MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Turkish Stream pipeline project aims to ensure energy security in the region and will be beneficial for the Europeans, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told Sputnik.
“It [the project] aims to ensure energy security in the region and providing of necessary security in this issue to the countries which are neighboring our region… This project will be beneficial for Europeans,” Yildirim said.
The Turkish Stream project was announced in the end of 2014 by Russian President Vladimir Putin on his state visit to Turkey. The pipeline is expected to run below the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey and continue to a hub on the Turkish-Greek border, from where the gas could be transferred to Southern Europe.
In November 2015, the Turkish Stream project, which was planned to bring Russian gas via the Black Sea into Turkey and southern Europe, was suspended after a Russian Su-24 aircraft was downed by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria. In June, following Turkey's apology to Russia for the November incident, the sides began a reconciliation process.
Last month, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he planned to sign the intergovernmental agreement on the Turkish Stream project in mid-October.
