Energy summit kicks off in Baku

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Energy security and improvements in the infrastructure in Azerbaijan may bring several areas to light for regional cooperation, the Azeri president said Friday.

Baku kicked off the fourth Energy Summit Friday with energy ministers from 22 countries and the European Union, as well as top U.S. officials, to discuss the potential of Caspian energy resources.

Addressing the conference, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said his country could help bring energy security to the region, which is struggling to move away from Russian dependency, the Trend news agency reported.

"We hope that the policy of energy cooperation will lead to friendship between our countries," he said.

He noted the Odessa-Brody oil and gas project was a keen Azeri interest. "This project has a good potential," he said. The Odessa-Brody line is politically sensitive, as Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has moved to direct the flow of oil to Russia through the link, while President Viktor Yushchenko opposes the measure.

U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman addressed the delegation, telling the participants Washington was confident President-elect Barack Obama will continue to be a partner in the regional energy sector.

"In my opinion, the new U.S. administration will decisively continue energy cooperation with the countries of the region," he said. "We attach great importance to the cooperation with this region."

Despite invitations from Baku, Moscow did not send a delegation to attend the summit.