Turkish PM defends gas deal with Iran - AFP

[Eugene]

Source: Agence France-Presse

17/07/2007 12:48 ANKARA, July 17 (AFP)
Turkish PM defends gas deal with Iran

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday defended a
preliminary gas deal with neighbouring Iran to carry natural gas to
Europe, brushing aside US criticism that the Islamic republic is not
"reliable."

"We import oil and natural gas. We want to decrease the amount we
pay for imports," the Anatolia news agency quoted Erdogan as telling
the NTV news chanel overnight.

He said Iran would let Turkey develop three gas wells without a tender
process as part of the deal, which will also allow gas to be piped from
Iran and Turkmenistan to Europe.

"Iran made us an attractive offer... Should we not think of our country's
interests at this point?" Erdogan said. "Is the United States going to
ask why we did not seek their permission? I believe they (the US) will
understand."

-snip-

Read more: http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=070717124801.nflrk00c.php

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Source: Press TV (Iran)

US opposes Iran-Turkey gas deal
Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:00:06

The United States has opposed a preliminary deal to allow Iran's natural
gas be piped to Europe via the neighboring Turkey.

IRNA quoted a top US official as saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran
is not "reliable".

"We don't think that now is the time to be making such investments in
that particular sector. Iran hasn't necessarily proved itself to be the
most reliable partner in this regard," State Department spokesman Sean
McCormack said, in a tone which conveyed the impression of the US
interference in other countries' internal affairs.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=16684§ionid=3510203