THE OJC "GAZ" CONSIDERS A POSSIBILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSEMBLING PRODUCTION OF LORRIES AT THE CAPACITIES OF THE GANJA CAR PLANT
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The OJC "GAZ" considers a possibility of the organization of the assembling production of its light trucks at the capacities of the Ganja car plant. As it has been informed on the Russian plant, in the end of October - beginning of November of the current year the heads of "GAZ" will conduct negotiations with the Azerbaijan side on the production organizing.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: In this year the Government plans to write off the debts on the social payments of the enterprises or handed over for long-term management by a total of 14 bn manats. As Media-Press has been informed in the Ministry of the Economic development of Azerbaijan, the preliminary list of the enterprises, debts of which should be written off, has been prepared already.
BAKU.24.10.2003. MEDIA-PRESS: The project of the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2004 is real and does not require significant improvements, the Chief of the Parliamentarian Economic Policy Commission Mr. Sattar Safarov has decided.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The countries of the EU have introduced a forbid for entering in the ports of single side plating oil tankers carrying mazut and heavy marks of oil
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Fall down of the prices for oil up to the optimal level - lower $28 for barrel will occur in the next time up to the control term expiry - November 5, when the crude oil production and export quotas should be grown by 0.5 MM bbl per a day (in accordance with the regulations of the OPEC, quotas automatically grow if during in running 20 days prices for oil exceed the OPEC' corridor). The General Secretary of the OPEC Mr. Alvaro Silva Calderon has declared about this.
By the words of the General Secretary of the OPEC, "the prices for the crude oil already started gradual returning into ranges of the optimal corridor, which makes $22 - $28 for a barrel".
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: "The membership in the OPEC corresponds to the national interests of Iran and a matter of leaving the OPEC by Iran does not stand on agenda at the present time". The Minister of Oil of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Bijan Zangane has declared about this.
BAKU.24.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Passions rise around stopping Ukrainian oil pipeline Odessa - Brody every day. On October 22 the Secretary of the US Embassy in Ukraine Mrs. Mishel Dastin Van Rain announced a sensation about readiness of Chevron Texaco about filling up the pipe. Moreover, the oil company does not hurry to affirm the words of the American diplomat.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: Before the adjustment of the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict no energetic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia is possible.
The Chief Engineer of the JC "Azerenerji" Mr. Marlen Askerov has expressed such opinion to the Agency "Interfax - Azerbaijan", commenting the possibility of synchronization of the energetic systems of Armenia and Russia, which, by opinion of Mr. Anatoly Chubays will allow improve the reliability of the work of the electric energy of all Southern Caucasus.
"The position of Azerbaijan is concluded in not carrying out any joint economic projects with Armenia up to adjustment of the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict", - Mr. Askerov has said.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The electric energy consumption in Azerbaijan may exceed the past year rates in the present winter, the specialists of the JC "Azerenergy" consider.
By their forecasts, the maximum loading of the energetic system in the forthcoming winter season will make about 4200 MVt and the daily consumption of the electric energy - 75 - 80 MM kVt/hour.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: On October 31 the 9th sitting of the Foreign Ministers Council of the countries of the economic cooperation in the Black Sea.
As it has been informed in the Information Office of the MFA of Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministers of CECBS plan discussions on economic cooperation problems, results of the meetings of the Ministries of Transport and Energy of the countries of CECBS. As well the results of conferences and symposiums of the organization in the sphere of cargo transportations, tourism and sport development, struggle against crimes, cooperation with international and regional organizations and international finance structures.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: $36.801 MM were spent for ten years of realization of the UN' Development Program in Azerbaijan. This total was registered in the report prepared in connection with the ten years Anniversary of the UNDP operation in Azerbaijan.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: On November in Baku the WB's Mission will discuss the details of the realization of the project on foundation of the National Park "Shakhdag".
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: In the beginning of the next year the Government of Azerbaijan will determine the Operation Plan on Poverty Reduction in the country for the period up to 2015.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA) has announced the tender on audit of the financial-economical operations of the bank for 2003. In accordance with the conditions of the tender, the audit should be conducted during 2 months since a day of signing the contract. The results of audit monitoring together with the annual report will be represented to the President of the State in accordance with "About National Bank of the Azerbaijan Republic".
