IRAN BEGINS TO CONSTRUCT THE OCEAN OIL BULK TANKERS
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The construction of two ocean tankers with deadweight of 35 thou tons has started in Iran. The Executive Director of the Production Group on the ship construction of the ship making enterprise "Farasakhel" Mr. Akhmed Najjmabadi. By his words, for the construction of two tankers designed for the transportation of the oil products, the monetary fund of the country has allocated the relevant credits.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Ministry of Finances of Azerbaijan has offered taking measures on amplifying finance control for purchases carried out by the enterprises and organizations to the Government of Azerbaijan.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The transferring of the Azerbaijan banks to the international standards of the periodic accounting (PAIS) started in 1998 would be completed in 2004. The member of the National Bank Management Mr. Rufat Aslanli has noted that for estimation of the international standards introduction carried out by the banks, the NBA would conduct a special monitoring and the relevant statement would be made in accordance with its results. "Legal base for this is ready and the NBA has rendered required technical assistance to the banks", - he has noted.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population plans to conduct the next tender on the purchasing cars for invalids of the Garabakh war, the agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" has been informed in this ministry.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Iran experts of the municipal economy problems are sure that the transferring of the capital from Tehran to the other city corresponds to the interests of either the City itself and its citizens. One of the experts, Mr. Reza Mohabi has emphasized in the interview to the correspondent of the IRNA that the issue on the transferring of necessity of the capital transferring was put by the governmental structures still several years ago, however it was not supported. The transferring of its capital and political functions by Tehran to the other city would result to the growth and development of Tehran itself as it would have economic, social and cultural functions as before. After the transferring of the capital functions the administration of Tehran would be able to be engaged in problems of the city.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev intends to visit to Russia officially in the first decade of February.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr.Vilayat Guliyev has declared on his extremely negative reaction at the murder of two Azerbaijan citizens in results of shooting the Azerbaijan village by the Armenian servicemen .
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Today the Foreign Minister of Turkey Mr. Abdulla Gul visited officially to Baku for two days by the invitation of his Azerbaijan colleague Mr. Vilayat Guliyev.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: By the schedule the World Congress of the Azerbaijanies (WCA) would be held on February 27 - 29 in Keln, the member of the WCA Office Mr. Sabir Rustamkhanli has informed.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The electric power consumption in 2003 grew by 13.4% in comparison with the past year and made 22.7 bn kW/hour. By information of the press-service of the JC "Azerenerjji" produced 21.15 bn kW/hour and this exceeds the rate of 2000 by 13.7%. The country imported the rest 2.8 bn kW/hours from Russia, Iran, Turkey and Georgia. In its turn the export of the electic entergy has made 1.15 bn by the results of the past year.
THE WB WOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE $14 15 MM FOR CLEANING OIL CONTAMINATED LANDS
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The WB intends to allocate $14 15 MM for cleaning the oil contaminated lands of the Absheron Region, where the main onshore oil and gas fields of Azerbaijan are located.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The oil experts of Russia and Kazakhstan would sign the agreement in the field of the development of resources of the Caspian shelf. As it has been informed by the Ministry of Energy of the RF, the signing of bilateral agreement between "LUKoil" and "KazMunayGaz" on the project "Dostik" is expected within frameworks of the visit of Mr. V. Putin to Kazakhstan, which is held since today.
BAKU.09.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The middle cost of oil at the oil market displayed by so called "the OPEC basket" has made $30.23 for a barrel by January 7. The analysts note that this rate is being kept higher than the maximum limit of the established corridor of 22 - 28 dollars for a barrel for 24 days. At the same time "the baslket" exceeds the price mark of $30 for the last two current days.
By the words of Mr. Akhmed Najjmabadi the construction of the called tanks would start in the very next time.
The contract on the construction of two tankers with a deadweight of 35 thou tons have been signed between the Iranian National Company of the Oil Bulk Fleet and Ship Making Enterprise "Farasakhel". A credit by a total of $50 MM has been allocated for these purposes.
By the words of Mr. A. Najjmabadi, the base projecting of the tanks was carried out by the specialists of the Korean company COMAK and in connection with this 10 officials of the company "Farasakhel" would be sent to Korea for study. The specialists of the company "Farasakhel" carry out the detailed projecting under monitoring of of the Korean specialists.
The first tanker would be launched in 22 months since the start of the realization of the contract and the second one - in 24 months.
THE MINISTRY OF FINANCES OF AZERBAIJAN OFFERS THE STATE PURCHASES CONTROL AMPLIFYING
As the Minister of Finances Mr.Avaz Aleskerov has noted, the Ministry of Finances prepared offers on the improvement of the finance control for the state purchases in accordance with the Edict of the President of Azerbaijan on acceleration of the social-economical development of Azerbaijan
The essence of these offers is concluded in amplifying the legal base providing the regulation of the state purchases. Particularly, these offers are related to providing the opportunity of more serious interference of the State Purchases Agency to the tender procedures of the ministries and offices. Moreover, it is offered that twice in a year the Agency should report on the done work to the President of the country", - Mr.A. Aleskerov has said.
