Turkish PM complains about delay in Nabucco project

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday complained about the delay in the Nabucco project that is designed to carry Caspian natural gas to Europe.

“We say we are ready for everything, but those playing the coordination role have not yet come up with serious action,” said Erdoğan, speaking at the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum organized by the Atlantic Council.

The Nabucco project is designed to carry Caspian natural gas through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, ending in Austria. Intergovernmental agreements have been signed between the countries and the Nabucco Consortium is working on securing an energy supply as well as financing.

Talking about the supply, transit and consumption dimension of natural gas, Erdoğan said the supply dimension of the project is still missing.

“Each day that passes is to the disadvantage of the project,” he said.

The Nabucco project will contribute to the diversification of energy resources and routes of Europe, he said. “The European Union is supporting the project, but we are waiting for implementation.”

He also criticized the European Union for still not opening Turkey’s entry talks on the energy chapter. A candidate to the EU, Turkey needs to complete talks in 31 policy areas. Greek Cyprus is blocking talks on the energy chapter. “Some are trying to use opening talks in this chapter as a threat. This is not proper.”

Erdoğan asked the forum participants to approach energy issues based on fairness. “No one is secure unless everyone is secure. This is valid for energy issues as well.” He added that whatever Turkey brings to the agenda, it does for the good of humanity. “When we said that the issue of the Iranian nuclear program should be solved through dialogue and diplomacy, we did it in the name of global peace,” he said. Turkey voted against U.N. sanctions against Iran for Tehran's controversial nuclear program.

Erdoğan said Turkey was unable to obtain necessary support when it raised issues like Palestine, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.


/Hurriyet Daily News/