Azerbaijan to become energy pillar for EU
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijan promises to be a reliable energy resource and energy pillar for the European Union (EU), an energy-consumption region with an expanding market and high level of modernization and technological diversity, Stejărel Olaru said on February 3.
The Romanian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs said in his recent interview with Day.Az agency that other energy transportation routes are not as safe as Azerbaijan and this country is a reliable partner for Europe.
"The South Caucasus is a natural bridge between Europe and Asia. This makes Azerbaijan a significant trade and energy hub, a point where resources and business meet, a region where countries also make their major decisions related to foreign and energy policy," he said.
Olaru went on to note that various countries and international organizations are interested in working with Azerbaijan.
This country has regional neighbors such as Turkey and Russia, and actors such as the U.S., EU, and NATO, which are interested in the development of the South Caucasus region, he stressed.
Touching on bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Romania, Olaru said these two countries have perfect ties driven by common interests in strengthening cooperation in political, economic, and cultural sectors.
"In recent years, the relations between our countries have obtained a new content after being raised to the level of strategic partnership. Azerbaijan is the only country in the region with which Romania is connected at a similar level," he said.
The Romanian State Secretary pointed to the declaration on establishing strategic partnership between Romania and Azerbaijan, signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Bucharest in 2009.
"The document defines key sectors, in particular political dialogue, energy cooperation, economic ties and investment opportunities, security cooperation, cultural projects, and cooperation in international organizations. Such a structure gives Baku and Bucharest large and flexible opportunities to cooperate on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues," Olaru said.
He also expressed confidence that Azerbaijan will find investment opportunities and partners in Romania for improving and taking bilateral relations to a new level.
"The next level of our relations, which can be very dynamic and productive, is economy, and we can jointly realize many things. There is a lack of serious bilateral economic projects, and we need to resolve this issue as soon as possible," Olaru noted.
Romania was the second country that recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. Several bilateral high-level meetings have been held in recent years, and the visits of the two countries' leaders have boosted bilateral relations.
Azerbaijani-Romanian relations reached the level of Strategic Partnership in 2009 with a number of contracts signed in energy sector.
Also, Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR entered the Romanian market in 2011 by acquiring 90 percent in Romanian Romtranspetrol, owned at the time by Iulian and Doina Berescu.