US official visiting Azerbaijan to discuss major oil project

Space TV, Baku
23 Apr 05

[Presenter] The US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann,
has arrived in Baku to continue talks on the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. Mr Mann, who is also a US State Department advisor for
Eurasian issues, will discuss the construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan [BTC] oil pipeline as well.

[Correspondent] During his current visit to Azerbaijan, the US
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, will discuss the
opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, as well as the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. He said that one of the main issues was
Kazakhstan’s involvement in this project.

[Steven Mann speaking to journalists in Russian] I will discuss mainly
energy issues. This is a very good, important and productive factor
for Azerbaijan’s energy. We will discuss and resolve some issues
before holding a ceremony to mark the opening of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. There are important issues related to
Kazakhstan and the BTC project.

[Correspondent] Steven Mann said there were no grounds to think that
there are political motives behind the delay in the construction of
the BTC.

[Mann] I do not understand at all what political issues could be
linked to the BTC. This was achieved as a result of far-reaching
decisions taken by all governments. Second, the peoples of all
countries strongly support the BTC, which is a world-class project.

[Correspondent] Mr Mann also commented on the negotiations held by the
[Armenian and Azerbaijani] foreign ministers in Prague. He said that
this stage of the talks has allowed the sides to examine mutual
proposals thoroughly.

[Mann] We had separate and productive talks with the ministers in
London last week. We expect the process to continue in Frankfurt next
week.

[Correspondent] Mann also said that the co-chairmen are concerned
about the recent violations of the cease-fire and expressed their
views on the issue at their London meeting with the foreign ministers.

Aygun Ismayilova, Rovsan Valiyev, Space.