Azerbaijan is interested in greater stability in commodity markets, as well as in the swift resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Middle East. This was stated by Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov in an interview with the Spanish publication 20 Minutos.
According to the deputy minister, Azerbaijan feels some effects of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as instability in the Middle East, including around the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the situation in the strait does not directly affect Azerbaijani gas and oil pipelines that supply Europe.
Mammadov emphasized that these processes cause concern for any country in the region. Azerbaijan is interested in greater stability in the markets and the swift resolution of conflicts.
"However, from a geographical point of view, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz does not directly affect our gas and oil pipelines, since they run from the Caspian Sea through Georgia and Turkey, and then to Europe," Mammadov noted.
As an example, he cited the Southern Gas Corridor, to whose development Azerbaijan gave impetus in 2011. At that time, according to the deputy minister, few believed in the demand for this route due to Russian supplies, but time has confirmed the correctness of the Azerbaijani side.
Mammadov emphasized that there is currently high demand for Azerbaijani gas in Europe. Azerbaijan supplies it via pipelines to 16 countries, including ten European ones, eight of which are members of the European Union.
The deputy minister also noted that Azerbaijan ensures uninterrupted supplies of crude oil and natural gas. In parallel, the country is working on green energy corridors for the export to Europe of electricity from renewable sources generated in Azerbaijan and Central Asia.