TURKEY URGES AZERBAIJAN NOT TO MIX ENERGY PROJECTS WITH POLITICS

Anadolu Agency
Oct 19 2009
Turkey

Milan, 19 October: Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz called on
Azarbaijan – which announced it would raise the price of natural gas
sold to Turkey in reprisal for recent Turkey-Armenian rapprochement –
not to entangle energy projects with politics.

Yildiz commented on Turkey Azerbaijan relations at the press conference
held Monday following the signing of MoU on Samsun-Ceyhan Pipeline
between Turkey, Italy and Russia in Milan.

Yildiz replied to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev who said
Azerbaijan had been selling natural gas to Turkey, at one third of
the global prices, saying that Turkey purchased natural gas at former
rates only for ten months, and later proposed a raise in 2008.

Yildiz who pointed out that Turkey’s offer still stood, said Aliyev
must have been misinformed.

"We will never want Azerbaijan to loose money. The talks for revision
of prices were deadlocked for a brief period. We raised our offer
and talks continue," said Yildiz.

Turkey and Armenia had no diplomatic ties or economic relations since
Turkey closed its border with Armenia after this country invaded the
Upper-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in 1992, until recently when the
two countries agreed about a month ago on a protocol to establish
relations after months-long Swiss mediated talks.

The two countries signed two protocols recently to normalize relations
which among other things foresees reciprocal opening of borders
between the two countries and mutual recognition of existing borders.

Azerbaijan which have been uneasy about the recent rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia voiced concern and sought reassurance
from the government of Turkey, its old ally, that it would not reopen
borders with Armenia before a settlement to the Upper-Karabakh dispute.

Tough Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials promised not
to open borders before a settlement was reached, Azerbaijan announced
it would raise the price of natural gas sold to Turkey and look for
alternatives routes bypassing Turkey to carry its gas to Europe.

Yildiz referred to Aliyev’s remarks suggesting Turkey ought to cut
transit fees for Azerbaijani gas and said Aliyev was misinformed on
this issue too.

"Turkey has always looked out for our ally and brother Azerbaijan. It
is a known fact that Turkey charges lower transit fees for Azerbaijani
gas, compared to other countries" said Yildiz reassuring once more
that Turkey would not make agreements with Armenia that would hurt
Azerbaijan.