AZERBAIJAN MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND ENERGY MEETS ITALIAN DEPUTY FM

Baku, March 3 (AzerTAc). Azerbaijan Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev met
today Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, Senator Alfredo Mantica.
They discussed ways of boosting cooperation in power industry and prospects for
launching joint projects.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan will further support Italian companies` involvement in oil
and gas projects in his country. The Azeri Minister said the country plans to
deliver its gas to Europe, including Greece and Italy “since it was decided to
develop the second stage of Shahdeniz project”. “We are conducting intensive
negotiations with the Turkish government on realization of the project” he added.
Mantica, in turn, expressed his country`s will to import Azerbaijan`s gas.
He stressed the Italian government highly praises the outcomes of negotiations with
President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Rome.
Mantica said negotiations are underway between Italy and Turkey to ensure the
soonest start of transportation of Azerbaijan`s gas.
He also offered to hold a relevant meeting in Baku with participation of Italian
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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