THE COUNTRIES HAVING JOINED TO GUUAM WILL DEVELOP TRAINING PLAN ON REMOVAL OF THE EMERGENCY AFTER-EFFECTS REMOVAL
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In the capital of Georgia the meeting of officials of the countries entered GUUAM is held today. Its participants will discuss issues of preparation for trainings on liquidation of the emergency after-effects, outlined for September in Georgia.
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Kazakhstan confirmed his interest in oil transportation to the European markets by the pipeline "Odessa-Brodi".
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Kazakhstan intends to sign the agreement on joining to oil pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan (BTC). "Soon we should be able to sign this agreement, the moments associated with different laws and tax conditions of two countries should be adjusted", - the President of the CJC "KazMunayGaz" Mr. Uzakbay Karabalin has declared on the press conference in Astana. By his estimation, at the first time "more ten mm tons of the Kazakhstan oil annually would be delivered by this pipeline".
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Company BP-Azerbaijan (the operator of the gas condensate field "Shakh-Deniz" in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea) started the drilling of the third advanced well on this structure.
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Undoubtedly conservators will defeat on the past Parliament Elections and the main cause of liberals loss is disappointment of society, the leader of the Center of Coordination of the Russian-Iranian program Mr. Rajab Safarov thinks. "Liberals could not realize the course expected by the Iranian society, when they had had a power. And conservators having studied their errors of previous years, removed those factors, which could bring to the second loss in succession - for example they discharged two thirds of liberal candidates".
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The joining of Turkey to the European Union will make this organization super power. The Commissar on enlarging of the EU Mr. Gyunter Verrkhoygen has expressed his opinion in the interview to the German periodical "Zuddoyche tsaytung".
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Tokyo has decided to sign agreement on development of oil fields "Azadegan" in spite of irritation of the USA. The Iranian Minister of Oil Mr. Bijan Namdar Zangane has called the signed document "the largerst and the most profitable contract", concluded between Iran and other country in the field of development of the fields of the natural resources of the Islamic Republic.
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The prediction on incomes of the stated budget of Azerbaijan for January has been executed by 79.8%. For the given period the incomes of budget made 393.9 bn manats, expenditures - 300.8 bn manats. The prediction on expenditures has executed by 59.7%. The proficiency of the state budget made 93.1 bn manats.
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The issues of preparation and realization of joint project with the WB on supporting the private sector the experts of the WB discuss in Baku. As Media-Press has been informed in the Baku Office of the bank, the development of the bank is led jointly with the Ministry of the Economic Development of the Republic. By the preliminary data, the realization of this project costs $15 MM.
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: By the Edict of the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the State Register of Citizens is created in the country.
BAKU.23.02.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The President of Georgia Mr. Michail Saakashvili will discuss issues and perspectives of develoment of bilateral relations in Baku on March 4 - 5, the agency "Interfax - Azeraijan has been informed in the Embassy of Georgia in Azerbaijan.
As it has been informed by the Emergency Office of the MI of Georgia, officials of all countries of GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova) have been invitee to the meeting; the technical experts from the USA, Turkey and UNO participate in the meeting.
The goal of trainings is removal of after-effects of large-scale accidents emerged in result of terrorist action on the dam Jinvali HEPS (in 50 km from Tbilisi) and development of plan of mutual aid of GUUAM countries in similar cases.
KAZAKHSTAN IS INTERESTED IN TRANSPORTATION OF OIL BY THE PIPELINE "ODESSA-BRODI" TO EUROPE
"Kazakhstan always supported the project of the oil pipeline "Odessa-Brodi" in purposes of delivery of its high quality oil to the markets of Europe", - the Managing Director of the National Oil gas company of the country "KazMunayGaz" Mr. Gairgeldi Kabildin has said.
By his workds, actuality of using of the pipeline "Odessa - Brodi" for Kazakhstan is provided by necessity of amplifying positions in issues of oil transportation. Mr. Kabildin has reminded that now the Kazakhstan oil is transported through the Russian system of oil pipelines to the markets of Europe.
By his words, "a number of foreign companies producing oil in Kazakhstan also expressed a will to use this pipeline for oil deliveries to Europe".
The first turn of oil transportation system "Odessa - Brodi" was put into operation on May 2002. Its capacity makes 9 - 14.5 tons of oil annually. The enlarging of capacity up to 40 - 45 MM tons annually is possible. The extension of capacity of oil pipelines up to 40 - 45 MM tons a year is possible. However, up to present the pipeline stands idle, as oil has not been found for it.
