The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, which takes Azerbaijan’s oil directly to European markets without running through Russian-controlled networks is already transforming the country’s economic fortunes. For Heydar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s minister for economic development, this is only the first step in taking full advantage of the country’s position on the Caucasus crossroads between the oilfields of central Asia and Iran, southern Russia and EU applicant Turkey.
Two new transport arteries are already under way, namely the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline that will serve a similar purpose to BTC, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project. According to Mr Babayev, the railroad link is of regional importance as it will enable Chinese goods to “reach the European market faster and cheaper”, without relying on Russia’s own underdeveloped rail network.
