Al-Qa’idah might threaten major oil pipeline – Azeri security chief

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
25 Jun 04

[Presenter] The National Security Ministry has obtained information
about acts of sabotage being prepared on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline, Minister Namiq Abbasov has told ATV. Being more specific,
the minister said that Al-Qa’idah is involved in the terrorist threat.

[Reporter] The country’s special services have information that
international terrorist groups are planning sabotage on the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. National Security Minister Namiq
Abbasov said that Al-Qa’idah was also mentioned in this connection.

[Namiq Abbasov] We have such reports. This is quite possible. There
are quite a few opponents of Baku-Ceyhan. All kinds of threats against
it are quite possible.

[Reporter] The general did not rule out that Al-Qa’idah members could
be hiding in occupied uncontrolled territories. He said that it would
be irresponsible to dismiss possible sabotage on the Azerbaijani
section of the oil pipeline. But the minister stressed that special
services were carrying out the necessary measures in order to prevent
this.

Mr Abbasov also commented on the problem of the two Armenians who left
Armenia for Azerbaijan and are seeking asylum in a third country. The
problem will be settled very soon, the minister said.