Turkey signs Europe gas pipe deal

TURKEY: Turkey signed a landmark deal with four EU countries on Monday to pipe gas from the Caspian region, reducing Europe's reliance on Russian deliveries and rivalling Moscow's own pipeline project.

The United States hailed the signing of the accord by the prime ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey - a milestone in the Nabucco pipeline project much delayed by lack of commitment from gas-exporting nations.

The 3,300-kilometre (2,000-mile) conduit is supposed to become operational in 2014 at an estimated cost of 7.9 billion euros (10.9 billion dollars), but there was still lingering uncertainty over who will supply the gas. It is due to pump billions of cubic metres from the Caspian Sea to Austria via Turkey and the Balkans, bypassing Russia which has been accused of using gas as a weapon by cutting it off in disputes with its neighbours.

The project "is of crucial importance for the EU's and Turkey's energy security," European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said at the signing ceremony.

A statement from US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly meanwhile hailed the deal as "a significant milestone in achieving our shared vision of opening a new energy corridor that will bring Caspian gas to Europe."

Ankara, Tuesday, AFP