Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 11
Trend:
Turkey is ready to thoroughly discuss the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project implementation with the Russian side only after reaching an agreement on gas discount, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the interim government Ali Riza Alaboyun said in an interview with Sputnik Turkiye, RIA Novosti reported.
"The issue of a 10.25 percent discount was orally discussed by the sides," he said. "This was not fixed on paper."
"We believe that it is wrong. The Russian side had to give us a discount without preconditions. Meanwhile, it has put forward a condition that the discount will be given after the start of construction of the pipeline," said the minister.
"That means, our Russian partners say: 'Let's start the construction, and after that we will give you a discount on gas'," he said. "This condition seems inappropriate for us. A detailed discussion of the project and plan of its implementation may be started only after an agreement on the provision of discount is reached."
Edited by CN