15.09.2005
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan: Pipeline of Friendship or War?
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Can Karpat, AIA Turkish section
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Turkish Diplomatik Gozlem magazine published an article praising the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, named a "Pipeline of Friendship". After a considerable amount of explanations why this pipeline - a "Turkish dream, which came true" is strengthening Ankara's positions, the article lists the losers – the Russians and the Armenians. The article is placing Turkey on the American side of the barricade. Is that the friendship the Turks mean? If it is so does it mean that there is a drastic change in Erdogan's policy, aimed on tightening relations with Russia, or it is just an article initiated by the certain pro-American forces in Ankara, which are objecting rapprochement with Russia? AIA brings the translation of this item.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline that was considered before as just a dream is almost completed today. The oil that was pumped into it in Baku on an official ceremony in May, will reach Ceyhan harbour in Turkey by November
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Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze (L), Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer of Turkey on the ceremony of the beginning of the BTC pipeline construction
in Baku on September, 18, 2002
(photo: Turkish press) |
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2005.
The project, which will be a security corridor binding Southern Caucasus to the Mediterranean, and which will strengthen Turkey strategically even further, has also the greatest advantage to lessen volume of dangerous cargos that are carried through the Turkish Straits.
Moreover, the pipeline project that will contribute to the economic independence of Azerbaijan and Georgia will play a key role in the creation of a strong and wide net of cooperation in Caucasus.
Nevertheless, in spite of these positive aspects, there are also of course those, who consider the project as a menace to their own interests!
Apart the anxieties that are felt because of a Turkey that strengthens its geopolitical power, the fact that the oil of the ex-USSR will be carried to the world market through the Commonwealth of Independent States may also decrease the influence of Russia, which began to lose its control over the energy sources in the region. Consequently, Russia as well as Armenia, were annoyed with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project, and displayed great discontent with its construction.
Russian specialists claim that the pipeline project is the part of a plan aimed to weaken the Russian influence on Caucasus - a power that was built with great care since the collapse of the Soviet Union. That is why they name the project “the American Pipeline”, and believe that the United States will place American soldiers in the region using the pretext of the defending the pipeline. In this regard, the Russian Parliament Foreign Affairs President, Konstantin Kosachev stated: “The United States of America and other Western countries are planning to settle their soldiers in Caucasus on the pretext of instability in regions where the pipeline passes through”.
Furthermore, according to the Faculty member of Yerevan Public University, Aram Arutunyan, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ankara strategic bloc is a very serious danger for Armenia. Immediately after the 25th of May, 2005 where oil was pumped into the pipeline for the very first time, the declaration of the Armenian Prime Minister, Andranik Margaryan indicates the highest degree of anxieties that are felt in this country. As a matter of fact, Margaryan stated that “the pipeline will have a negative effect on the balance of powers in the region” and that “Armenia is looking for alternatives to get the balance right once again”.
After all, Yerevan’s anxieties are comprehensible, for in Southern Caucasus, a transportation system is being built without passing through Armenian soil. Besides the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project will be functional very soon. That means: Armenia will gradually lose its regional advantages and ways of transportation of great importance for the country, while its neighbours will be increasing their economic power.
According to political observers: “if Armenia had ended to occupy Karabakh, had cooperated with Azerbaijan and it had gone beyond the perspective of historical revenge in its relations with Turkey, the situation would have been a much more different for Armenia”.
Related items:
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline as Turkey's Geopolitical Weapon (10.08.2005)
BTC pipeline will lighten the load on the Turkish straits (25.05.2005)
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline starts pumping oil on May 25th(20.05.2005)
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