... second largest European buyer of Russian gas.
EPA/ALEXANDER ASTAFYEV / SPUTNIK /
Vostock Photo
Nigyar Masumova:
The Current State of Trade and Economic
Relations between Russia and Turkey
After Russia backed out of the South Stream gas pipeline project, Turkish Stream became the most promising project for the two nations. The route is planned to link the Russkaya compressor station with the western part of Turkey along the bottom of the Black Sea, and then running further on to the Greek border overland ...
Less Pragmatism, More Strategic Cooperation
On October 10
th
2016, during 23rd World Energy Congress in Istanbul, Turkey and Russia finally signed an intergovernmental agreement to implement the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project. The agreement foresees the construction of two parallel pipelines with 15.75 billion cubic meters of annual (bcm/a) capacity. Among other important issue areas between Ankara and Moscow such as Syria and the ...
... who, it appears, did not take the suggestion of the Chairman of the Council of the Federation Committee on the House Rules and Parliamentary Performance Management, Vadim Tyulpanov,
to vacation in Turkmenistan instead of Turkey and Egypt
seriously.
Turkish Stream Given the Green Light
Despite the obviously destabilized system of international relations and the fact that the situation may change overnight, Russia needs time to study the political and economic risks.
The very idea of constructing ...
... the ambitions of Turkey and Bulgaria. The latest geoeconomic and political factors prompt the revival of negotiations on the previously frozen pipeline projects designed to export Russian gas to Europe. Let’s note that the South Stream and the Turkish stream had been frozen due to the cooling in Russia’s relations with Bulgaria and Turkey respectively.
Background: the South Stream Frozen
Previously, agreements had been signed on constructing
the South Stream pipeline
(with the capacity ...
... and U.S. objections, which would have supplied southern-eastern Europe with Russian natural gas, Russia sought an alternative route to maintain Gazprom’s stronghold in European energy markets – under the Black Sea and through Turkey.
Turkish Stream is an undertaking of four lines, the first of which would deliver gas solely to Turkey, while the remaining three would expand to Europe via an energy hub on the Greek-Turkish border, although their ultimate destinations remain undecided....
.... The increased political risks accompanied on the one hand by a rapidly changing political situation and on the other by Russia’s strategic interests and Moscow’s updated energy policy, are making their mark on the implementation of the Turkish Stream pipeline. It may therefore be helpful to classify the main political risks for Ankara under the headings of “internal” and “external”.
Internal risks
The election results ensured that a coalition would come to power ...
... keeping the Ukrainian transit, which is a purely political stance. It does not have any economic basis," he said, answering a question during an interview with RIA Novosti of why Brussels is not seeking to enhance cooperation with Russia on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project through the Black Sea and Greece that bypasses Ukraine.
The European Union will not be able to continue providing Kiev with financial support if Ukraine announces default due to the EU's legislation, Vladimir Chizhov ...
... supported by the media, – Bonapartesque moves occasionally helpful in times of changes.
Finally, a few words about the gas issue. The scene for Vucic’s visit
was set by President Nicolic’s loud statements
ruling out the option of the Turkish Stream and Vucic’s own call to “
reduce dependency on Russian gas
”. And, although it does look like a direct threat to Russian investments in the region, Serbia likely has an ulterior motive. Looking at the map of the Trans ...
... Szijjarto, a meeting was organised between the foreign ministers of Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey (Ankara being represented by Volkan Bozkir, Minister for EU Affairs). The composition of this group certainly recalls the proposed route of the Turkish Stream pipeline, a project which was Russia’s reaction to the plan to halt development of the South Stream. Moreover, by all indications the group will be institutionalised and meetings of the member countries will be regular. It is notable ...
... starting to change.
Despite the lack of high-profile results in terms of economic cooperation, Russia and Greece has been able to find areas of common interest, most significantly in the energy sector. While he is far from enamoured with the name of the Turkish Stream project (anti-Turkish sentiment is still strong in Greek political discourse), Mr. Tsipras nevertheless noted that the idea of building a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey is of great interest to Greece both in terms of satisfying its ...
