site.btaBulgarian Parliamentary Chair Confers with Azerbaijani President

Bulgaria's National Assembly Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov conferred with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Monday, the Bulgarian Parliament said in a press release. At the bilateral meeting, Zhelyazkov said that Azerbaijan is a key partner for Bulgaria in its efforts to improve energy security and achieve energy diversification in Europe and the region.

Zhelyazkov leads a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of Milli Majlis Chair Prof. Dr. Sahiba Gafarova.

Zhelyazkov noted that the excellent relations and strategic dialogue between the two countries have become increasingly important for Bulgaria’s diversification of energy sources, especially in the wake of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. He recalled that a Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnector was launched in October 2022, and a gas interconnection with Serbia was inaugurated in 2023, which enabled Bulgaria to receive the agreed quantities of Azerbaijani natural gas and increase its transit capacity. In this regard, Zhelyazkov highlighted Bulgaria's opportunities to increase gas supplies to the Western Balkan countries and Europe along the south-north axis.

He pointed out that a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed in 2023 between the gas system operators of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Azerbaijan with the aim of doubling gas exports from Azerbaijan to the European Union. Zhelyazkov added that the launch of the interconnector between Bulgaria and Serbia significantly contributes to energy security in Europe.

President Aliyev said that the relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria are not only friendly, but they have been promoted to the level of strategic partnership, which has opened a new chapter in bilateral ties. “Thanks to this, Bulgaria had the opportunity to become a transit country for Azerbaijani gas, which is already a fact, and we highly appreciate the partnership in this field,” he added.

Zhelyazkov highlighted Bulgaria's interest in joining the green energy transmission agreement. He pointed out that the two countries have untapped potential in trade and economic relations. The National Assembly Chair noted the key role of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the importance of the opportunities it provides in the context of disrupted Asia-Europe supply chains.

“Bulgaria welcomes the choice of Baku to host the UN Climate Change Conference,” Zhelyazkov said, adding that this confirms Azerbaijan's role as a key player in global energy policy. He confirmed Bulgaria’s readiness to actively cooperate in this international event, including by holding joint preparatory events in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian delegation includes MPs from the Bulgaria-Azerbaijan Friendship Group Desislava Trifonova (GERB-UDF), the Group’s Chair Hamid Hamid (Movement for Rights and Freedoms), and MPs Angel Georgiev (Vazrazhdane), Dragomir Stoynev (BSP for Bulgaria), and Toshko Yordanov (There is Such a People).