Russia supposed to help Azeri in oil export

The Russia Journal
Apr 30, 2004, 23:59 (Moscow time)

Russia supposed to help Azeri in oil export

WORLD/CIS » :: Apr 30, 2004 Posted: 11:02 Moscow time (07:02 GMT)

STRASBOURG – The president of Azerbaijan Ilkham Aliev expressed his hope
that Russia can do much for Karabakh settlement, while addressing a news
conference at the Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg.

The President hopes for Russia to join the USA and France, other Minsk group
co-chairs, together to fix up Karabakh conflict.

Azeri petroleum exports were another principal theme of the news conference.
Their northern route, via Russia, needs much improvement. At present, an
annual 2.5 million tonnes of Azeri oil is going abroad by the
Baku-Novorossiisk mainline, and another six million by the Baku-Supsa. Both
terminals are Russia’s and Georgia’s Black Sea ports respectively.

Another mainline is being laid from Baku to Ceyhan, Turkish terminal in the
East Mediterranean. Azeri exports may amount to fifty million tonnes a year
after the line is commissioned toward next year’s end. “This does not mean
we shall give up the Baku-Novorossiisk line-a route which has to be
improved,” said Mr. Aliev.

An Azeri-Russian ad hoc team is negotiating prospective improvements, he
added. /Neftegaz.ru/