BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

02/05/2007

Aliyev supports Belarus' oil production projects

BAKU. May 2 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev has said he fully supports Belarus's plans to launch oil production projects in Azerbaijan for its domestic market.

"There is a political decision on cooperation in the oil and gas sector," the president said at a press conference in Baku.

Asked about prospects for developing an energy partnership with Belarus, he said that a number of projects existed to diversify energy exports. The projects in particular include the possibility of shipping Azeri oil to Belarus through the Odessa-Brody pipeline. "We gave our political consent to this," Aliyev said.

Azerbaijani is interested in increasing its exports of oil, because it is producing more oil, the president said, adding that the country will become one of the largest oil exporters with 50 million tonnes next year.

Aliyev directly links Azerbaijan's economic interest with the political agreements reached with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Speaking about the participation of Belarusian companies in the production of oil in Azerbaijan, the president said: "There is full support for the project."

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/267236/news.aspx

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