Tokyo, 12 March, /AJMEDIA/
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2021 and is still ongoing, has created a very serious threat to Europe’s energy security. Since the start of this military operation, the price of natural gas has increased in the European energy market. Thus, in December last year, the price of natural gas on European exchanges increased by 30 percent, from $560 to $700 per 1,000 cubic meters. This situation is also worrying the Balkan countries, and they are forced to take appropriate steps in this direction.
As is known, according to the agreement signed with the European Union (EU) in July 2021, Azerbaijan plans to increase the volume of natural gas exports to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor to 30 billion cubic meters by 2027. Azerbaijan’s proven natural gas reserves are 2.6 trillion cubic meters, which allows for an increase in gas exports in the long term. In addition, by the end of 2027, Azerbaijan plans to produce 1,862 MW of wind and solar electricity within the framework of green energy projects, which will allow saving 1 billion cubic meters of gas.
Azerbaijan, as a country rich in oil and natural gas, does not hide its intention to enter the markets of Western countries. In this regard, the official visits of President Ilham Aliyev to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023, to Serbia in December of the same year, and his meeting with the Prime Minister of Croatia at the Davos Economic Forum in January of this year created conditions for the development of mutual cooperation.
Also, the “Agreement on Strategic Partnership in the Field of Development and Transmission of Green Energy between the Governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary”, signed in 2022, envisages the laying of an underwater cable between Romania and Azerbaijan through Georgia and the Black Sea for the transmission of electricity from renewable sources. According to this agreement, the “Black Sea Green Cable” project aims to construct a 1,195-kilometer (1,100-kilometer underwater and 95-kilometer surface) submarine power cable with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. This agreement will also lay the foundation for cooperation between the four countries in strengthening national and regional energy security in the Black Sea basin, diversifying supply sources, and capitalizing on the potential for renewable energy production in the Caspian Sea. All this has made Azerbaijan a reliable partner for the countries of the Balkan Peninsula.
Azerbaijan is also an attractive country for North Macedonia, located in the Balkans. At the same time, Azerbaijan attaches importance to the development of relations with North Macedonia, and cooperation between the two countries covers political, economic, and humanitarian areas.
If we look at recent history, we will see that the former President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gheorghe Ivanov, made business visits to Azerbaijan every year from 2015 to 2018 to participate in various events. During those visits, issues of regional cooperation were discussed in meetings with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. During the working visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Buyar Osmani, to Baku in April 2023, issues of cooperation in the field of energy between our countries were discussed.
Also, in 2000, North Macedonia and Azerbaijan established an inter-parliamentary working group, which is currently operating successfully.
During the Munich Security Conference held in Germany in February of this year, during the meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Ceyhum Bayramov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Timko Muchunski, the prospects for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation were discussed. The ministers touched upon the existence of opportunities for the development of economic and trade relations between Azerbaijan and North Macedonia in the energy, tourism and other areas.
Currently, 5 commercial entities with North Macedonian investments are registered in Azerbaijan, 3 of which are active. The agreement on the “Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments” signed between the two states is also currently being implemented.
Many global oil and gas projects of our country are also of interest to North Macedonia. Also, many of the countries with which Azerbaijan cooperates in the Southern Gas Corridor, Trans Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP), Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP) projects also have close relations with North Macedonia.
We can confidently say that the official visit of the President of North Macedonia, Gordana Silyonovska-Davkova, to Azerbaijan will have a significant impact on the further development of bilateral relations between Baku and Skopje in the near future.
Vugar Aghayev
