Azeri TV on possible threats to Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline

ANS TV, Baku
26 Aug 04

[Presenter] Ensuring the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan [BTC] oil
pipeline is becoming more important, as the date for its commissioning
approaches.

[Correspondent over video of Baku and pipeline construction sites] The
staff and command exercises of the Azerbaijani, Georgian and Turkish
military are under way in Baku. The exercises that will last until 27
August are related to ensuring the security of the BTC pipeline. The
existence of the forces that do not want the BTC pipeline and the fact
that these forces become active from time to time necessitate serious
measures for the security of the pipeline. Taking into consideration
that most of the work on the BTC construction has been completed and
the pipeline will be commissioned soon, one may suppose that the
forces opposing the pipeline might become more active. Some experts
say that there can be various threats to the BTC pipeline. For
example, one of these threats are possible acts of terror and sabotage
on the pipeline. If we look at the route of the oil pipeline, we can
see that the pipeline is not fully insured against danger.

In Azerbaijan these threats can be in the areas close to Armenia and
to the occupied lands where the pipeline traverses. The expected
threats in Georgia may also come from Armenians. The fact that the
pipeline stretches along the areas densely populated by ethnic
Armenians and the negative attitude of the ethnic Armenian population
in those areas to the pipeline leave no doubt about it.

The forces who want to disrupt the project are realizing their
intention in the form of protests against the construction. The
Prosecutor-General’s Office in Borjomi [Georgia] has brought to book a
group of ethnic Armenians living in the village of Tabatsquri, who
attempted last week to prevent the construction of the part of the
pipeline that goes through that area. The inhabitants of this village
have held three protest actions over the past month, demanding that
the construction of the pipeline be halted.

The third source of danger in the territory where the pipeline is laid
are the activities of the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] in Turkey,
especially, the PKK’s statement that it will start terrorist acts
again makes one think more seriously about the security of the
pipeline.

But the most serious threat to the BTC pipeline still remains Armenia
and its aggressive policy. Thus, it is necessary that not only the
parties to the security protocol [signed between Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Turkey in July 2003], but also all the countries interested in the
pipeline should curb this source of danger before early oil starts to
flow in the summer of 2005.

On 27 April 2002, Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, Georgian
President Eduard Shevardnadze and Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
signed a document on fighting terrorism, organized crime and other
grave crimes. The present exercises are being conducted on the basis
of that document.

Rasad Isgandarov for ANS.