Putin to inaugurate Turkey pipeline project

Russian President Vladimir Putin was to inaugurate a multi-billion dollar pipeline project in Turkey on Thursday, a symbol of the growing economic clout that has made Moscow Turkey’s second largest trading partner.

Putin will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday near the Black Sea port of Samsun to inaugurate the $3,2-billion (R21-billion) “Blue Stream” natural gas pipeline which runs under the sea to link Turkey with Russia’s gas fields.

..Washington had balked at proposals to build the pipeline and has warned Turkey about its dependence on Russia.

But Turkish officials say that in a world of tight gas supplies they have little choice but to increase their dependence on Russia, which has become the world’s largest oil exporter.

IOL