Energy cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan was discussed in Istanbul

Today a trilateral meeting on energy cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan was held in Istanbul.

Turkmenistan was represented by Shahym Abdrahmanov, Chairman of Turkmengeology State Corporation, Azerbaijan by Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov and Turkey by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez. At the meeting, issues on the current status and prospects for the development of cooperation between the countries in the energy sector were discussed.

Speaking about the achievements of Azerbaijan in energy sector, Minister  of Energy Parviz Shahbazov said that these achievements are based on the Oil Strategy authored by the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev: “The projects of the "Contract of the Century", “Shah Deniz”, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, TANAP and “STAR” Oil Refinery Plant, which are the contributions of this strategy, are also results of Azerbaijan-Turkey cooperation that lead economic benefits and political advantages. Last year, the transportation of 6.3 million tons of Turkmen oil via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline shows that these projects serve the interests of the countries of the region as a whole."

The Minister highlighted the importance of the visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan in the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in November last year. “Relations based on friendship, effective cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Turkmenistan are developing today and have a strategic partnership character. Today's meeting will contribute to the development of existing bilateral energy cooperation in the trilateral format, the creation of the Turkish-Azerbaijani-Turkmen energy cooperation model, and the realization of the great opportunities of all three countries”, the Minister added.

It was noted that successive meetings of the ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, a number of adopted documents, common regional interests and joint projects such as the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transport corridor, the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) and the restoration of the Great Silk Road form a strong base for cooperation in a trilateral format. The parties also discussed prospects for the development of this format in the energy sector.

A joint declaration on the outcomes of the meeting was signed. The document envisages expansion of existing cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and green technologies, exchange of experience, strengthening ties between companies and research centers of the three countries operating the energy sector including oil and gas industry, and holding exhibitions, conferences and seminars.

Then a joint press conference was held.

A bilateral meeting was also held between Parviz Shahbazov and Fatih Donmez.