§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions(a) she and (b) senior members of her Department have had with (i) UK based non-governmental organisations, (ii) EU based non-governmental organisations, (iii) non-governmental organisations based in the Caucasus region and (iv) US based non-governmental organisations on the issue of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project; when these discussions took place; what the result of these discussions was; and if she will make a statement. [128066]
§ Mr. TimmsThe following discussions have been held with NGOs on the issue of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project:
(a) The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: none.
(b) Officials in the Export Credits Guarantee Department:
(i) UK based NGOs:
384WThe Corner House—30 November 2002 (at DFID), 29 May 2003 (at DFID) and 3 June 2003 (at ECGD)Kurdish Human Rights Project—30 November 2002 (at DFID), 29 May 2003 (at DFID) and 3 June 2003 (at ECGD)Bretton Woods Project—30 November 2002 (at DFID) and 29 May 2003 (at DFID)PLATFORM-29 May (at DFID), 3 June (at ECGD) and 11 June (at EBRD)Friends of the Earth—29 May (at DFID) and 3 June (at ECGD)WWF(UK)—29 May (at DFID) and 3 June (at ECGD)Amnesty International—20 May (at Carlton Terrace), 29 May (at DFID), 3 June (at ECGD) and 4 August (at ECGD)Transparency International—3 June (at ECGD)(ii) EU based NGOs: None
(iii) Caucasus based NGOs:
Society for Democratic Reform, Azerbaijan—30 November 2002 (at DFID)Social-Democratic Party, Azerbaijan—30 November 2002 (at DFID)Young Lawyers' Association, Georgia—30 November 2002 (at DFID)IHD, Turkey—30 November 2002 (at DFID)University of Mersin. Turkey—30 November 2002 (at DFID)Caucasus NGO Federation, Azerbaijan—29 May (at DFID) and 16 June (in Baku)CLEE, Azerbaijan—18 June (in Baku)Green Alternatives, Georgia—29 May (at DFID) and 19 June (in Tbilisi)WWF (Caucasus)—19 June (in Tbilisi)DEHAP, Turkey (Kurdish political party)—29 May (at DFID) and 22 June (in Ardahan)RUDF, Turkey—24 June (in Ankara)Ankara University—24 June (in Ankara)Caucasus Sub-regional NGO Network—18 July (at ECGD)Association of Women Scientists of Georgia—18 July (at ECGD)Georgian Society of Nature Explorers "Orchis"—18 July (at ECGD)Institute of Social Researches—18 July (at ECGD)'Save Borjomi'—18 July (at ECGD)Ecology of the Caucasus—18 July (at ECGD)(iv) US based NGOs: None
At all of these discussions the ECGD official(s) listened carefully to what was said and confirmed that they would take account of this information in their analyses of the potential environmental and social impacts of the project. The ECGD official(s) also stated that cover would only be offered if ECGD was satisfied that the relevant environmental, social and human rights impacts had been properly addressed and that the financial and project risks were acceptable.