Putin plays LNG card against Turkey over south stream project

Russia hopes Turkey will support the planned South Stream project for the delivery of Russian natural gas to Europe, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin this week, adding that they are also considering the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals on the Black Sea to supplement the underwater pipeline, which analysts say conflicted with the purpose of the major pipeline project. Some analysts believe he raised the LNG idea as a way to put pressure on Turkey to support South Stream because the transport by ships would sideline Turkey from the project. "We don't think that there is any threat to this project from our Turkish partners," Putin told reporters in Brdo, Slovenia. Asked his view of Putin's remarks, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said yesterday that there is a normal procedure for Turkey to permit construction of this project and "there will remain no obstacles related to the construction permit once Russia fulfills all conditions [of that procedure]." He added, "There is no problem in our relations with Russia."