On the last week during the visit of the Premier of Azerbaijan Mr. Artur Rasi-zade to Kiev, the official Baku received an offer to take part in the operation of pipeline "Odessa-Brodi" and international consortium being found for this purpose. And though principally the Azerbaijan side answered positively to this offer, however it put condition that it should be necessary to familiarize with conditions being offered by Ukraine. It is known that for the present Azerbaijan have not free volumes of oil for delivering to "Odessa-Brodi". So already after the returning of Mr. R. Rasi-zade from Kiev else one clause was made - Azerbaijan will be able to take part in this project after "large oil" will have gone.
The President of Urkraine noted in his turn that the Ukrainian Government decided to use oil pipeline "Odessa - Brodi" in the European direction taking into account two conditions. "At first getting oil from the Caspian region as soon as possible and a second is the construction jointly with the EU of he oil pipeline up to Poland", - he has said.
Mr. L. Kuchma noted that the pipeline expectedly would deliver the first oil from the Caspian region on May of the present year.
KAZAKHSTAN INTENDS TO JOIN TO THE OIL PIPELINE BAKU - TBILISI - CEYHAN
However, the President of "KazMunayGaz" has emphasized that "on the first stage of operation of the oil pipeline we will use transportation by tankers". For this purpose, he has informed, on the west of the Republic in the port of Kurik the construction of oil-bulk terminal goes on. "It will be ready before delivery of large oil of the Caspian Sea", - Mr. Karabalin has confirmed.
As recently Media-Press has informed recently, the next round of negotiations on joining of Kazakhstan to the project of the construction of the Main Exporting Pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan will take place on March.
As the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan Mr. Andar Shukputov has said, By his words, the place of the meeting has not been determined for the present, however most likely it will take place in Baku. The previous meeting of the experts was held on December of the past year in London.
During the forthcoming negotiations the sides should complete the preparation of the project of the framework intergovernmental agreement on the transportation of the Kazakhstan oil on the MEP. The agreement should be signed between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia as the transit country.
Earlier it was supposed to complete the negotiations up to the end of 2003 for presenting the project of the agreement the consideration of the governments of two countries. After signing of this agreement transit ones would be signed between investors of the transport system Aktau - Baku and governments of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan would be signed
The creation of the system Aktau - Baku supposes the construction of the new terminal for keeping and transshipment of oil in Kurik (the port in 76 km to the south-east from Aktau) and as well the connection pipelines. The capacity of the system on the transshipment would make 20 MM tons of oil annually; up to 7.5 MM tons would be delivered on the first stage. The volume of investments would be determined after singning the intergovernmental agreement. For managing the system Aktau - Baku the separate company would be founded and four companies would invest it : the Italian Eni, French TotalFinalElf, American ConocoPhilips and Japanese Inpex, which take part in the project of the development of Kazakhstan field "Kashagan" and having 15% of sharing in the company BTC Co.
The length of the MEP makes 1767 km and 443 of them pass through the territory of Azerbaijan, 248 km - through the territory of Georgia, 1076 km - through the territory of Turkey. The capacity of the pipeline makes 50 MM tons of oil in a year.
The construction works started on April 2003 and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2004. The Azerbaijan oil export from the port Ceyhan (Turkey) is planned by the second quarter 2005.
BP (30,1%), the SOCAR (25%), Unocal (8,9%), Statoil (8,71%), TPAO (6,53%), ENI (5%), Itochu (3,4%), ConocoPhillips (2,5%), INPEX (2,5%), TotalFinaElf (5%) and Amerada Hess (2,36%) are the shareholders of the project
BP-AZERBAIJAN STARTED THE DRILLING OF THE THIRD ADVANCED WELL ON THE FIELD ON THE FIELD "SHAKH-DENIZ"
As Media-Press has been informed in the Company, the well is drilled from the established bottom plate; shift from vertical here makes 2.3 km. Te given well is the most complicated of all advanced wells. The depth of sea makes about 101 m. The project depth of the well makes 6285 meters and approximately 165 days would be required.
This well completes the execution of the Program of the advanced drilling by the Stage-1 of the project "Shakh-Deniz".
