Hungary ‘open to launching gas projects with Turkey'

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto (L) says his country is open to talking with Turkey to cooperate in energy projects. AFP Photo

Turkey will play a great role in maintaining the region’s energy security and Hungary is open to starting negotiations to cooperate with it in future energy projects, Hungarian Foreign and External Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.

“After Russia scrapped the South Stream project, it started planning to carry gas to European markets via Turkey. We are looking forward to seeing Turkey’s final evaluation of the project. If it agrees to buy this gas, we want to start negotiations with Turkey. We want to talk about how we can carry some of the gas from Turkey to Central Europe together,” Szijjarto said on Jan. 26, speaking in a joint press meeting in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

“We have been looking for new alternatives since the cancelation of the South Stream and Turkey plays a crucial role [to this end],” he added.

Szijjarto said Hungary had already begun talks with Serbia and Macedonia about the launch of a new energy transmission line, and was waiting for the establishment of the new government in Greece before beginning talks with Greece as well.

“One of the possible alternatives may be a line starting from Turkey to Hungary through Greece, Macedonia and Serbia,” he said.

Szijjarto said new channels should be sought as the EU has lost a significant part of its competitiveness in recent last years.

“We think that in order to regain competitiveness, we have to work closely together with the countries and regions of the world that are rapidly emerging and producing significant economic growth,” he added, citing Turkey.

Meanwhile, Çavuşoğlu specifically thanked the Hungarian government for its “unconditional” support for Turkey’s EU membership bid.