Baku News

08-01-2006 - Regnum News - Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov met with the newly-appointed US Ambassador to the country Anne Derse, REGNUM correspondent reports referring to the parliamentary press office. Asadov said during the meeting that due to the efforts of the heads of states relations between the countries reached the level of strategic partnership. According to him, development of the relations is a priority for the Azerbaijani leadership headed by President Ilham Aliyev. "The fact that the US supported projects of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline, as well as other big projects, is highly appreciated in Azerbaijan," he noted. In her turn, Derse stated that US Congress is interested in establishing relations with an independent and strong parliament. "These relations are one of the main conditions of democratic development," the ambassador remarked. Derse highly evaluated protection of human rights and freedoms, as well as democratic development in Azerbaijan. The sides also exchanged opinions on other questions of mutual interest.

08-01-2006 - Regnum News - During July 27 Baku presentation "Strategic Review of World Power Engineering," British Petroleum expert Mark Henstridge said that with the constantly growing demand for fuel in the world, Azerbaijan plays a special role in ensuring energy security, particularly, because of the oil produced in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields and supplied to the world markets through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, reports REGNUM correspondent. Presently the share of Azerbaijan in the global oil reserves is 0.3%. This figure is based on the present volume of oil production. As the production and, consequently, the export will grow, this figure will rise to 1%. Somebody may say that this is a small figure, but Azerbaijan still plays a very important role in two directions, Henstridge said. First, the world demand for fuel is constantly growing, and, by increasing its oil production, Azerbaijan will be able to make its contribution in the matter. If, for example, the world oil demand makes 1.2mln barrels a day and BTC transfers 300,000 tons, in one year Azerbaijan will ensure 25% of the world demand growth. Second, because of the growing demand, the world is considering diversifying fuel supplies and, in this light, Azerbaijan is considered as a new source for ensuring the world energy security, says Henstridge.