BAKU: US Amb. Considers Statement of Armenian PM Groundless

Today, Azerbaijan
May 28 2005

US ambassador considers statement of Armenian prime-minister as
groundless

28 May 2005 [17:05] – Today.Az

The US ambassador to Azerbaijan considers commissioning of oil
pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (ÒÑ), as the fact contributing to the
balance in the region.

The agency Trend reports, he stated this to journalists, commenting
statement of Armenian Prime-minister Andranik Markarian, who indicated
“this project creates misbalance in the region”.

US diplomat figures, commissioning of BTC is multi lateral event as,
first of all, more oil is to be supplied via this pipeline.

“Secondly, ÒÑ will further provision of sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Caucasus, i.e. Azerbaijan and Georgia. Thirdly, ÒÑ will
lead to closer economic integration, including Turkey. On contrary, I
estimate this project, as bringing balance to the region”, R. Harnish
summarized.

URL:

http://www.today.az/news/politics/19460.html