BAKU - Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev said on Monday that the treatment of Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev who was in Cleveland city of the U.S. continued.
Speaking to Turkish and Russian journalists during his visit to Sengecal terminal, which is considered as the starting point of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, Ilham Aliyev said that he had a conversation on the phone with Azerbaijani President Aliyev on Sunday and that the treatment process was normal.
When asked when would Azerbaijani President Aliyev return to Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev said that this was not yet known.
Upon a question about the news published in some newspapers saying that Russians were given priority in the oil sector, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Aliyev said that ''the share of Turkish Petroleum Inc. (TPAO) has been increased by the special initiative of Azerbaijani President Aliyev. The interests of Azerbaijan come first, but the interests of neighbour countries will also be taken into consideration.''
Ilham Aliyev said that the construction process of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project continued in line with the foreseen programme.
Azerbaijani Prime Minister also referred to Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline, adding that there was no problem in the project and that the studies continued within the foreseen schedule.
(Öª-AÖ) 11.08.2003