Israel help to stir up further trouble in Gaza

Unnamed Israeli sources have apparently told the BBC that it will allow security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to be supplied with weapons from third countries. Israel says it will strictly control who receives the weapons. Israel said it had decided to authorise deliveries of light weapons and ammunition to the presidential guard.

"At issue are several hundred weapons imported from foreign countries which will be transferred under tight control by us. We will know exactly to whom and where they are being delivered," a defence ministry official told the AFP news agency.

But Mr Abbas' office denied the story. Mr Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina, however, said the "announcement made by the Israeli defence ministry is false".

Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph in London reports ..."Mr Abbas, trying to persuade Hamas to drop its traditional refusal to accept Israel's right to exist, seized on a seven-page document written inside an Israeli prison by Palestinian political prisoners.(No doubt helpfully supplied by Mr Olmert or Ms Livni to help things along between Hamas and Fatah)

The prisoners represent not just Hamas, but all major factions, including Mr Abbas's own Fatah movement and Islamic Jihad.

It was debated inside high-security cells and drawn up under the eyes of prison guards during exercise periods.

In parts verbose and repetitive, the document nevertheless implies an acceptance of the right of Israel by claiming a Palestinian homeland only on land occupied by Israel in 1967 - Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

If he could persuade the Hamas leadership to accept the 18-point prison accord it would mean the movement had dropped its original claim on all the land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean.

Mr Abbas gave the parties 10 days to accept the document as a common platform, and said he would call a referendum if they failed to do so." 

Richard Kinder the Enron CEO - Apres moi le deluge ?

The Kinder Morgan family of companies includes three separate, publicly-traded entities on the New York Stock Exchange - Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI), Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP), and Kinder Morgan Management, LLC (KMR).

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE: KMI) is one of the largest energy transportation, storage and distribution companies in North America. It owns an interest in or operates approximately 43,000 miles of pipelines that transport primarily natural gas, crude oil, petroleum products and CO2; more than 150 terminals that store, transfer and handle products like gasoline and coal; and provides natural gas distribution service to over 1.1 million customers. KMI owns the general partner interest of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE: KMP), one of the largest publicly traded pipeline limited partnerships in the United States.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: KMP) is one of the largest publicly traded pipeline limited partnerships in America and owns or operates more than 27,000 miles of pipelines and approximately 145 terminals. Its pipelines transport more than 2 million barrels/day of gasoline and other petroleum products and up to 9 billion cubic feet/day of natural gas; and, its terminals handle over 80 million tons of coal and other bulk materials annually and have a liquids storage capacity of about 70 million barrels for petroleum products and chemicals. KMP is also the leading provider of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery projects in the United States.

The company website says : -Mr.Richard D Kinder is one of the founders of Kinder Morgan, which was formed in February 1997. Through his leadership, Kinder Morgan has grown from a small company with 150 employees into an enterprise with 9,000 employees and operations throughout North America. Kinder Morgan’s strategy is to own and operate stable, fee-based, mid-stream energy assets, with little exposure to commodity prices. ...what it interestingly misses to mention is that until 1997 Mr Kinder worked with "Kenny Boy" at Enron ....... indeed he was President and CEO president and chief operating officer from 1990 through 1996. A tough boss, he demanded managers meet projections. He left the company when Lay decided not to retire......perhaps there was more ?

Now accordng to Forbes he has a net worth of US$1.5 Bn.

The downfall of Enron can be traced from the time Anders left. A leader of the so-called New Economy, Enron expanded beyond its core business interests in natural gas pipelines, (at which it excelled and ran a damn good company) branching out into complex commodity trading, which included electricity, broadband capacity and other ethereal items, such as weather futures.

Enron's financial crisis can be traced back to 2000 when the long-running stock market boom ended. During the boom, Enron had risen through the ranks of Fortune 500 companies to no 7. and the stock price was riding high on bullshit and financial PR that novbody checked carefully.

After that the lies, the deceit, the manipulation of Californian energy prices, the stupid investment in India, all brought the house down.

First they tried to bluff their way out, then they tried to buy their way out with political influence with the money they had swindled ... then the inevitable .... and now ...

Skilling was found guilty today on 19 of the 28 counts he faced - with the "not guilty" verdicts coming on some of the charges of insider trading.He could receive as much as 185 years in jail.

Lay was found guilty of all six fraud and conspiracy charges that he faced.He could get as much as 45 years behind bars.

"I firmly believe I'm innocent of the charges against me"

"Kenny Boy" said as he came out of court after having posted US$5Mn bonds to stay out of jail until sentencing in September. The sad delusion continues.

Kinder Morgan’s strategy is to own and operate stable, fee-based, mid-stream energy assets, with little exposure to commodity prices...Kinder Morgan doesn't have corporate jets (its executives all fly economy). It doesn't pay for sports tickets (never mind luxury boxes). And there are no special retirement or benefit packages for senior officers (their base salaries are all capped at $200,000).......... lessons learned ? (Pic is Richard D Kinder and his wife) Fill ya boots...

Emerson : Liberal seer, popular speaker and quiet revolutionary

"Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors." shows that Emerson , libertarian, thinker and popular speaker well understood the wellsprings of politicians minds. Today however the Editors have been bought, and sing, like choristers the tune of the ruling elite, untroubled by conscience or philospophical rigour.

The far sighted author, Ralph Waldo Emerson, was born 203 years ago on Election Day, the 25th of May, 1803, the 4th child of Williamand Ruth Haskins Emerson a liberally minded minister, pastor of Boston's Oldest church (the First). His mother was the daughter of a successful distiller who no doubt brought prosperity to the marriage and the home.

The American Emerson family claim descent from the Reverend Peter Bulkeley, who left Bedfordshire, England, in 1634 and settled in Musketaquid (an original name of Concord).

Ralph was educated at Boston Latin School, Harvard College (1821), and had an interrupted year of divinity studies at Harvard troubled by eye problems.. Approbated to preach in the fall of 1826, he became pastor of Boston's Second Church two and a half years later, but left that post in the fall of 1832 because he could no longer serve Communion in god conscience.

