Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-07-14

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat is holding contacts in Turkey; Gul: The Treaties of Guarantees and Alliance is not an issue of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, it is an issue of Turkey, Greece and Britain

[02] Ozgurgun stated that there is no crisis between him and Talat; He was criticized by Soyer and Avci

[03] Eroglu discussed the Cyprus problem with Turkeys Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe

[04] Statements by Talat and Eroglu at Sinta village

[05] A statue of Kemal Ataturk, resembling the Ottoman Sultans was placed at the Ayios Dometios roundabout

[06] Four new cases of H1N1 were confirmed in the occupied areas - Swine flu cases in Turkey nearly double in a week

[07] The Folk Dances Society of the occupied Ayios Sergios municipality will participate in the International Folk Dances Festival in France

[08] The Nabucco project was signed

[09] Nabucco gas pipeline partners issue joint declaration

[10] Erdogan and Bagis stressed the importance of Nabucco project for Turkey

[11] CHP applies to Constitutional Court to annul controversial law

[12] The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to visit Turkey

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 09 July 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat is holding contacts in Turkey; Gul: The Treaties of Guarantees and Alliance is not an issue of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, it is an issue of Turkey, Greece and Britain

Mr Talat started yesterday a visit to Ankara in order to evaluate the developments regarding the Cyprus problem with the Turkish officials. The paper notes that during Mr Talats meetings the red lines of the Turkish side have once more come onto the agenda and it was stressed that these issues will not become a matter of bargaining.

Mr Talat was received at Eseboga airport by the governor of the province of Ankara, Kemal Onal, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the self-styled ambassador of the breakaway regime to Ankara.

The paper writes that the meeting between Mr Gul and Mr Talat lasted for two hours.

In statements after the meeting, Mr Gul argued that their final target is a lasting peace in Cyprus within the framework of an overall solution and Turkey, Greece and the whole island to establish an exceptional area of cooperation within the EU.

Therefore we want the negotiations to come to an end rapidly and if possible we want this to be submitted to referendum to the people in the end of the year, he said.

Mr Gul noted that the Turkish Cypriots consider Turkey as their Motherland and Turkey consider them as its Daughter land.

Mr Gul referred to the referendum in 2004 and the commencement of the negotiations on 3 October 2008 and underlined the important role of Mr Talat in these negotiations. He added:

Our sincere view is for the leaders to reach a result in the end of these negotiations and a comprehensive solution to come up and a referendum to be held in the end of the year within the framework of this comprehensive solution. Turkey is always in favor of the solution. Turkey always supports the speedy solution of the problems. And therefore it has supported the efforts exerted and the negotiations from the very beginning. And it will continue its support.

Mr Gul said that during their meeting with Mr Talat the Turkish Cypriot leader briefed him on the negotiating process and they made an evaluation of the process. He noted that Turkey supports that the comprehensive negotiations should be held on the established parameters of the UN. He added:

If you ask what these parameters are, we allege that the main parameter is real bi-zonality, it is that it should be created on the basis of the equal sharing of power and it should come up in the form of a new partnership. If a comprehensive solution is reached, Turkey wishes for this solution to take the place of the tenth protocol and with new protocols to become primary law of the EU.

Mr Gul argued that the Treaties of Guarantees and Alliance concern Turkey, Greece and Britain and said that Turkey attaches importance to these international agreements. He alleged that the solution in Cyprus should take into consideration the Turkish-Greek balance in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Asked whether the reason for which the Turkish side is hoping for a solution until the end of the year is a positive development on the issue of guarantees, Mr Gul replied: What I said is very clear. Our wish, what we want to see is an agreement for a comprehensive solution through negotiations. I said we would be glad if this comes up and is submitted to referendum until the end of the year. Furthermore, I have specified some parameters as well. The issues of Guarantees and Alliance are not a matter of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, they are a matter of Turkey, Greece and Britain.