Earlier the second advanced well SDA-02, which reached the depth of 65 - 40 meters was successfully completed. It sinking started on September 25 it will be drilled up to the North-East wing of the field. SDA-02 became the second inclined-directed well drilled on the field "Shakh-Deniz"; a shift from vertical by 1.8 km has been reached on it. The significant volume of core has been selected and scaled program of data selection was successfully executed. The using of special equipment allowed taking out core column by a total length of 174 m and receiving subsidiary information about quality and productivity of stratums.
By the words of the President of the project "Shakh-Deniz" Mr. Robe Kelly, "the successful completion of the second well has significantly enriched our drilling experience on the square "Shakh-Deniz" and total southern part of the Caspian Sea. The third well will give else one capacity of getting of the subsidiary drilling experience in complicated conditions as well as effective planning of future drilling operations from the platform TPG-500, which should be put into operation in the first half of 2006. We also plan to continue the estimation of lower part of the productive stratum".
"Stage-1" of the development of the gas condensate field "Shakh-Deniz" with a cost of $3.2 bn includes installing of the platform at a sea depth of 105 m, the construction of two underwater pipelines with a length of 100 km of each from the platform towards to the Sangachal terminal as well the construction of the South-Caucasian gas pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Erzurum. The production of the primary gas from the field "Shakh-Deniz" is planned by the mid of 2006.
The "Stage-1" of the development of the field provides the production of 178 bn cubic meters of gas and 34 MM tons of condensate. The maximum production will make 8.4 bn cubic meters of gas and 2 MM tons of the condensate per a year.
BP (25.5%), Statoil (25.5%), the SOCAR(10%), LUKAgip(10%), OIEC (10%), TotalFinalElf (10%) and TRAO (9%) are the participants of the project "Shakh-Deniz".
The supplies of the field "Shakh-Deniz" are estimated approximately by 1trln cubic meters.
IF THE IRANIAN LIBERALS DEFEAT, THIS WILL BE UNPROFITABLE FOR RUSSIA, EXPERT THINKS
By opinion of the experts, this is not final victory of conservators. "The Iranian society is broken up and very different interests are interlaced in it. And reformers have enough reliable base - women and youth - 2/3 of the Iranian society. Just these groups are interested mostly in reforming in more opened society. Reformers will go away from political positions for concentration and operation by already united efforts".
Mr. Safarov considers that the results of elections will not affect in any way on the nuclear issue. "The US will play actively the nuclear card. Iran is too obstinate state for the West. They are interested in the regime changing and make the state more forecasted". However, at the same time by the opinion of the experts, the USA will not resolve to the "Iraq version", - "this would be suicidal for America". So America mainly will play nuclear card.
Mr. Rajab Safarov has noted the interest moment if it is profitable for the USA if just reformers defeat, Russia only will lose only. "If reformers come they will intend to enlarging of external contacts not limiting only by Moscow. And if Russia has not the best time for the trade-economic cooperation with Iran, the displacement of Russia from this market will appear".
COMMISSAR OF THE EUROPEAN UNION MR. G. VERKHOGEYN: ENTERING OF TURKEY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION WILL MAKE THE UNION SUPER POWER
By the words of Mr.Verkhoygen, this organization significantly will increase its strategic potential outside Europe and become a super power capable for effective activity in the world.
Mr. Verkhogeyn has emphasized that Turkey should enter to the EU. "Turkey should receive a chance, - he has said. - Arguments of oppositionists of joining Turkey to the EU associated with religion and culture are in the past. The Europeans are interested in joining of so authorized country with its Muslim population to the EU. At the same time this will be evidence that democracy, legal state, human rights and the West world values are able to get on with Islam".
We shall remember that the MFA of France Mr. Dominik de Vilyen also has expressed the opinion in his interview to the French periodical "Politic Enternacional" that refusal of joining of Turkey to the EU would be a political error if geographical, religious, and cultural and other signs cause it. "If Europe rejects Turkey for this country's official religion is Islam, this only will cause bitterness", - the Minister regards. At the same time he has confirmed that the EU intends to develop all possible forms of partnership with Turkey, moreover operating on mutual base. However, Mr. Dominic Vilpen has emphasized that he regards necessary to control clearly, "whether Turkey affirms really the declared intension of further movement in the way of reforms".
The issue of joining of Turkey to the European Union will become one of main ones during negotiations of German chancellor Mr.Gerhard Shreder today. In accordance with information got from the diplomatic sources, Mr. Shreder will speak in support of joining of Turkey to this organization and will note that Ankara significantly advanced on the way to the EU.
