BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The Ministry of Interior of Georgia has worked out a special program of activities on guarding the Main Exporting Oil Pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan, which is constructed. The Minister of Interior of Georgia has informed Prime New about this.
"The realization of such significant and strategical project certainly will require especial security measures", - he has said, and told that a special monitoring group had been organized in the MI for this.
THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF GEORGIA ACTIVATES EFFORTS ON GUARDING THE PIPELINE BAKU - TBILISI - CEYHAN
"Activities of the MI will be amplified in accordance with the realization of the project", - the Minister has said. By his words "The MI of Georgia has established constant contacts with the colleagues from Azerbaijan and Turkey within frameworks of the trilateral agreement signed in the past year".
We shall remind that few days yearlier the Minister of the Interior of Azerbaijan Mr. Ramil Usubov has told during his meeting with the President of the company BP - Azerbaijan Mr. David Woodword that a special department has been organized in the MI structure, and ensuring a security of the Azerbaijan area of the export oil and gas pipeling will be an object of it.
By the words of Mr. R. Usubov this department will have its representatives on the places, and besides of this, a coordination of their activities with local policy and the State Guard Service will be provided.
The President of BP - Azerbaijan Mr. D.Woodword highly estimated the MI activity in a sphere of the export pipelines security ensuing.
AN OPERATION START OF THE KAZAKHSTAN OIL FIELD "KASHAGAN" DELAYS FOR TWO YEARS
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Oil from the Kazakhstan offshore field "Kashagan" will be delivered to markets with two year delay - in 2007. This accident has occurred in result of still unadjusted dispute emerged between foreign investors and Astana. Disagreements between the President of Kazakhstan Mr. N. Nazarbayev and the company Agip (operator of the international consortium on development of "Kashagan") had appeared for no keeping the terms of drilling of the first well on the shelf by the consortium. "The Moscow Times" has informed about this.
The field "Kashagan" is regarded the fifth by the sizes amongst all oil fields of the world. A maximum daily production on it will exceed 1MM bbl (50 MM tons per a year), what will help Kazakhstan to enter "automatically" into a number of five world oil exporters.
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The Russian oil company LUKoil has announced about making a bargain for purchase of oil assets in the Republic of Komy from "Ural Group", one of main shareholders of which is former son-in-law of Boris Eltsin - Leonid Dyachenko, Just these assets allow LUKoil to consider itself the largest in Russia and the second in the world private by hydrocarbon supplies, the Russian newspaper "Vedomosty" writes.
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Researching the real state of the Azerbaijan energetic system with a purpose of rendering the necessary assistance - here to the main task of experts from the Japanese Bank of the International Cooperation (JBIC).
As Media-Press was informed in the JC "Azerenerji", the representatives of the JBIC will conduct a number of meetings with the Azerbaijan energetic employees, and also with the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, the Ministries of the Economic Development, Fuel and Energy, Finance, Ecology and Natural Resources.
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: A volume on investments to the economy of Azerbaijan in account of all financing sources for seven months of the current year exceeded the analogous rate of the past year by 68.1% and made 8.86 trln. Manats ($1.8).
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: A forecast on the state budget earnings of Azerbaijan for a period from January up to July 2003 has been executed by 105.9%. For seven months revenues of the state budget made 2.738 trln. Manats, what is by 38.8% more than the analogous rates of the past year.
BAKU.22.08.2000.MEDIA-PRESS: The credit of $9 MM without any rates was allocated to Azerbaijan by the Islamic Development Bank for removal of after-effects of the destructive earthquake, emerged on November 2000.
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Today the Central Elective Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan will held casting of lots on the distribution of air time amongst the candidates to the President of the country. During the casting of lots a turn of their speeches will be determined.
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The Venetian Commission of the Council of Europe will conduct a special seminar for the members of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan in Baku, the first decade of September. Famous international experts of the election law will conduct the seminar and familiarize their auditory with the international practice in this field.
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The Counsil of Europe is interested in smoothing the breaks of obligations for the Counsil of Europe carried out by Armenia in a way of cooperation. As the supplementary reporter of the monitoring Commission of the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe Mr. Eji Yaskernia has declared, a main attention is paid to execution removal problem.
