Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Putin aims for new gas pipelines to Europe through Turkey



Obviously Put can no longer rely on the new U.S. colony of Ukraine for transit but wow! this is putting a lot of trust in Turkey. Is it that Put’s choices have been limited or has Turkey signaled behind the curtain that they indeed are ready to leave the U.S. alliance, at least in private?

-Am



07.18.2005, 10:20 AM

MOSCOW, (AFX) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has set out plans for new gas pipelines through Turkey to supply southern European markets.

And he made a wide-ranging bid for Russia to build up Turkey's energy infrastructure after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

'We do not exclude the possibility of building a new gas line and oil pipelines' for exports, Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying after talks in the southern Russian resort of Sochi.

'We are ready to build large underground gas depots on Turkish territory, ready to develop gas networks in the context of privatisation in the country, ready to use gas pipelines under construction in Turkey and to participate in the construction of new ones to carry our energy resources to third countries, including southern Europe,' Putin said.

Putin also signalled Russia would increase energy exports to Turkey, including through the 1,213-kilometre (758-mile) long Blue Stream gas pipeline under the Black Sea that was completed in 2002 but has been a source of dispute because of disagreements between Russia and Turkey over gas prices.

Russia, Putin said, 'is ready to develop cooperation with Turkey in the field of electric power, including with a view to exporting to third countries, such as Iraq'.

dt/yad/hd/ec





http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/07/18/afx2142899.html