Energy chapter not precondition for Nabucco-Turkey

Turkey would not use its cards as a weapon, Egemen Bagis told at a press conference in Brussels, where Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan met top EU officials earlier this week.

Erdogan said Monday that Turkey could review its position on the EU-backed strategic pipeline if the country's negotiations with the 27-member bloc are blocked on the energy chapter.

Greek Cyprus told Hurriyet Daily News Online Edition last month it would not let talks on the energy part of the accession process start until an oil exploration dispute was resolved. Greek Cypriots have accused Turkey of harassing hydrocarbon research vessels four times since Nov. 13.

Bagis said Erdogan's remarks were misinterpreted by the European media.

"Mr. Erdogan expressed his complaint about a tiny EU member (Greek Cypriots), although they were not affected negatively by the recent natural gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine but took a blocking stance --despite no opening criteria-- over the energy chapter which concerns the entire EU with a population of 500 million," Bagis was quoted by Anatolian Agency as telling reporters.

"The only obstacle before Nabucco is not the energy chapter. There are supply problems, security problems and cost problems," he said, adding that Turkey attached great importance to the project and held talks on it with the EU at every level.

Bagis also said the EU is "a dietician for Turkey". "The EU prescription is tested and it is working," the agency quoted him as saying.

"Turkey should apply that prescription in order not to become (the sick man of Europe)," he added.

The proposed 3,300 kilometer (2,050 mile) Nabucco pipeline is planned to carry 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Caspian or Middle Eastern gas annually to an Austrian hub via Turkey, and is seen as one of Europe's best hopes for limiting its dependence on Russian gas.

Diversifying the supply of gas away from Russia has become a priority for the EU in the wake of the recent spat between Russia and Ukraine which left millions of Europeans without heating in the middle of a wintry cold snap.