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: A number of families in Azerbaijan, which became landowners within frameworks of the land reform grew by 1% on January - September and exceeded 859 thou by October 1. Totally they own the plots with square of 24.6 thou hectares, the Agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" informs with a reference to the State Statistics Department. At the present time a number of the physical persons engaged in the agricultural sector makes 839 445.
BAKU.24.10.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The nominal monetary incomes of the population of Azerbaijan on Jaunary - September of the current year made 17.065 trln manats and this is by 13.2% more than the analogous rates of the past year.
It is planned to assemble 1.5 - 4.5 ton trucks "GAZ", which will be sold not only in Azerbaijan, but the other countries of the Southern Caucasus. Initially it is planned to assemble about 30 thou cars per a year and up to 100 thou cars annually in the future.
14 BN MANATS WILL BE TRANSFERRED FOR WRITING OFF DEBTS OF THE PRIVATIZED ENTERPRISES OF AZERBAIJAN IN THIS YEAR
The Ministry of the Economic Development earned the means for redeeming the debts of the mentioned enterprises from the privatization of the state enterprises and as well as in account of certain state social insurance.
THE PROJECT OF THE STATE BUDGET OF AZERBAIJAN FOR 2004 IS REALISTIC AND DOES NOT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, THE CHIEF OF THE PARLIAMENT COMMISSION REGARDS.
By his words, on the grounds of the analysis of the macroeconomic rates and income sources it would be supposed that the parameters introduced in the budget project are real. "In the definite conditions, the incomes of the state budget may exceed even forecasts", - Mr. S. Safarov has said.
On October, 14 the Administration of the President of Republic has represented the project of the budget-2004 for the Milli Mejlis (the Parliament). The incomes of the budget-2004 are predicted in the volume of 6.957 trn.manats, the expenditures - 7.272 trln manats, deficiency - 315 bn manats or 0.8% of the GDP ( 1% of the GDP in the budget of the current year).
As the Chief of the Parliamentarian Commission has said, it is planned to discuss this document at the sitting of the Parliament Commission in the first decade of November. "At the first time the budget project provides such large number of documents that a time is necessary for their detailed study", - Mr. Safarov has said.
The consideration of the project at the plenary sitting of the Parliament also has been planned by
November.
THE COUNTRIES OF THE EU HAVE INTRODUCED FORBID FOR ENTERING IN THE PORTS OF OIL TANKERS WITH SINGLE SIDE PLATING
Else 10 months ago, the European Commission suggested to introduce the forbid for entering in the ports of the countries-the EU members of oil tankers having single side plating. Now the resolution of the European Commission entered into force. Besides, by 2005 all tankers with single side plating and above 23 years old should be written of. And all the rest tankers with the single side plating will loose a right of entering in the ports of the EU countries since 2010.
By the words of the official of the EC Transport and Energy Commission, the EU also will try to get the accepted transportation regulations as standards for all the world. On December the EU plans to introduce the relevant offer to International Marine Organization under authorities the UNO.
However the experts of the independent Tankers Owners Association "Intertanko" consider that writing off these tankers will cause losses by a total $4bn.
The new demands will touch also the Russian companies, which are the largest oil suppliers to the EU. By the estimations of the analyst of the Investment Company "Troyka Dialog" of Mr. Valery Nesterov, for the first half a year of 2003 Russia exported about 87 MM tons of oil and oil products by sea and the part of the European countries made above 80%. Nevertheless, the Russian companies quietly met the forbid introduction.
The Caspian Shipping Company has 35 tankers for the present and only two of them have double side plating: they were launched to the water in this year. Else two such tankers are built by the order of the Azerbaijan sailors on the Russian plant "Krasnoye Sormovo". Moreover, for the present there are not demands in such ships for the CSC as the tankers of the Shipping Company operate only in the Caspian Sea.
