Ankara has reaffirmed its commitment to building a canal through the Euro- pean part of Turkey, providing a possi- ble route for tankers from the Black Sea to bypass the Bosphorus strait. Approvals have been granted to redesign the road and bridge network in Thrace to allow the canal to be dug, deputy prime minister Ali Babacan said on 12 April, describing the project - dubbed "Canal Istanbul" - as "realis- tic". Turkey is aware of doubts about the plan announced during 2011 elec- tion campaigning, but it is moving ahead with the canal, which will "greatly ease maritime traffic through Istanbul", he said.
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