AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 14 2004
EUROPEAN UNION INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHMENT OF CLOSE ENERGY
COOPERATION WITH CASPIAN LITTORAL STATES AND THEIR NEIGHBORING
COUNTRIES
[November 13, 2004, 22:55:44]
The Ministerial Conference on Energy Cooperation between UE, the
Caspian Region – Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia – and their
neighboring countries – Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Kirghizstan,
Moldova and Armenia – was held on 13 November at Hyatt Regency –
Nakhchivan Hotel in Baku.
The Conference gathered Energy and Fuel Ministers of the
above-mentioned countries as well as representatives of the European
Commission, international financial structures and TRACECA program,
was open by Director of the EU Directorate General for External
Relations’ Director for NIS Hugues Mingarelli.
He pointed out the importance of expanding of the fruitful
cooperation on use of the Caspian hydrocarbon resources noting 10 new
states joining the European Union has moved the borders of this
organization much closer to the countries of the Caspian and Black
Sea regions.
Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Abid Sharifov let the conference
participants know that onshore oil production in Azerbaijan began 55
years ago, and that large-scale oil and gas projects are currently
underway in the country. 23 oil contracts have been signed to date
with 33 foreign companies, which are going to bring $40-65 mln
revenue to our country, he said.
It was noted as well that Azerbaijan is becoming an important
East-West corridor for transportation of energy carriers, and that
the projects will contrubute to an integration between energy markets
and the EU market.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Mahmud Mammadaliyev
commented on the principles of the state’s fuel and energy policy.
Representatives of Russia, Turkey, Iran, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia,
Kazakhstan, Georgia, Romania and Kirghizstan described the situation
in and prospects of energy field in their countries.
The conference participants adopted the conception on principles of
energy cooperation between the European Union, Caspian littoral
states and their neighboring countries.
With the aim to form two working groups of one representative from
each participating country, consider the working groups’ proposals
and define priority directions of future activities, it was decided
to hold the next conference in May 2005 in Brussels.