Tragedy struck when his first wife Ellen Tucker died at the age of 18 of consumption / TB, he set off for Europe on Christmas Day 1832 and first visited Malta (which then did not have a written and codified language). He worked his way north Malta through Italy, Switzerland, France, England, and Scotland. He was fortunate to meet some of the currently admired writers / philosphers such as Walter Savage Landor in Florence, Lafayette in Paris, and visited John Stuart Mill in London, Coleridge in Highgate, and Wordsworth at Rydal Mount. H emt and retained a lasting friendship with Thomas Carlyle.

Returning to the US in late 1833 he soon remarried , had a substantial income of $1,400 annual income from his deceased wife's estate and had a son Waldo. He soon published the first of many books, Nature a collection of essays.

After receiving further settlements from his ex wife's estate and a row with the local Unitarians he set off on the road speaking - a career which ended in him receiving over $100 per lecture - on a par no doubt then with that received today by Cherie Blair as she goes round the world shaking her handbag to pay off the family mortgages.

Emerson went to Europe again in October, 1847, and left his affairs in the hands of his friend Henry Thoreau. A substantial amount of fame (indeed, notoriety) preceded him, and his lectures in England and Scotland were popular and generally well-received. He also managed a short trip to observe revolutionary Paris.

He published his best known (today) book The Conduct of Life in 1860. Emerson was concerned about the coming of Civil War, and saw it as a cleansing fire. lnitially put off by Lincoln's coarseness , Emerson later described him after his death as the "father of his country".

In 1872, after his house burned down in true Balzacian style, he set off with his daughter Ellen to Europe and Egypt, and returned just after his seventieth birthday to a cheering crowd and a restored home. A gentle decline into aphasia had begun. He died on April 27, 1882. Walt Whitman, in a graveside oration said "A just man, poised on himself, all-loving, all-inclosing, and sane and clear as the sun."

Much remebered for his many poenetrating quotations , he wrote in his journal in May 1849 " I hate quotation. Tell me what you know."... two memorable ones are ..."Children are all foreigners".. which foreshadows the comment of the 20th Century Iranian Mystic Kahlil Gibran .."Children are not of you, they are by you".

Another "The more he spoke of his honour, the faster we counted our spoons" is often quoted, especially about the more insincere and untrustworthy politicians like puffball alcofrolic buffoon Edward Kennedy.

More quotations Here

Blue Flag Iris - Spring flowers with a history

The Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica, L. ssp shrevei) is a common plant in the Eastern US States, found in marshy soils stream margins and lake shores. (Botanist Ralph Shreve 1927 identified the ssp. with smaller flowers and lighter colloured seeds than ssp.virginica) Iris is the name of the Rainbow Goddess of Greek Mythology.(Pic (c) Lord Patel)

There may be up to 6 blue-violet flowers per 20"-40" round stem, which is clasped by shorter spear like green leaves, side branches will flower at the same height as the main stem. The flowers appear to have 9 petals but in reality has 3 sepals, 3 petals and 3 petal like stems to the pollen bearing styles.3/4" across the flowers are smaller than ssp. virginica.

The broad sepals have a yellow mid rib with a distincly hairy yellow spot at the base.The narrower petals are smaller than the petals.2 papery bracts cover the flower base.

The three lobed fruit has single seed rows per lobe (see pic) and the whole is about 2 cms. (3/4") long. The dark brown Seeds (virginica = lighter brown) germinate easily after 3 to 4 weeks of cold treatment at 32-38 deg F. Seedlings bloom the second year. Best germination occurs at 80 deg F or over.Seeds available here.

The rhizomatous root is perennial with fibrous roots. It contains a glucoside Iridin which is essentiually toxix but is used in hebal medicine as a purgative and is said to clear the liver. Indians and pioneers are said to have used the leaves pounded and boiled as a dresing for wounds and bruises.

The related Italian species Iris pallida and Iris florentina is called orris and are harvested near Florence, Italy. The roots are sold as " ghiaggiuolo." Sometimed the darker Iris germanica is also used.Three year old rhizomes, resembling ginger, are dug up in August, stripped of their rootlets and bark, and then dried until they have a chalky appearance. The dried orris root smells of violets. It is used primarily as a base for natural toothpastes, and has been used as a fixative in perfumes to enhance other aromas since the Ancient Greeks used it.

Powdered orris root lends a pleasant scent to freshly laundered linens and to potpourri. It also can be used as a snuff to relieve sinus headache and as a stabilizer in cosmetics. It is also used in Bombay Sapphire Gin an ersatz brand launched by the privately owned Bacardi which attempts to persuade the user that it's origins lie in the Indian Raj who mixed gin with their anti-malarial quinine to make their medicine more sociable and enjoyable - and often dug their grave with it.

In Voodoo, orris is known as Love Drawing Herb (and Queen Elizabeth root). The powder form is blown onto clothes, sheets, and so forth to make sure that the owner returns one's love.

Orris root contains Starch, myristic acid, iridin, nine recently identified anti-inflammatory flavonoids and four isoflavone glycosides: iriskashmirianin 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside (1), nigricin 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside (2), irilone 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside (3) and iridin (4).

The French Fleur de lys has had many claimed origins it may however lie in the related Yellow Flag in Europe. Thed famous Scottish heraldic scholar Alexander Nisbet suggested in 1722, after distinguishing between the natural lily, "the lily of the garden", and the stylised lily, "the lily of the flag", observed of the oriflamme ~

The other lilies, as those of France, so well known ....... having only but three leaves, is by the Latins called flos iridis, and by the French fleur de l'iris; being always called the flower of the rainbow or iridis, which the French call fleur-de-lis, from the river Lis, as some will; and anciently flams or flambs, which signifies the same: Whence the Royal Standard of France was called the oriflam or oriflambe, being a blue banner, charged with golden flower-de-luces, a suitable figure, say some, for the Franks, who come from the marshes of Friezland.

The European Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus to which Nisbet refers, has been imported as a garden plant into the US probably from Canada in about 1900 and is the only yellow iris seen in the US. Of course the Yellow Flag will appear a few times this weekend at the Indy 500 to slow everybody down aftyer the apparently inevitable accidents.

