Turkey, Azerbaijan Sign Pipeline Deal

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey and Azerbaijan have signed a deal to build a $7 billion Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP), a project meant to carry Azerbaijani natural gas supplies to European markets without passing through Russia or Iran.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev oversaw the signing of the accord in Turkey's capital, Ankara, on June 26.

Speaking to Turkey's parliament earlier the same day, Erdogan said the project would help transport natural gas to Europe that has been extracted from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field, as well as from other Caspian resources.

Turkey and Azerbaijan signed a preliminary agreement on building the pipeline in December.

The latest deal aims to see the project completed and operating within six years.

Erdogan said the pipeline also would be capable of transporting natural gas from Turkmenistan to Europe.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa