Baku seeks to widen its contacts in Balkans
Subject Azerbaijan's rising profile in South-eastern Europe, both as hydrocarbons supplier and source of investment. Significance Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic's visit to Baku on April 13-15 to promote Azerbaijani investment in strategic infrastructure, agriculture and the chemicals industry is only the latest in a series of contacts. Relations with Azerbaijan are principally about the delivery and transit of gas, with the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) coming on stream in 2019-20. However, Balkan countries are increasingly looking to Baku as a source of foreign investment and an export destination. Impacts Balkan countries will be key for the transit of Caspian gas to the EU. Azerbaijan will continue working with them, in order to diversify its diplomatic and economic relations. In a region still suffering prolonged recession, governments will scramble to build and capitalise on ties with Baku.