Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend A.Badalova / Greece could play a considerable role in the transit of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, Dimitris Sioufas, Greek Minister for Development, stated in Baku on 2 August.
" Greece is a unique bridge between Asia and Europe. We offer real opportunities for the transit of gas to South Europe," the minister noted.
During the Greek Minister's visit there are plans to sign a Memorandum on Co-operation with Azerbaijan in the oil and gas sector. Greece and Azerbaijan have signed, in Athens, a protocol of co-operation to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries. The protocol was signed within the first meeting of the Azerbaijani-Greek Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic co-operation which took place in Greece. The protocol put an accent on the importance of the Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline that will allow Azeri natural gas into Western Europe. "I am sure that my visit to Azerbaijan will open a new era for economic co-operation between our countries. Currently Azerbaijan and Greece have excellent relations," Sioufas stated.
The commissioning of the gas pipeline, which will deliver natural gas from the Shah Deniz field to Greece and Italy via Turkey, is scheduled for 15 September. On 26 July Italy, Turkey and Greece signed an agreement to construct a pipeline section which is to connect Turkey with Greece and to operate by the end August. Work on the construction of the pipeline section between Italy and Greece is to be launched in 2008.