Meanwhile, in his statements Mr Talat reiterated that their aim is a solution to be reached by the end of the year and argued: However, this should be very well understood. In order for a solution to be reached in the end, the Greek Cypriot side should cooperate with us. If it does not cooperate and pursues immature dreams such as using the EU and putting us and Turkey under pressure and it delays the process because of this, we will not be responsible for this. We believe that with sincerity and constructive approach the Cyprus problem could be solved by the end of the year.

Referring to the progress achieved in the negotiations, Mr Talat said: There are difficult issues, points where we stuck, but I think that we made progress. He noted that during the meeting with Mr Gul they confirmed that they agree. He reiterated that the breakaway regime is recognized only by Turkey and that they need the support of Turkey in all fields. He added: The support of Turkey in the negotiations is a sine-qua-non. If Turkey did not support us, we would remain alone in front of the international community. Our negotiating power would be weakened. Our fundamental rights would be eroded. We attach great importance to Turkeys support and we want to see Turkeys support in every stage and we are seeing it.

Mr Talat said that they prepared 30 joint documents under the three out of the six fundamental chapters of the negotiations, that this is a product of a great effort and that it is possible to reduce the differences in these documents in the forthcoming period.

Responding to a question regarding the fact that the self-styled minister of foreign affairs of the breakaway regime, Huseyin Ozgurgun did not participate in his delegation in Ankara, Mr Talat said that there was no problem between them, that no problem was conveyed to him and that only Mr Ozgurgun could explain why he did not participate in the visit.

Meanwhile, citing diplomatic sources, Halkin Sesi newspaper reports that the red lines of the Turkish side were discussed in the meeting and it was agreed that these red lines could not become a matter of discussion at the negotiations. These red lines are: The demand of the possible agreement to become a primary law of the EU, the political equality, the constituent states to elect their own presidents (the Turks to elect the Turkish leader and the Greeks to elect the Greek leader), bi-zonality not to be watered down, the property issue to be solved with exchange of the occupied Greek Cypriot properties, an evident border line to exist between the two areas and Turkey to open its ports only after the solution.

The sources said that the process is not progressing in the desirable speed and alleged that President Christofias should take steps in order for the process to speed up.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (14.07.09) reports that Mr Talat met yesterday with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu at the Foreign Ministry. They held a face to face meeting, after which their delegations came together.

The paper writes that Mr Talat met also with the EU chief negotiator, Egemen Bagis at Sheraton Hotel.

Mr Talat is meeting the Prime Minister Erdogan today and after this meeting he is expected to return to the occupied areas of the island.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun stated that there is no crisis between him and Talat; He was criticized by Soyer and Avci

Mr Ozgurgun said that on Friday the principal clerk of the self-styled presidency, asked the principal clerk of the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs whether Mr Ozgurgun was going to participate in Talats visit to Ankara. However, because Mr Ozgurgun met previously with Mr Talat who did not inform Mr Ozgurgun and the prime minister Eroglu about the visit, he decided not to participate in the visit. His busy schedule was another reason for Mr Ozgurguns decision.

Kibris also reports that the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Mr Ferdi Soyer, criticized Mr Ozgurgun for his decision and stated that the excuses which he said are not accepted for such a scandal and a gaffe.

On his part, the chairman of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), Turgay Avci also criticized Mr Ozgurgun and stated that the excuse of the self-styled foreign minister that he was not able to participate in the visit to Ankara, because he had a busy schedule at the assembly is a political shame. Mr Avci went on and described as big blow against the solution process, the decision of Mr Ozgurgun, especially at a time when the process is entering into a very critical point.

(CS)

[03] Eroglu discussed the Cyprus problem with Turkeys Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has received Turkeys Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Ambassador Deryal Batibay. The meeting took place at the TRNC Parliament.

Welcoming the Ambassador, the Premier said he would be discussing the Cyprus issue in detail with Ambassador Batibay who is to stay in the TRNC during the celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus.

For his part, the Ambassador reminded that various issues concerning Cyprus were on the agenda of the European Court of Human Rights and that he wanted to exchange views with Mr Eroglu on these issues.

[04] Statements by Talat and Eroglu at Sinta village

President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that his objective was to reach an agreement that would protect the rights and secure the future of the TRNC people.

The President was speaking at a commemoration ceremony held in the Inonu village [Sinta] for the Inonu martyrs yesterday.

The ceremony at the Inonu Square started with the laying of wreaths. Later, a minutes silence was observed and shots fired in memory of 11 Turkish Cypriots who were killed by Greek Cypriots on their way from the Inonu village to Magusa on the 12th of July 1958.

The first speech at the ceremony was delivered by Inonu Mayor Hasan Basri Beycanli who said `today, we are commemorating 11 Turkish Cypriots, who were martyred by Greek Cypriots on their way to work, with respect`. Poems explaining the freedom struggle waged were read out by students.

In an address at the ceremony, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said `today, we feel the pleasure of establishing a state on this soil`. Stressing that a cost was paid for the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Premier said that the state is today fighting with some economic problems, adding that economic problems would harden the TRNC peoples position at the negotiations continuing between the two sides in Cyprus. He said that the people is following the talks closely, adding that it will not accept any kind of an agreement to be reached at the table. Mr Eroglu also added that a settlement can be brought only if the two sides, not just the Turkish Side, show the necessary will for that.

Expressing his governments support to President Talat who is conducting the talks, he stressed the need for the people to act together to show to the world that it is one of the two sovereign and politically equal sides on the island. `All should know that an agreement will be possible as long as it will not deprive us of our state and guarantees` he said, adding that an agreement should make the TRNC people happy.

Another speech at the ceremony was delivered by President Talat who said that the killing of the 11 Turkish Cypriots was a turning point in the existence struggle waged by the Turks of Cyprus and commemorated the martyrs with respect.

Today, we are sitting at the table with pride and determination, without weakening or giving up from our equality rights thanks to our martyrs`, he said, adding that the objective was to strike a deal that would protect the rights of the TRNC people and secure its future.

The President noted that an important diplomatic struggle was the economic struggle given at the table, underlining the need to strengthen the TRNCs economy further.

Stressing that the main principle of the talks was that views put forward should be clear and acceptable, he said `the Cyprus problem has become an international issue in a globalizing world and because of this, every step to be taken should be understood well.

[05] A statue of Kemal Ataturk, resembling the Ottoman Sultans was placed at the Ayios Dometios roundabout

(CS)

[06] Four new cases of H1N1 were confirmed in the occupied areas - Swine flu cases in Turkey nearly double in a week

In addition, Turkish Todays Zaman newspaper (14.07.09) reports the following:

The total number of swine flu cases in Turkey has risen to 82, with 34 of the cases diagnosed only in the past week, according to Health Ministry records.

Those diagnosed with swine flu are reported to be doing well. However, there have been no follow-up reports on those who have been released from hospitals. So far, no deaths have been reported in Turkey due to swine flu.

Among the latest cases seen in Turkey are two Cypriots arriving in Turkey from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), three Romanian citizens arriving from Romania and one Turkish and one English citizen arriving from the UK who were detected as being infected by the H1N1 virus. In addition, another Turkish citizen has been diagnosed with swine flu.

(CS)

[07] The Folk Dances Society of the occupied Ayios Sergios municipality will participate in the International Folk Dances Festival in France

(EA)

[08] The Nabucco project was signed

The leaders of Turkey and four EU countries signed a landmark agreement on Monday aimed at reducing Europe's reliance on Russian energy.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his counterparts from Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania signed the intergovernmental deal to allow the EU- and U.S.-backed Nabucco pipeline to cross their territory, as uncertainty about potential gas suppliers continues.

Erdogan hailed the deal as a "historic moment," but added, The job is not done with the signing on the contrary it just begins at the ceremony in Ankara.

He said the legal framework for the construction of the pipeline would be completed once the Nabucco consortium signs separate agreements with all five participant countries within a targeted period of six months.

The more steps we take [on realizing the project], the more the interest of supplier countries will grow, he said.

The project, long delayed by lack of commitment from suppliers, is planned to become operational in 2014 at an estimated cost of 7.9 billion euros ($10.9 billion), and a capacity to pump 31 billion cubic meters of gas from the Caspian Sea to Austria via Turkey and the Balkans, bypassing Russia.

In a sign of the importance attached to the project, European Commission Chief Jose Manuel Barroso, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of potential supplier Iraq, and U.S. special envoy for Eurasian energy Richard Morningstar also attended the gathering.

A quarter of all the natural gas used in Europe currently comes from Russia, with several southern European countries depending almost exclusively on Russian supplies.

The Nabucco project aims to avoid a repetition of the cut-offs that have disrupted supplies to Europe in recent years during the coldest winter months.

We have started to confound the skeptics, the unbelievers. Now that we have an agreement, I believe that this pipeline is inevitable rather than just probable, Barroso said.

Nabucco will provide energy security to Turkey, to southeast Europe and to Central Europe. Nabucco is thus a truly European project, Barroso said. Turkey and the EU have tackled together a common challenge: the security and diversification of their energy supplies. The project, however, still has no guaranteed supply of gas.

Iraq, Egypt and Syria say they are ready to provide gas to the project. Turkmenistan said Friday that it is prepared to provide natural gas to the project, while Azerbaijan signaled a possible contribution, raising hopes of securing enough suppliers to make the pipeline viable.

Erdogan said Turkey wants Iranian gas to be carried to Europe through the Nabucco pipeline when set conditions are met, and added he believes that in the future Russian gas would also pass through the 3,300-kilometer pipeline to reach the European market. He also thanked Iraqi authorities for their support and contribution to the process as a supplier country.

Maliki said during the gathering that Europe could receive 15 billion cubic meters of Iraqi gas via Turkey, Reuters reported. But it was not immediately clear if the sale of 15 billion cubic meters of Iraqi gas was for Nabucco.

U.S. officials told reporters prior to the landmark summit that the United States does not object to Russias participation in the project.

Morningstar was quoted by The Associated Press as saying that the United States is trying to engage with Russia in the field of energy. Morningstar, however, added that Washington opposes Irans participation in the project until the country normalizes ties with the West.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly hailed the deal in a statement released later on Monday, saying this agreement is a significant milestone in achieving our shared vision of opening a new energy corridor that will bring Caspian gas to Europe.

Erdogan said the pipeline will elevate Turkey to a significant position in the European energy security and help boost his countrys struggling EU membership bid.

Even if you make an assessment only from the perspective of energy, it is clear that Turkey should be a member of European Union, the candidate countrys prime minister also said.

Barroso praised Turkeys role, saying the project could open the door to a new era in relations between Turkey and the EU, and beyond.

What we are witnessing today is a powerful illustration of the strategic bonds between Turkey and the EU, he said.

[09] Nabucco gas pipeline partners issue joint declaration

Partners of a west-bound natural gas pipeline project released a joint declaration on Monday after formally signing the project deal which is seen as an alternative route of supply to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian gas.

The declaration regarding the Nabucco Pipeline, issued by the prime ministers of Turkey, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania plus the president of the European Commission, obligates all partner countries to take measures to sign a project support agreement with the Nabucco International Company within six months.Partner countries also pledged to make relevant legal procedures to secure that the project deal would take effect in the shortest possible time.

The pipeline is planned to connect the Caspian region, the Middle East and Egypt via Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary with Austria and further on with the Central and Western European gas markets.

Construction of the 3,300-km pipeline is scheduled to start in 2011 and first deliveries are expected in 2014. The project is expected to cost around 7.9 billion Euros. The annual capacity is expected to rise to 31 billion cubic metres in the coming years.

The project has six share holders: BOTAS (Turkey), Bulgargaz (Bulgaria), Transgaz (Romania), MOL (Hungary), OMV (Austria) and RWE (Germany).

