Merkel says Azerbaijan helps improve EU energy security
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the presidency of the European Union, said on Wednesday that the EU could improve its energy security with Azerbaijan's support.
"We have a serious interest in expanding out mutual economic links," Merkel said after meeting Azerbanjani President Ilham Aliyev.
Aliyev said he too saw many opportunities for cooperation between his country and Germany, expressing his support for EU mediation in the dispute on the Iran nuclear program.
Azerbaijan has rich oil and natural gas sources. It produced about 5.3 billion cubic meters of gas in 2005.
With Azerbaijan's support, the EU, which is largely dependent on Russia in energy, could improve its energy security, Merkel said, adding that there would be many common points once new gas pipelines were built.
Azerbaijan considers Germany to be its most important partner in western Europe, particularly with a view to European integration.
Between January and September 2006, Germany exported goods worth 352 million euros (about 457.6 million U.S. dollars) to Azerbaijan, compared with 316 million euros in the same period of the previous year.
German imports from Azerbaijan rose to 439 million euros for the period January to September 2006, compared with 230 million euros in the same period of 2005.
Oil is Germany's principal import from Azerbaijan. Germany's principal exports to Azerbaijan are motor vehicles, iron and steel goods and machinery and production facilities.
Source: Xinhua

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