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Georgia is not able to pay out external debts, the President of the National Bank of Georgia Mr. Irakly Managadze has declared.
BAKU.22.08.MEDIA-PRESS: "If there is not another alternative for receiving a freedom, except invasion of the Americans, the Iranian people should agree with such decision". These words do not belong to "hawks" from the Mr. Bush's Administration. Mr. Khasan Khomeiny, the grandson of the founder and religious leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran had pronounced them. The direct descendant of Ayatolla, who hated America and called it "The Great Satan".
BAKU.22.08.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Kiev changed his decision to admit the Russian "Gazprom" and German "Ruhrgas" to managing the present gas transportation infrastructure of Ukraine. As recently the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Mr. Sergey Yermilov declared, the international consortium will be able to manage not all gas pipeline system of the countgry, but only new branch Aleksandrov Gay - Novopsko - Udjgorod. And the old export infrastructure will remain under managing of the Ukrainian Government. The employees of the Russian "Gazprom", which wanted to control the transport tariffs of the Ukrainians have been shocked by new position of Kiev in the negotiations.
By the opinion of the Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Mr. V. Shkolnik, a break of terms of beginning of operation is explained in the first turn by delays in a start of the geological exploration works: the consortium started a sinking of the first exploration well only in 2000 year, i.e. two years later the initial date.
As it has been known, Astana tried to force the international companies, sharing in the project on "Kashagan" to pay the forfeit for breaking terms of the works, however they refused of this, and declared that they should not take care of the terms of operation start. Besides of this, they believe that breaking the terms of sinking of the first operating well has been caused only technical reasons, and this circumstance was agreed by the mentioned contract. In result of this the project really was preserved: no works were conducted on the field in this summer. The interference of the President Mr. N. Nazarbayev also was fruitless. As the Western shareholders of the Consortium declare, the first industrial oil from "Kashagan" should be expected no earlier 2007.
Production of "Kashagan" oil meets with a number of difficulties: a large depth of productive horizons and consequently a high formational pressure; shoal water, the sea covering by ice in winter, sharp level fluctuations for floating-driving phenomenon bringing to strong storms with large waves. All this is on behalf of more easy from the industrial point of view fields in Siberia and Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, a majority of specialists in the West believe in the sparlling future of Kashagan. So Mr. L. Rucetskas, the expert on the Caspian Sea of the Cambridge Energy Research Associates declared recently in Paris that untouched resources of Kashagan guarantee a constant interest of investors to this field. "The oil production wil start in Kashagan in one of the fine days, - Mr. L. Rucetskas has declared, - but terms of this depend from the investment climate in Kazakhstan".
A cost of the first stage of the field development - $8 bn. $3 of them will be spent for drilling of sx wells. By estimations of experts and petroleum employees, for the next 15 years investments to this field will exceed $20 bn.
LUKOIL BECOMES THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD AND SECOND IN THE WORLD PRIVATE OIL COMPANY BY HYDROCARBON SUPPLIES
This and other purchases made by the company in the current year have allowed LUKoil to compete with the giant "YukosSibneft", which is founded now by a volume of reserves. On April uniting companies announced that total supplies of "YukosSibneft" will make 19.4 bn bbl of oil equivalent, what was by 0.1 bn bbl more than LUKoil. However, the company of Mr. V. Alekperov has made recounting of its supplies, including as well as assets, purchased from "Urals Group" and total supplies of "LUKoil" made 19.7 bn barrels.
THE EXPERTS OF THE JAPANESE BANK OF THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION STUDY A STATE OF THE ENERGETIC SYSTEM OF AZERBAIJAN
The JBIC will study a state of the energy system of the country in account of own means. In 2004 the bank intends to held a tender on choice of the consulting company, which would study a situation in the energetic sector and will make detailed report for consideration. On the base of received results the JBIC suppose to make its further policy in the energetic sector of Azerbaijan.
We shall remind that earlier the Japanese bank JBIC allocated a credit for construction of the first steaming gas installation on the SREPS "Severnaya" for a term of 40 years with a rate of 0.75% annually. The Japanese company Mitsui had constructed it. A capacity of the new power unit of the SREPS made 400 MVt.
Besides of this, the JBIC allocated a credit also for the construction of the gas pipeline Garadag - Digyakh - SREPS "Severnaya". A total of the credits made about $340 MM.
FOR SEVEN MONTHS OF 2003 A VOLUME OF INVESTMENTS TO THE ECONOMY AZERBAIJAN MADE 8.86 TRLN. MANATS ($1.8 BN)
The major share of the capital investments has corresponded to the industrial sector - 93.4%, what is explained by realization of "Phase - 1" and "Phase - 2" of the full-scale development of the fields "Azeri - Chiraq - Gunesli" and start of the construction of the Main Export Pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan.
More 80% of all investments make foreign investments. By the results of seven months they made 7.4 trln manats ($1.5 bn). 83.7% from the total volume of investments have made means of the enterprises and companies, 2.8% - bank means, 2.1% - budget means, 0.9% - means of out of budget funds, 2.6% - means of population.
We shall remind that in 2002 a total volume of investments to the economy of Azerbaijan made 10.3 trln ma nats ($2.1 bn), $1.789 bn of them were of foreign origin. 85% of all investments were directed to the oil sector.
In accordance with forecasts of the Ministry of the Economic Development, in the current year investments to the economy of Azerbaijan will make $2.63 bn. As before, the main their part will be directed to the oil sector. By preliminary information, they should make $1.72 bn.
A FORECAST FOR SEVEN MONTHS ON THE STATE BUDGET EARNINGS OF AZERBAIJAN WAS EXECUTED BY 105.9%
For this period the budget expenses made 2.581 trn manats and exceeded the analogous rate of the past year by 29.5%. At the same time a forecast on expenses was executed by 95.4%.
17.9% of the budget expenses were directed to education, 17.6% - social needs and ensuring, 22% - development of the economy, 9.5% - maintenance of legal, law-enforcement organs, prosecutor offices and special services, 0,7% - payments for membership of the country in the international organizations, 2.9% - health. 2.4% of the budget funds have been expended for culture, mass-media and a work with the religious organizations.
For the mentioned period debit items for education were executed by 90%, health - 78.7%, culture, mass-media and culture - 94.3%. Items for maintenance of law enforcement organs, prosecutor organs and special services were executed by 92.7%, development of the economy - 112.6%, social expenditures - 100.3%.
THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK HAS ALLOCATED $9 MM TO AZERBAIJAN FOR REMOVAL OF AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 2000.
In accordance with instructions of the President of the country Mr. Geydar Aliyev, these means were transferred for restoration of 40 schools of Baku as well as the gas supplying of 16 thou flats into approximately 200 house, which were recognized damaged from the earthquake by the Govenmental Emergency Commission. The rest part of credit will be spent partially for removal of a landslip on the right bank of the Mingechavir Reservoir.
TODAY THE CEC OF AZERBAIJAN WILL HELD CASTING OF LOTS ON DISTRIBUTION OF TV AND RADIO AIR BETWEEN CANDIDATES TO PRESIDENT
A free of charge time for agitation before elections at the state radio and television is provided for all candidates. Plenipotentiary representatives of all registered candidates to Presidents, observers from the international organizations and diplomatic representations as well as mass-media representatives.
We shall remind that 12 candidates have been admitted officially to the President Elections on October 15.
THE VENETIAN COMMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL CONDUCT A SEMINAR FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION OF AZERBAIJAN
We shall remind that earlier the Venetian Commission of the Counsil of Europe conducted the expert estimate of the Election Code of Azerbaijan accepted in spring of 2003 and recognize it corresponding to democratic procedures and norms of the international law.
THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL NOT APPLY SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA, THE SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTER OF THE MONITORING COMMISSION OF THE PACE CONSIDERS
"We expect that Armenia will ratify the 6th Protocol of the European Convention of Human Rights up to the autumn session of the PACE", - he has said. By the opinion of Mr. E. Yaskernia, "the authorities should recognize all the responsibility and show an open will for cooperation".
