On Thursday, July 18, 2013, the Assembly of Friends of Azerbaijan (AFAZ) hosted an evening reception, entitled “Southern Gas Corridor and its Role in European Energy Security.” Held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, the event brought together over twenty Members of Congress, including one Senator and twenty-two Representatives, U.S. State Department officials, Washington-based diplomats, experts in policy and industry, and members of the media.
This event focused on the promotion of the Southern Gas Corridor, an initiative of the European Commission to route natural gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East to Europe. Azerbaijan is one of the major partner countries for this initiative. Speeches were delivered by various Members of Congress, who expressed their appreciation for Azerbaijan’s contribution to Europe’s energy security and their approval of Azerbaijan’s overall energy policies. The President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Rovnag Abdullayev, also spoke at the event, applauding the United States for playing a significant role in the ongoing development of the Southern Gas Corridor that will provide Europe with alternative energy and will support the economic development of the entire continent.
