Putin: Russia fulfills all obligations in gas exports to Turkey

MOSCOW, Apr 9 (PRIME) -- Russia’s exports of natural gas to Turkey are stable, and Moscow fulfills all its obligations, President Vladimir Putin said in a news conference following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“The thing is not just about prices, though it is an important parameter. The thing is about stability of the Russian gas supplies. Turkey has many gas supplies deals, and not everyone fulfills his contract obligations, while Russia consistently fulfills them in amount and prices, and acts under long-term contracts,” he said.

He said that Ankara insists on one price, but Gazprom is guided by the market in its price formation.

“Speaking of energy sources, of which mister Erdogan spoke, these (prices) are formed not at Gazprom’s will, market conditions create them. This is a market price, Gazprom does not appoint it by a ruling. There are issues and problems here, and our Turkish friends insist on one forms due to commercial reasons, while Gazprom offers other solutions. Still, they will find solutions. We will search for them and find them because we appreciate the Turkish market,” he said.

Erdogan said that Turkey would like a faster switch to settlements in the national currencies with Russia, while Putin said that there are other issues of mutual interest as well that would improve economies and social spheres of the two countries.

Alexei Likhachyov, CEO of state nuclear power corporation Rosatom, told reporters that Turkish state energy holding EUAS plans to acquire about 10% in construction of a U.S. $22 billion Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which will comprise four units with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts each.

“I can only say that we are holding negotiations with Turkish state energy holding EUAS. There are many more (counteragents in negotiations), but I can only disclose one now…With EUAS, (the stake may amount to) up to 10%, I think,” he said.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO Kirill Dmitriev told reporters that the Russian–Turkish fund was considering participation in the Akkuyu project as well.

Putin also said that negotiations with Erdogan were constructive, but it was just a working meeting, not everything was about positive achievements.

“For instance, we’ve argued about taxation of our metals industry. The Turkish partners raised rates for us by 2–2.5%, while reducing them by 1.3% for other countries. We understand what it is about, I am just saying that not everything is good, the Turkish partners fight for their interests while we fight for ours,” he said.

End