The supplementary reporter expressed his sureness that by the time of discussion the problem of compliance with the obligations by Armenia, Yerevan will make provide their realization. Mr. E. Yaskernia has reminded that in the summer session of the PACE it was suggested not to ratify plenary powers of the new Armenian delegation in the PACE, what was caused by dissatisfaction by process of the President Elections in the country. By his opinion, the PACE will accept plenary powers of the Armenian delegation. "We should be objective in relation to Armenia and allow it to comply with its obligations up to January", - Mr. E.Yaskernia has said.
THERE IS UNANNOUNCED DEFAULT IN GEORGIA
"Really Georgia is in the default state, as we do not execute debt obligations in accordance with the schedule established by the Paris Club", - Mr. Managadze has said. By his words, the non-compliance with recommendations of the International Monetary Fund threatens to continuation of the restructuring the external debts of Georgia, and this may make worse the investment climate in Georgia.
"The problems with terms of the compliance with the IMF recommendations may complicate a discussion process of restructuring of the external debts in the sitting of the Paris Club on September. This will negatively will reflect on the investment climate and bring to the macroeconomic non-stability in the country, which at the present time is not able pay out the external debts", - the President of the National Bank of Georgia has said.
A total of the external debt of Georgia approaches ot $2 bn. The debts the country to the countries joined in the Paris Creditor Club makes about $600MM. The reserve monetary fund of Georgia makes about $200MM.
RETURNING OF KHOMEYNY.
The grandson of the founder of the Islamic republic calls the Americans to render assistance to the Iranian people
As "Izvestiya writes, a month ago Mr. Khasan Khomeyni crossed the northern frontier of Iraq, saving himself from secret agents of the Iranian authorities, which by his words were instructed "to remove him in any ways". Now the junior Khomeyni lives in one chic villa of Baghdad, which belonged recently before to one of the brothers of the President of Iraq Mr. Saddam Khusseyn. Now from here he claims the governing regime of Iran in "mockery at the own people".
There is a little information about the grandson of Khomeyni. Seyid Khasan Khomeyni is 45 years old. He had got the religious education in En-Nadjaf, where lived being from 7 up to 14 years old together with is Grandfather who lived in exile there. After the Islamic Revolution he continued his religious education in one of the Shiite centers of Iran. At the President Elections of 1997 Khasan actively supported the future Chief of the State Mr. Mohammad Khatami, publically calling him "the Best Protector of His Grandfather's Doctrine". The last years Khasan was engaged in the post of the Ayatolla Khomeyni Museum Keeper and the curator of the institute, which prepared works of the islamic state founder for issue.
Up to the recent times the grandson of Khomeyni did not show his especial love to the USA. In his speeches he liked to repeat to auditory: "Relations of friendship between the USA and Iran are impossible just as a love between a woulf and lamb". On June 2002, speaking at the meeting devoted to 13th Anniversary of Ayatolla Khomeyni death he not beeing fastidious in his choice of expessions again pounced upon the American and Israel policy in the region at accompaniment of shouts of the people crowd.
As "Izvestiya" emphasize, all changed after the dispersal of the student demonstrations, which passed over by Iran on May of this year, and arrests of 4000 men, which took part in the protests. This demonstrations were actively supported by Mr. Khassan Khomeyni. Since this moment the grandson of Ayatolla becomes persona non grata in Iran. The Iranian special services became to hunt for him. And he was forced to run to Iraq for finding a protection of the British and American troops.
By the words, the grondson of Khomeyni explains his appearance in Baghdad by not so the danger threatening him in Iran as an availability to make a pilligrimage to the Shiite sacred places situated in this country an a wish to meet with old friends of the period of the studies, which are engaged now in high posts of the Shiite hierarchy. Only now Khasan tells more about the freedom and Constitution, "symbol of which is America as before".
Khasan calls the present political system of Iran "totalitary" and by no means corresponding to wishes of the Iranians". From the name of the late Grandfather he offers radical reforms - to separate the policy from the religion and establish the democratic system in the country, where "the people would not be persecuted for the convictions". And if the invasion of the American troops is necessary for providing this, the grandson of Khomeyni will be ready for assistance of this step.
"THE GAS BLACKMAIL": KIEV PUTS NEW CONDITIOHS TO THE RUSSIAN "GAZPROM"
As the newspaper "Vedomosty" reminds, an idea of the joint managing the transport networks of Ukraine appeare in the past summer, when the Presidents Mr. V. Putin and Leonid Kuchma agreed to found the consortium, which will be shared in equal conditions by "Gazprom" and "Naftogaz Ukraini". In accordance with the idea this consortium should manage all pipelines of Ukraine. In 2002 the sides preliminarily agreed to give by 16% joint-stocks to the German company "Ruhrgas" - the main Russian gas receiver in Europe. However the idea of Putin and Kuchma was not realized for reasonal fears of Kiev that "Gazprom" and Ruhrgas will be able to reduce tariffs for gas pumping after getting a control of the infrastructure of the company. By the Ukrainian schedule, the consortium should purchase the transported gas on the frontier of Ukraine with Russia and sell it to Europe, but this is unreceptive for Moscow. As it is known, a disagreed information about the negotiations appeared in press, however it has been found out that the sides factically were at a deadlock and Kiev was forced to cut this "Tangle of Gordyi"
As the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Mr. Sergey Yermilov has said, only new pipelines, constructed for the own means will be included in the consortium and the Ukrainian Government and "Naftogaz Ukraini" will manage this gas transportation system. By his words, the members of the consortium discuss a possibility of the construction of the new branch Aleksandrov Gay - Novopskov - Uzgorod, annual capacity of which would achieve 30 bn cubic meters per a year.
"Foundation of the consortium on the base of the subsidiary capacities - is the compromise version, when the sides are not able to agree on the main scheme of the pipeline operation", - "Vedomosty" were informed in the press-service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The source "Naftogaz Ukraini" also confirms that "a decision on that the consortium will be engaged now only the gas transportation by the supplementary ways was accepted after the negotiations on foundation of consortium on the base of all gas transportation network of Ukraine were at a deadlock."
The press-secretary of the Chief of Management of "Gazprom" Mr. Sergey Kupriyanov affirmed this information and declare that negotiations on construction of new branch are conducted. The project of the business-plan of the consortium provides a possibility of the construction of new main gas pipeline with a capacity 15 bn cubic meter per a year with a perspective of increase up to 32 bn. The business-plan should be approved up to August 30. By the words of mr. Kupriyanov, the route, price and terms of construction will be decided after shares of the consortium members will be determined. Mr. Yermilov confirms that the new branch will cost $2bn.
Meanwhile, as it is known, the cooling of "gas relations" between Moscow and Kiev started since quiet not from the project on foundation of the international consortium. Ukraine enough for a long time was engaged in "so called reception of gas" (really stole it) and caused reasoned anger of "Gazprom". In the last time "contacts" with Turmenistan become to join to these relations; Turkmenistan plans ambitiously to export its gas itself through the territory of Ukraine and its assistance to Europe.
As "Izvestiya" notes, "Gazprom" carefully watches for all activities of Ukraine and Turkmenistan. In accordance with the words of the representative of this company, "pressure efforts are possible and it should be careful".
The analysts believe that "Gazprom" should use all available opportunities to deliver gas by doses from the Central Asia. "The new gas pipeline from the fields of Turkmenistan is able to increase the potential of this country as the supplier, - the analyst of the bank "Troyka Dialog" Mr. Valery Nesterov considers. - However, Russia should not create a competitor for itself by own hands: Turkmenistan is not able to present a real danger at the European gas markets".
Meanwhile, it is similar, Ashgabad and Kiev play still "the third is left over". As Media-Press noted, Ukraine threats to limit a growth of the Russian gas export to Europe if they in Moscow will not agree with the realization of the Ukrainian-Turkmen project. As it is known, the Premier of the RF Mr Michail Kasyanov received a refusal from his Ukrainian colleague Mr. Victor Yanukovich in his request of increasing the pumping of the Russian gas through the territory of this country. Kiev motivates his decision by that in the first turn the Central Asian and the Turkment gas will fill the pipelines. We shall remind also in this context about that recently the Turkmen and Ukrainian Presidents agreed to construct the Caspian pipeline from Turkmenistan. It should deliver annually 30 bn cubic meters to Ukraine.
