site.btaAzerbaijani Gas Supplies Cover Over Half of Bulgaria’s Consumption, Says SOCAR Representative

Azerbaijani gas currently covers more than 50% of Bulgaria’s consumption, a fact that underscores the stability and strategic nature of the partnership between the two countries, said the Office Manager of the Representative Office of State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) in Bulgaria , Rosen Simitchiev. He was speaking Friday at a meeting showcasing Azerbaijani cultural heritage at St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia.

"Some of the volumes supplied by the SOCAR not only satisfy the Bulgarian market but also that of the entire region. The negotiations were not easy, but everything concluded successfully," Simitchiev said.

He added that over the past two decades, Azerbaijan has become a modern, tolerant and dynamically developing country with which Bulgaria maintains stable and friendly relations. He noted that he has worked with Baku for more than 20 years and has witnessed the city’s and the country’s impressive development.

"When you visit, you feel a strong closeness between the two peoples, an exceptionally positive and friendly attitude from Azerbaijanis towards Bulgaria," said the SOCAR representative, recalling the deep-rooted ties between the two nations. "Azerbaijani culture, cuisine and people are remarkably close to Bulgarian. We share similar perceptions, values, and even proverbs. Our traditional embroidery patterns are alike, evidence of ancient cultural ties," Simitchiev said. 

Simitchiev described Azerbaijan as a secular country where multiculturalism is genuinely embedded in society, expressing hope that the partnership between the two countries would expand into areas such as culture, including the establishment of a House of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria.