Turkish Stream gas pipeline: Moscow & Ankara sign agreement in Istanbul

An intergovernmental agreement on the Turkish Stream pipeline has been signed in Istanbul in the presence of both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who held talks earlier. The project, with an estimated total cost of €11.4 billion (US$12.7 billion). (Russia Today)

What is Turkish Stream?

The Turkish Stream is a working name of the proposed natural gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey across the Black Sea. The proposed pipeline should replace the cancelled South Stream project.

U.S. urged Greece to reject Russian Energy Project. (New York Times)

According to Russian politicians, with the help of the local revolutionaries and ethnic terrorists, the West is trying to destabilize Macedonia in order to overthrow the democratically elected government and to withdraw the country from the Balkan (Turkish) Stream. (Global Research, Limes)

Which are other countries involved in this project?

Russia, Turkey, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece are also interested in participating to the projects. The objective of these countries is to diversify routes and channels of natural gas sources. (Sputnik News)

Why this is important for Russia?

If the countries decide to take part in the Turkish Stream project, Gazprom will have an opportunity to deliver gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine without drastically altering existing deals with the customers (Sputnik News)