Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Oqtay Asadov has said that the BP issue should not be politicized, referring to President Ilham Aliyev's criticism over the company's failure to meet production targets in recent years.

Asadov told a sitting of the parliament.on Tuesday that some individuals want to politicize the issue. "They do not understand the essence and write illiterate articles."

President Aliyev said at a cabinet meeting last Wednesday that crude mistakes of the BP-operated international consortium, Azerbaijan International Operating Company, have led to a sharp decline in oil production on Azeri and Chirag fields, which are part of the ACG development, the largest oil fields in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian. According to President Aliyev, BP failed to meet the production target in 2009-12, which resulted in Azerbaijan's receiving $8.1 billion less in direct revenue.

"It is elementary that the forecasts must be implemented," Asadov said. "However, forecasts and obligations have not been implemented for three years. But to stage a show and to turn this into a political issue is unbecoming any Azerbaijani. BP will fulfill its obligations on oil production in Azerbaijan as it has received a final warning."