Saakashvili Hails Launch of BTC
President Saakashvili hailed launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline as of ?historic importance? at an official inaugural ceremony of the BTC on July 13.
Azerbaijani, Georgian and Turkish leaders, as well as senior officials from the region and the United States gathered in Ceyhan to participate in the ceremony.
?For us, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is much more than simply an economic or even political energy project. This is a historical precondition for laying a firm foundation for freedom, independence and future success of our countries,? Mikheil Saakashvili said.
The Georgian President stressed that the construction of the BTC pipeline has much contributed to Georgia?s economic development before 2003.
?However, following the rose revolution [in 2003], other factors have also contributed to the economic growth, including improvement of investment environment, effective governance and reduction of corruption,? Saakashvili said, adding that Georgia becomes more and more attractive for investments.
In his speech Saakashvili called Turkey as ?the major partner?, which, as he put it, will become ?number one investor? soon.
Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul on July 12 U.S. Deputy Undersecretary for Energy Clay Sell said that BTC was ?an effort of great strategic and economic importance to the countries involved.”
“The interest of consuming nations … is to have a multitude of transit routes,” the Associated Press quoted Undersecretary Clay Sell.
