U.S.-Azerbaijan Sign Memorandum of Understanding
on Energy Security Cooperation

 

Secretary Rice and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov sign a U.S.-Azerbaijan Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Security Cooperation in the Caspian Region at the State Department. U.S. Department of State Photo

(U.S. Department of State) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov signed a U.S.-Azerbaijan Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Security Cooperation in the Caspian Region this month at the U.S. Department of State.

The agreement expresses the intention of the Governments of the United States and Azerbaijan to convene a high-level dialogue on energy security in the Caspian region co-chaired by the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The high-level dialogue will aim to deepen and broaden already strong cooperation among governments and companies to expand oil and gas production in Azerbaijan for export to global markets. Of particular focus will be realization of the Turkey-Greece-Italy gas pipeline, and potentially the Nabucco and other pipelines, with Azerbaijani gas, to help Europe bolster its energy security by diversifying its natural gas supplies. This Memorandum of Understanding forms an important element in our growing partnership with Azerbaijan, which includes cooperation on energy, democratic and market economic reform, and security.