Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan talks on oil for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in 'final stage'

Negotiations on an agreement between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on Kazakhstan oil moving through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline are in the final stage, according to Natik Aliyev, president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, a Rosbalt correspondent reported. Aliyev said the agreement would be signed sometime this year but would not be more specific. He said the date would depend on the intensity of the talks.

Aliyev said the agreement would constitute the legal basis needed by investors. It will set out the details of tax, customs and trade arrangements connected to the movement of oil as well as specify the manner of resolving ecological problems. He said the agreement would be in line with existing treaties between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.