The Solidarity Ring initiative will enable the security of supply and diversification across the Central, Eastern and Southern Europe region. Azerbaijan’s participation in this project, as a source of fuel for these supplies, is critically important, Ivan Nachev, political scientist, executive director of the Bulgarian School of Politics.
On April 25, an agreement on cooperation was signed in Sofia among the gas transmission operators of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). It defines areas of cooperation for additional gas supplies to Europe through the improved network of gas transmission systems of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, called the Solidarity Ring.
The political scientist noted that the idea is for each operator to increase the capacity of its system, and not to build new gas pipelines, which will be more efficient and cheaper.
“And so the so-called vertical corridor from Bulgaria to Hungary and Slovakia, which will support the energy security of the Balkan countries, was realized,” he added.
Concerning the development of bilateral relations, Nachev noted that they began with the official recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence by Bulgaria: “The meetings held at a high level - presidents, deputies, chairmen, deputies, etc. supports the process of deepening the relationship.”
“Numerous documents have been signed in various areas. Unfortunately, however, it cannot be said that this has promoted Azerbaijan a lot in Bulgarian society, and I think that work should be done in this direction so that Bulgarians can get to know a better country. For now, in Bulgaria, Azerbaijan is mainly known for the possibility of supplying gas,” he said.
“Bulgaria receives natural gas from Azerbaijan from October 1, 2022, through the interconnector with Greece. This ended the country’s dependence on supplies from Russia. The interconnector has been operating for 13 years since the idea for it arose - in the winter of 2009. Bilateral relations are developing very well. They have a future.”