President Shevarnadze: Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Will Guarantee Georgia's Sovereignty and Integrity

Speaking on the radio today, Georgia's President Shevarnadze said that the worth of the hourly throughput of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline would reach USD 1 million. This should make for Georgia's annual income of USD 63 million and boost the country's GDP by 10%. 'On top of that', the President added, 'the project is supposed to create 10,000 new jobs and considerably increase the inflow of foreign investments'.

'Politically', President Shevarnadze continued to say, 'the project is also important bringing Georgia into the focus of global interests and thus becoming the guarantee of our country's sovereignty and integrity'.