Da Vinci Code fillum - A muslim financed Plot against Christianity and Jews ?

Did you know that the fillum version of Dan Brown's majestic and scholarly opus "The Da Vinci Code" was financed by a Muslim ? Mohammed Yusef, the founder and Chairman of Invicta Capital, an investment company specialising in British Film Productions. Invicta invested £100 million of the £114 million that the movie cost. That allowed Sony to dramatically reduce its cost of borrowing money to produce and market the movie.

Mohammed Yusef, said: "We are delighted to have successfully concluded the largest-ever film sale and leaseback in the UK. The Da Vinci Code is a very exciting film and we have seen strong demand from our clients looking to invest in it".

Due to a stupid and long lasting love fest between UK politicians and the film industry ever since World War II, Yusuf (insallah) was able to explout a handy tax loophole as well. As a pioneer in structured film financing, Mohammed has advised many of the market leaders in the sector says his website biography.Invicta Capital, which opened it doors in England April 2000 with a £250-million ($567.6 million) line from Societe General de Paris and another £100-million ($227 million) line from Barclays, Mohammed wet his feet first with investment firm Matrix and took his team and investor pool when he left.

Under this inventive, if somewhat chauvinistic scheme, an investor puts in £50,000, borrows another £200,000 to help fund a film’s post-production costs, the entire investment is put down as a tax loss. The Inland Revenue returns 40% or £100,000 to the investor who then has 15 years to pay it back as he receives annual leasing fees from the studio.

This is what the tax advisors so dear to Yusuf's heart call a tax deferral scheme, and they have hi-jacked this one for themsleves. Allegedly to some discomfort by Gordon Brown.

Ted Baehr, founder of Movieguide.org and chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission says that "The Da Vinci Code" is an anti-Christian and anti-Semitic film. Baehr he declares, it's filled with "slanderous distortions and falsehoods" and "scurrilous conjecture to distort the truth about Jesus Christ and increase prejudice against Christians." In 21/2 hours "it threatens to strike another massive blow to people's understanding and knowledge of God, Christianity and history." He told reporters at a Washington news conference, "I think it's a very serious problem when people start funding movies and books to attack somebody else's religious faith." He said the financial backing for "The Da Vinci Code" reveals "a terrible double standard" by Muslims who erupt in violent protests when they believe their own faith is being attacked.

This self selected moral guardian goes on to say in USA Today, "A few pundits are arguing that Christians should read the best-selling book The Da Vinci Code and see the movie to 'engage the culture' and as a tool for evangelism.

"By that argument, we should encourage people to read other popular, but infamous works: Chinese dictator Mao Zedong's Little Red Book, or The Communist Manifesto. Or, why not Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler, or The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an anti-Semitic diatribe popular in Muslim circles?"

Go on Ted , why not ?

Sign the petition on www.movieguide.org expressing concern over the movie says moralist Ted. Most of all he says, don't see the movie, especially the first week of release. If you have to go to a movie, however, go see another one instead. (But not presumably, Debbie does Dallas)

Ted ...here's some moral advice ...go piss up a rope!

Fatah warriors defect to Hamas in public display

More than 1,000 Fatah dissidents loyal to Khaled Mussa Abu Hilal, marched through Gaza City declaring their allegiance to a rival Hamas security force today.

"We are with the Hamas government standing against corruption," the demonstrators shouted.

Marching in formation, stamping feet and swinging arms, the militants fired into the air and shouted religious slogans.

"What's your goal?" shouted a leader. "Allah," responded the marching soldiers. "What's your path?" "Jihad," a thousand voices responded in unison.

Khaled Mussa Abu Hilal is an ex-Fatah official who went to work for the Hamas government shortly after the Islamists won elections in January upon which the The Fatah Central Committee promptly expelled him.

Leaving Abbas increasingly exposed as Bush encourages Olmert to talk to him about Israel stealing yet more more Palestinian lands.

IDF undercover terorists caught in Ramullah. Gaza deaths mount.

An IDF elite undercover raid in Ramallah. West Bank, Palestine to kidnap Muhammed Shubaki went terribly wrong today when they were spotted and had to call military back up.

Released from an Israeli jail two years ago, 20 months after receiving a 20 year sentence , Shubaki has allegedly been attempting to establish an Islamic Jihad infrastructure in Ramallah.

The kidnappers car was spotted when it broke down and was stoned and then torched and a small arms battle ensued in which at least two Palestinians were killed. Several dozen were reportedly wounded.

One soldier was lightly injured in his head after he was struck with a rock.Extensive damage to military jeeps sent into the city was also reported.

The incident was captured by el-Jazeera staellite TV and was transmitted live around the world.

The Israeli army claims it was attacked by Palestinians armed with guns and stones. The Palestinians say the troops came to back up an undercover Israeli team trapped inside a building.The hour-long clash in Ramallah's main shopping area, most by live gunfire and some by rubber bullets - at least 5 deaths are reported and up to 30 Palestinians injured.

The Intifada which started in September 2000 has so far claimed more than 5,000 lives, 80 per cent of whom are Palestinians.

Gaza : Civil war threatens between Hamas / Fatah as more dieIn Gaza Nabil Hodhod, 35, a security services commander in Gaza died in his car outside a mosque. A security guard Salem Khudeih, a member of the new, black-uniformed, 3,000-strong paramilitary “support unit” created by Said Siyam, a Hamas man and the Interior Minister of the Palestinian Authority, is the 9th person killed this month during an increasingly violent power struggle between Hamas and Fatah.

A gun battle broke out in Shifa hospital when Mr Hodhod’s body was taken there, with gunmen on hospital balconies firing at others outside.(Pic (c) al- Jazeera of someone wounded in the hospital shootout)

Hamas have publicly blamed Mr Khudeih’s killing on the Preventive Security Services (PSS), the Fatah-dominated force that is one of several security fiefdoms within Mr Abbas’s increasingly fragmented Palestinian Authority. Run by Rashid Abu Shbak, a Fatah strongman, it has long been associated with Mohammed Dahlan, a powerful former Interior Minister.

