ANKARA, Jan 7 (A.A) - The meeting on natural gas prices started on Monday at the Pipeline Transportation Inc (Botas) Directorate General in Ankara.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan, Botas Director General Gokhan Bildaci, Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek, Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, Izmit Mayor Sefa Sirmen, Eskisehir Mayor Yilmaz Buyukersen and Bursa Mayor Erdogan Bilenser are attending the meeting.
The sides are expected to reach a decision on what can be done to reduce natural gas prices.
Prior to the meeting, Cakan said that he hoped the mayors of five big cities and he would reach a decision on decrease in natural gas prices.
Bursa Mayor Bilenser said he considered the meeting ''victory of consumers''.
Bilenser said, ''I hope we would get a beneficial result. Besides, prices will decrease more after private companies will be allowed to import gas under the Natural Gas market Law.''
Eskisehir Mayor Buyukersen said that he did not want to assess the prices as they did not have information on the purchase price of Botas, but they would take up all matters at the meeting.
Izmit Mayor Sirmen said that they wanted to reach a compromise, adding, ''I hope there would be a decision in favor of citizens. We can decrease the prices if there will be mutual self-sacrifices and recoveries. It will mean nothing if municipalities sell natural gas with zero profit. I suppose prices would be halved if also Botas decreases the prices.''
Ankara Mayor Gokcek said, ''I hope we would reach a compromise. Actually, we should reach a compromise as we are obliged to care about our people. The government and Botas should extend the necessary support to decrease the prices. Later, the municipalities will make necessary contribution. First of all, the 18 percent value added tax which is called luxury consumption tax on natural gas should be lifted. It is impossible for us to take a step before lifting of this value added tax.''
Istanbul Mayor Gurtuna said that Botas was obliged to announce the natural gas buying and selling prices. ''I believe that the problem would be solved if the extreme difference between prices is removed and the government changes its luxury consumption approach toward natural gas.''