Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, at a press conference held after his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the capital Baku, emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership in the energy field.
Record Increase in Energy Cooperation
Aliyev noted that since the signing of the Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding four years ago, natural gas exports to EU countries have increased by around 65 percent. 'Today, half of our gas exports go to EU countries, and 10 EU members use Azerbaijani gas. We have the potential to expand this geography further,' he said.
Stressing that energy security has become an integral part of national security, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan has made political, diplomatic and financial investments for years to deliver oil and natural gas to Europe.
Southern Gas Corridor Highlighted
Noting that the approximately 3,500-kilometer Southern Gas Corridor is the most concrete example of this cooperation, Aliyev said that this pipeline system serves as the main route for delivering Azerbaijani gas to Europe.
Trade and Transportation Potential
Pointing out that the EU is one of Azerbaijan's largest trading partners, Aliyev said, 'Over 40 percent of our trade is with EU member states. Azerbaijan is also the EU's largest trading partner in the South Caucasus. Around 70 percent of the region's trade passes through Azerbaijan.'
Recalling that the East-West and North-South transport corridors pass through Azerbaijan, Aliyev said, 'Today, the volume of cargo transported through our country is increasing on all routes. The new geopolitical circumstances require us to further increase the capacity of our ports and railway infrastructure. We are implementing this in a planned manner and with our own financial resources.'
New Steps in Renewable Energy
Aliyev noted that renewable energy has also become a strategic area in cooperation with the EU, and that the meeting addressed solar, wind and hydroelectric projects as well as new electricity transmission lines. He stated that they aim to reach 8 gigawatts of solar and wind energy generation capacity in the next 5-6 years.
Normalization Process with Armenia
The normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia was also discussed at the meeting. Aliyev said, 'Peace has de facto been established and we have begun to see its benefits. To show that peace is not just on paper, we unilaterally lifted all restrictions on cargo transportation from Azerbaijan to Armenia and began supplying fuel, mainly gasoline and diesel.'
Reminding that the peace offer came from Azerbaijan, Aliyev stressed the need for sincere efforts to make this peace permanent and long-lasting, adding that the European Commission's support for the process is valuable.
