Russia/Turkey

Putin and Erdogan hold energy meeting

Article published on the 2009-08-06 Latest update 2009-08-06 11:14 TU

The Turkish, Russian and Italian Prime Ministers discuss energy in Ankara on Thursday
(Photo: Reuters)

Turkey has agreed to the start of exploration work for Russia's South Stream pipeline in its territorial waters. This is part of a deal signed Thursday between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia's Valdimir Putin. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi also attended the meeting.

Under one of the deals, Russia will be able to carry out exploration work through the Black Sea waters for the creation of a new supply of natural gas to Europe.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "We have given the permission to Russia's request to carry out the necessary survey for the realization of the South Stream project."

This potential South Stream line is of great interest to Berlusconi as  Italy's energy firm ENI is a partner of Russian gas giant Gazprom.

"The advantage of the Nebuko pipeline is that it does not depend on Russian gas," correspondent Jasper Mortimer told RFI. "For that reason there is a body of European states who argue that Europe is already overly dependent on Russia and that it should back Nebuko."

Nuclear energy was also on the agenda, particularly the possibility of Turkey acquiring its first nuclear power station.