Turkey won’t allow fait accompli in Med Sea: Minister

ISTANBUL

Turkey would not allow fait accompli over the natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez has said, adding that the new search efforts would be a “game changer.”

“We would not let fait accompli in the Mediterranean,” he said at Petroleum Istanbul, an energy industry fair which opened on March 28.

Turkey would defend the rights of Turkish Cyprus, the minister said in response to unilateral attempts and deals by Greek Cyprus.

“We consider oil and gas search as the biggest step to change the game,” he said.

“Our goal is to make Turkey a country that produces oil and natural gas and exports them,” he added.

The minister said Turkey wants to become independent in energy, highlighting the Turkish Stream project with Russia and Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), which carries Azerbaijani gas to Turkey, with the date to transfer the resource to Europe nearing.

Turkey recently discovered gas resources in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, Dönmez said.

“This will help curb the current account deficit by $5 billion [annually],” he said.

The Petroleum Istanbul Fair brings together all public institutions and organizations related to energy, including the Energy Ministry and the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), with the private sector.

Visitors and participants, including EPDK chair Mustafa Yılmaz, Demirören Group chair Yıldırım Demirören, Demirören Media chair Mehmet Soysal and other businesspeople observed the stands after Dönmez cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony of the fair.

Some 50,000 people are expected to visit the fair this year held under the concept of “Smart Technologies and Smart Stations.”

Organized for the 14th year, Petroleum Istanbul at TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center will last until March 30.