16:40, 17 September 2003

British Government is not confident of Baku-Tbilisi-Jeikhan pipeline's ecological safety

The UK Government is delaying its statement on the official support of the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeikhan pipeline construction (BTJ). Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation Lord Sainsbury reported that the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has not decided yet on the allocation of financial aid for the BTJ construction. He said the Department would allocate financial aid only if it had confidence the pipeline was ecologically safe and its construction infringed upon no one's civil rights. The UK Government also called on the World Bank and other international credit organizations not to hurry to allot funds for the pipeline construction. It should be reminded that more than 60 international organizations on human rights and environmental protection speak against the BTJ construction.

Source: "Newspaper 525" (Azerbaijan)