Clay Sell, the US Deputy Energy Secretary, will represent Washington in the opening ceremony of the Baku-TbilisiCeyhan main export oil pipeline in Ceyhan on 13 July. Though Ankara has sent an official invitation to US President George Bush, the latter had to refuse from participation in the ceremony due to a meeting of G-8 and decided to send an official of the Energy Ministry, Trendreports citing the Turkish media.
The US Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, said that through the US Energy Minister was earlier reported to visit Ceyhan on 13 July, his deputy Clay Cell will replace him in the ceremony due to busy schedule. The Ambassador reminded that until to recent appointment he worked in Azerbaijan and first arrived in Ankara in 1997, when the United States stated its exact position on support to the BTC.
The US Deputy Energy Minister will head a large delegation to Turkey. He will read out a special letter by President Bush on the occasion of opening of a strategic oil pipeline.
Only 2 of 16 heads of state invited to the opening ceremony of the BTC, will visit Turkey. Kyrgyzstan and the UK will be represented by assistants of PMs, 4 more - by FMs, while 16 countries will send their energy ministers to the ceremony.