SOCAR President: Transit tariffs will be taken into consideration during the selection of transportation route of Azerbaijani gas to Europe

The contract on gas transit between Azerbaijan and Turkey had to be signed on April 29, but the signing was not carried out, at the last moment, said the State Oil Company’s President Rovnag Abdullayev.

"Signing ceremony was ready, even the journalists attended it. But we couldn’t agree in certain answers, we couldn’t pass those issues and the transit contract couldn’t completed", Abdullayev said.

According to him, the talk is about the corresponding of contract to which legal system: "The talk is about the difference of laws – English law, Turkish law and etc. It’s impossible to solve this problem in a day, now we clarify this issue".

At present, SOCAR’s lawyers are clarifying the issues on this in Europe. About date of signing, Abdullayev noted that, Azerbaijani side was ready for this, but, probably, the signing will be held after Parliamentary Election on June 12 in Turkey: "We’ll continue talks after election and I believe that, we’ll do that in time. Election will not influence the signing of contract".

Abdullayev has also expressed the opinion to EU’s innovations on Nabucco. Remind that, European expert suggested to lengthen the Nabucco project up to Baku, at conference. According to SOCAR President, all of these issues must be researched. "Nevertheless, new pipeline is considered to construct within the Shahdeniz project, that’s why it needs to be considered".

He noted that, agreement on Nabucco in Turkey two days ago, does not have an impact on Azerbaijan: "This event is the passing a decision by several participants, it does not have impact on us. Because of Azerbaijani side does not intend to support that project. Supporting one pipe means to be depended on it. We asked Nabucco to present the tariffs. If we are satisfied with the tariffs, we can vouch for this project with the transportation of certain gas volume. But, there are other projects, too. We’ve to consider all of them".

According to Abdullayev, reduction of transit tariffs in gas sale has an great importance: "Because of the sale price of gas in Europe is the same for everyone. The gas seller is incurred losses when the transit price increases. That’s why we try to decrease the transportation expenses, as we can".


/APA/