First Oil Flow From B.T.C. Pipeline

U.S. SECRETARY OF ENERGY BODMAN: ''TODAY WILL CHANGE THE WORLD''

BAKU - U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said regarding the first oil flow from the beginning point of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline that today will change the world.
A ceremony was held to mark the first oil flow from the beginning point of the BTC pipeline at Sangchal terminal in Azerbaijani capital of Baku on Wednesday.
Bodman said, ''the project was realized in difficult conditions. Today will change the world. We support Kazakhstan's participation in the project.''
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, said, ''we have worked for 10 years to realize this project. We are reaching all of our aims.''
''Through the project, less oil will be transferred from Istanbul and Canakkale straits. This is important in the aspect of security,'' he added.
''Oil income will contribute to the prosperity of the region,'' he added.
European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs said, ''800 million barrels of oil will be opened to world markets annually through the project. EU understands and appreciates this. The project will eliminate the crowd in Istanbul and Canakkale straits as well.''