Azernews.Az

By Nigar Abbasova

Turkey and Russia have come to an agreement over joint implementation of the Turkish Stream project at the territory of Turkey, Haberturk quoted Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.

Erdogan mentioned that some 50 percent of the construction of the Turkish Stream project falls to a share of Turkey, while another 50 percent accounts for Russia, stressing that there is no problem in the realization of the project.

Umit Yardin, Turkish ambassador to Russia, recently said that Moscow and Ankara are currently discussing the issue of possible markets for the sale of gas, which will be delivered by the Turkish Stream project.

He said that the sides have decided to continue their cooperation on the project, regardless the fact that the opinions of the two countries on the project do not coincide.

“We have started talks on the project at pre-crisis period and had certain differences in opinions, nevertheless the sides will launch the official dialog on the project soon. This is a long-term project and we are currently holding discussions on the number of branches, which will be constructed,” he said.

He mentioned that the talks will be continued in the weeks to come, stressing that negotiations are gaining momentum.

Earlier, talking to Ria Novosti Yildirim said that Turkey remains a special country for Russia, just as Russia is for Turkey even in the face of political rollback, adding that ignoring the fact and forgetting about it is unacceptable.

During his meeting with the Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Turkish President stated that Turkey will implement the project, adding that the country will take the necessary steps to ensure the supply of Russian gas to Europe through the pipeline. He said that the project will comprise two branches with one of them being used for domestic consumption, and another for the supply of gas to Europe.

Putin in turn said that Moscow has not turned down neither Turkish nor South Stream projects, stressing that there is a need for the clear position of the European Commission.

Consensus on unfreezing the Turkish Stream project was reached on August 9, during the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in St. Petersburg.

The implementation of the Turkish Stream project envisaging Russian gas supply to Turkey through the Black Sea was suspended by Russia on December 3, 2015 after the deterioration of the relations between the two countries over the SU-24 incident.

Alexander Novak, Russian Energy Minister recently said that Russia and Turkey may sign intergovernmental agreement on the “Turkish stream" in October, 2016. Commenting on the number of branches he said that the draft agreement will include realization of at least one of the branches covering the ground of the Black Sea to the territory of Turkey, underlining that the implementation of the second branch will be possible, should the EU provides necessary guarantees.

Meanwhile, Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu has offered to connect the Turkish Stream pipeline to the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), via which Azerbaijani gas is to be delivered to Europe in 2020.

The Turkish Stream project was announced by President Putin in December 2014 during a visit to Turkey.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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