IN THE NEXT TIME THE PRICES FOR OIL WILL FALL DOWN UP TO "OPTIMAL LEVEL", THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE OPEC FORECASTS
As Mr. Kalderon has emphasized, "at the last time events operations of the market profiteers negatively affected on events at the world markets. Indeed, there is sufficient amount of oil at the world market".
Mr. Calderon feels large hopes to the forthcoming out of turn 128th conference of the OPEC, which will be held in Vienna on December 4. By his words, "the situation at the world energetic markets will be analyzed and the adequate decision will be taken, including the oil quotas".
THE MINISTER OF OIL OF IRAN DISPROVES THE STATEMENT OF HIS DEPUTY: IRAN HAS NOT PLANS ON LEAVING THE OPEC
This statement, similarly, has been called for disproving the other one, made recently by the Deputy Minister of Oil of the IRI Mr Masud Nili. The last has said that Iran may leave the OPEC "with the purpose of improvement of its position at the international oil market. Iran should make that, what corresponds to its national interests". By his words, two years showed that the countries, which are not members of the OPEC and are the largest oil producers, earn significant profits from oil sales at the world market.
For the most earnestness Mr. B. Zangane has emphasized: "The official position of our Ministry is concluded in that the further membership of the OPEC corresponds to our national interests; the rest countries also follow their interests being members of the OPEC".
Answering to the question on possibility of the oil prices growth in a way of the production and export reduction, Mr. B. Zangane has said that this question will be discussed at the forthcoming summit meeting of the OPEC. "By our opinion, he has said, it is necessary to operate in such a way that the prices for oil remained within ranges from $22 - 28 per a bbl.
WILL THE OIL OF CHEVRONTEXACO FLOW BY THE PIPELINE ODESSA-BRODY?
In the beginning of October the Monitoring Council of "Ukrtransnafta" accepted the reception of the Russian-British Company TNK-BP on supplies of the technological oil for this pipeline and the next operation of the piece of the pipeline in the reverse regime. However, given decision was not approved by the Government of Ukraine. Now, in accordance with the statement of the Secretary of the Embassy of the USA, TNK-BP received dangerous competitor.
By the words of Mishel Dastin Van Rain, which are quoted by the agency "Prime-TASS", the American Chevron Texaco is ready already now to pump up to 14 MM tons of oil to the oil pipeline. The contract on pumping the oil may be signed already in the next time, the American diplomat regards. She also supposed that TNK-BP is not able to execute the contract, which is offered to "Ukrtransnafta" for signing and paid the attention to that the Chevron Texaco offers the long-term cooperation to Ukraine, meanwhile TNK - BP - only the three-year contract.
For the present the representatives of Chevron Texaco do not comment the words of the American diplomat. The Public Relations Manager Director of the Russian Representation of Chevron Texaco Mr. Nikolay Avdulov only noted in his interview to the newspaper "Vedomosty" that his company show the interest to the project "Odessa - Brody" as well as the other potential exportation routes to the markets of the Western and Northern Europe from the regions of the Caspian Sea and Black Sea.
"Ukrtransnafta" officials were sincerely surprised of the statement of Mrs. Dastin Van Rain. "I hear that at the first time. No treatments were signed with this company and it did not show any interest to our project, though we repeatedly offered participation in the oil transportation to it", - the General Director of the Company Mr. Stanislav Vasilenko confirms. For the present the officials of the Administration of the President of Ukraine have not familiarized with the offers of the American company. And the President of the Trade House "TNK-Ukraine" Mr. Alexander Gorodetski only has said to "Vedomosty" that TNK-BP already has received the approval of the Board of the Directors of "Ukrtransnafta" and now the company expects for decision of the Government of the country.
It should be supplemented that recently the American company Energy Solution has won the tender on the working out of the feasibility report of the unfortunate pipeline. It should determine the most profitable direction of the oil transportation for Ukraine: either from Odessa to Brody or in the reverse direction.
We shall remind that recently the Vice-President of the USA Mr. Dick Cheyny strictly warned Kiev during the meeting with the Premier of Ukraine Mr. Victor Yanukovich: refusal of pumping the light Caspian oil to the countries of the European Council will sharply reduce the geopolitical significance of Ukraine as the transit country. Cheini considers that the oil pipeline operation in the reverse direction has no perspectives. During the negotiations the Vice-President of the USA has expressed the position of the American Government that a choice on behalf of reverse will sharply reduce chances of Ukraine in playing the key role of the transit country, through which the energetic carriers will be transported to the Western Europe. At the same time Cheyni has promised that he will be engaged in this issue and most likely keep his word. First, it is profitable for the USA. Second, many high-ranked officials of the American Administration including Mr. J. Bush, the Vice-President and the National Security President Assistant Mr. Condoles Rice have close relations with the American oil corporations. So the White House will not have especial difficulties in agreeing with them.
Taking into account these factors, and as well that the tender on the FR of the oil pipeline Odessa - Brody will be worked out by the American company, the direction for the pipeline stopped since 2001 may be called undoubtedly.
BEFORE THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE NAGORNY-KARABAKH CONFLICT THE ENERGETIC EXCHANGE WITH ARMENIA IS NOT POSSIBLE, THE OFFICIALS OF "AZENERJI" CONFIRMS
The day before Mr. A. Chubays has declared in Yerevan that the RJC "UES of Russia" is interested in the restoration of the parallel work with the energetic system of Armenia.
Armenia is only country from 15 Republics of the former USSR, which do not work in the parallel regime with Russia for a number of technological and political causes.
By the words of the Deputy Chairman of the Management of the RJC UES of Mr. Andrey Rappoport, in the next two weeks the energetic holding will conduct negotiations with Iran and Azerbaijan, after this the energetic holding will conduct negotiations with Iran and Azerbaijan, after this the company will be able to make imagination on terms of synchronization of the energosystems of Armenia and Russia.
As Mr. A. Rappoport has noted, in the next time the signing of the agreement between Azerbaijan and Iran on investments of Iran to electric networks of Azerbaijan is expected. In the perspective, as the Deputy of the Chief of the RJC UES, this will allow shifting to the parallel work with the energetic system of Iran for Azerbaijan.
In connection with this, the Chief Engineer of "Azerenergy" has noted, that there is not the technical possibility of the parallel work. "Earlier the energetic change has been carried out by 330 kV EPTL Tovuz - Atarbekyan. However, in 1991 - 92 this EPTL has been destroyed, cables plundered so there are not possibilities for energetic exchange", - Mr. M. Askerov has said.
He has informed that there were EPTL earlier between Armenia and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, however, since the beginning of 1990 - s this lines were redirected towards Turkey.
"The RJC "UES of Russia" suggested us the restoration of the EPTL between Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, we stand on the position that this would be impossible before the adjusting the conflict", - the Chief Engineer has emphasized.
He has informed that before 1981 Azerbaijan received the electric energy from Armenia. "However after the completion of the construction of the Azerbaijan SREPS (the largest electric power station of Azerbaijan) we ourselves have started electric energy deliveries to Armenia", - Mr. M. Askerov has said.
At the present time Azerbaijan receives the electric energy from Russia and Turkey as well as it produces the energetic exchange with Iran.
"AZERENERJI" FORECASTS A GROWTH OF ELECTRIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN COMPARISON WITH THE PAST WINTER
As Media-Press has been informed in the JC "Azerenerji", such conclusions have been made on a base of rates of the autumn-winter season of 2002/03, when the maximum load of the energetic system made 40474 MVt with taking into account the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Moreover, about 250 MVt of the electric energy has been received from Russia and Georgia. The daily consumption reached 70 MM kVt/hour.
Within frameworks of the preparation of the enterprises of the energetic field to the winter season plan repairs and modernization of the equipment have bee carried out at the major part of electric stations and this allowed some improvement of their capacities. Nevertheless, there is the deficiency of the electric power in the country.
THE SITTING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS COUNCIL OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN THE BLACK SEA
As well the project of the document on simplifying the agricultural trade within the CECBS and issues of the cooperation in agriculture should be discussed. Besides, the questions of the UN General Secretary Envoy appointment, membership and observer status will be considered.
