Turkish Minister Says Gas Deal Reached With Azerbaijan

The Nabucco project would bring Middle East gas through Turkey to Europe.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz says Turkey and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement in principle for the price of natural gas, an issue linked to delays on the European Union-backed Nabucco gas pipeline project.

Yildiz said he and other Turkish officials met with Azerbaijani officials in Ankara on April 26 to agree on a price and volumes of Azerbaijani gas to be shipped to Turkey.

But Yildiz said the issue of transit of Azerbaijani gas through Turkey was still unresolved.

The Nabucco pipeline is intended to bring 31 billion cubic meters of gas annually from the Middle East and Caspian Basin to Europe.

But no contracts with gas suppliers have been signed so far. Many believe that is because Turkey and Azerbaijan, one of the potential suppliers for Nabucco, have so far failed to agree on transit prices for gas headed for Europe.

RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service contributed to this report. With agency reports