Apology to make Turkey energy champion

International Energy Agency Chief Economist Fatih Birol has said yesterday that Israel's apology for nine Turkish citizens' death during Israeli commando raid on Gaza-bound flotilla in May 2010 has opened the pave for Turkey to be the champion of energy transportation, stating that Turkey could transfer the energy resources to the world market together with Israel. He said Israeli apology had opportunity to facilitate the close partnership between Turkey and Israel on energy projects in a way to isolate Greek Cypriot administration. Erol suggested that Turkey offered the most economically advantageous way for Israel in transferring the Eastern Mediterranean natural gas to the international markets. "Turkey's position as energy transfer hub will stand on three dimensions: firstly side pipelines of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, secondly natural gas pipelines that can be built between Northern Iraq and Turkey and pipeline routes that can link Israel oil and gas to region," he said.