[10] Erdogan and Bagis stressed the importance of Nabucco project for Turkey

The Turkish prime minister said on Monday that even energy projects indicated that Turkey should be a member of the European Union (EU).

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that even the energy project clearly showed that Turkey should become an EU member.

The Nabucco project will lay the groundwork for further improvement of Turkey's relations with the EU in energy, Erdogan said during the Nabucco summit in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria will sign the Nabucco Intergovernmental Agreement during the summit. The Nabucco Project will transport natural gas to Austria via Turkey.

We are taking an important step for our countries, friendship and peace, and the welfare of upcoming generations, Erdogan said.

Erdogan said that Turkey was situated in a geography where almost two-thirds of natural gas reserves were located, and it was at the crossroads of source countries and consumer markets.

Turkey had fulfilled giant projects to transport Caspian and Central Asian energy resources to world markets, Erdogan said.

Erdogan enumerated Kirkuk-Yumurtalik and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines, Iran-Turkey, Blue Stream, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipelines, Turkey-Greece natural gas interconnection projects as projects that reaffirmed Turkey's regional and global importance.

The Turkish prime minister said Turkey was still working on Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, and also defined transportation of Turkmen natural gas to Turkey and the transportation of Iraqi natural gas to Turkey by a pipeline in parallel to the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline were two other significant projects.

All these project raise Turkey's importance in energy security, and being the fourth main natural gas artery in Europe is among our main targets, Erdogan said.

Erdogan said that Turkey's natural gas network would connect with that of Europe, and mutual solidarity would be possible during possible crises, thanks to Nabucco project.

The Turkish prime minister said Turkey was actually an important energy partner of the EU.

I would also like to remind that we have made great progress in adjusting our energy market with the domestic market rules of the EU during our negotiation process, Erdogan said.

Moreover Ankara Anatolia news agency (13.07.09) reported the following from Ankara:

Turkey's chief negotiator for European Union membership talks lauded Monday a new west-bound natural gas pipeline project which is seen as an alternative route of supply to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian resources.

This is not only a natural gas pipeline project but also one of the greatest projects of peace and stability. This is a bridge that spans to Europe over Turkey and connects the past and the future of the European Union to one another, Egemen Bagis told reporters after a signing ceremony of the Nabucco Natural Gas Pipeline project in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The pipeline is planned to connect the Caspian region, the Middle East and Egypt via Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary with Austria and further on with the Central and Western European gas markets.

Signatures under today's agreement showed once again that Turkey will not be an additional burden on EU's shoulders, but rather help the Union relieve some as the pipeline is a major step taken to handle one of Europe's most serious crises, Bagis said. The Turkish negotiator also urged the EU to open a policy chapter on energy in Turkey's accession talks in the shortest possible time.

[11] CHP applies to Constitutional Court to annul controversial law

The opposition CHP says the ruling AKP is trying to control the military judiciary through the law that restricts the powers of the military judiciary.

The main opposition Republican Peoples Party, or CHP, on Monday applied to the Constitutional Court to annul the controversial law that paved the way for military personnel to be tried in civilian courts.

Following the presidential approval of a controversial law that restricts the powers of the military judiciary, the CHP announced last week it would take the issue to the top court. The CHP argues that the law violates Article 145 of the Constitution, which establishes the rules covering the functions of the military judiciary.

Convening in an extraordinary group meeting in Parliament on Monday, the CHP asked for its deputies signatures to take the issue to the Constitutional Court and unanimously decided to apply to the top court to annul the controversial law that has raised tension in the country. President Abdullah Gul said in his approval decision that the law was a requirement for Turkeys membership in the European Union.

Speaking after applying to the top court, CHP deputy group chairman Kemal Anadol said the law was said to have been Turkeys obligation as part of its EU bid but that was untrue.

