Elmar Mammadyarov: `Azerbaijan and Turkey are acting in coordination
in pursing foreign policy’

[ 30 December 2012 14:13 ]

`TANAP will have a great importance in the future as a reliable source
in ensuring energy security of Europe’

Baku. Victoria Dementeva – APA. `Azerbaijan and Turkey are two
countries united by fraternal and historical ties. We are proud to say
that the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are at the highest
level,’ Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in his
interview to a group of information agencies, APA reports.

The minister recalled that Azerbaijan and Turkey supported each other
at bilateral, regional and international levels and were acting in
coordination in pursing the foreign policy: `The High-Level Strategic
Cooperation Council was established between the two countries on
September 15, 2010 and one of the major tasks lying ahead is the
implementation of the matters arising from the declaration of this
Council. The high-level meetings of the Council have already been held
in Izmir and Gabala and we are working towards the diversification of
our cooperation. The agreement signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey on
the implementation of TANAP project shows the great potential in joint
activities of our countries.’

The minister mentioned that the two countries have already agreed on
the construction of the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline project
(TANAP): `The gas agreement signed in Izmir last year envisages
constructing a new pipeline for transportation of Azerbaijani gas
through Turkey. SOCAR, BOTAS and Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO)
have established joint Consortium on the basis of the memorandum on
the TANAP project. The other international oil-gas companies will
participate in the construction of the pipeline in the future. `TANAP
will have a great importance in the future as a reliable source in
ensuring energy security of Europe.’

Elmar Mammadyarov said that the cooperation between the two countries
is not restricted to the TANAP project: `Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan laid the
foundation of the new oil refinery `Star’ of Petkim company in Izmir
last year. The joint investment in Petkim and TANAP project will be
about $15-20 billion. Azerbaijan is currently actively investing in
the Turkish economy.’