DUSHANBE - Turkey aimed to finalize the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline project before the end of 2005, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
Answering questions of reporters in Tajik capital of Dushanbe, where he is attending the 8th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Erdogan said, ''Turkey pursues its efforts to finalize the (BTC) project. We aim to start pumping oil through this pipeline by the end of 2005.''
Asked about Kars-Tbilisi railway project, Erdogan said that foreign loan would be needed to realize this project. He added, ''Georgia's approach to the project is very important. They are for the realization of it. But, they can't extend any support since they don't have necessary funds. If we can find the loan, we will realize Kars-Tbilisi railway project.''
(BRC-ULG) 14.09.2004