OREANDA-NEWS.  On December 4-5, Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN) has organized 3rd Caspian Forum in Istanbul. The Forum attended by the government officials, researchers and investors from the countries of Caspian region, European Union, US and Turkey focused on the latest processes in the Caspian region, situation in the world’s energy map and foreign policy issues.

Azerbaijan was represented by head of the Public Policy Department of Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov, SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev, minister of transport Ziya Mammadov, executive director of State Oil Fund Shahmar Movsumov, head of Caspian Shipping Company Rauf Valiyev and other officials. Letters sent by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Abdullah Gul to the participants of the event were read out at the Forum. Azerbaijani President said in his letter these important events can make significant contribution to the deepening of cooperation between the region's countries, growth of mutual investments, and revival of the historic Silk Road, realization of new large-scale trans-national projects, that are capable of changing Europe's energy map. Turkish minister of transport, navigation and communication Binali Yildirim, minister of energy and natural resources Taner Yildiz, Albanian minister of economy and energy Z. Damian Gjiknuri, Slovenian minister of infrastructure and planning Samo Omerzel, BP president on Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia Gordon Birrell, head of Kazakhstan’s railway office Asgar Mamin, as well as representatives of Romania and Iraq made speeches at the Forum.

SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev’s speech attracted interest of the participants. He spoke about the energy projects carried out by Azerbaijan and the country’s role in the European energy security, importance of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) for the region and said these projects would contribute to gas supply of Europe and Turkey. R. Abdullayev said SOCAR undertook the role of flagship in transportation of Azerbaijani gas to the European markets. SOCAR president said 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas would be supplied to European consumers a year and first part of “Shahdeniz” gas would be transported to Turkey in 2018, to Europe in 2019.

The Forum participants discussed the Southern Gas Corridor, Caspian Transit Corridor and development of investment markets in the Caspian region and adopted final statement which pointed out the importance of Caspian Transit Corridor, TANAP’s contribution to peace and cooperation in the region and Southern Gas Corridor’s advantages for other sectors.