A meeting was held in Baku of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, the Romanian President Traian Băsescu, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was held in Baku.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev greeted the Presidents of Romania and Georgia and the Prime Minister of Hungary in the building where the meeting was held. Before the meeting, an official group picture was taken of the participants.
Opening the meeting devoted to the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector Project (AGRI), Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the guests.
Speaking about the history of oil and gas production in Azerbaijan, the head of the state highlighted the fact that our country was one of the world’s first oil producing countries. After restoring its independence, Azerbaijan had launched cooperation with international companies to develop the oil fields.
Pointing out that Azerbaijan holds to a policy of diversifying energy corridors, President Ilham Aliyev said that a fine infrastructure had been created and new pipelines constructed in order to transport oil and gas in various directions.
The head of the state asserted that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to regional and international cooperation in the field of energy.
Stressing that the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector project opens up a new stage of energy cooperation, President Ilham Aliyev declared that the project has great potential.
The President of Georgia referred to Azerbaijan’s special role in regional energy cooperation. He spoke of Georgia’s transit role in energy transportation.
President Traian Băsescu of Romania said his country attaches great importance to the AGRI project. He underlined the benefits Azerbaijan brings to European energy security.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary stressed that it would mean much to his country to join the project. The Prime Minister noted that Hungary is ready to participate actively in the AGRI project.
Azerbaijan’s President again thanked the heads of state and government for visiting Baku and said the meeting was very important for the implementation of the project.
Later, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Industry and Energy, Natig Aliyev, delivered a speech at a presentation devoted to the AGRI project.
The meeting continued with an exchange of opinions.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Romanian President Traian Băsescu, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed the Baku Declaration on AGRI project.
Afterwards, the heads of state and government held a joint press conference.
President Ilham Aliyev congratulated everyone on signing the Baku Declaration. He noted that the countries had reached a positive end as a result of their hard work. “We are on the verge of a great development and have great determination,” President Ilham Aliyev stated, saying that our country possesses a giant energy infrastructure. The head of state also noted that our country has uncommon experience in the field of energy and that a balance of everyone’s interests is an important condition for the realisation of the AGRI project.
“We are writing history here”, said President Ilham Aliyev, and he emphasised that diversification is a crucial element of energy security. There are currently 7 oil and gas pipelines in Azerbaijan; they transport the country’s oil and gas to different destinations.
President Ilham Aliyev mentioned that Azerbaijan is now fully energy-self-sufficient. Energy security as an integral part of national security is influences hegemony within the world. Pointing out that this year the country intends to produce 28 bn cu m of gas, the head of the state said that annual local demand amounts to 10-11 bn cu m. The remaining volumes are processed and put into storage. Production levels in Azerbaijan do not preclude participation in other projects.
“Azerbaijan is interested in European energy security and ensuring this security will bring new opportunities to our country,” President Ilham Aliyev said. He also noted that the feasibility study and financial aspects of the project are crucial and it is important to involve international financial institutions in these areas.
The President of Georgia thanked the Azerbaijani side for the high-level of organisation. He said that he encounters innovation every time he visits Azerbaijan. This shows that Azerbaijan’s development serves its people first of all. Georgia’s head of state spoke about the importance of participation, not only by regional countries, but also by member states of the EU in the AGRI project, which is a great development. Hungary’s inclusion in the project would open new dimensions for European energy security.
President Traian Băsescu of Romania stated that the commencement of this project creates wide opportunities for the successful realisation of the EU’s Eastern Partnership programme. The project would also give impetus to cooperation between the Caspian region and Europe. “Hungary’s inclusion in the project will provide it with sturdier reliability,” Traian Băsescu pointed out, declaring that the rationale for this unique project is efficiency, not politics.
Traian Băsescu said the basic infrastructure for the project already exists and it is important to construct two gas terminals: at Romania’s Constanta and Georgia’s Kulevi terminals. This demonstrates that the project is most economical. When the feasibility study is ready, the financial issues will be resolved. Private capital will be invited to share in the construction of the terminals.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary said he was happy to visit Azerbaijan. He expressed confidence that collaboration on the project will be marked by its efficiency and he said that Hungary supports the project.
Viktor Orbán was sure that the project will justify itself on the European continent and declared his confidence that the EU will benefit from it.
The heads of state and government then responded to journalists’ questions.
