Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev and the European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger have signed a protocol on establishing a joint working group to speed up realization of the Southern Gas Corridor project, head of the press-service of the ministry Azer Mensimli said, Trend reports.
The working group will consider all the issues arising in realization of the project. The group will be reporting on the progress to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso once in every two months.
At the signing ceremony Natig Aliyev said that the visit of Barroso is an important moment in all respects. The minister noted the significance of signing of the joint declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.
Natig ALiyev said that the protocol is “a roadmap” for Azerbaijan. Foreign companies interested in the project will be invited to join. The problems occurring in establishing the Southern Corridor will be clarified in legal, political, commercial, technical and other aspects.
Aliyev noted that the main goal of Barroso is energy issues.
The European Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger said that they have done great work to develop the energy sector of Azerbaijan.
The Southern Corridor is a priority energy project for the European Union, aimed at diversifying the routes and sources of energy and improving the energy security of EU. Nabucco, Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, the White Stream, ITGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy gas pipeline) are part of the Southern Corridor.
