ANKARA: Russia is expecting an invitation from the Turkish side to continue work on intergovernmental agreement on construction of two lines of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline after the new government is formed in the country, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 TV news channel on Thursday.
“Currently, we’re expecting an invitation depending on how the government will be formed so that we could finalize work on the text of the intergovernmental agreement,” the Minister said.
On November 1, early parliamentary elections were held in Turkey. New government will be formed within 45 days. “We expect that during this period of time when the permanent government is being formed the work on the text of the intergovernmental agreement on construction of 2 lines of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline within Turkey will be continued,” the Minister said.
Talks over Turkish Stream have been suspended as the sides cannot reach consensus on a number of issues. Currently, construction of only 1 line of the pipeline for Turkey’s local needs is being discussed.