ISTANBUL (A.A) - 25.06.2002 - Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev said on Tuesday that the last phase had been reached in process of implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline project which would carry Azerbaijani main production oil to Western markets.
Speaking at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Summit Meeting at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Aliyev said that as a result of the policy they followed for transportation of energy resources in Azerbajani part of the Caspian basin, early production oil had been transported with Baku-Supsa and Baku-Novorossiysk pipelines, adding that the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline project would be implemented in near future.
Noting that they had founded BSEC to solve their problems together, Aliyev said the organization expanded in Black Sea Region in last three years, prepared grounds for economic stability and started the process of member nations' integration with Europe.
Stating that energy policies would strengthen economic cooperation between the Caspian basin and Black Sea basin, Aliyev said the historical Silk Road Conference held in Baku in 1998 was important and that this corridor was important for development of political, economic and cultural relations of member countries.
Aliyev stressed that implementation of the Europe Caucasus Asia Transportation Corridor (TRACECA) which was financed by the European Union was important for development of bilateral economic cooperation.
Aliyev said that energy projects which are implemented with participation of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and national oil companies would change economic situation in the region.
Regarding the Upper Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Aliyev said that undoubtedly, Azerbaijan had great potential but regional peace should be settled, respect should be shown to territorial integrity and security of regional countries should be provided for use of this potential. ''Otherwise, it is impossible to put joint economic projects into practice. This is Azerbaijan's position. We will not take a backward step until a solution is found to the Upper Karabakh problem.''