Azernews.Az

By Fatma Babayeva

Azerbaijan and Bulgaria relations are developing successfully and in the spirit of friendship, President Ilham Aliyev said, naming Bulgaria one of Azerbaijan’s closest friends.

The president made the remark in Baku on May 13, as he received a delegation led by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, Azertac reports.

President Ilham Aliyev recalled with pleasure his meetings with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliyev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov both in Bulgaria and Azerbaijan. The President stressed the importance of the fact that these meetings were held on a regular basis.

Hailing level of political ties as good, President Aliyev added that Azerbaijan is interested in expanding economic cooperation with Bulgaria.

The head of state praised Bulgaria’s high-level representation in the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council, adding that the project is successfully implemented.

President Aliyev further thanked Bulgaria for supporting Azerbaijan’s plans for partnership with the European Union. Expressing his hope over successful continuation of negotiations with the European Union, the head of state said there are good opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two countries, which, he said, was of strategic importance.

The head of state said the bilateral relations were based on sincere, friendly and mutual trust, and pointed to active cooperation in the field of culture.

Mitov thanked the head of state for hospitality and also hailed the high level of ties between the two countries.

The minister said the bilateral relations were friendly and strategic in nature, and noted the necessity of strengthening ties in this regard.

Speaking of energy projects, the Bulgarian FM said the Southern Gas Corridor project was of strategic significance for his country. “This project will open up opportunities for not only Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, but also for expanding Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation,” he added.

The sides exchanged views over the expansion of opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, tourism, information and communication technologies and other areas.

During the Baku visit, the Bulgarian minister also met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov and other officials.

During the meeting, Elmar Mammadyarov and Daniel Mitov discussed several issues such as the current situation in Azerbaijan-EU relations and ways to improve these relations, cooperation in economic and energy sectors, Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and made opinion exchange on international and regional issues.

Azerbaijan and Bulgaria have developed friendly relations after Bulgaria recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in January 1992.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in June 1992 and the embassy of Bulgaria in Azerbaijan was opened in December 1999. In 2014, the Azerbaijan State Statistics Committee reported that trade between the two countries amounted to $124.596 million.

Bulgaria has intention to become main gas transit country for South Eastern and Central Europe.

The diversification of natural gas resources and the routes delivering natural gas to Bulgaria is vital for the country. In this regard, Azerbaijan could become an important partner for Bulgaria. The country continues to put in all efforts to aid in the construction of the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector for the supply of Azerbaijani gas.

The IGB is a gas pipeline that will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, mostly from the second stage of development of Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas and condensate field. The IGB will connect to the Trans-Adriatic pipeline, providing a steady flow of natural gas from Shah Deniz in the Caspian to European markets.

In January 2014, TAP and the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria Company – which is in charge of the development, financing, and construction of the IGB – signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation.

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Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

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