At the same time the President has not excepted that fall down of purchases cost would be possible and then the state enterprises and organizations should to conduct tender. "In accordance with the acting law on the state purchases, the state enterprises, Ministries and organizations are liable to make state purchases on the tender base if the cost of purchases exceeds 250 MM manats. This total may be reduced",- the Ministry has emphasized.
The official rate of exchange by December 8 makes 4925 manats/$1.
TRANSFERRING OF THE AZERBAIJAN BANKS TO THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF THE PERIODIC ACCOUNTING WOULD BE COMPLETED IN 2004
Mr. R. Aslanli has informed as well that the NBA would introduce the consolidated inspection system for banks since 2004. "At the present time the NBA works at the development of such inspection methodology. For the present there were not been a need of its conduction, however a number of banks, especially the International Bank of Azerbaijan have developed branches", - Mr. R. Aslanli has said.
By his words "the main point of the inspection is that the periodic accountings of the banks should be consolidated and contain information about all their branches"…"The inspection would be conducted on a base of the international periodic accounting standards and reports on operations of banks during already 2003", - Mr. R. Aslanly has said.
As well M. R. Aslanli has said that the after the acceptance of the Law "About the Banks" the National Bank would accept special standards of the corporative management introduction in the banks. By his words, "concrete requirements to the banks on the corporative management would be showed there".
At the present time the Parliament of Azerbaijan considers the project of the Law "About Banks" prepared by the NBA. The project was accepted in the first reading on December 2003.
At the present time 46 banks operate in Azerbaijan.
THE MINISTER OF LABOUR OF AZERBAIJAN PLANS TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW TENDER ON PURCHASE OF CARS FOR INVALIDS OF THE KARABAKH WAR
On September, 2003 the Minister of Labour has announced the tender on purchase of 140 cars of marks "Oka" and "Tavriya" for invalids. However , less than three companies presented their offers on the tender and it was recognized that it has not take place. Now the Ministry intends to conduct tender again.
Since 1997 the Minister of Labour allocated free of charge 1100 cars to invalids. Annually 1.5.2 MM manats is allocated from the state budget for these purposes ($1/4925 manats).
THE CONSIDERATIONS OF THE ISSUE ON TRANSFERRING OF THE CAPITAL FROM TEHRAN TO OTHER CITY ARE CONTINUED IN IRAN
The Chief of the Deputy Association from Tehran Mr. Majjid Ansari keeps the opposite opinion. By his words, the project of the capital transferring from Tehran to the other city is not real and impracticable. Furthermore many Iranian cities stand on the faults or near them. "Would we able to transfer these cities to the safe places? - he has said. Principally I support the idea of reduction of the Tehran's functions. The Municipal Council of Tehran also supports the suggestion on removal of the governmental structures from the city, which bring to expenditures and create the headache". "At the same time Mr. Ansari has emphasized that issue of the capital transferring should be adjusted by the supreme authorities of the country.
In his turn the official of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr.Abdulla Ramanzade commenting the discussion on the country's capital transfer has said that for the present the government does not discuss the projects of the capital transfer. The experts considered this issue from the different points of view for 14 years already, study advantages and possibility of such step, however did not any result.
THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN MR. ILHAM ALIYEV WOULD MAKE THE FIRST FOREIGN VISITS TO FRANCE AND MOSCOW
"This visit is on the agenda. By all probability, it woull be held in the first decade of February", - the Minister of the Foreign Affairs Mr. Vilayat Guliyev has said to the journalists.
The Minister has noted that a number of documents are being prepared now for the further development of bilateral cooperation, which would be discussed by Mr. I.Aliyev in Moscow. At the same time Mr. V. Guliyev has noted that "the signing of the documents is the main goal of the President".
As well the Foreign Ministry has informed that before the visit to Moscow Mr. I. Aliyev would visit to France in the end of January
THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN HAS INDICTS ARMENIA IN THE BREAKING OF THE FIRE STOP AGREEMENT
"The given incident is an evidence of that Armenian side does not keep neither its word nor principles of the international organizations. Naturally, that each similar action calls an anger of the Azerbaijan people especially if it is associated with victims", - Mr.V. Guliyev has declared.
The fire stop regime between Azerbaijan and Armenia was established on May 1994. The OSCE regularly conducts monitoring on the front line with assistance of its own envoy of the acting Chief of this organization for reception the information about keeping peace conditions by the conflicting sides.
THE OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY TO BAKU
Mr. Abdulla Gul has plans of the negotiations with the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the Premier of Azerbaijan Mr. Artur Rasizade, the Chairman of the Parliament Mr. Murtuz Aleskerov and other officials of the authorities.
Besides, Mr. A. Gul would speak lecture in the Baku State University on the matter of the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey
THE WORLD CONGRESS OF THE AZERBAIJANIES WOULD BE HELD IN KELN
He has noted that the situation in Caucasus, the South Azerbaijan (the northern provinces of Iran) and the WCA activities in frameworks of this matter, the Nagorny Karabakh conflict adjustment problem, state of the Iraqi Turkmans organizing of the Azerbaijan diaspore work would be discussed on the forum.
