Europe ties Nabucco deals with Turkey and Arab gas, says Russia not involved

EU officials meeting in Brussels with current and future member states of the Arab Gas Pipeline claim a major victory in facilitating completion of a major supplier of non-Russian natural gas.

Iraq, Egypt, Jordan Lebanon and Syria all pledged gas supplies that would be routed through the AGP to Turkey, and into the Nabucco pipeline to Europe, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. AGP currently sends Egyptian gas through Jordan to Syria and soon to Lebanon. Work is being done to extend it from Syria to Turkey.

"The Arab Gas Pipeline is set to be finalized by the end of the year, opening important possibilities as a new transport route for gas to the EU, particularly for the Nabucco project," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said, Hurriyet reports.

Iraq, meanwhile, is in the beginning stages to develop the Akkas gas field along Syria's border, as well as the northern gas sector that would ship directly to Turkey.