Azernews.Az

By Leman Mammadova

Azerbaijan and Bulgaria attach great importance to strengthening bilateral relations and see great potential for expanding cooperation.

Ogtay Asadov, Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament, has met with his Bulgarian counterpart Tsveta Karayancheva, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan to attend the 53rd meeting of the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC).

Asadov underlined the deep roots of relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.

“Even before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two countries had established close ties in the scientific, educational and cultural fields,” he said, adding that after the restoration of state independence by Azerbaijan, these relations began to further develop and reached the level of strategic partnership.

“Political ties between our countries are also high,” said the speaker.

As a successful example of bilateral cooperation, Asadov mentioned the declaration on strategic partnership between two countries as well as the intergovernmental joint commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

He also pointed to the increase in trade turnover between the countries. “There is a great potential for further increase in trade.”

Asadov further stressed that currently, two countries successfully cooperate in the energy sector. “Bulgaria is a participant of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is an important contribution to the energy security of Europe. Azerbaijan intends to develop projects related to the energy supply to Europe through Bulgaria.”

Karayancheva, in turn, expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between the two countries.

The sides exchanged views on the development of educational, cultural, inter-parliamentary relations. The bilateral cooperation in international organizations was highly appreciated, and the importance of further strengthening of the activity of inter-parliamentary friendship groups was stressed.

The diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan were established on June 5, 1992. Both countries are members of the BSEC. So far, 55 documents have been signed between the two countries.

The strategic partnership agreement signed in 2015 opened up new opportunities for cooperation. The two countries also cooperate within the intergovernmental commission on cooperation established in 1999.

The trade turnover between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan amounted to $65 million in 2018, $26 million of which are imports from Bulgaria.

It should be noted that the Southern Gas Corridor project play significant role in the development of relations in the energy sector. Bulgaria expects to receive Azerbaijani gas through Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), a gas pipeline that will be connected to the TAP.

TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor which provides for the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe.

Bulgaria through Bulgargaz EAD state gas company has already concluded a contract with the Azerbaijani state-owned company SOCAR for the delivery of 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year from the second phase of Shah Deniz gas field.

---

Leman Mammadova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz