President Gül: EU must credit Turkey’s energy role

Turkey’s role in supplying energy is vital for the European Union’s energy security, President Abdullah Gül has said, urging the union to consider Turkey’s key position during accession talks.

 “You must closely follow the middle-and long-term strategic projects developed to carry Caucasian, Central Asian and Middle Eastern natural gas … to Europe through Turkey. We believe these projects will help the consolidation of Europe’s security, stability and welfare, in addition to maintaining our energy security,” the president said in a speech delivered on the first of the two-day Atlantic Council Energy and Economy Summit organized in Istanbul.

Expressing his regret that the energy chapter in the negotiations between the EU and Turkey had not yet begun, Gül called on the union to step up to the plate regarding the issue.

“I believe it’s important to underline that energy is one of the blocked chapters in our membership negotiations with the EU. Despite our efforts, this is a great contradiction and is unfortunate. No doubt, the side that should resolve this contradiction is the EU,” he said.  MORE