New Europe: Botas Ex-CEO Says Putin’s Turkish Stream Will Beat EU’s Pipeline

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to show Europe that he can complete the Gazprom-backed Turkish Stream pipeline before the EU wraps up the Southern Gas Corridor, an Ex-CEO of Turkey’s Botas told New Europe.

“Mr Putin is very pragmatic man and he has Gazprom in his hand to do the projects,” said Gokhan Yardim, who headed Turkey’s state pipeline operator when Blue Stream was constructed from Russia to Turkey. “After coming agreement with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan he didn’t see any problem to build the first line. Because two ships are in Black Sea, line pipes are there. He wants to show Europe that if he wants to do he can before TANAP and TAP,” he added, referring to the Trans Anatolian Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline, comprising of the Southern Gas Corridor that the EU hopes will reduce reliance on Russian gas.

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