Pipeliners

17 May 2006 [14:18] - Today.Az - Kazakhstan has made up its mind about joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) main export pipeline to take Caspian oil to world markets. An agreement to that effect will be signed by the presidents of the two countries at a meeting on joint confidence building measures in Asia, AssA-Irada reports. The issue was discussed at a Kazakhstan cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov. He said the transportation of oil must be carried out by local companies to ensure that state interests are observed. Akhmetov said consultations at expert level and discussions on taxation aspects were currently underway. "We have yet to reach agreement on these issues," he added.