Erdogan: "Turkey has now a central position in the world's biggest energy projects"

Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is now a key player in the most important energy projects in the world, referring to a number of recent pacts on strategic energy projects such as the Nabucco and South Stream natural gas pipelines, and the Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline. Stating that Turkey is located in a region that includes most of the world's natural gas reserves, mainly the Middle East and Caspian Basin, Erdogan said, "We have ensured the implementation of historic projects particularly in forming a logistic energy base." Mentioning the visits to Turkey last week of his Russian and Italian counterparts Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi, Erdogan said, "We signed 20 pacts with Russia, mainly on energy as well as the economy and culture. We have entered a new era in relations. We also signed protocols to boost relations between the two countries in three main areas: gas, oil and energy. Separately, Turkey gave permission to Russia to carry out feasibility studies on the South Stream gas pipeline crossing Turkey's exclusive economic region." Erdogan said his talks with Putin and Berlusconi were fruitful, adding that Russia decided to join the work, done jointly by Italy and Turkey, on the Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline project and committed to give oil to the pipeline. Erdogan said from now on Turkey has a unique position in the world, with its economy resistant to major shocks. "Turkey is emerging as an important world power whose views are taken into consideration on international matters and whose arbitration is needed," he continued. "Turkey has a central position in big energy projects." Touching on opposition parties' refusal to meet with the AK Party to discuss government efforts to solve the country's longstanding Kurdish or southeastern Anatolia issue through democratization and expanding cultural and individual rights, Erdogan called on opposition leaders to work with the AK Party on a solution to the issue. "This is a democratization initiative," he said. "Let's shape it together." Steps have already been taken in line with this initiative, he said, citing the establishment of TRT 6, Turkey's first TV channel broadcasting in Kurdish, as an example. Stressing that they will never espouse ethnic, religious or regional nationalism, Erdogan pledged to do whatever is necessary to create a better world for future generations. "If Turkey had not spent its energy, budget, peace and young people on fighting terrorism, if Turkey had not spent the last 25 years in conflict, where would we be today?” he asked.