Natig Aliyev: Azerbaijan supports the Trans-Caspian Pipeline

Turkmenistan's position  in the "Trans" pipeline is very important. If Ashgabat  considers this project  important  to enter western markets, Azerbaijan supports this idea and create all the conditions for its laying through the territory, the journalists were told by the  Energy Minister, Natig Aliyev. At the same time, he noted that the project does not belong to Azerbaijan, and its implementation does not depend on Baku.

"The EU is interested  in the implementation of the project.  Trans-Caspian is an element  of the Southern  energy corridor, designed to deliver Caspian energy resources to Europe. Azerbaijan participates in tripartite consultations and work in  this direction is progress", he said.

Then Aliyev touched upon the issues to be required clarification and refinement. "There are certain difficulties. Thus, Turkmenistan wants to export and sell at least 30 billion cubic meters of gas. The EU should give a guarantee on the purchase of  such volume. The question of financing the construction of the pipeline remains unsolved; and it is not clear who will build the pipeline," said Aliyev.

Regarding the position of the Caspian countries for this project, Natig Aliyev said that Transcaspian is a problem between the two countries, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, and the question on consent of all five countries for the project has not been brought up.

* Trans-Caspian gas pipeline with  length  300 km should connect the Turkmen and Azerbaijani coasts of the Caspian Sea. The European Commission received a mandate from the European Union to negotiate with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. High-level talks with the representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the European Union were held in August this year in Ashgabat. -03B-