Azeri prez to discuss energy security, eurointegration in Brussels.

BAKU, June 22 (Itar-Tass) - The role of Azerbaijan in ensuring the
energy security of Europe will be discussed during President Ilkham
Alieyev's visit to Brussels. The visit begins on Wednesday.
According to diplomatic sources, Azerbaijan's Head of State, when in
Brussels, will meet with Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European
Union (EU), Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and
Stefan Fuele, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood
Policy. The meetings are expected to focus on matters concerning
Azerbaian's participation in the Southern gas corridor projects,
specifically the implementation of the Nabucco project which is being
lobbied by the EU.
Azerbaijan has not taken so far a final decision on its participation
in any of the projects that are part of the Southern gas corridor,
including Nabucco. Official representatives of the country's state-run oil
companies maintain that such a decision may be made in October or before
the end of 2011. Within the period, Azerbaijan must determine which of the
three projects -- Nabucco, the Turkey-Greece-Italy and Trans-Adriatic gas
pipelines is preferable to it.
Meanwhile, the EU and the US which supports it hope that Azerbaijan
will give a positive reply on the question of its participation in
Nabucco. Such statements were made public by high officials of the
European Commission and the American administration at the Caspian Oil and
Gas--2011 international conference in Baku early this month. Western
partners which prioritize Nabucco expect to draw gas into the pipeline
from the Azerbaijani offsore deposit Shah Deniz within the scope of the
second phase of development which is to begin in 2017. The implementation
of this phase will make it possible to boost the annual production of gas
from the deposit by 16,000 million cubic metres, bringing it up to a
total of 25,000 million cu. m., with Azerbaijan's domestic requirements
being 11,000-15,000 million cu. m.
The carrying capacity of the Nabucco gas trunk line with a tentative
cost of 7,900 to 14,000 million euros will be 31,000 million cu. m. a
year. At the initial stage it is planned to pump up to 10,000 million cu.
m. of Azerbaijan-produced gas from the Shah Deniz deposit. At subsequent
stages, Nabucco shareholders hope to draw gas from Turkmenistan and Iran
into the pipeline, as well as from other deposits of Azerbaijan which are
being developed by state-run oil companies on their own or with the
assistance of Western companies.
According to official data, exractable reserves of gas in Azerbaijan
are estimated at 2,000,000 million cu.m.. whereas potential ones are
viewed to be twice as great.
During the upcoming meetings with the EU leadership President Aliyev
is also expected to discuss matters concerning Azerbaijan's integration
into European institutions, including that under the Eastern Partnership
programme. The Azeri leader is also to visit the European parliament for a
meting with its president Jerzy Buzek. Baku is carrying on talks with the
EU on an Association Agreement which provides, in particular, for
expansion of trade contacts, the streamlining of visa arrangements for the
citizens of Azerbaijan, and the development of democratic processes in the
country.
While in Brussels, Ilkham Aliyev will also take part in the opening of
the 22nd international forum Crans Montana which is a prestigious floor to
discuss curreent political and socio-economic global and regional
problems. Within the scope of the forum there will be Azerbaijan's
presentation, including that of its investment resources, potential for
tourism, economic diversification experience resultant of an effective
use of proceeds from the sale of oil, diplomatic sources report. It is
also expected that Azerbaijan will draw attention to the country's
increasing role in the provision of energy resources to Europe.
President Aliyev is being accompanied during the trip by the heads of
a number of key ministries and agencies of the country.
EU Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger is expected to deliver a
report at the forum on the theme of "Azerbaijan: Europe's Forward
Lighthouse in the East" .