Azerbaijan to export gas to Europe

Azeri gas exports to Turkey were a core issue on agenda in President Aliyev’s meeting with the visiting Turkish minister for energy and natural resources Yurdakul Yigitgudan.

Informing the Azerbaijan president of the meetings held in Baku to this end, the minister said discussions on export of Shah-Daniz gas were delaying, which was why the parties had decided to continue the negotiations shortly.

Min. Yigitgudan spoke of his recent trip to Brussels, where he tried to convince European Commission executives of the need to extend the future gas pipeline till Italy, which will help address the needs for gas in Italy, Spain and France.

H. Aliyev said Azerbaijan supports the transportation of Turkmenian gas through the Caspian, Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey, adding that the agreement on this had been signed in Istanbul by presidents of all countries involved, as well as US President.

Later on, however, Turkmenistan “failed to define its position to this effect”, and if the delay drags on for too long Azerbaijan will have to start implementing its own gas transportation project through Georgia to Turkey.

“We can embark on gas exports in 2002”, the president stated, but mentioned that if that issue is also delayed, Azerbaijan can sell gas to Iran.

“Yet, our objective is to supply gas to Turkey”, he concluded.*