We are not going to load only Azeri oil here, also Central Asian oil is going to be connected, in fact it has already been connected. Now, we are going to load one million barrels of oil each day. This is a big project and a really strategic project, Trend quotes Turkish Foreign minister Abdullah Gul, interviewed by Euronews channel.
Gul said We are not connecting them only in Istanbul with the bridge, we are also connecting East to West here. In fact, we are connecting Central Asia to the West here. So, this is why it is a really strategic project.
Gul said tanks to Turkish oil routes the EU will become more reliable and its energy needs will be satisfied more stably. В"This is very importantВ", minister said.
Commenting the EU criticism on Turkey in relation to Cyprus affair and freedom of speech within EU membership talks, Gul said Cyprus is a different issue. В"But we have started the accession negociations and we have completed the screening part very successfully, I think. There are only three or four remaining chapters but this process went very well. We know our responsibility well, we are going to fulfill our responsibilities, the reform process will continue in Turkey; economic reforms, and democratic reformsВ", he added.
Answering the question what gathering Turkey will join first, G8 or EU, Gul said these two are different platforms. В"We have already started the accession negotiations. So, we focus on this and I am sure that we will overcome the difficulties and we are very careful about our responsibilities, what we have to do. So, we will continue on this pathВ", minister concluded.