BY ERHAN BASYURT
ZAMAN- The first oil was pumped through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline in Azerbaijan two days ago. The huge project is a turning point not only for Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, but also for the region’s future. For the first time, one of the ex-Soviet republics has succeeded in opening to the world through an energy transportation line with Russia excluded. The new pipeline will spur steady growth in the Azerbaijani economy. Azerbaijan expects a growth of 20% over the next few years. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, one of the longest pipelines in the world at 1,774 kilometers, will contribute to the cooperation and stability of the three countries through which it passes. A natural gas pipeline has started construction in parallel with the BTC, and its completion is planned for 2006. This way the friendship will be strengthened even more. British Petroleum (BP), the largest partner in the project, claims that the benefits to the three countries will amount to $150 billion from the oil and gas transportation. The Turkish, Georgian and Azerbaijani leaders at the BTC opening ceremony also signed a pact for the Kars-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Baku Railway project, which is an indication of the emerging stability of the Caucasus. This project, which will connect Turkey and Eurasia, has been delayed for years due to the Armenian minority’s threat in the Akhalkalaki region.
Kazakhstan will also connect to BTC through Aktau. This way they will have an alternative route to Russia. This way tanker traffic and the threats to the environment and lives posed by tankers in the Turkish Straits will fall. The BTC has a great strategic importance for Turkey. Our port of Ceyhan’s importance has risen as an energy transfer point. Turkey has become an energy route for Iranian and Azerbaijani gas and Iraqi and Caspian oil, and Turkey’s strategic importance rose for the EU. Now transferring natural gas to Europe through Greece isn’t a dream anymore. In addition, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) is a partner of the projects with a share of 6.5% and for the first time, Turkey is signing a partnership with international companies with oil and natural gas fields of this scale. Of course this experience will have a contribution and financial benefits for the TPAO’s future roles. In sum, pumping the first oil in the BTC pipeline is a turning point in many ways and strengthens the search for multidimensional cooperation among countries of the region.