By empty (8/15/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Iran\'s oil minister promised Tuesday not to reduce gas supplies to Turkey. Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh\'s pledge came after more than two hours of talks with Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler. Last winter, Iran -- a major supplier of natural gas to Turkey along with Russia -- reduced the flow of natural gas during a cold snap.
Iran\'s oil minister promised Tuesday not to reduce gas supplies to Turkey. Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh\'s pledge came after more than two hours of talks with Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler. Last winter, Iran -- a major supplier of natural gas to Turkey along with Russia -- reduced the flow of natural gas during a cold snap. Iran has said the decrease was because of a technical malfunction related to the cold weather. \"The Iranians have promised us that there won\'t be any cuts,\" Guler told reporters. Hamaneh told reporters he had made a promise to Guler, and that Iran would \"fulfill its responsibilities,\" the Anatolia news agency said. The two ministers were expected later Tuesday to discuss an Iranian proposal to send Iranian natural gas to European, Anatolia quoted the Iranian minister as saying. \"The Turkish delegation will give us a reply on our proposal\" on Wednesday, Anatolia quoted the Iranian minister as saying. \"God willing, we will reach an agreement.\" Reports said the ministers were also expected to discuss the price of the gas. Turkey insists the charges are too high and is seeking international arbitration over the issue. Turkey is working to carve a strategic niche for itself as a regional energy hub. It plans to export gas from Iran, Russia and Central Asia to Europe. A newly completed U.S.-backed oil pipeline from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Ceyhan, via the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, was inaugurated last month. (AP)