Unocal Project

“New Breed of Roughnecks Battles Over Caspian Oil Fields” (May 24) attempts to cast a cloud of suspicion on the business activities of Unocal Corp. in Central Asia by extensive use of innuendo and unnamed sources.

Unocal has never “enlisted” Itera International Energy Corp. to participate in any of our projects. We have never signed a business agreement with Itera, nor have we asked for its support in any way.

Delta is just one of seven companies that form the CentGas consortium, which has proposed building a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan. Each of these companies has joined the consortium because of special expertise or resources they bring to the project. Delta is included because of our past relationship with the firm in Azerbaijan where we are co-venturers in two consortia, the Azerbaijan International Operating Co. and the North Apsheron Operating Co., and because of its knowledge of the culture and politics of Central Asia.

Unocal is committed to improving the lives of the people wherever we operate. As part of this commitment, we support a range of humanitarian and educational initiatives in Asia and the Americas. This effort is not limited to Afghanistan, as the article implies.

Finally, wherever Unocal operates, we adhere to the highest ethical standards and follow both the spirit and the letter of U.S. and local laws. There are no exceptions. You can quote us on that.

ROGER C. BEACH

Chairman, Unocal

El Segundo