14 September 2012by R.Hafizoglu, Trend AZ
Political and energy priorities are not the same in France, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said in the interview to Haberturk.
The minister added that France and Turkey are connected by a variety of economic and energy projects, the implementation of which depends on the policy of France.
Yildiz noted that Ankara did not connect the policy and the economy in such countries as Iran and Russia which does not mean that Turkey has no own interest there.
"Despite the fact that in contrast to Russia, Turkey occupies a different position on the Syrian crisis, it did not affect our economic policy," he added.
Regarding the reference to the International Court of Arbitration with regard to the high price of gas from Iran, the minister said that Turkey is interested in promoting the interests of its citizens, that is, in the gas prices.
"Iranian gas can be acquired cheaper. Ankara's appeal to the International Court of Arbitration does not affect bilateral relations," he said.
Earlier, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said that the price of Iranian gas supplied to Turkey is much higher than the market one. So after March 16, 2013, Ankara intends to consider the question in the International Court of Arbitration
Earlier Turkey filed a lawsuit against Iran in the International Arbitration Court because of the short supply of Iranian gas to the country.
In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed an agreement to supply 10 billion cubic metres of gas to Turkey annually (30 million cubic metres per day). According to the statistical data of the Turkish State Pipeline Company, Botas, Turkey imported 39.7 billion cubic metres of gas from Iran in 2011. Russia ranks first, followed by Iran and Azerbaijan among exporters of gas to Turkey. |
