Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.7 / Trend, A.Taghiyeva /
Turkey's appeal to the International Arbitration Court over short supply of Iranian gas does not mean that the country intends to stop import of gas from Iran, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry told Trend on Tuesday.
"Turkey does not intend to stop purchasing Iranian gas," the ministry said.
As the ministry said, the country will wait for the Arbitration Court's decision, after which it will take the necessary measures.
"At present there is no problem with gas in Turkey, and all contracts for its import fully meet the country's needs," the ministry said.
Earlier Turkey filed a lawsuit against Iran at the International Arbitration Court because of a short supply of Iranian gas to the country.
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said if Iran does not reach an agreement with Turkey on lower gas prices, then Ankara will have to file a second lawsuit against Tehran to dispute the price.
The Turkish side has already notified Iran about its intention to file the second lawsuit, but Tehran has not responded so far, Yildiz said.
In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed an agreement to supply 10 billion cubic metres of gas to Turkey annually (30 million cubic metres per day).
According to the statistical data of the Turkish State Pipeline Company Botas, Turkey imported 39.7 billion cubic metres of gas from Iran in 2011. Russia ranks first, followed by Iran and Azerbaijan among exporters of gas to Turkey.