Text: Turkish-Israeli Multi-Pipeline Agreement To Be Drafted

2006-12-16

Agreed Minutes Of The Meeting Between The Minister Of Energy And Natural Resources Of The Republic Of Turkey H.E. Hilmiguler And The Minister Of National Infrastructures Of The State Of Israel H.E. Binyamin Ben Eliezer

With reference to the results of the Turkey-Israel energy working group which were held on 10th October, 2005 in Ankara and on 12th March, 2006 in Jerusalem, the parties reiterated their joint determination to build an energy corridor between Turkey and Israel which would be composed of pipelines for crude oil, natural gas, fresh water as well as electricity lines.

The Parties expressed their firm belief that this project would not only serve the bilateral relations of Turkey and Israel, but will at the same time have a positive impact on their immediate region by way of creating new incentives and fostering a new climate for a lasting peace and prosperity for all of the region. They also emphasize the fact that such an energy corridor will contribute greatly to enhancing global energy security and supply stability.

The Parties welcome the willingness of The European Commission to support cooperation on the energy corridor, as expressed in its communication following the Euro-Mediterranean Forum which took place in Brussels on 21st October,2006. In this context the Parties call on The European Commission to materialize its support in the near future.

Further, the Parties view with importance the extension of the work on this corridor that has already commenced by the private sectors. In this context, the Parties seek the construction of an off-shore multi-pipeline project (oil, natural gas, water and electricity) in connection with the aforementioned Turkish-Israeli energy corridor, and thereby also connecting the Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline to the Israeli outlets and establishing a physical link between the Ceyhan energy terminal of Turkey and Israel. The Parties further agree that this linkage will be done by a decision of the Turkish Government. The Parties welcome this initiative and request the completion of the feasibility studies on it as soon as possible.

The Parties therefore agreed to instruct their relevant authorities to take concrete steps in order to prepare the draft for an Inter-Governmental Agreement between Turkey and Israel which would constitute the legal framework for the realization of this project.

Dr. Mehmet Hilmi Guler
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
The Republic of Turkey

Binyamin (Fouad) Ben Eliezer
Minister of National Infrastructures
The State of Israel

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis