Iraqi Oil Minister Amer al-Rashid said Sunday, July 29, the planned gas pipeline between Iraq and Turkey will be linked to the east European and Russian network.
"We decided with Turkey to extend, in a second stage, the pipeline coming from eastern Europe and Russia," Rashid told Iraqi satellite television.
"This project is important as Turkey suffers from a real energy crisis, and it is within its rights to diversify its gas supply," added the minister, who has just visited Ankara for a meeting with the joint cooperation commission.
Baghdad and Ankara signed a deal in 1997 for the construction of a gas pipeline of 1,380 kilometers (810 miles) at a cost of $2.5 billion, to bring Iraqi natural gas to Turkey.
Last November, the Iraqi authorities said they were negotiating with firms from Turkey, France and Italy to carry out the project. — (AFP)
© Agence France Presse
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