The 2008 [EU] partnership document says the judiciary should be independent. It means the Justice Ministry will not interfere in the judiciary and that the procurement of the prosecutors should be carried out by the prosecutors committee, not the ministry, Anadol said. The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, contradicts itself. The government passed the law in a late-night parliamentary session, showing its ill-intent. It tries to apprehend the military judiciary via this law. We are applying to the court because the law is against the Constitution.

Subtitle: Turkey needs a new president

Speaking at the parliamentary meeting Monday, CHP leader Deniz Baykal earlier said Turkey needed a new president.

With the law, the existing judicial system and the division of tasks were reorganized in the country, Baykal said. Parliament passed the law in a late-night session and everybody had to discover the truth and what was done the next morning. The meaning and importance of the law was hidden, and this is a bitter truth.

Noting that neither Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan nor the political parties were kept informed of the bill in advance, Baykal said the move was ill intentioned. Baykal said the law was unconstitutional and was not a requirement for EU membership. The governments move targeted the judiciarys independence, as it once adopted a similar stance against the medias independence.

It is very meaningful that the president didnt say anything about the laws violation of the Constitution in his decision. It is because he couldnt find anything to say in this respect. The duty of the president is not to sign every law that comes before him but to dismiss those that are inappropriate, he said.

The president hesitantly approved the law, asking the government to further amend the law. It should be better for him to send back the law as a whole. Unfortunately we still need a new president as set out in the Constitution, he said.

Baykal also called on the AKP to change the Constitution with the CHPs votes if the AKP had complaints about the judiciary system.

Meanwhile, AKP Ankara deputy Haluk Ozdalga said on Monday that Turkey needed an opposition that would stick to democracy.

CHPs name was written in history because it took a law to the top court that it itself voted for, Ozdalga said. Baykal, who assumed the task of advocating the coup plotters in the Ergenekon gang, now assumes the task of their advocacy in the legal sense. A party that is faithful to democracy would take a step to change the Constitution, not to annul that law.

[12] The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to visit Turkey

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will pay a formal visit to Turkey on July 16, Turkish officials said Monday. President Abbas is expected to meet with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara on July 17, officials added.

The Middle East peace process will be high on the agenda. Abbas will travel to Turkey from the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh after attending a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The U.S.-backed President Abbas irked Turkish officials last week by expressing his support to Greek ideas on the disputed Cyprus issue. During the Palestinian presidents visit to Greek Cyprus, the countrys president, Demetris Christofias, thanked Abbas for Palestines support toward the "struggle" of the Greek Cypriots, and brought up the Greek Cypriot theses during the meetings of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, according to the media in Greek Cyprus.

A day after Abbass remarks, Turkeys Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said on Friday he wanted to believe the Palestinian leaders comments stemmed from a misunderstanding. It is not possible for us to interpret Abbas's remarks in a different way, Toptan said.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 13 July 2009

A report by Bahadir Selim Dilek of Cumhuriyet says that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki will visit Turkey for the Nabucco pipeline project, which will be signed in Ankara today. The report views the visit as an "unexpected" development, saying that al-Maliki was imposing an "undisclosed" embargo on relations with Ankara in reaction to "Turkey's policy of rapprochement with the Iraqi Kurdish groups." Recalling that the Nabucco project will carry Caspian gas to Europe via Turkey, it quotes diplomatic sources as saying that Al-Maliki's visit to Turkey is "an indication of Iraq's national will to export its oil to Europe." According to the report, the prime minister will discuss the pre-election process in Iraq and the implications of the US troop pullout during his contacts in Ankara.

An article with the title "Questions about Nabucco project," Hurriyet columnist Erdal Saglam argues that regardless of the signature ceremony to be held in Ankara today, the problems related to the Nabucco project have not been solved yet. According to the columnist, a recently signed natural gas agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan poses a risk to the implementation of the project, adding, the Justice and Development Party, AKP, government will be unable to use Nabucco as a "trump card for Turkey's accession to the EU" because it failed to resist the European demands related to the project. He adds: "Energy is a very big game. A national policy on which all the state institutions agree must definitely be established and all the governments must avoid changing that policy."

EG/

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