Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14 -- Turkey and Syria have signed an agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation between their two countries in a number of fields, including a major pipeline development.
After the signing ceremony, Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said the cooperation agreement included a pipeline that would carry Egyptian natural gas from Aleppo to Turkey's southeastern town of Kilis, and possibly on to European markets if a link-up with the European Union-sponsored Nabucco pipeline scheme comes online.
Cooperation in electric power also would be developed.
Turkey will have the right to take as much as 1.5 billion cu m of gas for its domestic needs from the 62-mile pipeline, and Turkish contractors will participate in the tenders for line construction. Bids are due by Feb. 20.
Prior to the meeting, Guler met with Syrian Minister of Oil Sufiyan al-Aw and said the two countries could jointly explore for oil and gas because they have identical geologies. "Turkey and Syria can work together to find oil and natural gas reserves," Guler said, adding that both countries can "trade electricity and minerals."
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