SABIT BAGHIROV: "BTC SECURITY MEASURES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED EVEN IN AZERBAIJAN"
Today.Az
11 August 2008 [12:08]
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Sabit Baghirov, head of the Center of Economic
and Political Studies and former president of SOCAR.
– After an investigation the Turkish officials said the explosion
at the Turkish section of the BTC pipeline, earlier attributed to
PKK terrorist organization, was man-caused. Anyway, this incident
caused serious concerns about the security of this pipeline, which
is of global importance, especially following the recent events in
South Ossetia. Do you consider it necessary to take any additional
measures for BTC security?
– Undoubtedly, the recent events create concerns. Moreover,
they are supposed to continue in a larger scale, which causes
real concerns. Therefore, I consider that the management of BTC
consortium and the governments of the transit countries should review
security measures for their strengthening. Probably, it will require
consultations with other countries.
We should do everything possible to settle the pipeline’s security
problems, which may require additional expenses. But what should we
do? This is a price of reducing risks of losses, which we are now
witnessing at the Turkish section of the pipeline.
– We have spoken of the threats to the pipeline, passing the
territories of Georgia and Turkey. Is there a threat to Azerbaijani
section of the pipeline? We have a hot spot in our territory as well,
while Armenians have repeatedly stated the direct threat to BTC in
case of war resumption and possible spread of military actions area.
– We can speak of different levels of possibility of terror acts and
direct military attacks, which we are now witnessing in Georgia. By
the recent information, provided by Georgian officials, BTC was
attacked by Russian air forces. Fortunately, the pilot appeared not
to be too experienced.
In Azerbaijan the possibility of such threats seems lower than in
the neighbor countries. In Turkey we are witnessing PKK terror acts,
which have become more frequent. Georgia is in a state of war and
neighbor Russia has gone far beyond its peacekeeping mission in South
Ossetia and its air forces are bombing strategic objects in Poti,
Marneuli and other places. Though all these events did not occur in
our country, Azerbaijani officials should also take due measures. I
think the country’s government will review the complex of BTC security
measures and strengthen them.
– Is it enough to take these measures on the national level or
should they be held in the centralized order in line with all the
participating states?
– They should be taken conjointly, as all these measures should be
coordinated not only between the transit-states, but also with other
participants of the project.
– Is it necessary to attract foreign specialists in the sphere of
security to protection of pipelines and other hydrocarbons transit
projects or the participating states can cope with it independently?
– Consultations with foreign specialists on this issue are possible
and I do not rule them out. I would say that they are expedient. It
is necessary to remember that Azerbaijan is not so experienced in
ensuring security of international pipelines. There are countries,
which have a significant experience. Therefore, I will not be surprised
if foreign specialists are attracted to ensuring BTC security.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress