Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary sign Baku Declaration on AGRI project

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hosted a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Baku on Tuesday, AzerTAc state news agency reported. Opening the meeting to discuss the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector (AGRI) project, Aliyev greeted the guests.

Speaking about the history of oil and gas production in Azerbaijan, Aliyev said that the republic was one of the first oil producing countries in the world. After the restoration of independence, Azerbaijan began working with foreign companies to develop oil and gas fields.

Noting that Azerbaijan favors multi-directional policy in energy exports, Aliyev said the country has established a good infrastructure and laid new pipelines for the transportation of oil and gas in different directions. Aliyev said that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to regional and international cooperation in the energy sector.

Stressing that the AGRI project opens a new stage of cooperation in the energy sector, Aliyev said this project has great potential. Saakashvili emphasized Azerbaijan's role in regional energy cooperation. He also spoke about Georgia's transit role in energy transportation.

Basescu spoke about the significance of the AGRI project for Romania. He highlighted Azerbaijan's contribution in the energy security of Europe. Orban noted the importance of Hungary joining the AGRI project. He said Hungary is ready to actively participate in the AGRI project.

Aliyev thanked the heads of states and governments visiting Baku, and noted the importance of this meeting for the project. The leaders then signed the Baku Declaration on the AGRI project.


/Trend/