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WORLD LEADERS GATHERED IN NEW YORK
FOR
CASPIAN FORUM
WHICH IS AS IMPORTANT AS DAVOS FOR THE REGION
Signed under the leadership of Azerbaijan and Turkey, TANAP
was discussed in Caspian Forum New York with the
participation of the Foreign Minister of Turkey as well as
the Foreign Ministers of Balkan and Caucasian countries.
After the first Caspian Forum held in Istanbul in December
last year, Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN) organized the
second Caspian Forum in New York, USA.
The Forum started at 17:00 with a reception at the
world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel which hosted the
President of the USA Mr. Barack Obama during
the United Nations General Assembly week.
Caspian Forum gathered the Foreign Minister of Turkey Mr.
Ahmet Davutoğlu, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar
Mammadyarov , Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of
Greece Mr. Evangelos Venizelos, Foreign Minister of Georgia
Ms. Maia Panjikidze, Foreign Minister of Albania Mr. Ditmir
Bushati, Foreign Minister of Bosnia Herzegovina Mr. Zlatko
Lagumdzija, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of
Croatia Ms. Vesna Pusic, Foreign Minister of Macedonia Mr.
Nikola Poposki, SOCAR Vice President Mr. Elshad Nasirov,
Caspian Strategy Institute Secretary General Mr. Haldun
Yavaş, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International
Energy Affairs, Bureau of Energy Resources of USA Mr. Carlos
Pascual, EU Special Representative for Central Asia,
European External Action Service Ms. Particia Flor, about
400 energy specialists, academicians, journalists and
business leaders. American CBS television’s world-famous
journalist Mr. Charlie Rose participated as the moderator of
the panel.
The Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP)
which was signed as a result of Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s
commitment and cooperation, and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline
Project (TAP) which is a channel for transporting Shah Deniz
natural gas from the Turkey-Greece border to Europe, were
addressed during the Forum that was conducted as a summit.
At the Forum, the Southern Gas Corridor’s advantages for
Caucasus, Anatolia, Balkans and Europe were emphasized.
Deputy Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and specialists
underlined the importance of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas
Pipeline (TANAP) for the Southern Gas Corridor. Moreover,
participants pointed out the contribution of the project to
economy as a new alternative for energy supply to the EU
from the region.
Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN) Secretary General Mr.
Haldun Yavaş made an opening speech at the Forum, and stated
that the Southern Gas Corridor has been realized with TAP
and TANAP projects. SOCAR Vice President Mr. Elshad Nasirov
expressed that Baku produced 50% of world’s oil consumption
in early 20th century. Mentioning that Azerbaijan
contributes to European energy security with TANAP, BP Vice
President for the Region Mr. Alasdair Cook noted that new
employment opportunities will be provided for 30 thousand
people in the region during the construction of the Southern
Gas Corridor. Foreign Minister of Albania Mr. Ditmir Bushati
said “We are looking forward to the implementation of TAP
and TANAP projects for ensuring Europe’s energy security.”
Foreign Minister of Macedonia Mr. Nikola Poposki expressed
that the Southern Gas Corridor will increase the energy
diversity in Europe.
“SOUTHERN GAS CORRIDOR IS A PEACE PROJECT”
Foreign Minister of Turkey Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu gave a speech
at the ‘European Energy Security and the Southern Gas
Corridor’ panel. Mr. Davutoğlu stated that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
and Southern Gas Corridor projects create a basin of peace
and energy independence from the Caspian Sea to
Mediterranean, linking continents. Mr. Davutoğlu also noted
that those huge projects stretching to the Balkans will
ensure peace and development in the region, and the Southern
Gas Corridor is not only an energy corridor but also a
‘Peace Corridor’. Underlining that those energy projects
will turn Turkey into a strategically vital transit actor,
Mr. Davutoğlu said “All in all, Turkey’s most important need
is the domestic consumption. Turkey has a great potential in
this regard.”
Stressing that different energy projects are regarded as
alternatives to Turkey, Mr. Davutoğlu said “all those
natural resources will have to come to Turkey from either
Eastern Mediterranean region or Iraq, or any other region.
Because Turkey is a huge market and the only transit country
which brings together consumers and producers.”
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov
expressed that Southern Gas Corridor has a strategic
importance and it will ensure stability, sustainable growth,
security and peace in the region.
ARMENIA COULD BE A PART OF REGIONAL SUCCESS
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov,
Foreign Minister of Georgia Ms. Maia Panjikidze, Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Greece Mr. Evangelos
Venizelos, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International
Energy Affairs, Bureau of Energy Resources of USA Mr. Carlos
Pascual, and EU Special Representative for Central Asia,
European External Action Service Ms. Particia Flor gave
speeches at the panel. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr.
Elmar Mammadyarov said “Armenia could be a part of regional
success after withdrawing its troops from occupied
Azerbaijani territories.” Mr. Mammadyarov expressed that
Baku-Ceyhan and the new pipeline project strengthen the
independence of the country and said “Southern Gas Corridor
has a strategic importance and it will ensure stability,
sustainable growth, security and regional peace for us.”
On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister of Greece Mr. Evangelos Venizelos underlined that
the two thirds of the Trans Adriatic part of Southern Gas
Corridor extends through Greece, and the country strongly
supports this project in economic terms. BP Vice President
for the Region Mr. Alasdair Cook emphasized
the role that Azerbaijan had played
over 3 centuries supporting energy security in the region.
the importance of partnerships between countries and
companies and
that the project
will provide new employment opportunities for 30 thousand
people in the region.
Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy
Affairs, Bureau of Energy Resources of USA Mr. Carlos
Pascual represented the USA at the Forum, which was regarded
as a proof for international support to the realization of
the project. Mr. Pascual congratulated Azerbaijan and its
partners for their regional cooperation.
HASEN Secretary General Mr. Haldun Yavaş noted that they
invited all European countries to Caspian Forum New York.
Mr. Yavaş said “The participation of countries such as
Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia
and Greece proved that TANAP, which was realized under the
leadership of Azerbaijan and Turkey, means more than just an
energy pipeline. TANAP is the strongest peace project
linking Azerbaijan and Turkey to the Balkans and Europe.”
At the end of the panel, CR Awards were granted to SOCAR
Vice President Mr. Elshad Nasirov, SOCAR Turkey First Vice
President Mr. Samir Kerimli, BP Vice President for the
Region Mr. Alasdair Cook, TAP External Affairs Director Mr.
Michael Hoffman, and Statoil Representative Mr. Kevin
Massey. Institutions and organizations such as SOCAR Turkey,
TANAP, TAP, BP, Statoil, Total, Turkish Petroleum, BOTAŞ and
EUCERS supported the Caspian Forum.
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