DATE=11/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - PIPELINE (L)
NUMBER=2-256330
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=ISTANBUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton - traveling in Istanbul,
Turkey to attend a European security summit - has
witnessed the signing of several agreements that will
pave the way for construction of two key energy
pipelines linked to the Caspian Basin. Mr. Clinton
said the projects will bolster the security of the
region. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports.
TEXT: The leaders of Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan signed documents
authorizing construction of an oil pipeline that will
run from Baku, Azerbaijan to Ceyhan, Turkey, and a gas
pipeline that will run from Turkmenistan to Turkey.
Mr. Clinton - a strong supporter of the projects -
says they will advance the prosperity and security of
a region critical to the future of the world.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
The natural wealth of the Caspian will make our
global energy supply more secure and more
diversified. These pipelines will be an
insurance policy for the entire world, helping
to ensure our energy sources pass through
multiple routes, not a single choke point.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton says the next step will be securing
financing for the projects. He says the U-S Overseas
Private Investment Corporation and the Export-Import
Bank would offer assistance.
The United States, concerned about potential
instability in Russia and potential hostility in Iran,
has long sought an oil pipeline that bypasses those
two countries while tapping the rich fields of the
Caspian Basin for international markets. Still, U-S
officials insist Russia was not intentionally excluded
from the Baku-Ceyhan project.
For their part, regional officials hailed the deal.
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev spoke through a
translator.
/// ALIYEV ACTUALITY ///
I have been asked repeatedly, `When will Baku-
Ceyhan become a reality? ` Each time I say it
will become a reality, it will become a reality,
it will become reality. Today it has become a
reality.
/// END ACT ///
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, speaking
through a translator, put it this way:
/// SHEVARDNADZE ACTUALITY ///
If 10 years ago, somebody ever came up with this
project, anyone would have said this was
something that looked like wishful thinking,
that it is not realistic altogether. Today we
are witnessing a major event in our lives.
/// END ACT ///
Other leaders said the agreement would forge closer
ties in the region. Turkish President Suleyman
Demirel spoke through an interpretor.
/// Demirel actuality ///
Today, we are not only connecting the Caspian
Sea to the Mediterranean, but tying our
destinies together as well.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT //
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, also through a
translator:
/// NAZARBAYEV ACTUALITY ///
We believe it will strengthen our economic stability,
independence and make a better life for our peoples in
the Caspian region.
/// END ACT ///
/// END OPT ///
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov pledged
his country will do all it can to realize the goal of
the gas pipeline project.
/// NIYAZOV ACTUALITY ///
Turkmenistan will be very actively implementing
this project, together with our partners, so
that Turkmen gas should reach Turkey by 2002.
/// end act ///
The proposed oil pipeline is to be completed by 2004.
(Signed)
NEB/DAT/ENE/gm
18-Nov-1999 14:35 PM EDT (18-Nov-1999 1935 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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