Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 9
Trend:
Russia does not abandon the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project, Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov told RIA Novosti.
Karlov said that it is difficult to predict further situation with the project amid the crisis in the Russia-Turkey relations.
Relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated after Turkish Air Force jets shot down the Russian Su-24 bomber when it entered Turkish airspace Nov. 24. After the incident the Russian president signed a decree on measures to ensure national security and on special economic measures in regard to Turkey.
"Russia does not abandon the Turkish Stream project, but now it is time for Turkey to act," he said. "Following December 1, 2014, when a memorandum was signed on this project, we rapidly fulfilled our work, but faced with the unwillingness of the Turkish partners to take actions"
"The Turkish side failed to start negotiations on the intergovernmental agreement in 2015 due to the tense political situation, two parliamentary elections in Turkey," he said. "It is very difficult to predict the further situation with the project in current conditions. So, first we are waiting for the Turkish side to come to its senses and do everything it must do for the normalization of bilateral relations."
He reminded about Russia's position, which sees Turkey issuing apology for the incident with the Su-24 bomber, the punishment of those responsible and compensation for the damage caused to Russia are the conditions for the normalization of relations with Turkey.