Azerbaijan-Greece cooperation within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor and the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector is of exceptional importance in diversifying Europe's energy routes and supply sources, Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov said today at an official reception held in Baku on the occasion of Greece's National Day, Report informs.
Elnur Mammadov noted that cooperation ties between Azerbaijan and Greece have developed in the fields of economy, energy, transport, science and education, culture, tourism, and several other areas:
"In recent years, regular productive meetings have been held between our countries at high and highest levels. In October 2022, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during the opening ceremony of the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector in Sofia. Another meeting between the leaders of the two countries took place in November last year within the framework of COP29. This meeting was another significant step towards strengthening our bilateral relations. We positively assess the high-level political dialogue between our countries. In recent years, periodic meetings have been held between the foreign ministers within international platforms, and useful exchanges of views have taken place on issues of mutual interest. I would like to note with satisfaction the political consultations held in Baku in March 2024 between the foreign ministries of the two countries."
The deputy minister emphasized that cooperation in the energy sector is one of the main directions of economic relations:
"According to the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership in the field of energy signed in Baku in 2022 between the European Union and Azerbaijan, an intention was expressed to increase the volume of natural gas exported to Europe to at least 20 billion cubic meters annually by 2027."
Mammadov added that there is mutual interest in developing trade, economic, and tourism relations between Azerbaijan and Greece, including expanding cooperation in the non-energy sector.
"One of the important directions of relations between Azerbaijan and Greece is cooperation in the humanitarian field. Exchanges in the fields of culture, science and education, and inter-city relations are important factors promoting people-to-people contacts. Centers for teaching Greek language and culture operate in our country for those interested in the Greek language, including at our state universities," the deputy minister said.
