Azerbaijan, Turkey preparing European gas breakthrough

However, both of these visits have one common component –gas.

Today, Turkey and Azerbaijan, as evidenced by these visits, being political and economic strategic partners, work jointly to achieve the set goal, that is, to bring the Caspian (including Turkmen) gas to European markets.

Both Azerbaijan and Turkey are the parts of the route that will deliver Caspian gas to Europe, and without them putting this route into practice is impossible.

This is also confirmed by the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s request to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to revive the ‘Nabucco’ pipeline project.

During the talks between Turkmenistan and Turkey, the importance of bringing Turkmen gas to European market and mutual interest in this were stressed.

Today, Azerbaijan, being an initiator of the most practical first alternative route of gas supply to Europe and ensuring the realization of the ‘Southern Gas Corridor’ project, continues to develop the success achieved through coverage of the markets of other Eastern European countries.

The statement made by Bulgaria, which will get gas with the creation of the Interconnector Greece - Bulgaria (IGB), reflects its intention to become a transit country and confirms that access to Caspian Sea gas by East and Central European markets is possible.

Azerbaijan's experience in such negotiations gives the country a certain advantage. In addition, the country is very familiar with the Nabucco project, since it was considered as one of the options for gas supplies to Europe, and if there is sufficient volume, it will not be difficult to implement it.

The delivery of Turkmen gas to the European market by Azerbaijan and Turkey is beneficial for all participants of this project. In particular, Turkmenistan will be able to diversify its export routes and sell its gas at one of the most solvent markets in the world.

Turkey and Azerbaijan also will get financial benefit from the transit of energy resources through their territories, and Europe will get considerable volume of alternative gas, especially after plans by Russia’s Gazprom to bring the Turkish Stream project to its southern borders.

Such tactics used by Russia, in fact, are an attempt to encircle Europe both from the North and South and to further "surround” more than half of the Old World. In fact, today, the Southern Gas Corridor is the only "antidote” to this positioning.