Energy Ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria meet in  Istanbul to discuss cross-border energy project 

ArmInfo. The Ministers of Energy of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria convened their  regular meeting in Istanbul on November 22.  According to Turkish media reports special attention was paid to projects focused on creating efficient electricity supply chains.

Specifically, the parties discussed the potential for implementing an underwater  electric cable that would connect the energy networks of the  participating countries and enhance opportunities for electricity  trading, This would also contribute to the development of a reliable  and competitive energy system in the Black Sea region.

The discussion also touched upon the current challenges facing energy  policy, which include the need to diversify energy sources and  increase the sustainability of the energy infrastructure. It is worth  recallig that on September 3, the 8th meeting of the ministers from  the four countries was held in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, The  purpose of the meeting was to implement the "Agreement on a strategic  partnership in the field of green energy development and transmission  between the Governments of Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania  and Hungary ", signed on December 17, 2022 in Bucharest.

This agreement provides for the laying of a cable along the bottom of  the Black Sea, (will take 3-4 years - ed.), with a length of 1,195 km  for the transmission of electricity with a capacity of 1 GW.  Azerbaijani electricity will be supplied through Georgia and the  Black Sea to Romania for subsequent transportation to Hungary.  Bulgaria also expressed interest in joining the project in June 2023.

It is noteworthy that earlier, in the context of the development of  relations between Yerevan and Brussels, EU officials spoke about the  importance of involving Armenia in this trans-border and significant  project of the Black Sea submarine cable. For example, on April 5,  the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen,  mentioned during a joint briefing with the Prime Minister of Armenia  Nikol Pashinyan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the High  Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy  Josep Borrell,  that the EU will invest in Armenia, primarily, in  infrastructure projects, such as  the Black Sea power cable project,  "which presents  numerous opportunities." Additionally, Gevorg  Papoyan, the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, reported  that work is underway in Armenia to create the necessary  infrastructure to support the upcoming processes within the framework  of this project. However, it appears that Armenia is actually being  overlooked as a participant in this international cross-border  project. Independent observers have noted that the country's  isolation persists, despite the painted "crossroads" of its  leadership.