ISTANBUL - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Friday, ''Turkey-Iran axis is an important axis for natural gas.''
Following the second meeting of the Turkish-Iranian Business Council meeting in Istanbul, Tuzmen answered questions of reporters.
When recalled of Iran's demand to export its natural gas via Turkey, Tuzmen stressed that Turkey-Iran was an important axis for natural gas, adding, ''we held talks also with Greece, and we think this route as Greece-Turkey-Iran. We want to include also Europe in this job. Talks between the energy ministers on this issue continue.''
Noting that talks on the cost of this job were also under way, and agreements could be signed with Iran in return for good, Tuzmen said that Iran had made a significant discount in its tariffs for sale of Turkey's products.
When reminded of the statements which mentioned that the commercial balance between Turkey and Iran was in favor of Iran, Tuzmen said that Turkey purchased mostly oil and oil products from Iran, stressing that balance could be formed in the future.
He added that the balance could be easily formed if Turkey could increase the current trade volume of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars to 3 billion U.S. dollars in first stage and later to 5 billion U.S. dollars.
(MS-AÖ) 04.07.2003