Baku, Azerbaijan, June 17
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The situation with the Turkish Stream becomes more entangled each day as this project is mainly a political, rather than an energy one.
Russian authorities have made a number of mistakes in the project implementation in Turkish territory and despite Russian media's statements, the Turkish Stream does not have the permission for the construction on the territory of Turkey.
Russian Gazprom expected the results of the parliamentary election in Turkey with the hope that the Justice and Development Party will be able, as before, to collect the necessary number of votes to form a new government on its own. But Gazprom's hopes have not been realized.
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz intends to visit Russia to correct Gazprom's mistakes today.
Today, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow and Ankara agreed to prepare legally binding documents by late June for the construction of the 'Turkish Stream' gas pipeline.
This statement sounded at least strange, since Russia earlier claimed that everything is all right with the 'Turkish Stream'.
Examining Russia's energy policy, it is possible to see that almost all the energy projects of Moscow are primarily political in nature. This is also true for the 'South Stream' project.
Russia's stance on the 'Turkish Stream' is clear. If implemented, this project will become a part of Moscow's policy of pressure on the EU. It should be pointed out that the EU's weakest 'link' - Greece has also supported this Russian project.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak also noted that during St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to be held this week, Russia and Greece are highly likely to sign a document of intent to construct the extension of the Turkish Stream on Greek territory.
"Yes, such a project is being developed and I believe that there is a high probability of signing it," the minister said.
"It will be a document," said Novak without specifying its title.
But a question arises: with what money does Greece, the country which is mired in debts, intend to construct the extension of the Turkish Stream?
Speaking about Greece's debts, the country's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras earlier said that the time is ripe for Europe to discuss this problem seriously and coherently. The future of not only Greece, but also the entire Europe depends on the result of the talks, the prime minister added.
Do they (creditors) want to bring Greece and its people to humiliating conditions and poverty, or do they wish to find a golden mean and open the way for the consolidation of democracy and solidarity in Europe?"
On the one hand, the Greek prime minister understands that the debts of the country can bring its people to humiliating conditions and poverty, while on the other hand, Greek authorities declare their readiness to build the Turkish Stream gas pipeline.
Despite the partial write-off of Greek debt in 2012, its public debt now exceeds 315 billion euros.
Time plays against Greece. The country's prime minister is pressured both by creditors and MPs of the extreme left wing of his own Syriza party.
But somehow the Greek authorities simply turn a blind eye to this fact. Instead of thinking about the future of their people, the Greek authorities sacrifice them for the sake of Russian energy interests. So the expansion begins, and it is the first step to a loss of political independence.
Edited by CN
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Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
