site.btaBulgarian President Plevneliev Confers with Azeri Counterpart Aliyev

Bulgarian President Plevneliev Confers with Azeri Counterpart Aliyev

Baku/Sofia, April 28 (BTA) - The gas interconnectors with Greece
 and Romania are a priority for Bulgaria and the country is
working hard to build them, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
 said during a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev,
Plevneliev's press secretariat said on Tuesday. The meeting took
 place during Plevneliev's working visit to Azerbaijan where he
attends the 3rd Global Baku Forum, organized by the Nizami
Ganjavi International Center.

Plevneliev said that the concrete parameters and the funding of
the works on the gas interconnector with Greece have been
finalized and the facility is expected to be completed in 2018.
The Bulgarian head of State voiced a hope that the delivery of
natural gas of 1 billion cu m annually agreed with Azerbaijan
could start ahead of the planned time.

Plevneliev said that the construction of the interconnectors
with Greece and Romania, part of the vertical gas corridor, will
 contribute for Bulgaria's and the region's energy independence.
 The Bulgarian President recalled that the European Commission
has declared the gas interconnectors with neighbouring countries
 as projects of Community interest. They have also been included
 in the EU Energy Union Strategy.

Aliyev urged for concentrating the efforts on the energy
projects whose future has been secured. The two heads of State
concurred that the South gas corridor will decrease the
dependence of Europe and of Bulgaria and the region in
particular on a single supplier and will create competition and
conditions for lower prices.

The two presidents also discussed the opportunities for
cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. Plevneliev said that
Bulgarian pharmaceutical companies have expressed interest to
invest in Azerbaijan and to set up joint ventures with local
companies.

Commenting the upcoming European Olympics hosted by Baku,
Plevneliev said that about 130 Bulgarian athletes will take part
 in the games. He noted the importance of the event and its
impressive organization, thanks to which large-scale
infrastructure projects were carried out in Baku.

Plevneliev visited the Nizami Ganjavi International Center where
 he was familiarized with the work of the organization and the
projects it prepares.