The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Zlatko Lagumdžija, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania Aldo Bumçi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro Igor Lukšić and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Croatia Joško Klisović signed yesterday in Tirana a Memorandum of understanding between Albania, Croatia, BiH and Montenegro for the support and cooperation in the realization of the project of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline Project (TAP) and the Ionin Adriatic Pipeline Project (IAP), reports FENA.
Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha, representatives of Greece, Italy, Azerbaijan and Turkey attended the signing ceremony and after that a press conference was held.
With this Memorandum, the full support was given to countries who signed it in development of TAP project as an integral part of the Southern Pipeline Corridor which is also a fundamental element for long term security of supply and diversification of gas resources. The memorandum also supports plans of the EU for diversification of transport lines and security of supply in Europe as well as full support to IAP project.
TAP is the project of the main regional pipeline which will transport Azeri gas from Greece to Italy through Albania and Adriatic and the Agreement on TAP was signed in February 2013 in Athens.
After the ceremony, Lagumdžija expressed his satisfaction because the Memorandum was signed and noted that Adriatic- Ionian Pipeline will enable BIH diversification and better conditions for supply of gas in times to come, which is important for energy stability, strengthening of industrial capacities and for overall economic growth of BIH.
It is important that BiH supports and participate in similar regional project such as TAP and South Stream in order to ensure safer and cheaper gas supply to BiH.
Before the ceremony, Lagumdžija met with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said the PR Office of BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs.