Groundbreaking of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline was held in Kars (UPDATE)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Chief Executive Officer of BP Robert Dudley in Kars.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and BP, as well as joint fruitful activity to develop Shah Deniz gas field.

The sides stressed the importance of the groundbreaking of the Southern Gas Corridor in Baku on September 20 last year as well as TANAP project. The significance of successfully continuing the work on the Southern Gas Corridor project was emphasized. The parties highlighted the importance of TANAP as part of the Southern Gas Corridor project, and noted that all works were carried out on schedule.

The sides stressed the importance of transportation of 6 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey via Shahdeniz-2 project in 2018. It was noted that the work on TAP project successfully continued.

Azerbaijan`s role in ensuring the energy security of Europe was highly appreciated.

The parties expressed satisfaction with BP`s becoming one of the shareholders of TANAP project, and noted that work successfully continued on other projects too.

The sides exchanged views on current state and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and BP.

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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kars.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the successful development of strategic partnership, friendly and fraternal relations between the two countries in all fields.

The sides stressed the importance of the groundbreaking of TANAP project in Turkey. The role of high level meetings in expanding relations was emphasized.

It was noted that important strategic projects involving Azerbaijan and Turkey have made a considerable contribution to ensuring the energy security of Europe.

The sides exchanged views on the bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

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An opening ceremony of Anadolu technical-vocational lyceum after Heydar Aliyev has been held in Kars.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili attended the opening ceremony.

The national anthems of Turkey and Azerbaijan were played first.

Then Turkish national education minister Nebi Avc? addressed the ceremony.

President Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan made speeches.

Following the speeches President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili cut the ribbon symbolizing the official inauguration of the lyceum.

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey signed the guest book.

The heads of state reviewed the lyceum.

There are busts of leaders of the Turkish world Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Heydar Aliyev in the foyer. There are also information boards and photo stands reflecting the life and activity of great leaders Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Heydar Aliyev. The Azerbaijani and Turkish language text of the Decree “On Founding the Day of Azerbaijani Alphabet and Azerbaijani Language”, which was signed by national leader Heydar Aliyev on August 9, 2001, is on display here.

It was said that the groundbreaking of the lyceum took place in May of 2011 with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The construction of the lyceum, which occupies an area of 2.2 hectares, was financed by the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan. All conditions have been created at the complex which is the largest and most prestigious lyceum in the Eastern Anatolia Region. The lyceum consists of 32 classrooms, a 200-bed dormitory, a 200-man indoor gym, an outdoor spots area, a library and two workshops. There are more than 400 students at the lyceum served by 24 teachers.

The presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia planted a tree in the yard of the lyceum.

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A dinner reception has been hosted on behalf of Governor of Kars Province Gunay Ozdemir in honor of the heads of state.

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A solemn ceremony has been held in Selim, the Turkish province of Kars, on the occasion of the groundbreaking of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili attended the ceremony.

The ceremony started with demonstration of a film about TANAP. The agreement on the project was signed in Istanbul in 2012.

The project will link the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline, which starts in Azerbaijan, with several pipelines in the European Union. The project will be carried out in several stages, with the first ending in 2018. The planned capacity of the pipeline will be 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year by 2020, and will be increased later up to 23 billion cubic metres by 2023 and 31 billion cubic metres by 2026. Ten billion cubic metres of the initial 16 billion cubic metres volume will be transported to Europe, while 6 billion cubic metres to Turkey.

The national anthems of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia were played.

President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rovnag Abdullayev said TANAP became a reality thanks to efforts of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Turkey, adding the project would contribute to the development of the countries and prosperity of the people.

Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Amos Hochstein said he was honored to represent U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. He said the U.S. considered the Southern Gas Corridor as the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan gas pipeline process that started 20 years ago. He said the U.S. government attached particular importance to TANAP.

Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic described the groundbreaking of the Southern Gas Corridor in 2014 and TANAP six months later as a remarkable event. Thanking President Ilham Aliyev for supporting the realization of TANAP, he said the European Union puts great emphasis on the project and would do it utmost for its realization.

Turkish minister of energy and natural resources Taner Yildiz underlined TANAP`s importance in terms of meeting gas demand of the European Union countries.

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili said his country placed special importance on the Southern Gas Corridor, adding the project would play a key role in the development of the region. The Georgian leader said TANAP played the role of an energy corridor between Asia and Europe, noting it would contribute to trade tourism and other projects, and strongly assist our countries in ensuring their energy security.

President Ilham Aliyev said: “It is a historical day today, and first and foremost, it is the project of Turkish-Azerbaijani unity.”

The head of state said joint initiatives of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia have always been a success, expressing his confidence that this project would have the same fate too. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan`s important role in meeting Europe`s gas demand.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he believed the project would contribute to peace and prosperity.

Then the foundation stone for TANAP was laid.

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17.03.2015

14:02

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has laid flowers at a statue of the national leader in the Heydar Aliyev Park in Kars.

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12:58

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in the city of Kars, the Republic of Turkey on a working visit.

/By AzerTac/