DAILY MAIL/MAIL ON SUNDAY WEB SITES
12 MAY 2007

BP MI6 SPONSORED COUPS IN AZERBAIJAN

NOTE: The screen-save shots below are taken from a Mail web page which was downloaded as an .mht web archive file on 13 May 2007. The screen-saves themselves were taken when viewing the file off-line on 8 July 2007 (hence the 8 July date displayed on the page frame. Although the original file was no longer available on the Mail web site by then, the article dateline of 12 May 2007 remains in the screen shot concerned).

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"BP executives working for Lord Browne spent millions of pounds on champagne-fuelled sex parties to help secure lucrative international oil contracts. The company also worked with MI6 to help bring about changes in foreign governments, according to an astonishing account of life inside the oil giant [...according to] Les Abrahams, who led BP's successful bid for a multi-million-pound deal with one of the former Soviet republics [Azerbaijan] ... While employed by BP, Mr Abrahams says he was persuaded to work for MI6 by John Scarlett .... Some of Mr Abrahams' most intriguing claims surround the alleged co-operation between BP and the British intelligence services to secure a more pro-Western, pro-business regime in the country. He says the operation, masterminded by Scarlett in Moscow, contributed to the coup in May 1992 which saw President Ayaz Mutalibov toppled by Abulfaz Elchibey, and then to a second change a year later which saw Haydar Aliyev take power. Just months after Aliyev was installed, BP signed the so-called 'contract of the century', a £5 billion deal which placed BP at the head of an oil exporting consortium. ..... 'BP supported both coups, both through discreet moves and open political support. Our progress on the oil contracts improved considerably after the coups.' [said Abrahams] Subsequently released Turkish secret service documents claimed BP had discussed an 'arms for oil' deal with the assistance of MI6, under which the company would use intermediaries to supply weapons to Aliyev's supporters in return for the contract... When the documents emerged in 2000, BP denied supplying arms - although sources admitted its representatives had 'discussed the possibility'.... [T]he Foreign Office said of Mr Abrahams' claims: 'We neither confirm nor deny anyone's allegations in relation to intelligence matters.'"
Hookers, spies, cases full of dollars... how BP spent £45m to win 'Wild East' oil rights
Daily Mail, 12 May 2007