Guest Posted January 7, 2001 Report Share Posted January 7, 2001 Negative signals from Bush administration on Baku-Ceyhan 4 JANUARY 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News As the U.S. President-elect George W. Bush appoints Spencer Abraham as the secretary of energy, concerns over the realization of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project increases. Abraham who is also known as a pro-Armenian senator had called Baku-Ceyhan `a dream'Besides Abraham's appointment, two think tanks Carnegie Endowment and CATO Institute have published two reports strongly opposing Baku-Ceyhan project. Both reports claim that Baku-Ceyhan is not economically feasible and argue that U.S. should cooperate with Russia and Iran for Caspian basin energy resources http://www.turkishdailynews.com/jpeg22/Abraham.jpg energy secretar: Abraham Ankara - Turkish Daily News The newly formed President-elect George W. Bush's administration has been giving negative signals over the Baku-Ceyhan project on which Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and U.S. has agreed on to realize it. The appointment of Spencer Abraham to the secretary of energy has sent alarming signals to Ankara. Despite a very cautious comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Abraham's appointment, diplomatic sources say Ankara will be closely watching the new energy secretary's moves. Abraham is known to be against the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project and an ardent supporter of Armenian claims in the U.S. Congress. While Abraham's appointment is a negative development in itself, two American think tanks have recommended the new Bush Administration not to give priority to Baku-Ceyhan. Carnegie Endowment and CATO Institute called on the Bush Administration which will take office on January 20 to reconsider its policy on the Caspian basin energy resources. Two reports prepared by two think tanks argue that Washing ton should seek ways to cooperate with Russia on energy and should not ignore the Iranian option for the transportation of Caspian energy resources. Carnegie Endowment's report prepared by two Eurasian experts indicated that the proven reserves of the Caspian basin constitutes only 2 % of world energy resources and added that the U.S. interests in the region were limited. Indicating that the Clinton Administration had supported Baku-Ceyhan project to rivet Central Asian republics' independence, the report claimed that U.S. should not be preoccupied with not letting Central Asian republics to fall under Russian influence. The report claimed that Baku-Ceyhan project was not economically feasible and the option instead would be Baku-Supsa line. It also argued that Iranian route would be another feasible route. In another report by Stanley Kober from the Washington-based CATO Institute, it was argued that Baku-Ceyhan would not benefit American interests in the region. Indicating that free market should dictate the route of the pipeline the report claimed that Washington should cooperate with Russia and Iran on Caspian Basin energy resources. The Armenian lobby has acted quickly to express its pleasure over Abraham's appointment who in the past had called on Turkey to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide. Being a member of the Armenian lobby during his years as a senator between 1994-2000, the arab-origin Abraham last year had dubbed the Baku-Ceyhan project `a mere dream'. Frequently criticizing Azerbaijan as well, Abraham in the recent past had blamed Turkey on Cyprus dispute, Armenian policy and human rights violations. Abraham who is 48 had also called both on Ankara and the international community during his speeches in Michigan and Washington to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide. He was also one of the pivotal figures in the U.S. Congress to impose and sustain sanctions against Azerbaijan. The National Organization of Republican Armenians (NORA) in the U.S. has made a statement hailing Abraham's appointment. The Chairwoman of NORA Melanie Kerneklian has indicated that American Armenians were very happy for Abraham's assignment dubbing him a friend of Armenians. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Huseyin Dirioz, commenting on Abraham's appointment said before making any evaluation on any personality, Ankara would like to see friends of Turkey all over the world. " What is important under such circumstances is the actions. We wish success to all secretaries in the new U.S. administration." said Dirioz in a prudent tone. Talking about indications that the Armenian lobby in the U.S. has already started initiatives targeting the Bush Administration for the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, Dirioz said Ankara has always been against attempts to distort the historical facts and would continue to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2001 Report Share Posted January 7, 2001 I am wondering why this guy dropped -YAN suffix from his name? Abrahamyan http://www.turkishdailynews.com/jpeg22/Abraham.jpg regardsArarat Abrahamyan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2001 Report Share Posted January 7, 2001 Hastert punishes pro-Turkish congressman Bereuter can not take over the International Relations Committee'schairmanship as a result of Hastert's efforts Turkish Daily News01/06/2001 Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Dennis Hastert, knownfor his staunch support during last year's attempts to get analleged Armenian genocide recognized in the House, prevented apro-Turkish congressman, Doug Bereuter, to take over thechairmanship of the powerful International Relations Committee, asexpected in the House circles, the Anatolia news agency reported. Henry Hyde in the stead of Bereuter, took over the chairmanship ofthe Committee, as a result of Hastert's efforts to that effect. U.S. Congress sources say that Bereuter's chairmanship wasprevented mainly because of his pro-Turkish stance during thecourse of debates in the House over a resolution recognizing thealleged genocide against Armenians. During the course of debates on the alleged Armenian genocideresolution in the House, Hastert threatened House of Representativemembers unwilling to support the resolution, saying he wouldprevent their chairmanship in House committees. Ankara - Turkish Daily News ----------- Copyright 2001, Turkish Daily News. This article is redistributedwith permission for personal use of Groong readers. No part ofthis article may be reproduced, further distributed or archivedwithout the prior permission of the publisher. Contact TurkishDaily News Online at http://www.TurkishDailyNews.com for details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.