It isn't only gunmen who are victims in this power struggle 15 year old Bilal Herzala, was among ten schoolchildren injured after a gun fight between Hamas and al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a Fatah offshoot, outside his school a fortnight ago.

Palestinians and their faithful supporters throughout the world commemorated May 15, as Nakba Day, the day when Israel was declared a state atop the ruins of Palestinian homes and hundreds of ethnically cleansed towns and villages, 58 years ago. Now they support their oppressors by fighting and killing themselves. 

Stones : Keith recovery delays Summer Europe tour of A Bigger Bang

The Rolling Stones have postponed the first 15 dates of their European tour after Keith Richards's brain surgery.Gigs are to be re-scheduled in Spain, Belgium, Russia, France and Italy.

The A Bigger Bang tour will resume in July but the first date and venue have yet to been announced.

Richards underwent a craniotomy, in which holes were drilled in his skull and a portion was removed, giving doctors at Ascot Hospital in Auckland, access to blood clots in the brain. It is feared he has suffered some brain damage. 

Uncle Sam's poodle barks... Plod picks up the wogs nationwide

Police / MI5 raided from 3.00 o clock BST 24rd May the offices and homes of people involved in the Sanabel Relief Agency (website) which is is an Islamic agency established in 1999 in the UK and registered under No:1083469. Its task is claimed to be to aid and relieve Muslims in the destitute parts of the world. Some 500 officers were involved in 18 separate raids in Manchester, the West Midlands, Cleveland, London and Merseyside.Officers in Birmingham removed computer equipment from the HQ of the Sanabel Relief Agency, an Islamic organisation which raises money for Muslims in poor countries.

The stated aims of the charity are claimed to be :- To build Mosque's in Africa, Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

The US Treasury February 8, 2006 Order JS-4016 designated five individuals and four entities for their role in financing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), an al Qaida affiliate known for engaging in terrorist activity in Libya and cooperating with al Qaida worldwide.

"The individuals and entities supported the LIFG through various financial means, primarily in the United Kingdom. The LIFG was formed in the early 1990s in Afghanistan, and formally announced its existence in 1995. The group relocated to Libya where it sought to overthrow Mu'ammar Qadhafi and replace his regime with a hard-line Islamic state. The LIFG mounted several operations inside Libya including a 1996 attempt to assassinate Qadhafi, but these failed to topple the regime. Following a Libyan government security campaign against LIFG in the mid- to late 1990s, the group abandoned Libya and continued its activities in exile. "

They named

Abd Al-Rahman Al-Faqih DOB: December 15, 1959 POB: Libya ADDRESS: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Abd al-Rahman al-Faqih is a senior leader of the LIFG and is involved in the provision of false passports and money to LIFG members worldwide.

Ghuma Abd'rabbah DOB: September 2, 1957 POB: Benghazi, Libya NATIONALITY: British ADDRESS: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Abdulbaqi Mohammed Khaled DOB: August 18, 1957 POB: Tripoli, Libya NATIONALITY: British ADDRESS: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Tahir Nasuf DOB: November 4, 1961 ALT. DOB: April 11, 1961 POB: Tripoli, Libya ADDRESS: Manchester, United Kingdom

Mohammed Benhammedi DOB: September 22, 1966 POB: Libya NATIONALITY: Libyan ADDRESS: Midlands, United Kingdom

Mohammed Benhammedi is said to be a key financier for the LIFG and believed to provide funds for the LIFG through Sara Properties Limited, Meadowbrook Investments Limited and Ozlam Properties Limited.

Sara Properties Limited
AKA: Sara Properties
ADDRESS 1: 104 Smithdown Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L7 4JQ (United Kingdom)
ADDRESS 2: 2a Hartington Road, Liverpool L8 0SG (United Kingdom)
WEBSITE: http://www.saraproperties.co.uk
REGISTRATION #: 4636613
Mohammed Benhammedi is a director of Meadowbrook Investments Limited and has been in that position since April 27, 2004.

Meadowbrook Investments Limited
ADDRESS: 44 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2XN (United Kingdom)
COMPANY #: 05059698
Mohammed Benhammedi was appointed director on October 13, 2005.

Ozlam Properties Limited
ADDRESS: 88 Smithdown Road, Liverpool, L7 4JQ (United Kingdom)
REGISTRATION #: 05258730 Ozlam Properties Limited, a property company, is co-directed by Mohammed Benhammedi. He was appointed director on October 13, 2005.

Sanabel Relief Agency Limited
63 South Rd, Sparkbrook, Birmingham B11 1EX (United Kingdom)
1011 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M9 2TB (United Kingdom)
P.O. Box 50, Manchester M19 2SP (United Kingdom)
98 Gresham Road, Middlesbrough (United Kingdom)
54 Anson Road, London, NW2 6AD (United Kingdom)
WEBSITE: http://www.sanabel.org.uk
EMAIL: info@sanabel.org.uk
CHARITY #: 1083469
REGISTRATION #: 3713110

So an anti - Gadaffi band said to be "loosely" connected to the fantasy group Al Quaida is designated by Gadaffi's new found friend Uncle Sam, gets their collars felt by George II's friend King Tony.

Well he can lock them up for 28 days and extradite them lickety split to Guantanamo no doubt. Could this be nicely timed by new Hard man at the Home Office "Shock Jock" Reid, the thinking Commmunists gaulieter toi prove how tough on immigrants / foreigners / Al Qyuaida are and how effective the new regional MI5 offices are in Manchester etc., ?

Watch this space .. while everyone ignores the complete silence over the 7/7 bombings reports.

Toreador hits more gas in Turkey, prospects in Romania and Hungary.

Toreador Resources Corporation (Nasdaq:TRGL) and its partners TPAO (the Turkish national oil company) and Stratic Energy Corporation today announced that the Bayhanli-1 exploration well encountered natural gas in a new prospect offshore Turkey in the South Akcakoca Sub-basin project area. Analysis of log data indicates natural gas pay in the approximately 25 meters (82 feet) of sands to be tested in the next week, with at least another 25 meters to be perforated after producing the initial intervals. The gas sands are between 760 to 1,115 meters (2,494 to 3,659 feet) true vertical depth in the Kusuri formation. The Bayhanli-1 was drilled on a new prospect to the east of the Dogu Ayazli structure and along the same fault trend.

Toreador will engage its outside reservoir engineers, LaRoche Petroleum Consultants, to provide a mid-year update of the reserve potential in the South Akcakoca Sub-basin project following the conclusion of the current drilling campaign. Results will update the estimate of reserves from the prior study completed in September 2005. The results of the study are expected to be available by mid-July.

President and Chief Executive G. Thomas Graves III is quoted in the Houston Chronicle, " the company should easily reach our initial production targets when we bring first gas ashore by the end of the year." In Turkey, Toreador holds several acreage packages totaling nearly three million gross acres, the company’s largest international acreage package. (Pic Toreador website)


In Romania, the company waits for final permits to sell natural gas from the Fauresti field rehabilitation project to the national grid. Gas sales are expected to begin before the end of the second quarter. Initial production is estimated to be 6 Mn. cubic feet of gas and 30 barrels of condensate per day.

In Hungary, the company began drilling its first exploration well on Monday, May 22, in the Kendares natural gas prospect, located in the northeast of the Szolnock exploration block. The Ken-D-1 is targeting the Miocene-age Lower Szolnock channel sand at approximately 1,625 meters (5,333 feet) depth. The well is expected to take 3 to 4 weeks to drill and complete. If the well is successful, two more offset wells will be drilled on the prospect.

Shares of Toreador Resources rose 67 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $28.80 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange 

Equatorial Guinea - You are invited to a coup - Quiet Americans welcome

Only the friends of Brigadier General (ret.) Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo or as he likes el Jefe (The Boss) will be at the birthday party on June 5th of this 63 year old Dictator and President of Equatorial New Guinea. Listed by Forbes at the world's 8th richest ruler this despot attained his position by overthrowing his uncle Macias Nguema on August 3, 1979 aided by mercenaries supplied by King Hassan of Morocco. Obiang is not among the ordinary: In 1999 he paid $2.6 million -- cash -- for a mansion outside Washington, D.C. One of his wives had a $10,000 daily limit on her Riggs Bank debit card - she was in good company 21 President's have used the small, secretive bank's services.

Obiang pardoned political prisoners of the Nguema regime by decree and a new constitution for Equatorial Guinea was drafted and approved on 22 August 1982 by 95.38% majority in a "referendum".

Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish Colony (Spanish Guinea), is a small country (pop. 1/2 Mn.) on the western coast of central Africa, is divided into two parts. Most of the land is on the African mainland, between Gabon and Cameroon; but an island off Cameroon, where the capital city of Malabo is located, is also included.

The principal product for export was Cocoa Beans but in 1996 now ExxonMobil (then Mobil Corp and now correctly Mobil Equatorial Guinea, Inc) struck oil in the world class Zafira field and by 2004, 185,000 BPD (at current prices US$12/13 Bn a year revenue) were being produced. Halliburton and ChevronTexaco are also involved in projects today in what is now third-largest oil exporter in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria and Angola.

West Africa currently supplies 15 % of America’s energy, and that figure is expected to rise to 25 % within a few years. The African Oil Policy Initiative Group (AOPIG), a panel of U.S. government and energy industry officials brought together by the Jerusalem-based neo-con Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies, proposed that the Gulf of Guinea be declared a “vital interest” in U.S. national security policy in a report in 2002

In 2003, the Bush administration reopened the embassy, a move sharply criticized by human rights groups.The building it rents to house embassy is owned by Manuel Nguema Mba, who is the minister of national security, a relative of Obiang’s, and an accused and proven torturer.

There is a weekly flight from Malabo to Houston, Texas, nicknamed "The Houston Express". ExxonMobil and Marathon workers live in gated compounds that operate their own electrical, water, and communication systems.

Senate and Treasury Department documents detail how the US Riggs Bank helped Obiang shuttle millions into offshore accounts.In May 2004, the Treasury Department fined Riggs $25 million for “systemic” violations of anti-money-laundering laws -- the largest fine ever imposed under the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970. Oil companies, meanwhile, made payments to his regime that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is scrutinized under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - but ... er.. did nothing.The state is said (IMF report) to receive only 15 to 40 percent of the revenues from its oil fields, while the norm in sub-Saharan Africa is 45 to 90 percent.

When the Senate banking Committee grilled oil executives Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said, "“But I’ve got to tell you, I don’t see any fundamental difference between dealing with an Obiang and dealing with a Saddam Hussein.”


As a result the economy has surged, and along with it , cronyismm, corruption and associated violence and the routine imprisonment torture and killing which Amnesty have long detailed. His uncle Macias, it is claimed who once tortured and killed political opponents in a soccer stadium, drowning out their screams by playing “Those Were the Days” on the loudspeakers - evidently a sort of family tradition.Some of his victims were crucified on the road leading to the airport.

In addition to oil, natural gas was also discovered in Equatorial Guinea and the US energy company Marathon is building a large LNG processing / export plant . The major finds of oil and natural gas have given the country significant importance to US interests.The country has been described as the new Kuwait.

Equatorial Guinea is a one party state, dominated by Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) only 2 members of the national parlimanet do not belong to it and 80% of the county's politicians live abroad.

Obiang was "elected" and re-elected" in 1996 and 2002, in joke elections unacceptable to international observers.

Like his uncle Obiang had the state radio in July 2003 declare the president is a God who is "in permanent contact with the Almighty" and can "kill anyone without being called to account", he personally made similar comments in 1993.Obiang has total control of the media . He is also criticized for nepotism, as he has appointed many family members to key posts in the government.(he was the 3rd of 10 brothers)

Support for Obiang at public rallies seems to be fervent and zealous, with literally thousands of followers literally screaming their support publicly; his practice of giving away wheelchairs at rallies surely helps in lending him loyalty among some of his population. He has a unique style of representing his country, asked by the BBC in 2002 Before the 2002 elections I asked him why so much public oil money had apparently disappeared.

He said simply, this was a state secret. He did not have to tell anyone where it had gone.

The succession when Obiang goes / dies / is assassinated

In In March 2004, a plot to overthow him was exposed which ultimately led to the disgrace of Sir Mark Thatcher and the imprisonment in Zimbabwe of a gang of plotter led by Nick du Toit President who planned to install the head of Equatorial Guinea's government-in-exile, Severo Moto Nsá, as president.

Obiang won't enjoy his Birthday Bash too much as he has reportedly terminal prostate cancer, amongst other illnesses, and weighs as little as 110 lbs and twice a month travels overseas for medical treatment. His succession either peacefully or by a violent coup is awaited with interest, not least among the owners of oil leases in this oil rich land.

Obiang wants his Paris based playboy son, Teodorín Nguema Obiang, to take over (he is one of a reputed 40 children by endless wives) but plots are alive in the tiny country and outside it, many centred around a leadership arising from within the Esangui clan.

In November 2005, Obiang held an important meeting with the PDGE, in which it was believed that he intended to create a position of vice president and fill that position with his son.

The country is mainly Catholic and Obiang had a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI on December 9th 2005 and also met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano

Whatever happens the successor will be manipulated by the US , the country that exports Democracy. Look our for Quiet American's in the sunset on Malabo and San Tome wher a small US fleet cruises.

Happy Birthday Obiang. 

Hurricane season blows in again ... get ready says NOAA

At a news conference at the NOAA National Hurricane Center on Monday, Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson Deputy Secretary of Commerce at the NOAA National Hurricane Center said, "For the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher" The impact from these storms extends well beyond coastal areas so it is vital that residents in hurricane prone areas get ready in advance of the hurricane season." (pic Katrina (C) NOAA)

Several key factors have led to the prediction ;

1. Warmer ocean water combined
2. Lower wind shear
3. Weaker easterly trade winds
4. More favorable wind pattern in the mid-levels of the atmosphere

All combining for the development of storms in greater numbers and to greater intensity. Warm water is the energy source for storms while favorable wind patterns limit the wind shear that can tear apart a storm's building cloud structure.

This confluence of conditions in the ocean and atmosphere appears to be strongly correlated to a climate pattern known as the multi-decadal signal, which has been in place since 1995. Since then, nine of the last 11 hurricane seasons have been above normal, with only two below-normal seasons during the El Niño years of 1997 and 2002.(Click here for a very useful NOAAA large scale graphic explaining how it works)

With neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) (National Weather report )conditions expected across the equatorial Pacific during the next three to six months, the NOAA Climate Prediction Center scientists say that neither El Niño nor La Niña likely will be a factor in this year's hurricane season.

Market reactions to the news

Natural-gas futures climbed more than 5% Monday to their first gain in four sessions.Natural gas for June delivery climbed as high as $6.35 per million British thermal units Monday, its highest intraday level since May 17. The contract closed up 31.4 cents, or 5.3%, at $6.276.and crude prices recovered from a seven-week low.

The impacts of last season's hurricanes are still being felt in the Gulf. a full assesment of the physical damage is available from the MMS here.... stunning economic consequences.

Around 1.3 billion cubic feet of natural-gas production, or 13% of daily output, remains offline as of May 3 in the Gulf because of the two hurricanes last year, according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS). A total of 748.9 billion cubic feet, or 20.5%, of yearly production in the region was lost between Aug. 26 last year and May 3.

Around 324,445 barrels of oil per day also remains offline in the Gulf as of May 3. That's 21.6% of daily oil production in the area, according to the MMS. A total of 153.5 million barrels, or 28% of the yearly production in the Gulf has been shut in between Aug. 26 last year and May 3.

Crude for June delivery closed Monday at $69.23 a barrel, up 70 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Today , Tuesday 23rd Crude for July delivery closed up $1.80 at $71.76 a barrel.

The OPEC OIl Cartel meets in Venezuela on June 1st and Venezuela's Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said Monday that the fundamentals in the oil market call for a production cut.

If you want to read the true story of how the Louisiana National Guard did a fantastic job all tyhrough Katrina go here .... get the Truth.

Christian Zionists get well informed on the News from ME

Googling news of the capture of Ibrahim Hamad an alleged Hamas terrorist by IDF forces in Ramullah yesterday, I stumbled across this interesting newsite with an novel slant on the news from the Middle East. (Holy land Meds - 80% of list!!1)

Jerusalem Newswire
Serving up a daily diet of news for Bible-believing Israel-lovers hungry for Israel-related news from an Israel-savvy perspective.
Watch - So you can pray. ... says the Straplines.

Jerusalem Newswire is a news service operating out of Jerusalem, Israel, that provides a condensed source of the most important daily news stories out of the region together with what we believe to be pertinent analyses and commentary.

The journalists reporting for Jerusalem Newswire are Bible-believing Christians with a twofold aim:

* To help Christians “watch” so that they can know how to pray as they seek to obey the biblical injunction to stay alert, particularly in these volatile and significant days.
* To let Jews know that there are Christians who hold to an unchanging standard of truth and reject the humanist-supported and Arab-led global agenda that demonizes and wants ultimately to remove the Jewish state from the Middle East.

Under "Hot Deals" you can ....
Send an IDF soldier a gift
$19.95
Bless Israel by sending a gift bag to a frontline IDF soldier

Sending him an understanding of compassion and mercy for his fellow humans might be a good start.

Barmy Zionists threaten Ahmadinejad with genocide lawsuit

Dore Gold, the 11th Israeli ambassador to the UN, said Ahmadinejad's comments in which he is claimed he said Israel should be wiped off the map and dismissed the Nazi Holocaust as a "myth." , violate the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention, to which Iran is a signatory.

Gold was also a senior Foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who asked him to accompany him to Washington and to the 2003 Aqaba Summit with President George W. Bush.

Gold is author of 2 recent books Hatred's Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism (Washington: Regnery, 2003) QUOTE "Indeed, it is Saudi Arabia that has spawned the new global terrorism. Unless the Saudi regime feels pressure to change, the hatred that has motivated a horrifying series of worldwide terrorist attacks...will only go on."and the Tower of Babble How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos . ""Dore Gold's Tower of Babble is bound to be one of the most controversial critiques in the public debate on the UN." - Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State" The blurb says..."Gold presents stark evidence of how the UN ignores mass murder, emboldens terrorists, props up dictators, and otherwise betrays its mission to protect the world's security. Tower of Babble reveals: - Why America can - and indeed must - go outside the UN to address the most serious threats to national security - a curious attitude for men seeking the protection of the courts that the UN regulates.

He claims the claimed remarks violated the genocide convention, which specifically addresses the issue of incitement to genocide," Gold said.

Danny Naveh (“We have a leader - Benjamin Netanyahu.”) was challenged about the Jenin massacre on the BBC Frost Program in 2002 - his answers are truly interesting ..

DAVID FROST: And in terms of - you mentioned the terrible figure of 400 Israelis who died but the figure is well over a thousand Palestinians have died - much worse.

DANNY NAVEH: Well unfortunately many innocent people were killed in the last year and a half as a result of Arafat's decision to move ahead with violence. We had to fight back against Palestinian terrorists that in many, many cases they used women and children as human shield against our soldiers. And unfortunately many Palestinians innocent were killed as well as a result of that terrible policy of Arafat and his men.

"used women and children as human shield against our soldiers. " .. like the Grandmother, mother and 5 year old grand daughter killed by rockets that also killed Doudeh and alleged terrorist omly last week.

The pic is very interesting , Danny Boy was Health Minister last year and Olmud called him the worst ever, he was so bad and so unpopular he had to appear everywhere with a bodyguard.

Ideally this legalistic nonsense should be dismissed as ravings of outsiders and political midgets. These men are not outsiders and have links at the highest levels of decision making in the Israeli State... plus powerful friends like Henry Kissinger, happy to endorse their poisonous ravings. No doubt the current US UN Ambassador John Bolton would be happy to endorse Gold's distorted views of the utility of the UN.

LUKoil move into Slovenia, join with GAZPROM in Columbian investment

Lukoil's CEO Vagit Alekperov was in Ljubljana on Thursday, 18 May to meet the Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak to discuss buying the state ownd Nafta Lendava oil company group.He also met the Prime Minister Janez Jansa (see pic) to further discuss port operator Luka Koper and petrol retailer Petrol. Slovenia (pop 2 Mn) will act as as EU president in the first half of 2008 and the Prime MInister said energy will be one of their principal concerns ...although it will loom ever larger as an agenda item within the EU until then after the total shambles of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

The government wants to sell Nafta Lendava and sees Lukoil's initiative as one of the possible ways to privatise it, Vizjak added.

"This powerful Russian company could solve some of the Slovenian economy's key problems, especially regarding a long-term reliable supply of oil derivatives," explained the man directing the economy of an EU state..

Slovenia has always been the most prosperous region of the former Yugoslavia and has found the transition from a socialist economy to the capitalist free market easier than most. It will adopt the Euro from January 1st. 2007

Lukoil also expressed interest in the infrastructure on the Slovenian coast, where they would be interested in setting up their own logistics centre for this part of Europe, the minister added.There are continuing border rumbles about access to the Adriatic with Croatia but not of a great deal of significance.

South America sees the Russians even more active in energy supplies.

Meanwhile in Moscow LUKoil and Gazprom are planning to expansion in Colombia, the Russian Industry & Energy Ministry said in a press release after a meeting of the Russian-Colombian Commission on Trade and Scientific Cooperation from May 15-16 in Moscow. “In discussing the prospects for mutual action in the oil and gas sectors, the parties agreed to discuss expanding cooperation with Russian companies, including between LUKoil, Ecopetrol and the National Hydrocarbon Agency to jointly implement new projects on search and exploration in Colombia,” the release read.

In April 2006, eight companies, including LUKoil, ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, made it into the final part of a competition to take part in a project organised by Colombian state-run Ecopetrol to develop heavy oil fields. Ecopetrol accounts for about 60 % of the 526,000 BPD produced in Colombia. Colombia’s Meta province can produce up to 200,000 BPD

LUKoil Overseas and Ecopetrol signed a contract for the Condor bock on April 7, 2002.

The block area amounts to 3,089 square km. The share of LUKoil Oveseas in the project is 70%nt, and Ecopetrol - 30%. LUKoil Overseas Colombia Ltd. is the operator of the project.. 

Canada a Driving Force to ditch Kyoto

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change opened in Bonn on 15 May to plot the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol, with Canada as Chairman.

Canada will not support attempts by other countries to set deeper emission-reduction targets for the Kyoto Protocol’s second phase says the Toronto Globe and Mail in an "Exclusive" ( but not unexpected) story. Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are now 35% above its 1990 base levels—under Kyoto, its target is to be 6% below 1990 levels by 2012.

Since the early 90s Canada's CO2 emissions rose faster than the US in percentage terms caused mainly by a booming economy and population growth. Some Canuck pols saw themselves as superior to the US because Canada had joined the Kyoto Accord. Canadian government's of any stripe have no intention to inflict big costs on Canadian industry or the Canadian public in order to meet Kyoto obligations.

The tar sands oil production in Alberta (see previous posts) generates a lot of CO2 (by using natural gas to heat the deposits to release the crude oils) and so the continued increase in tar sands oil is going to drive up Canadian CO2 emissions even higher.

The Mail & Globe also says that Canada is threatening to pull out of the UN climate-change process unless it starts includes the United States and all other major polluters.

After the shambles of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme expect many EU nations to quietly join Canada in ditching Kyoto. Don't expect headlines to surface however .... softly softleeeeee

Israel releases medical aid, IDF kill 2 women and child

"We have no intention of helping the Palestinian government," Mr. Olmert was quoted as telling the Israeli Cabinet, after the agreed to spending US$11 Mn on medical supplies from the US$50Mn taxes they have stolen so far." We will render such assistance as may be necessary for humanitarian needs."

