Turkey approves Russian gas pipeline

Russia has secured approval from Turkey to build the South Stream, natural gas pipeline under the Black Sea. The breakthrough came during talks in Moscow between Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their talks in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010. Putin says Russia has received assurances that Turkey will by November give the green light to  construct a gas pipeline under its sector of the Black Sea. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Both leaders pledged to fully clear the Russian gas pipeline project before November 2010, when building is due to begin.

Russian PM VladimirPutin said, "We naturally discussed our large-scale joint projects like the South Stream and oil pipelines between Samsun and Jaikhan."

Putin also pledged to help Turkey build its first nuclear power plant.

The Turkish Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the talks.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "Our cooperation is not limited to natural gas distribution. It also exists in other energy fields including oil and nuclear energy, which is very satisfying."

The Russian-designed South Stream pipeline aims to deliver natural gas to southern Europe under the Black Sea.

Turkey aspires to become a key transit hub for Europe, but faces a tough balancing game between rival projects supported by Moscow and the European Union.