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EU, Azerbaijan confirm commitment to negotiations with Turkmenistan on Trans-Caspian Pipeline

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The EU-Azerbaijan cooperation in the energy sector was discussed in Brussels on Monday, Council of the EU reported.
During the thirteenth meeting of the Cooperation Council between the EU and Azerbaijan the sides confirmed their commitment to the negotiations with Turkmenistan on the construction of the Trans-Caspian Pipeline.
Trans-Caspian gas pipeline running to around 300 kilometres will be laid from the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijani, where it will be linked to the Southern Gas Corridor. Negotiations between Turkmenistan and the EU and other countries on the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline have been on-going since the late 90s.
In September, 2011 the EU Council gave a mandate for negotiations between the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to build the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. However, later, Iran and Russia expressed negative attitude toward this project. Tehran and Moscow think that the pipeline construction will damage the Caspian Sea environment.
The Cooperation Council also welcomed the Azerbaijani Parliament’s ratification the bilateral agreements with Turkey on the construction and operation of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), as part of the Southern Energy Corridor. TANAP project envisages construction of the pipeline from the eastern border of Turkey to the country’s western border to supply gas from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas field to Europe through Turkey.
Both sides confirmed the importance of the Southern Corridor and its contribution in
reaching the common objective of energy security and the security of energy transportation from the Caspian Sea to the EU.
The Southern Gas Corridor is a major energy project for the EU. It is intended to diversify routes and sources of supply. It is aimed at ensuring EU energy security. Gas which will be produced during the second stage of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field development is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects.