Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend K.Ramazanova / The signing of an agreement between USA and Azerbaijan with regards to the development of a feasibility study for the construction of the Trans-Caspian oil and gas pipelines, which connects Middle Asia and Azerbaijan is the beginning of a new stage of energy security in the Caspian, said the US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, Daniel Sullivan.
He stressed that USA supports Azerbaijan's independence and development. "The leading role of Azerbaijan in ensuring global energy security, its strategic role in the markets of Europe and Central Asia makes Azerbaijan a key partner of the USA. The USA supports Azerbaijan's entrance into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is interested in holding bilateral talks. The USA is interested in developing the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan and it is a long process," he said.
Speaking of the NABUCCO project, Sullivan stated that Azerbaijani gas will play an important role in realizing the project. According to him, Turkmenistan is also interested in developing its energy sector and Trans-Caspian routes which will provide an opportunity for the Country to deliver its oil to the West. Touching up on possible obstacles by the Russians, he said that Russia and USA are in close co-operation and this would contradict the principles of G8.