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 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Some 100 detained as protesters, police clash in Yerevan Riot police fired stun grenades outside the Armenian parliament as they clashed with protesters. Exclusive access to all EURO 2024 games for Ucom subscribers This year once again Ucom stands as the primary partner of UEFA EURO 2024 in Armenia. Pashinyan congratulates Putin on Russia Day Nikol Pashinyan sent congratulatory messages to Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Mishustin on the occasion of Russia Day. Armenia, U.S. to upgrade Strategic Dialogue meeting to Strategic Partnership Commission The two governments have release a statement on the occasion of the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue Capstone meeting. |