Erdogan: Türkiye will not fall apart if import falls by a billion

Türkiye intends to buy additional natural gas from Qatar and Azerbaijan if Russian supplies are reduced

The conflict of Turkey with Russia due to the Su-24 aircraft over Syria will not affect joint energy projects. This was announced on Saturday by Turkish President Recep Erdogan.

"So far, there are no signs that problems with Russia will affect projects such as natural gas supply and the construction of a nuclear power plant," Erdogan said in his speech to entrepreneurs.

He denied the statements of Russian representatives that Moscow suspended negotiations with Turkey about the planned project "Turkish Stream".

"Do not believe erroneous messages from the press that Russia has suspended the" Turkish stream. "It is on the contrary. This is the project that we postponed because our requirements are not fulfilled," he said.

Türkiye will not fall apart due to the fact that our imports will fall by 1 billion, Erdogan said. We will find other sources behind other doors, he emphasized. Türkiye intends to buy additional natural gas from Qatar and Azerbaijan if Russian supplies are decreasing, President Erdogan said.

Russia introduced trade sanctions against Turkey, including frozen investment projects and limited the import of food after the Turkish Air Force was shot down last week by the Russian Su-24 fighter-bomber near the Syrian border.

Russia purchased Turkish food worth about $ 1 billion a year and is the main supplier of energy to Turkey, delivering gas, coal and oil. It should also build the first nuclear power plant in Turkey in the city of Akku. This project is estimated at $ 20 billion.