TEHRAN - Turkey and Iran reviewed and signed late on Tuesday the agreement on natural gas purchase during Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan's visit to Iran.
Cakan, Pipeline Transportation Inc. (BOTAS) General Director Gokhan Bildaci, BOTAS Deputy General Director Fuat Celebi, Iranian Minister of Oil Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and Iranian national gas company officials signed the agreement.
Energy Minister Cakan said, ''Turkey has historical and cultural ties with Iran. Turkey had earlier started to purchase natural gas from Iran but it stopped purchasing for some time. The agreement which had earlier been made has been reviewed during our meeting with Zanganeh and some changes which will be advantageous for the two countries have been made.''
Noting that technical talks were held by Iranian natural gas company and BOTAS and the two companies reached a consensus of opinion, Cakan said, ''we have not only reviewed earlier signed agreements with Iran, but also we have held a new meeting related with the agreement on natural gas purchase from other countries like Russia and both of the countries again reach a consensus related with this.''
Cakan went on saying, ''Turkey is a very important bridge for Iran's opening to the West. Turkey is trying to fulfil its function as an important bridge between the East and the West. To this end, Turkey is the door of Iran opening to the west. All these issues were evaluated during the talks, the earlier made agreement was reviewed and shaped up and signed by officials of BOTAS and Iranian natural gas company.''
Energy Minister Cakan hoped that the agreement would be beneficial for the two countries and stated that natural gas purchase from Iran would start in the possible shortest time after relevant officials of the two countries approved the agreement.
Cakan also hoped that trade volume between the two countries would increase.
Stating that making a statement on price of natural gas was out of question, Cakan said, ''Turkey imports natural gas by taking into consideration the natural gas prices in a competitive market in Europe. Also, natural gas exporting countries should take into consideration competitive prices in free market.''
Cakan said, ''under the specifications, the composition of the gas has a specific shape, and some deviations from this composition can be in question from time to time. By taking these into consideration, purchase of this natural gas stopped. Necessary revisions will be made also in the specifications as soon as possible under the agreements.''
Meanwhile, Zangane said that the agreement which had been signed by Turkey and Iran earlier was reviewed and that export of natural gas would start after the sides would have their boards sign the legal documents under the agreement in ten days.
Meanwhile, BOTAS Director General Bildaci said, ''under this agreement, the sides will prepare legal documents and present them to their boards in ten days. After the boards approve these documents and the sides inform each other on this approval, purchase of natural gas will resume.''
Later, Cakan and accompanying delegation left Tehran at 4.15 a.m. Iranian local time for Ankara via Istanbul.