Return to: Left History: a digital archive	Return to: Say no to imperialist wars!	Return to: NATO-Yugoslav War Internet Resources

---

Author:  Agence France Presse (Fr)  

---

Publisher/Date:  November 18, 1999  

---

Title:  Caspian gas and oil pipeline deals signed  

---

Original location: http://asia.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/world/article.html?s=asia/headlines/991118/world/afp/Caspian_gas_and_oil_pipeline_deals_signed.html

ISTANBUL, Nov 18 (AFP) - Accords for the construction of oil and gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea through Turkey to supply world markets were signed here Thursday, officials said.

The accords were signed by the presidents of the countries involved -- Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan.

The oil pipeline is from the Azeri capital Baku via Georgia to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

The United States, Turkey and Azerbaijan have been pushing hard for the 2,000-kilometre (1,250-mile) pipeline, which they see as a way to avoid shipping Caspian crude through Iran and Russia.

The pipeline, with an estimated cost of between 2.7 and 3.3 billion dollars, is expected to become operational in 2004.

The gas pipeline is to transport gas from Turkmenistan under the Caspian Sea and on through Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey.