Aliyev mulls gas exports with GDF Suez exec
Exports of Azerbaijan’s gas to Europe were in focus
during President Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with Jean-Francois Cirelli,
Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of energy major GDF Suez,
as the Azerbaijani leader started his visit to France on
Tuesday.
Along with prospects for the Nabucco pipeline project, which seeks to deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to European markets, the two mulled ways of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and GDF Suez. The parties noted that the French company is already operating in the South Caucasus republic and participating in some projects here.
GDF Suez holds a 20 percent stake in the project on developing the Absheron oil and gas unit in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR and French Total each have 40 percent participating interest.
According to the website of the French embassy in Baku, during the visit, President Aliyev is expected to meet with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, the chairmen of the country’s National Assembly and Senate. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will give a dinner in honor of the Azerbaijani leader.
During the meeting with Kouchner, the parties will focus on issues of international importance, Iran’s nuclear program, the state of talks on settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, and bilateral relations.
Baku and Paris are expected to sign agreements on lifting visas for short visits by diplomats and on technical cooperation in the area of taxes.
This is President Aliyev’s eighth visit to France.
Azerbaijan is considered France’s top trading partner in the South Caucasus region.
Along with prospects for the Nabucco pipeline project, which seeks to deliver Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to European markets, the two mulled ways of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and GDF Suez. The parties noted that the French company is already operating in the South Caucasus republic and participating in some projects here.
GDF Suez holds a 20 percent stake in the project on developing the Absheron oil and gas unit in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR and French Total each have 40 percent participating interest.
According to the website of the French embassy in Baku, during the visit, President Aliyev is expected to meet with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, the chairmen of the country’s National Assembly and Senate. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will give a dinner in honor of the Azerbaijani leader.
During the meeting with Kouchner, the parties will focus on issues of international importance, Iran’s nuclear program, the state of talks on settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, and bilateral relations.
Baku and Paris are expected to sign agreements on lifting visas for short visits by diplomats and on technical cooperation in the area of taxes.
This is President Aliyev’s eighth visit to France.
Azerbaijan is considered France’s top trading partner in the South Caucasus region.
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