TIRANA, June 7 – Albania joined Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia to sign a joint statement last Friday in support of the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline, which brings gas from Azerbaijan to southern Europe.
The pipeline is tied to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline project, which is already approved and is currently in the early days of construction.
Foreign and energy ministers of the four Balkan countries reached the deal in Budva, Montenegro as part of Fifth Forum on Security Issues held there June 4-6.
The forum discussed on the issues of global security, energy and other areas. Not only ministers from the Western Balkan region but also senior officials from other NATO member countries took part there.
Participants agreed to establish a Permanent Operational Unit, which will coordinate the upcoming operations and is set to produce a draft plan of joint actions.
The ministers of the four countries underlined that they strongly support the EU energy policies for diversification of sources, directions and gas suppliers of Europe.
