Serbia's cooperation with Azerbaijan, in particular in the gas sector and energy transition, will help to advance overall ties between the two countries, Serbian Deputy PM and Minister of Energy and Mining Zorana Mihajlovic said after the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the energy and mining sectors.
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Mihajlovic, who met with her Azerbaijani counterpart Parviz Shabhazov and President Ilham Aliyev in Baku earlier in the day, said the good bilateral political ties would help to advance the cooperation in the energy sector further.
"I am glad the cooperation is based on the friendship between the two presidents and the friendly relationship between our peoples. The conversation with President Aliyev is particularly important, as is the signing of the agreement, and I am certain it is just the first step to all future agreements and contracts," Mihajlovic said.
"The good political relations are accompanied by good economic cooperation, in particular in terms of transport infrastructure, but there is room to take the cooperation to a higher level, especially in the energy sector, and the agreement will boost the cooperation further, in particular in the gas sector, as the Southern Gas Corridor is important for supplying entire Europe and for diversification of supply routes and suppliers".
Serbia has begun the construction of a gas interconnection with Bulgaria, which will be completed next year and enable Serbia to also get gas from Azerbaijan, she said.
"We expect the activation of new deposits of proven natural gas reserves in the Caspian region to secure additional quantities of natural gas for Serbia's needs and that Serbia will become a transit route by building interconnections, which will boost further the stability and security of our country and the region.
Also, the agreement we have signed opens up space for cooperation in the electricity sector since Azerbaijan has surpluses in electricity production, as well as for advancement of energy efficiency and improved possibilities for sharing experiences and technology and for new investments in renewable energy sources," Mihajlovic said. ■