ANKARA
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz on Friday said, "We can't act like nothing has happened. Unless the conditions stated by our prime minister are met, we can't initiate a project with Israel," in reference to pipeline project between Turkey and Israel.
Yildiz gave an interview to CNBC-e TV channel where he stated that from time to time politics was a burden on energy and from time to time energy was a burden on politics.
Yildiz said, "Our aim is to be in cooperation with all of our neighbors and make use of the advantage of our geography. Israel is aware of our sensitivities. It is a risk to begin such projects without maturing the political relations. They know about this risk as well."
Asked who would build the second nuclear power plant in Turkey, Yildiz stated that nuclear negotiations could take a few more months.
Yildiz also stated that Turkey imported 6 million dollars worth of oil from Iran last year.
Stating that Turkey was the only neighboring country to Iran in the OECD, Yildiz said, "Some European countries import 2 percent of their oil need from Iran but they say they don't anymore. Turkey imports 40-50 percent of oil and one fifth of gas need from Iran and we can't stop it. Our priority is our citizens."
