Hilmi Guler: Turkey's EU membership beneficial for Union more than for the country itselfMarch 5, 2009 - 14:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Energy Minister said Wednesday that Turkey doesn't want to lose time with discussions in Nabucco project.Speaking at a panel discussion on "Europe's Energy Corridor Turkey: Expectations and Difficulties" in Brussels, Turkish Minister of Energy & Natural Resources Hilmi Guler said that Turkey supports and participates in Nabucco. "This project is our baby. We started it and we will complete it successfully just like we did in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project, the Shah Sea project and the Turkey-Greece line," Guler said. "We want this project to be concluded as soon as possible. We do not want to lose any more time with discussions. It is now time to work, not to talk," he said. Guler said that there is currently a disagreement in the Nabucco project as other parties do not take into account Turkey's needs. Commenting on Turkey-EU negotiations, Guler said that the chapter on energy has not been opened to negotiation, although Turkey has taken all the necessary steps. "If we focus on energy issue, it is obvious that Turkey's EU membership would be for the benefit of the Union, more than for the country itself," Guler said, Anatolian Agency reports Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |