EU and Azerbaijan agree to cooperate on South Gas Corridor

Such arrangements were reached between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Donald Tusk.

The European Union and Azerbaijan have agreed to cooperate on the Southern Gas Corridor project, according to UNIAN correspondent in Brussels.

Such arrangements were reached between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Donald Tusk who is currently on a visit to Baku, according to the statement of the European Council.

"Azerbaijan is our reliable and strategic partner in the energy field, and we want to take this partnership further. One aim of the European energy union is to exclude the possibility of using gas as a threat. The conflict in Ukraine shows that such threats are still possible," Tusk said.

That is why the EU is dedicated to diversifying its supplies and Azerbaijan is a main partner in this endeavor, according to Tusk.

"Today, we agreed to stand united on developing the Southern Gas Corridor - a project which is in our common strategic interest - and to make sure it is completed on time, whatever our competitors do. For Europe, it is a question of diversifying supply. For Azerbaijan, it is a question of diversifying demand," Tusk said.

It is noted that Azerbaijan has the potential to become one of the EU's major commercial partners in the region. The EU is already Azerbaijan's main trade partner and one of its most important investors. Both parties are committed to expand these commercial relations further in the coming years, according to the statement.

"Good governance and rule of law" are important for creation of a favorable commercial and investment climate, Tusk said, adding that the EU stands ready to assist here, if needed.