Trans-Anatolia gas pipeline construction

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Monday said his country is ready to take the main role in promoting Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline construction, from Azerbaijan through Turkey to Europe, when he payed a official visit to the capital city of Austria. "Azerbaijan is not only supporting but actually is the country which initialed the construction of Southern Gas Corridor," the Azerbaijan president stressed. He also said the door had been opened since his country and Turkey achieved an agreement on the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline construction. "Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline which will cross Turkey from east to west will be financed mainly by Azerbaijan, so we are ready to undertake the main technical and financial commitment," Aliyev addressed. Aliyev see the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline as a win-win strategic deal, since the plan would benefit his country in terms of economy independence in future, on the other hand, Europe would be able to diversify the source of energy supply. The Southern Gas Corridor, which includes Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline, is an initiative of the European Commission for the gas supply from Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe to diversify the source of European energy supply, which significantly depends on Russia currently. Aliyev and Austrian President Heinz Fischer also signed a joint declaration on friendly relations and partnership between the two countries.