By the words of Mr. S. Rustamkhanli, some former members of the WCA Office try conduct the alternative sitting of the Congress. "There is no disagreement in the organization. Simply some officials were not agreed with the preparation work for the congress and decided to hold the alternative sitting , however we are trying to oppose this", - Mr. Rustamkhanli has said.
IN 2003 THE ELECTRIC POWER CONSUMPTION GREW BY 13.4% IN AZERBAIJAN
The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mr.Guseyn Bagirov has noted that the principal agreement of the WB on this issue has been received and moreover it is expected that a half of the mentioned total may be received as a grant. It is planned to start the cleaning of the contaminated lands of Absheron Peninsula in 2005.
An it will not be the first similar projeft. As Media-Press has informed, the cleaning of 10 hectares of oil-contaminated lands is conducted already. $5.1MM has been allocated for recultivation of them. The given work is the constituent part of the Urgent Ecological Investments Programs (UEIP) by a cost of $24.5 MM .Besides it includes the projects of cleaning the territory of the Sumgayit Plant of the Surface Active Substances from the mercury contaminations, improvement of the ecological management and dangerous wastes managing. The fishery plant in Neftechala has been built also within frameworks of the UEIP.
Besides of the WB, the government of Azerbaijan, grants of the Japanese government and British Know-How provide the UEIP.
THE OIL EXPERTS OF RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN WOULD SIGN THE AGREEMENT ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE CASPIAN RESOURCES
This project provides the development of two areas of the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea: "Tub-Karagan" and "Atashskaya". Both the areas are situated in the central part of the Kazakhstan sector of the sea. The feasibility report of the exploration and development of "Tyub-Karagan" is ready already. The FR on the area "Atashskaya" is on the development stage.
"LUKoil" plans to invest up to $3 MM to the development of the Kazakhstan part of the Caspian shelf. The President of the company Mr. Vagit Alekperov has informed about this on the eve of his trip to Kazakhstan. "Recently we have discussed perspectives of the start of the realization of the projects jointly with "KazMunayGaz" on the Kazakhstan shelf of the Caspian Sea, especially on the new project "Dostik". Our company and "KazMunayGaz share by 50% in this project. Principally, we are ready to start the works already this year. If the industrial supplies are discovered, we plan to invest about three bn to the given project" - the Chief of "LUKoil" has said.
The officials of the Ministry of Energy have noted that the Russian and Kazakhstan sides intend to discuss as well other projects of the joint development of the Caspian shelf. Especially, the work on preparation of the Production Sharing Agreements and FR of some projects is going now". So for the development of the hydrocarbon resources of the geological structure "Central", the company "CentrKaspNeftegaz" has been founded and it is empowered to conduct the works from name of Russia. "CentrCaspNeftetgaz" would operate on this geological structure jointly with the Kazakhstan enterprises.
The officials of the Ministry of Energy of the RF reminded that on December of the past year the protocol was signed in supplement to the intergovernmental decisions on cooperation. Especially it supposes the increase of the Kazakhstan oil transit up to 22 MM tons. Moreover, the Russian oil transit volumes within territory of Kazakhstan have been determined for 2004 and as well deliveries of oil and gas condensate up to 4 MM tons from Karachaganak field (Kazakhstan) to the Orenbourg Gas Processin Plant have been determined too. The negotiations on the deliveries of 7 cubic meters of gas annually from the Karachaganak field are conducted.
The volume of the natural gas deliveries from Kazakhstan to Russia in 2002 made 6.3 bn cub and slightly higher than 6 bn cub m. The transit of the Kazakhstan gas makes 820 MM cub. m.
A COST OF THE OIL BASKET OF THE OPEC IS BEING KEPT HIGHER THAN $30 FOR A BARREL FOR 3O DAYS
When the OPEC had realized the mechanism of the wold oil prices control in 1999 the price corridor was established with a permit of 22 - 28 dollars for barrel. At the same time the price of 25 dollars for a barrel was recognized as the optimal one for the market. In accordance with the worked out cartel agreement, if "the basket" exceeds the upper level for more than 20 trade days and is less than the lowest level for 10 trade days , then the countries of the OPEC should urgently consider the issue of the urgent changing the active oil deliveries to the market by 500 thou bbl/day.
The record oil prices for the f"OPEC basket" registered since the beginning of 2000 had made $33.84/bbl (on September 2000); the minimum - $15.85/bbl (on November 2001).
For this time a record period of overcoming the limits of the price corridor were registered two times. So since the events of September 11 in New York the price of the "basket" has been kept lower than $22/bbl for almost 6 months (since September 24, 2001 up to March 8, 2002) and was renewed within the established frameworks of the corridor on March 11, 2002. Then on the background of the expected start of a war in Iraq the price of "the basket" exceeded a level of $28/bbl practically for three months (since December 16, 2002 up to March 19, 2003).
The term "the OPEC oil basket" was introduced officially on January 1987. Its cost makes the arithmetic average rate of prices for seven marks of oil provided for the oil market: Saharan Blend (Algeria),Minas (Indonesia), Bolny Light (Nigeria);Arabian Light (the Saudi Arabia), Fateh (Dubai, the UAE); Tia Juana (Venezuela) and Isthmus (Mexico).
