European Council President: Azerbaijan of Strategic Interest to EU

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy has said that Azerbaijan's involvement in the Southern Gas Corridor and Trans-Caspian Pipeline are of strategic importance to the European Union.

In a statement released after a visit with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, President Van Rompuy said that the deepening cooperation between the two was important, and benefitted both Azerbaijan and the European Union.

"Our energy cooperation continues to develop fast as an important positive dimension of our bilateral relationship," he said.

"The ongoing negotiations on the Southern Corridor and on the Trans Caspian Pipeline are of strategic importance to Azerbaijan and the European Union. In this regard, I welcome that Turkey and Azerbaijan recently formalised the understanding that they reached on the Trans Anatolian Pipeline. Clearly, this further strengthens Azerbaijan’s and also our commitment towards the realisation of the Southern Corridor."

Despite this positivity, the European Council President said that there was more that could be done to deepen that cooperation.

"There is, however, still a huge potential to develop and diversify our ties.," he said. "More can and should be done. We should in particular be able to push forward on negotiations on a new Association Agreement, including on trade and investments."