From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Wed Jul 25 2001 - 10:06:04 EDT
AZERBAIJAN, IRAN DISAGREE OVER SEA BORDER
BAKU. July 24 (Interfax) - A dispute over sea borders continues between
Azerbaijan and Iran.
The Azerbaijani government officially announced on television in the
early hours of July 24 that at about 8:00 p.m. local time on Monday, a border
incident occurred in the southern part of the Caspian Sea between an
Azerbaijani research vessel, the Geofizik-3, and an Iranian patrol boat.
The Iranian patrol boat approached the Geofizik-3 when the latter was
engaged in geo-physical research in the area of contract oil fields Araz,
Alov and Share in the Azerbaijani sector of the sea. The Iranian craft
demanded that the Geofizik-3 leave the zone and stay at least eight
kilometers north of it.
The crew refused to obey, after which the Iranian ship was put into a
state of increased combat readiness.
Following consultations, the Geofizik-3 departed to the requested
distance.
The Azerbaijani government said that a representative of the oil company
British Petroleum, the operator of the three oil fields, was on board the
Azerbaijani vessel.
It also said that Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizade had called
Iranian Ambassador Akhad Gazi in and handed him a note of protest.
The document warns Iran that such moves may undermine bilateral
relations and that Azerbaijan expects Iran to present explanations.
BP HALTS WORK IN AZERBAIJANI CASPIAN SECTOR DUE TO BORDER INCIDENT
BAKU. July 24 (Interfax) - British Petroleum (BP) has announced a halt
to work under a contract to carry out exploration work at the Araz- Alov-
Sharg offshore prospects in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian, a source
in the Baku representative office of BP told Interfax.
This halt in operations is due to a border incident that occurred on the
evening before, the source said.
According to the Azerbaijani government, on Monday an Iranian warship
ordered the Azerbaijani geophysical ship Geofizik-3, which had BP specialists
on board, to leave the zone where the structures were located. According to
the Iranian side, this zone is in its territorial waters. Geofizik-3 was
forced to return to Baku.
The source noted that the company considers the border dispute to be an
issue of political relations between Azerbaijan and Iran and plans to restart
work only after the conflict is resolved.
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