September 16, 2003 - 19:57 AMT
BRITISH GOVERNMENT AGAINST BUILDING BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE
The British government lingers with the statement on official support of the building of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline. As reported by "525" Baku newspaper, Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation Lord Sainsbury reported at a sitting of the House of Lords that the Expert Department of Credit Provision had not passed a decision on providing financial assistance to the BTC construction. He stated that the department can allocate funds only if it is confident of the environmental security of the pipeline, as well as that laying it does not infringe upon anyone's civil rights. It should be noted that the British government has also called the World Bank and other international credit organization not to hurry with assigning funds for laying the oil pipeline. It should be reminded that over 60 international human rights and environment protection organizations are against the building of the pipeline. Specifically, "Greenpeace" has stated that in case of realization of the project over 30 thousand Kurds will be resettled. "Amnesty International" has stated that it can create a precedent for a new conflict in the region.