Ilham Aliyev about how Azerbaijan managed to achieve most advantageous conditions in big pipeline project

We have done a very active work and started implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made this statement at the session of the Cabinet of Ministers on January 10, 2015, which was devoted to the results of socio-economic development in 2014, reported web site www.president.az.

Azerbaijani President said that we have done a lot of work related to implementation of this project.

“If it is not Azerbaijan’s strong will, this project would have never been implemented,” added Ilham Aliyev.

Azerbaijani President said: “Azerbaijan is the author of the Southern Gas Corridor project. Azerbaija is also the driving force of the project. Everybody must know that.”

Ilham Aliyev reminded that the foundation of the Southern Gas Corridor was laid in September 2014. “This is a historical event. The project will accelerate our long-term development even more. This project is equal to the Contract of The Century (Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli project).  This project is now called Project of the 21st Century, said Azerbaijani President.

Ilham Aliyev also said that “we have managed to achieve the most advantageous conditions for Azerbaijan within the framework of international cooperatioon.”

He also emphasized cooperation between Azerbaijan and its partners. “We would not be able to implement this project without our partnes. The proejct will demand more coordination, because many countries and companeis are involved in it.”

He said three countries – Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey – participated in implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, but now about 10 countries will be involved in implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project.

“For this reason this is a historical event. Azerbaijan has demonstrated its leadership skills in this field,” said President.

Having stresed that political and economic interests of the country will be guaranteed, Ilham Aliyev addd that Azerbaijan is turning into the counry irreplaceable for the European consumers.

“What does this mean? There is no need to explain it for a long time. We play our role in safeguarding energy safety of Europe. This role will be growing gradually, because Azerbaijan is the only new source of gas for Europe. We have undertaken such a responsibility. I am sure that we will sccessfully implement the project as well, because until now there have been no projects, which we would have started and failed to implement. I am sure the Southern Gas Corridor  will be also fully impemented,” said Ilham Aliyev.

* Implementation of the Shah Deniz Phase 2 project worth $28 billion started on December 17, 2013. 16 billion cub.m. of gas extracted within this project (6 billion cub.m. of gas to Turkey and 10 billion cub.m. of gas to Europe) will be exported via the Southern Gas Corridor, foundation of which was laid near Baku on September 20, 2013. The imfrastructure with a total length of 3600 km includes three different pipelines projects, such as expansion of the Southern Caucasian gas pipeline, TANAP and TAP.—0—