Turkey downplays Netanyahu's plan for natural gas trade
Date
12/9/2015 6:54:01 PM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Turkey has listed its conditions for a gas trade deal with Israel said a high-level official while commenting on fresh remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel has steps to take on compensation about a May 2010 attack on an aid flotilla and lifting the embargo on Gaza said brahim Kaln the president’s spokesperson while responding to questions by journalists on Dec. 9.
“IfIsraeltakes steps on this issue we will of course take needed steps but the implementation of the previously reached consensus on compensation and the finalization of the negotiations is particularly important” Kaln said.
Turkey andIsraelare at odds since the 2010 incident that claimed lives of nine Turkish citizens and one Turkish-origin U.S. citizen.
Kaln’s remarks came after fresh remarks by Netenyahu who said at the Knesset that “the natural gas providesIsraelwith a much stronger and sturdy base against international pressures” adding that there were already talks withAnkaraabout importing Israeli gas to Turkey.
He was presenting his natural gas policy.
Earlier the same day Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said the country was eyeing other export options for its gas including Jordan Greece Turkey and Western Europe.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan meanwhile will visit Turkmenistan to meet with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on Dec. 12.
Turkmenistan is a leading natural gas supplier and the meeting comes at a time when Turkey and Russia which meets more than half of Turkey’s natural gas need are experiencing tensions due to the downing of aRussianjet on Nov. 24 for violating Turkish airspace.
Iran aRussianally in the Middle East meanwhile has cut gas flow to Turkey by half citing technical reasons according to news reports.
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