Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) claims that Turkey prevents Russian and Kazakh tankers using the Istanbul and Canakkale (Dardanelles) Straits for transportation, Turkish Daily News reports. According to a CPC press statement, reported by Kz-Today news agency, Turkey implemented new regulations preventing Russia and Kazakhstan from exporting oil through the straits. Kz-Today indicated that Turkey had banned loaded oil tankers passing through the straits at night. The declaration stated that tankers have to be no longer than 200 meters to pass through the Strait's and no longer than 250 meters for the Dardanelles. The Kz-Today states that this implementation will create obstacles for oil exportation. (CNA) GEORGIAN PRESIDENT WARNS ADJAR LEADER 16 October Addressing a government session in Tbilisi on 16 October, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze harshly criticized the leadership of the Adjar Autonomous Republic for its chronic failure to transfer tax revenues to the central budget. He warned that "whoever in Adjaria is dreaming about breaking away from Georgia must forget [such aspirations]." Georgian Finance Minister Mirian Gogiashvili said Adjaria's failure to transfer 3 million laris ($1.38 million) to Tbilisi last month was one of the reasons for Georgia's failure to meet its budget revenue targets in September. (The total shortfall was 8 million laris.) Georgian Minister of State Avtandil Djorbenadze traveled to Batumi last month in an apparently unsuccessful attempt to persuade Adjar State Council Chairman Aslan Abashidze to meet his financial commitments to the central budget. (Interfax)