Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, and Italy to Sign International Agreement on Gas Transport to Europe

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. I.Khalilova / Dimitris Sioufas, the Minister of Economic Development of Greece, stated that Greece, Italy, and Turkey have signed a trilateral intergovernmental agreement, which will regulate the implementation and functioning of a gas transporting project via the South-European corridor. The project is important not only for these three countries and the European Committee, as well as for the whole Caspian region, including Azerbaijan.

"Signing the memorandum on cooperation proves the readiness of Azerbaijan and Greece to implement transportation of Azerbaijani natural gas via Turkey and Greece from 2012 and through the water territory via the Greek-Italy gas pipeline to the European market," Minister said.

Greece, according to Sioufas, will become a bridge between Asia and Europe, the bridge of energy, cooperation, development, and peace. "My proposal on signing a quad-lateral intergovernmental agreement between Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, and Italy had been passed by Hilmi Guler, the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, and Pier-Luigi Bersani, the Italian Minister of Economic Development," the Greek Minister said.

The proposal was also approved by Heydar Babayev, the Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development. The Greek Government will deliver to Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Italy the preliminary draft for consultations.