Mr. James Wolfensohn
The World Bank Group
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433

Re: The Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline

Dear Mr. Wolfensohn,

I am deeply concerned about the proposed Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. I am very disturbed about the serious detrimental impacts the pipeline will have on regional tensions, poverty, human rights and local populations. I urge you to ensure that no financing is provided by the World Bank Group, since the project is likely to hinder rather than help economic development or the growth of democracy.

The pipeline threatens to undermine the local economies of Azerbaijan and Georgia, which suffer high levels of poverty. For example, the pipeline could destroy one of Georgia's main sources of export income -- the Borjomi mineral water springs. The pipeline's route would cross the Borjomi region, a region renowned for its mineral waters and resorts that are among Georgia's most successful and fastest growing sectors. The pipeline would pass through the catchment area for key mineral water springs.

For such a complex and controversial project, a thorough environmental impact assessment process is vital to ensure that negative impacts on people and the environment are minimized. Last November, British Petroleum and the US government both used the threat of withholding future investment to pressure Georgian President Shevardnadze into pushing the government's approval for the pipeline project through, against the judgment of the Environment Ministry.

Also, a May 2003 report by Amnesty International maintains that the legal agreements signed by the Turkish government and the pipeline consortium effectively create a 'rights-free corridor' for the pipeline, disregarding the human rights of thousands of people in the region. The Host Government Agreement creates a huge disincentive for Turkey to protect human rights because Turkey has agreed to pay compensation to the consortium if pipeline construction or operation is disturbed. This compensation is payable even when Turkey intervenes to enforce parts of its law that apply elsewhere in the country. Amnesty International has warned that this could mean there will be 1) little right of redress for the 30,000 people who will be forced to give up their land rights to make way for the pipeline; 2) inadequate enforcement of health and safety legislation to protect workers and local people; and 3) serious risk to the human rights of any individuals who protest against the pipeline.

I know that these are all issues in which you have a strong interest. I will join millions of concerned Americans and citizens worldwide in closely following the World Bank’s actions in deciding whether to fund this very damaging project.