SOCAR Head Discusses TAP, DESFA with Greek PM

Azerbaijan is increasingly playing a significant role in European geopolitics, with diplomatic meetings with Greek authorities and stronger ties with Hungary advocated by Budapest on Tuesday.

SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev met with Antonis Samaras, Prime Minister of Greece, on Monday to discuss issues related to TAP and DESFA.

‘During this meeting, issues related to the implementation of TAP project and the completion process of the acquisition of 66% shares in Greek National Gas Transmission System Operator DESFA by SOCAR were discussed. Both parties exchanged their views on the implementation of the aforementioned projects,’ reads a note released on Tuesday. 

As reported earlier this month, SOCAR expects the European Commission to take a decision within the first half of 2015 on its proposal to acquire a majority stake in Greece’s DESFA.

Also on Tuesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the European Union for support. Orban asked Brussels some help to build gas pipeline interconnectors that would bring Azerbaijani gas to central Europe. 

"Our job in the coming years is to create the conditions for Azeri gas to make the journey from southern Europe to central Europe," Orban said as reported by national news agency MTI.

Earlier this month, the European Commission asked Hungary to clarify newly-passed legislation that opens the way for it to sidestep EU oversight and push on with building the Russian-led South Stream gas pipeline. 

Over the last weeks, representatives of Azerbaijan met with officials from India, signed a deal with Turkey, strengthened ties with Italy and took part to the meeting of Defence Ministers Council of CIS member states.