October 19, 2009 - 22:03 AMT
Turkish Energy Minister called on Baku not to tie energy projects with politics
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz called on Azarbaijan, which announced it would raise the price of natural gas sold to Turkey in reprisal for recent Turkey-Armenian rapprochement not to entangle energy projects with politics.

Yildiz commented on Turkey Azerbaijan relations at the press conference held Monday following the signing of MoU on Samsun-Ceyhan Pipeline between Turkey, Italy and Russia in Milan. "We will never want Azerbaijan to loose money. The talks for revision of prices were deadlocked for a brief period. We raised our offer and talks continue," said Yildiz.

Yildiz referred to Aliyev's remarks suggesting Turkey ought to cut transit fees for Azerbaijani gas and said Aliyev was misinformed on this issue too.

"Turkey has always looked out for our ally and brother Azerbaijan. It is a known fact that Turkey charges lower transit fees for Azerbaijani gas, compared to other countries" said Yildiz reassuring once more that Turkey would not make agreements with Armenia that would hurt Azerbaijan, reported Anatolian news agency.