But this is a topic not so much for us today, but it's something we're constantly working on with the Government of Azerbaijan," he stressed, adding that the USA will discuss if it can help Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan build on the momentum they've already created in their relations
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, who attended the press conference, said that Azerbaijan always is pursuing the policy of diversification -- diversified supplies, diversified routes for transit and diversified markets.
"There are several options for future transit of Azerbaijani gas to Europe. Azerbaijan is based on the approach of commercial viability. At the same time, Azerbaijan will be pleased to contribute to European energy security and Azerbaijan will be pleased, maximum possible, to extend partnerships with many countries in European Union," he said, adding that the monopolization efforts will not bring benefit to anyone.