Statements linking the planned Nabucco gas pipeline to Europe to Turkey's bid to join the European Union were misinterpreted, UPI.com reported quoting Turkish officials
Egemen Bagis, the Turkish minister for EU affairs, told reporters statements on Nabucco from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were misunderstood in the Western media, the Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet reported Thursday.
"If we are faced with a situation where the energy chapter is blocked, we would, of course, review our position," Erdogan said earlier this week.
The Turkish bid for EU membership hit a roadblock stemming from disputes with the Greek government of Cyprus, which is blocking Turkey over the energy section of its accession bid.
Erdogan later said Turkey understood its "responsibilities" linked to Nabucco, and Bagis indicated Turkey had no precondition for moving on the Western-backed 2,050-mile pipeline.
Nabucco construction is slated for 2010 with initial gas transits scheduled for 2013. The planned route travels from the Caspian Sea to Turkey and on to Europe through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.
Supply and cost concerns haunt development on the $10.5 billion Nabucco project. Budapest hosts a Nabucco summit Jan. 26 and 27.
