Russia Supposed to Help Azeri In Oil Export

The president of Azerbaijan Ilkham Aliev expressed his hope that Russia can do much for Karabakh settlement, while addressing a news conference at the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg.
The President hopes for Russia to join the USA and France, other Minsk group co-chairs, together to fix up Karabakh conflict.
Azeri petroleum exports were another principal theme of the news conference. Their northern route, via Russia, needs much improvement. At present, an annual 2.5 million tonnes of Azeri oil is going abroad by the Baku-Novorossiisk mainline, and another six million by the Baku-Supsa. Both terminals are Russia's and Georgia's Black Sea ports respectively.
Another mainline is being laid from Baku to Ceyhan, Turkish terminal in the East Mediterranean. Azeri exports may amount to fifty million tonnes a year after the line is commissioned toward next year's end. "This does not mean we shall give up the Baku-Novorossiisk line-a route which has to be improved," said Mr. Aliev.
An Azeri-Russian ad hoc team is negotiating prospective improvements, he added.