issues concerning the region, the Southern Gas
Corridor and, more specifically, the Trans Adriatic
Pipeline (TAP). Mr. Lafazanis underlined that the
Greek Government is fully in support of the TAP
project and is prepared to work for its earliest pos-
sible construction.
He was also welcomed at the Presidential Palace
by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with
whom he discussed the broader context of coop-
eration between the two countries, expressed the
mutual belief in good relations between them and
The government is also in favour of the TAP natural
gas pipeline, albeit demanding additional offsetting
benefits.
The Minister visited Azerbaijan on February 12,
and participated in the works of the first meeting
of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas
Corridor, accompanied by the CEO of DEPA,
Spyros Paleoyannis and Greece’s Ambassador in
Baku, Dimitris Tsoungas.
In his speech, delivered at the plenary of the
Council, the Minister referred to energy-related
Trade with Greece
104
