European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev signed a deal Thursday in which Azerbaijan commits to supplying Europe with “substantial volumes of gas.”
In the agreement, Azerbaijan promises the EU to provide sufficient gas to enable the creation of the so-called southern corridor bypassing Russia.
The EU said the agreement was an important step in reducing the bloc’s dependence on deliveries from Russia. Baku has not decided yet whether the EU-backed Nabucco pipeline project will be awarded the big Shah Deniz II gas field.
On Wednesday, Azerbaijan agreed to export at least 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year to Iran.
The supplies will start Feb. 1 under a five-year contract, and export volumes may be increased in the future, said Rovnag Abdullayev, head of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, or Socar, at the televised signing ceremony in Baku. Abdullayev didn’t give the value of the contract with Iran.
Exports to Iran could double to 2 billion cubic meters next year, Azeri news agency APA reported, citing Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi.
(AP, Bloomberg)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
