ANKARA, Turkey, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Caracas and Ankara are keen to expand bilateral ties in the energy sector with a special focus on oil exploration, the Turkish energy minister said.
Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz returned to Ankara this week after a state visit with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Yildiz said Venezuelan officials had a clear understanding of Turkey's important geopolitical position, Turkish daily newspaper Today's Zaman reports.
"Venezuela has offered Turkey two oil fields in return for construction projects from the Housing Development Administration of Turkey," he was quoted as saying.
The energy minister added that if prices were competitive enough, Turkey could start importing oil from Venezuela.
"Distance is a quantitative concept," he was quoted as saying. "What matters is simultaneously creating mutually shared values and reaching out to a neighbor who is far away,"
Turkey imports 95 percent of the crude oil it consumes each year and has since 2007 sought better energy ties with countries in Latin America. A second delegation heads to Venezuela next month.
