APA news agency ,
19 November 2007

"I am very glad that Azerbaijani gas is for the first time delivered to European Union market," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said attending the inauguration of Turkey-Greece gas pipeline in Turkish customs area of Ipsala.

The president said that the energy cooperation passed to a new format, and all necessary measures will be taken to ensure cooperation, security, as well as energy security. The head of state mentioned exploration and development of big gas fields, as a result of which the country's gas is exported to the markets of the neighboring countries.

"Azerbaijan exports gas to Georgia, Turkey and as from today to Greece. Azeri gas will be exported to other countries and will ensure both our interests and the interests of the transit countries. The cooperation of the three countries is observed in this format: producer, transit country and consumer. The three sides unite their efforts in unique format. The interests of the three sides are fully ensured and I am sure that it may serve as an example for all other regions. The head of state said that Azerbaijan has broad oil and gas resources. We intend to produce 1 trillion 200 billion c/m gas in Shahdeniz gas field only. There are a lot of reserves in other Azerbaijani gas fields, but asserted amount by now is 2 trillions c/m. But we know from our former experience that these amounts will be increased as soon as new wells are dug," he said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev appreciated commissioning Turkey-Greece gas pipeline as significant case in the frame of Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation.

"EU and Azerbaijan signed memorandum of understanding on strategic partnership on energy issues and we are engaged in the execution of this memorandum for already a year. Energy cooperation between EU and Azerbaijan was signed and Greece has a great role in it. Greece is the first country of European Union which cooperates with us in this field and we are satisfied with this cooperation," he said.

The head of the state stated that Europe-Azerbaijan dialogue will be strengthened next years.

"Our energy cooperation with EU member-states will be continued. New projects will be implemented. We are participating actively in all projects as oil, gas producing country and we are able to implement these projects along with our partners," he said.