He then jetted off to the US to see President Bush on Tuesday ostensibly to discuss the new Security Fence line. He is quoted as saying he would prefer negotiations with the Palestinians, but is prepared to act unilaterally.Israel's Defense Ministry also announced the approval of expanding the boundaries of four Jewish settlements. The Israeli army fired missiles at a car in Gaza City on Saturday, killing Dadouh, Islamic Jihad's most senior militant, Hanan Aman, 25, her five-year-old son and the child's grandmother. Israel Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the IDF this morning to carry out an investigation into the killing.... and he might as well save his breath.

In Sharm El Sheik Egypt at the World Economic Forum The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli foreign minister, Ms.Tzipi Livni, met in the highest-level contacts between the two sides since the radical Islamic faction Hamas won the Palestinian elections in January.

"After some preparations, a meeting of the president with Prime Minister Olmert will be the next step," Ms. Livni said, according to Reuters. She appealed to the international community to remain firm in its rejection of Hamas.

"It is a terrorist government, on the other hand we want to help the Palestinian people and not to punish them. .." which is a load of horse shit from this woman who prays weekly at her father's grave for Erutz Israel.

Israel says it views the Palestinian Authority as one entity and will not conduct formal negotiations with the Palestinian leadership unless and until the Hamas-led government meets several conditions, including recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.

Hamas / Fatah strife takes lives in Gaza

Meanwhile in Gaza Strip a "large bomb" (150lb) was found near the Gaza home of Rashid Abu Shbak, on his route from his home to work, Shabak was appointed by Prime Minister Abbas to oversee several security agencies, a move that upset the Hamas government, which says it should be in charge of the agencies.

The day previously , a bomb badly wounded a senior intelligence official, Maj. Gen. Tareq Abu Rajab, and killed one of his bodyguards, in an elevator at his headquarters in Gaza City.Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas, called for an investigation. "We are asking not to make early judgments, accusations or responses that might lead to tension in the Palestinian streets," said Haniyeh's spokesman, Ghazi Hamad.... because the immediate assumption is that the hand of Hamas was seen in the assassination attempt.

Abu Rajab, 59, was taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza for emergency surgery. He was then transported to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for further treatment. (see pic)

Maj Gen Tareq Abu Rajab, recently led a 2 day visit to Jordan to investigate the evidence against the Hamas militants. The senior Palestinian diplomat in Jordan, Atta Khairy, said Abu Rajab was briefed on the facts and "shown evidence on the arms smuggling allegedly by Hamas activists." Hamas officials, along with the Syrian government which hosts Hamas' exiled leadership have denied the allegations since the cache's discovery 3 weeks ago.

On April 18th Jordanian Police had seized weapons, including missiles and rockets, that Hamas members had stockpiled in various parts of the country. He said the seized arms included Iranian-made Katyusha rockets (which have recently been faslling on Israel from Gaza - indeed Dadouh was supposed to have actually fired one before his death) and light anti-tank weapons known as LAW missiles.He said the government suspected that more arms had been hidden but "not yet discovered."

Nasser Judeh, Jordan's Government spokesman also said 20 Hamas actovosts had been arrested at the same time.

The tempo is increasing, the temperature is rising.

Men go down to the sea in boats

TRAGEDY ON ABN AMRO TWO

Hans Horrevoets a vastly experienced Dutch sailor was washed overboard from the deck of ABN Amro Two as they raced across the North Atlantic on their way to Portsmouth, UK, in the 7th leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The boat was sailing downwind in 25 – 30 knots of wind under mainsail, fractional spinnaker and staysail. Sebastien Josse, skipper of ABN Amro Two, was at the helm, Hans was trimming the spinnaker sheet, Nick Bice, Andrew Lewis and Lucas Brun were also on deck. A wave washed back down the deck and when the water cleared Hans was no longer on deck.

Immediately Sebastian hailed ‘man overboard’ and called everyone on deck to put in place our man overboard procedures and GPS positioning. The spinnaker was immediately dropped, the staysail furled and the starboard dagger board lowered. The engine was switched on and we
attempted to motor-sail back on a reciprocal course. Due to the strong headwinds it was decided we drop the main, and go under motor alone as it was difficult to maintain a direct course to the man overboard position.

“Once Hans was located, Simeon Tienpoint put on his dry-suit, harness and diving gear in order to assist in the recovery. Once back on board Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK was notified that we had a major medical emergency and asked to stand by. In the meantime Hans was moved downstairs. No pulse was found and after attempts at CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) it was CPR was stopped at 0420 UTC.”

32 Year old Horrevoets was married and his wife is pregnant with the couple’s second child.

The crew are no longer in racing mode but are making their way to Portsmouth as quickly as possible.

Crew members said sailing around the world was Horrevoets’ dream. He loved this race. It had been an ambition towards which he had strived since he was a boy. On his website he wrote, “As a child, I just had one goal in my life: sailing regattas! My biggest dream was sailing the Whitbread Round the World Race. Racing around the world on a W60 was my largest passion.”
“As a trimmer and a sail maker on board BrunelSunergy (Whitbread Round the World Race 1997-98) I sailed all legs. I was only 22 years old when the race began. This was an experience no one can ever take away from me!” To get that opportunity again this time round was, as he said, “Just magic.”

Such passion didn’t dwindle during 32 years of a life that ended so abruptly this morning. He was never anything less than enthusiastic and happy. Even when performances were bad he could be found laughing in the bar or with his family, friends and crew mates, for sailing to Hans was so much more than a job. It was, like it is for so many who make a living from this sport, far more enriching than that.

The race continues and as I write ABN AMRO ONE has led this leg arriving now in Plymouth.

LUKoil open offices in Tashkent

Lukoil-Overseas Holding Ltd, subsidiary of Lukoil (Russia), laid the foundation stone of their offices in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 16 May.

LUKoil's new offices in Tashkent were opened by Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev, and president of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov.

Tashkent city governor Abdukahor Tukhtaev said the positive changes in Tashkent attracts investors and expands cooperation with Russian companies. He said the opening of office of Lukoil in Tashkent was just the beginning of mutually beneficial cooperation in oil and gas sector in Uzbekistan.

Vagit Alekperov said Lukoil is one of the powerful giants in oil and gas sector and Tashkent office of Lukoil will promote further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia.