Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27
By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:
Relations between Azerbaijan and Greece have been very good, but since June last year they are getting better day after day, Greek Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Dimitrios Tsoungas told Trend.
"And this is because in June the Azerbaijani government took important decision concerning the energy sector. So, the pipeline TAP has been selected. This pipeline is going through Greece, Albania and Italy. It will bring natural gas from Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea to Europe," Tsoungas said.
The ambassador also highlighted Azerbaijan's participation in the privatization of Greek DESFA.
"This was only the beginning, as this was only the energy sector," Tsoungas said.
He said the two countries have very satisfactory, conventional, legal framework with a lot of bilateral agreements which are already being implemented.
"There are little bit more, some thirteen or fourteen more which are pending and being negotiated. It is very satisfactory, it is very good. It depends on both sides to implement everything and further promote, develop and deepen our cooperation," he added.
Speaking about the priorities of Greece's presidency over the Council of the European Union, Tsoungas said this will be Greece's fifth presidency over the EU Council.
"So we have a rather long experience. We have set priorities which are not only the priorities of Greece, but also the priorities of Europe. First priority is to create more jobs, to focus on growth and development," the ambassador said. "So we are very much interested in finding ways together with our colleagues and partners in the EU to create more jobs, to focus on this development. Second priority is to deepen economic development and economic growth of the EU and Eurozone".
Tsoungas went on to add that the third priority of Greece is to limit as much as possible the mobility and illegal migration.
"Because all the EU, especially the southern countries, including my country suffer from illegal migration," he said.
We have also set a fourth, horizontal priority for an integrated European maritime policy, which is very tightly linked to the first three priorities.
Greece as a member of the European Union is much involved whatever the EU does for the third countries, the ambassador added.
"Nothing is gifted in the EU, everything is gained. In order for a country to become a member state, it needs a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of efforts. What Greece can do not only during its presidency, but throughout the years is to make Azerbaijan better known to the European Union's public opinion," he said. "You gained your independence in 1991 and we established our embassy in 1992. It became operational in 1993. We know the country very well, well enough. We know what this country has achieved".
The ambassador added that Azerbaijan has achieved a lot of success and this success should be presented to the public opinion of the EU.
"So this is the field that Greece can and will help Azerbaijan. But also through the European policies like Eastern Partnership, for example, we can help Azerbaijan in being better known as well. So this is the message I have brought from Greece and forwarded it to Azerbaijani political leadership that Greece is ready to do what it can in order to help Azerbaijan approaching as much as possible and as soon as possible to the European Union," Tsoungas said.
