STATEMENTS AGAINST BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE CONTINUE IN GEORGIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - The operator of the project, ''British Petroleum'' continues to ignore the existing dissatisfaction with the ecologic consequences of the project. Meanwhile, even in the official circles they have started to insist that its route should be revised. The ''British petroleum'' should additionally study the Borzhomi section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the Minister of nature protection of Georgia, Nino Chkhobadze told recently the ''Christian Science Monitor'' newspaper. According to her, the route is not very reasonable from the political point of view. As known, the official Tbilisi and management of the ''British Petroleum'' once has yielded to the pressure of Azerbaijan and agreed to pass around Akhalkalaki while constructing the pipeline. As a result, the project turned to be extremely dangerous for the ecology. However, the Minister underlines the political aspect of the issue.

If the officials have started to doubt the expediency of the route, the public structures of Georgia openly state that they are against the oil pipeline itself. Head of the ecologic organization ''Land Initiative'' Manana Kochladze said recently that in the official documents it was written that Georgia would get $65 million annually only for transit of the oil in case if the pipeline worked for 100 percent. However, up to now it is not sure that the Azerbaijani oil will be enough to provide the expediency of the project. ''Even if we get $65 million, this money will go to the accounts of the International Oil Corporation of Georgia,'' the ecologist notes. Ms. Kochladze says that the expectations connected with opening of new working places are an illusion. ''The government of Georgia undertakes the guarantee that the project will be successful. If the British Petroleum doesn't like it, it will quit it, and then my children will be obliged to pay for the consequences''. She assures she will continue to impede the implementation of the project. ''If they say I am hindering the implementation of the project, I am satisfied because I am hindering a project that will cause problems for Georgia,'' Manana Kochladze says, ''the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline may harm the whole region''.