COOPERATION WITH IRAN IN SPITE OF IRRITATION OF THE USA
The Consortium of the Japanese companies receives a priority right on development of one of the largest oil fields in the world. By the words of the Minister, the project of the development of the fields "Azadegan" on the south-west of the country is estimated by $2bn and its realization will be carried out in two stages, and this will allow to increase the oil production on this field up to 260 thou bbl daily.
Investments allocated to this project should be repaid in 12 years; Japanese share in 75% in this investments. The negotiation process was complicated by that the USA rendered a pressure on Japan and demanded the refusal of the large deal profitable for Tokyo and Tehran motivating this by their care associated with nuclear program of Iran.
At the same time the Deputy Ministry of Oil of the IRI on international issues Mr. Khadinejad Khosseniyan has declared that Tehran does no put any barriers to the American companies for their participation in oil and gas sphere of Iran. By his words, the American companies sustain losses as Iran from errors of the US government and economic sanctions.
THE PREDICTION ON INCOMES OF THE STATE BUDGET ON JANUARY HAS BEEN EXECUTED ON 79.8%
13.9% of the budget means were directed for education, 17.9% - for social protection and supply, 20.2% - for the development of economy, 9.8% - the maintenance of legal, law-enforcement organs, prosecutor organs and special services, 4.3% - the health. 2.6% of budget funds were spent for culture, art, mass media and religious organizations.
For the mentioned period the expenditure articles for educational sphere has been executed by 40.4%. 66.2% of provided means have been spent on law-enforcement organs, prosecutor office and special services. 58.7% - economic development, 96.3% - social needs.
The Ministry of Taxes ensured 67.4% or 265.4 bn manats of all budget earnings. 22.4% or 88.3 bn manats have been delivered from the State Tax Committee and earnings from the rest sources made 13.5%.
In accordance with predictions of 2004, incomes and expenses of the state budget will grow by 10% and the budget deficiency of Azerbaijan is planned on a level of 0.7% of GDP. The growth of the GDP is forecasted on a level of 9%. Thus, the incomes of the state budget will make 6.7 - 6.6 trln. Manats, the GDP volume will make 37.3 trln manats.
THE PREPARATION OF THE PROJECT ON SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE SECTOR OF AZERBAIJAN
Particularly, the project provides simplifying of receiving of credits by farmers, production quality monitoring, its standartization.
As Media-Press has informed earlier, in 2003 with purposes of the further development of the private sector the number of licensed kinds of activities was reduced in 8 times in Azerbaijan - from 240 up to 40; at the same time the term of licenses has been increased from 2 up to 5 years. By preliminary results of 2003, the share of the private sector in the GDP has made about 74%; in the New Year this rate would increase up to 75%, in 2005 - up to 77%, in 2006 - up to 79.5% by the predictions of the government.
The governmental program on the development of the regions of the country provides an extension of the private sector. The project provides the development of non-oil sector in the first turn, the infrastructure, attraction of investments to the regions, foundations of new job places, development of small and middle business. The foundation of the enterprises on processing the agricultural production is the program aspect of no small importance. It would save businessmen from the necessity of exporting the agriculture products to other regions and would allow product processing on the places. At the same time such step would allow reduce a flow of the country population to the capital.
THE STATE REGISTER OF CITIZENS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN AZERBAIJAN
As it has been explained to the Agency of "Interfax-Azerbaijan" in the Administration of the Head of the State, the gathering of information about population, which should be able to remove lacks in the social policy and also in preparation and conduction of elections is the goal of foundation of the State Register.
In accordance with the edict, introduction of the State Register is within frameworks of authorities of the Ministry of Justice. Questionnaires containing information about citizens and family content will be registered in the State Register
In accordance with the Edict the Ministry of Justice should prepare the project of regulation "About the State Register of Citizens of Azerbaijan" and present it to the President.
THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 4 - 5
"During the first official visit of the President of Georgia, the sides will discuss mutual relations on all spectrum of bilateral relations, which have strategic character", - this was noted in the Embassy. The realization of regional energetical projects - the construction of BTC and gas pipeline BTE will take one of the most important places in negotiations. Signing of agreements is possible in accordance with results of negotiations.
As well during the visit speech of M. Saakashvili in the Baku State University on the theme of the Azerbaijan-Georgian relations is planned.
