Azerbaijan, Malta agree on strategic energy cooperation - UPDATE
By Gulgiz Dadashova
Azerbaijan and Malta reached a new level of cooperation in the energy sector by undersigning documents on cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
The documents were signed as part of a Baku visit of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who was accompanied by a governmental delegation, on December 15. The long-term gas supply was the main topic of Muscat's Baku visit.
President Ilham Aliyev, who received the delegation earlier, said this visit created a good opportunity for defining prospects of the bilateral ties.
The two leaders discussed the investment opportunities that exist in both countries, particularly in the commerce, energy, transport and tourism sectors. They also discussed cooperation in the Mediterranean.
Expressing his pleasure with the expansion of the cooperation, Muscat noted relations with Azerbaijan have become more important after the EU started regarding the country as a strategic partner on the energy sector.
Muscat said Malta aims to open up more opportunities in the Mediterranean because it can serve as a bridge between Africa and Europe. Malta also supports wider cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.
Noting that active work is carried out on a number of documents
for a further expansion of relations between the two countries,
Muscat stressed the significance of a Memorandum of Understanding
to be signed with Azerbaijan.
President Aliyev said political relationships should yield
practical results, in both countries. The head of state emphasized
the importance of developing cooperation between the two countries
within the European Union.
“Economic relations with Malta would contribute to the regional cooperation,” President Aliyev said.
A memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation in the oil and gas sector between SOCAR and the Energy and Health Ministry of Malta was signed by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi.
A memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of strategic cooperation in the oil and gas sector between the Energy Ministry of Azerbaijan and Energy and Health Ministry of Malta has been signed as well. The document was inked by Energy Minister of Azerbaijan Natig Aliyev and Konrad Mizzi.
The main areas of the strategic cooperation will focus on oil
and gas exploration, sourcing and logistics of petroleum products,
trading in energy commodities in the Mediterranean region,
development of new regional infrastructure, and innovative LNG
services. Business planning will commence and will involve the
respective ministries and SOCAR.
The signing was presided over by Joseph Muscat and his Azerbaijani
counterpart Artur Rasi-zade.
Muscat said that Azerbaijan is turning into an important trade partner for Malta, nothing that the documents, signed between the two countries, create good conditions for expanding the cooperation.
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