10th Caspian Oil And Natural Gas Fair Opened In Azerbaijan

SEZER: CONSTRUCTION LEVEL HAS BEGUN IN BAKU- TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE PROJECT
BAKU - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Tuesday, ''some circles have described east-west energy corridor as a dream for years. Now, construction level has begun in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project.''
President Sezer sent a message to the 10th International Caspian Oil and Natural Gas Fair, which was opened today at the Exhibition Palace in Azerbaijani capital Baku.
The message was read out by Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Unal Cevikoz at inauguration of the fair.
In his message, President Sezer said, ''the first tanker carrying Caspian oil is envisaged to be loaded in Ceyhan in the first half of 2005. Meanwhile, works about Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline, the second leg of the east-west energy corridor, have been continuing.''
''Azerbaijani natural gas is planned to be transported to Turkey in the third quarter of 2006. Determined and foresighted policies of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the United States, and conscious and courageous steps of companies have played important roles in these projects,'' he said.
President Sezer added, ''Azerbaijan's energy strategy under the leadership of President Haydar Aliyev envisaging transportation of Azerbaijani oil and natural gas to western markets via Turkey, has begun yielding its results.''
(UK-AY) 03.06.2003