11 countries of the CECBS are Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Romania.
$36.8 MM WERE SPENT FOR TEN YEARS OF REALIZATION OF THE UN' DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN AZERBAIJAN
As it has noted in the document, since 1994 up to 2003, 65 projects have been realized or are in the execution stage. The major part of funds were spent (30% from the mentioned total) were spent for realization of the assistance programs, slightly less (28%) - for development of the democratic management, 22% of the allocated funds were spent for development of the energetic industry and environmental protection measures, 12% - poverty reduction, 6% - development of the informative-technological technologies and 2% - improvement of the health system.
For the mentioned period the UNDP assisted also to the Liberated Areas Restoration Agency, the ANAMA, the State Customs Department, the Parliament of the Republic, refugees and forced migrants.
THE WB AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY WILL ASSIST TO FOUNDATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK "SHAKHDAG" IN AZERBAIJAN
As the Agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" has been informed in the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic, the project consists of several components, especially the social, ecological, tourist; its realization will cost $14 - 15 MM. It is expected that the WB will invest $7 - 8 MM in the foundation of the park; the means of the Global Environmental Facility financing solving ecological problems in the developing countries with transitional economies.
Within frameworks of the preparation for realization of the project the competition on attraction of the interested companies for realization of the individual components of the project, above 30 organizations expressed their intensions. Their list has been represented to the World Bank for consideration. Most likely, for realization of the project once several companies will be attracted, it has been informed in the Ministry of Ecology of the Republic, the officials of the Ministry of Ecology of Republic.
THE LONG-TERM OPERATION PLAN ON POVERTY REDUCTION IN AZERBAIJAN WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE BEGINNING OF 2004
As the Secretary of the State Program of the Poverty Reduction and the Economic Development Mr. Mehman Abbasov, 15 working groups are engaged in the development of this plan.
And before this on December of the current year the results of the first year of realization of the State Program on Poverty Reduction and the Economic Development for 2003 - 2005 will be published.
By the words of Mr. Mehman Abbasov, "the providing of the macroeconomic stability, keeping the inflation level within ranges of 2 - 2.5%, providing availability of the currency reserves, which should be equal to 3 - 4 months import are the main commitments of the government.
Three-year program provides the realization of 400 different measures directed for reduction of the poverty level and ensuring the economic growth in the country. Particularly, a number of measures have been directed to the improvement of the address social assistance, introduction of the individual social insurance, development of the employment strategy, creation of the favorable conditions for the business development.
THE NATIONAL BANK OF AZERBAIJAN HAS ANNOUNCED A TENDER ON AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL-ECONOMICAL ACTIVITIES FOR 2003
We shall remind that the audit of the financial-economic activities of the NBA for 2002 has been conducted by the Consulting Company Price Water House Coopers. Then the open tender on the conduction of audit in the NBA was conducted twice, however, no one of them took place for a little number of participants (in accordance with the law, no less than three companies should take part in the tender). In connection with this by allowance of the President of the Country the Contract has been concluded with the company PriceWaterHouseCoopers, which earlier conducted audit of the NBA activities.
859 THOU FAMILIES IN AZERBAIJAN BECAME LAND OWNERS
By data of October 1 of the current year 2605 farmer economies operate in agriculture; since the new year their number increased by 2.8%. They own 24.5 thou hectares of the lands.
The land reform in Azerbaijan started since 1996.
ON JANUARY - AUGUST THE NOMINAL MONEY INCOMES OF THE POPULATION OF AZERBAIJAN HAS GROWN BY 13.2%
By the data of the State Statistics Department, the money incomes per capita for the current period made almost 2.106 MM manats and they increased by 12.3%.
For January - September 63% of all received money incomes were transferred for goods purchasing, payments for services - 12.8%, taxes and member duties - 3.5%. For January - September, 2003 the population has spent 17.022 trln. Manats, the positive balance between incomes and expenditures made 43.3 bn manats.
The official rate of exchange by October 23 - 4911 manats/$1.
