November 19, 2001 - 23:01 AMT
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SECONDS LEGISLATORS' INITIATIVE TO BAN RUSSIAN COMPANIES' PARTICIPATION IN BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
Today deputy chairman of committee on CIS affairs of Russian State Duma Anatoly Chekhoyev addressed a report to the sitting of the Chamber, in which he called on his colleagues to ban Russian oil companies to participate in the project of "Baku-Ceyhan" oil pipeline construction. Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Biktor Kalyuzhniy stated he seconded the deputy's initiative as, in his words, building of this pipeline, which excludes Russian territory, contradicts to political and economic interests of Russia. As it is known, "Lukoil" company, headed by ethnic Azeri Vagit Alekperov, is interested in participation in realizing the project.