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Turkey fulfilling obligations in Nabucco: parliament speaker

Business Materials 18 September 2008 17:54 (UTC +04:00)

Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said on Thursday that Turkey supported NABUCCO project and expressed readiness to fulfill all obligations on the project, reported Worldbulletin.

Speaking at a meeting with Graham Watson, the leader of the Alliance of the Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the European Parliament and an accompanying delegation, Toptan said Turkey attached high importance to relations with the EP and national parliaments of Europe.

Toptan said Turkish parliament fulfilled many reforms last year as well as legal reform, "works are underway in the parliament to ensure continuation of reforms," he added.

Watson said the Alliance was closely monitoring the developments in Turkey, adding that they always supported Turkey's EU bid.

Watson said they established "Turkey's Friends Group" in the EP, noting that the group would be in contact with the members of the Turkish parliament and monitor the developments.

A Finnish member of the delegation congratulated Turkey over its international efforts to restore stability in the Middle East and asked Toptan whether NABUCCO Project could be finalized in political means. In response, Toptan said, "it seems that oil and natural gas will continue to be an energy source in the next 50-100 years. Turkey and the European countries should continue works to finalize this project without considering the cost. Turkey continues talks with the EU on NABUCCO. Diversification of energy is also important for us."

Toptan said, "Turkey has positive relations with all countries in its region. Caucasus has already been an important field of interest of Turkey. Turkey endeavors to do its best to restore peace and tranquility in the Caucasus by also opening a window of detente with Armenia."

The Nabucco pipeline is a planned natural gas pipeline that will transport natural gas from Turkey to Austria, via Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. It will run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March, a major natural gas hub in Austria. This pipeline is a diversion from the current methods of importing natural gas solely from Russia. The project is backed by the European Union and the United States.

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