Action Alert: EBRD investment in the BTC pipeline
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Introduction Sample letter |
Tell
the EBRD to Make up its Own Mind on the BTC Pipeline...Based on the Facts
Action
against the EBRD investment in BTC Pipeline construction
in Caucasus
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| Monopolization of Azerbaijan politics by Aliyev dynasty: one of the reasons EBRD should reconsider its funding for BTC pipeline |
Despite failing to properly assess viable alternatives to the project and to apply its own policies (which are being violated in over 100 instances), on November 4 the International Finance Corporation approved USD 250 million in financing for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. The IFC's decision to grant public funds to the BTC project is the culmination of years of pressure by the United States to secure international support for an export route for the vast reserves of Caspian oil.
On November 11 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is due to decide on its slated USD 250 million financing for BTC. Having witnessed the IFC's contempt not only for campaigners' concerns but also its own safeguard policies, the EBRD is shaping up to do likewise.
Please send an email or fax to the EBRD Executive Director from your country demanding that the bank delay funding for BTC until the blatant project breaches raised by NGOs are resolved or - at the very least - addressed.
Our sample letter focuses on the miserable human rights and corruption situations in Azerbaijan and Georgia, as evidenced by the recent election travesties in both countries. How else does the BTC pipeline project violate human rights:
- it cedes the powers of government to big business via skewed contracts
- it uses taxpayer funds to subsidise another US energy grab that will make climate change even worse
- it fails local people in every way from paltry compensation to increased exposure to security forces and major accidents.
You choose how to angle your appeal but please do so without delay - the EBRD board meeting is only days away.
By the way, if you will be in London on November 11 (the day of the EBRD decision), you may be interested in joining our campaign colleagues on a demonstration. For details, check www.baku.org.uk.
Thank you for your support.
The Bankwatch team.
Sample letter
Dear Executive Director,
I am writing to express my concern both with the human rights situation and the proposed funding of oil projects - the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the Shah Deniz development and the South Caucasian Gas pipeline - in Azerbaijan and Georgia by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
As one of the major international financial institutions, with a mandated commitment to promote the principles of multiparty democracy, pluralism and market economy, the EBRD should not provide public funds for these projects at this time. Such a move would be tantamount to supporting the deteriorating human rights situations within both Azerbaijan and Georgia.
It has been widely acknowledged that electoral fraud rather than an election proper took place last month in Azerbaijan. Such a dynastic transfer of power is at odds with the EBRD's proclamation that these projects will facilitate the development of democracy in the region.
I am also concerned that in his inaguration speech, President Ilham Aliyev stressed that political "stability" in Azerbaijan must not be threatened; this is of serious concern given the ongoing assaults on journalists and members of the opposition in which at least two people have died.
More concerning still, in his speech Ilham emphasised the ongoing conflict with Armenia and stated that "Azerbaijan will liberate its native lands at any cost", specifically linking the economic development of the country with increased military capacity. There is, in other words, a distinct possibility that Azerbaijan is seriously considering the use of future oil revenues for military purposes, particularly as regards Karabakh.
Azerbaijan's appalling human rights record is matched only by its endemic corruption. You are I'm sure aware that earlier this month its bottom five ranking, alongside Georgia, in Transparency International's annual Transparency Index of global states was reconfirmed. Corruption in Azerbaijan, and especially in the oil sector, is closely connected to President Aliyev's family.
Events from earlier this week indicate that it has become more and more difficult to speak about public participation and democracy in Georgia. During the election, President Shevardnadze's goverment of Georgia pulled out all the stops to hang on to power.
According to the International Election Observation mission, "The November 2 parliamentary elections in Georgia fell short of a number of OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections. Inaccuracies in the voter list seriously challenged the fundamental guarantee of universal and equal suffrage, and lessened voters' confidence in the State administration."
Set against this background, EBRD President Jean Lemierre had this to say about the Caspian projects last week in an interview with Reuters: "I am quite confident that we are in a good position to think the objectives we had can be met."
Such confidence is seriously misguided when notions of democracy lie in tatters in both Azerbaijan and Georgia. I sincerely hope that the EBRD will not violate its own mandated guidelines by bankrolling projects in countries so palpably uncommitted to democratic principles.
The EBRD should instead be using its influence to pressure the governments of Azerbaijan and Georgia to enter into human rights reforms, guarantee greater political openness, secure media and NGO freedoms, and provide binding commitments that oil revenues will categorically not be used for purposes of conflict.
I strongly urge you and your fellow Executive Directors on the EBRD Board, therefore, to implement a delay in the issuing of public funds until these concerns are resolved.
Yours sincerely,
Links
Bankwatch
website on BTC pipeline project