Envoy: Azerbaijan is Bulgaria’s strategic partner

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan is an important strategic and economic partner of Bulgaria, said Maya Hristova, Bulgarian Ambassador to Baku.

She made the remarks at an event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria on June 1.

Relations between the two countries have been rapidly developing over these years, the diplomat said, adding that in the last five years, both Bulgarian president and vice-president visited Azerbaijan four times.

Hristova noted that First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, headed by her, have played a significant role in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, especially in culture.

She thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for assistance in the restoration of Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve in the Bulgarian city of Veliko Tarnovo.

Speaking of energy cooperation, the envoy noted that Bulgaria is pursuing a policy of diversification of energy supplies and in this respect, partnership with Azerbaijan is very important.

Hristova said that Bulgaria fully supports the Southern Gas Corridor project, envisaging supply of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, and confirms that Azerbaijan plays a key role in the project. The Southern Gas Corridor envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe via Georgia and Turkey.

The ambassador also added that Azerbaijan and Bulgaria have a contract for the supply of one billion cubic meters of gas per year starting from 2020.

“The relations between our countries have a great future,” Hristova noted, adding that friendship between the Azerbaijani and Bulgarian people will be a basis for their development.

Azerbaijan and Bulgaria have developed friendly relations after Bulgaria recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in January 1992. The embassy of Bulgaria in Azerbaijan was opened in December 1999.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria over the past five years amounted to about $1 billion.