Lately Rummy has been working hard for BP oil

[donsu]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3583101&msg=emaillink

Rumsfeld intervention rescues pipeline

Construction of BP's controversial £1.6 billion ($4.5 billion) oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea to Turkey resumed only after the intervention of Donald Rumsfeld, the US Secretary of Defence, and other senior members of the Bush administration, it has emerged.

Work on the strategically important scheme, led by BP, was halted in a region of Georgia in July while the government there sought assurances on "security" concerns. The underground "BTC" pipeline will take oil from Baku, in Azerbaijan, through the Georgian capital Tbilisi, to the port of Ceyhan in Turkey, from where it can be shipped to Western markets.

-snip-

Construction along a 17.6km section of the pipeline that passes through the Borjomi region of Georgia was abruptly halted by the country's environment ministry on 19 July. Work started again on Friday.

BP, the single largest investor in the pipeline, is racing to complete the project during the first half of next year.

-snip-

Mr Saakashvili wants the US to put pressure on Russia to stop interfering in South Ossetia, and another separatist Georgian region, Abkhazia, which are ruled almost as if they were Russian territory. Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's "governments" have said they want to be annexed by Russia.

Mr Saakashvili discussed South Ossetia in his meeting with Mr Rumsfeld, Georgian officials said. Mr Saakashvili also held talks with Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State.
---------------------------------------


as Russia and China sit watching.