Azerbaijan's role in energy security of Europe highlighted
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan' important role in ensuring the energy security and diversifying the energy supply of Europe has been stressed at the event "The U.S. - Europe Transatlantic Alliance: Assessing the NATO Summit and Energy Security in Light of the Ukraine Crisis" held in Washington.
Organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the event was moderated by Senior Fellow, CSIS International Security Program Stephanie Sanok Kostro and Director and Senior Fellow, CSIS Energy and National Security Program Sarah O. Ladislaw.
Addressing the event, Azerbaijani Ambassador Elin Suleymanov provided an insight into the foreign policy of Azerbaijan.
On the results of Wales Summit, he praised NATO's Final Declaration which supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
The diplomat also touched upon Azerbaijan's successful energy policy. He stressed the historical importance of the "Contract of the century" which opened rich hydrocarbon resources of Caspian Sea to Western markets.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, which were part of the Contract, contributed to the strengthening of regional energy security and further development of cooperation of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia, he added.
Suleymanov said Azerbaijan was an oil-exported country and became reliable gas supplier across the last years. He also spoke about the positive results of realizing Southern Gas Corridor and transport of Shah Deniz gas via Trans Adriatic and Trans Anatolian pipelines for the energy security of Europe.
The ambassador also highlighted ground-breaking ceremony of Southern Gas Corridor to be held during the 20th anniversary of the "Contract of the century".
Director and Senior Fellow, CSIS Energy and National Security Program Sarah O. Ladislaw highlighted Azerbaijan's rich hydrocarbon resources and the role of the country in ensuring the energy security of Europe.
The participants discussed ongoing processes in the region, as well as current security challenges.
They stressed the importance of unequivocal support to Wales Summit that recognizes the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of NATO partnership countries.