OFFICIAL NEWS
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJANHIS EXCELLENCYMR. ILHAM ALIYEV
All of us in BP Azerbaijan are deeply saddened by the death of the ex-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. We extend our sincere condolences to the people of Azerbaijan and our heartfelt sympathies to You and your family.
President Heydar Aliyev will be remembered for many outstanding achievements but not least as the architect of Azerbaijan’s new oil strategy, aimed at developing this country’s rich energy resources jointly with the world’s major oil companies to benefit the people of Azerbaijan, and exporting them to world markets along the East-West energy corridor. This oil strategy has clearly proven to be in the national interest of Azerbaijan over the past ten years and we are confident that it will continue to be into the future.
As operator of Azerbaijan’s main oil and gas development and transportation projects, BP has worked in close cooperation with the Government and the people for Azerbaijan, President Heydar Aliyev’s strong leadership in supporting these activities, and his personal guidance in dealing with the challenges that such major projects inevitably encounter have been crucial to the progress we have achieved to date. This particularly applies to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, where his determination from the very earliest of days has been key to the realization of this Project as the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally responsible means of exporting Azerbaijan’s oil to international markets.
All of us at BP remain committed to delivering these major projects to which President Heydar Aliyev devoted so much of his energy. We will ensure that we start producing oil from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli Full Field Development, commission the BTC pipeline and load the first tanker from Ceyhan on schedule and to the highest standards in order to realize President Heydar Aliyev’s vision. This, we believe, will be the most fitting tribute to your father and the most appropriate way we can honor his memory.
Once again, we convey to the people of Azerbaijan and President Heydar Aliyev;s family that we share your grief and out hearts are with you in these days of mourning.
Yours sincerely,
David Woodward,
Associate President of BP Azerbaijan
14 December 2003