Friday July 3, 08:10 PM
Nabucco not at risk from Russia-Azerbaijan gas deal: Turkey
BUCHAREST (AFP) - Russian Gazprom's recent deal to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan will not endanger Europe's flagship pipeline project Nabucco, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said here Friday.
"One must not think that these projects will have any reciprocal effect on each other, or influence each other in a negative way," Davutoglu said during a visit to Romania.
"We do not see these energy projects as competing projects, we believe all these projects can serve our interests regarding energy," he added during a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart Cristian Diaconescu.
Russian gas giant Gazprom clinched a deal Monday to buy natural gas from ex-Soviet Azerbaijan, casting doubts on the viability of the European Union's long-delayed Nabucco project, for which Azerbaijan is seen as a crucial potential provider.
Nabucco is aimed at reducing Europe's energy reliance on Moscow by finding other sources of gas.
Davutoglu insisted however Friday that Nabucco was a "priority" and a "very important, strategic project" for his country.
He added he was convinced that it will "ensure cooperation between the participating states and will solve the general energy problem that faces mankind."
EU nations and Turkey said Friday they will sign a key intergovernmental agreement on Nabucco in Ankara on July 13.
The agreement is due to be signed by Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey, all countries through which Nabucco will flow.
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