Turkey-Armenia Normalization Jeopardizes Energy Links Between Turkey

TURKEY-ARMENIA NORMALIZATION JEOPARDIZES ENERGY LINKS BETWEEN TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN

armradio.am
19.10.2009 10:46

Turkey and Armenia’s normalization protocols signaled a major thaw
in relations between the neighbors, but Turkey’s ties to Azerbaijan –
especially its energy links – may now be at risk.

"No more cheap gas to Turkey," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
said. The price dispute between Turkey and Azerbaijan is not new but
has never before been at the top of the agenda, the Hurriyet Daily
News reports.

Having received new offers from Iran and Russia, Aliyev hinted at
not joining the Nabucco pipeline project, adding, "There are other
alternatives."

"Azerbaijan has been selling its natural gas to Turkey at one-third of
the global prices. Which country can do this, especially in this age?
It is not acceptable any more," Aliyev said.

"Regretfully, we have not able to sell our gas to the EU due to the
lack of an accord with Turkey," Aliyev noted.