IN 2003 THE VOLUME OF THE CARGO ACTIVITIES IN AZERBAIJAN HAS GROWN BY 11.1%
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In 2003 the volume of the cargo transportation in Azerbaijan made 109.4 MM tons - this is by 11.1% less than in the same period of 2002.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The volume of cargo activities carried out for January - November of 2003 by the territory of Azerbaijan within frameworks of the Euro-Asian transport route TRASECA (Europe - Caucasus - Asia) has made 37.4 MM tons and this exceeds the analogous rate of the previous year by 13.2%, the agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" has been informed in the State Statistic Committee.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Vice-Premier of Ukraine Mr. Alexander Kluev would discuss the issues of the further development of the economic cooperation with Azerbaijan.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In the next time Azerbaijan plans to strengthen the state frontier in the Russian and Iranian directions.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Azerbaijan has reliable information on creating all conditions for the narcotic business thriving in Nagorni Karabakh and other occupied Azerbaijan lands by Azerbaijan, the Chief of the State Customs Committee of Azebaijan Mr. Kyamaletdin Geydarov has said.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The problems of the bilateral relations and Karabakh adjustment are on the agenda of the present negotiations of the President of France Mr. Jak Shirak with his Azerbaijan colleague Mr. Ilham Aliyev, who has come to Paris on the eve. Mrs. Lorans Oer, the Deputy Official of the Elysian Palace has informed the correspondent of ITAR-TASS about this.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev has announced that Baku pays a great attention to the development of relations with Russia as well with the USA, France and other countries of the European Union.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In the first half of the current year the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev to Astana is planned. The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan Mr. Andar Shukputov has informed the journalists about this, the Agency Media-Press informs about this. By his words, within frameworks of the given visit the sides suppose to sign several agreements.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Russian side supports the initiative of Iran on holding the next Caspian summit in Tehran. The Deputy Chief of the President Administration of the RF Mr. Sergey Prikhodko has said.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Company BP-Azerbaijan and its partners on the project of the development of the field "Shakh-Deniz" have awarded grants by a volume of $1.5 MM for the realization of the Program "Investing of the population".
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The transnational corporation Areva T&D, which is specialized on the construction of the atomic electric station and production of the equipment for energy transmission has held the presentation of the modern dispatching management system of the energy system SKADA for the Azerbaijan energy specialists in Baku.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: BP and the Turkish State Oil Company TPAO announced that they account to start a drilling of the exploration wells on the shelf of the Black Sea near the Eastern coast of Turkey opposite to the port Rize in the end of 2004.
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The volume of investments allocated to the economy of Azerbaijan in 2003 grew up by 71.2% in comparison with 2002 and made 17.81 trln. Manats (4931 manats - $1).
BAKU.23.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The government of Azerbaijan plans to determine its position on the issue of the salaries increase in the country on August - September 2004. By this time the Cabinet would complete the work at the project of the state budget for the next year and the government would have the concrete opinion on this issue, the Minister of Finances Mr. Avaz Alekperov has informed.
By the information of the State Statistic Department of the country, 54% of cargos were transported by cars, 18.1% - by the railway, 15.8% - the main pipelines, 12.1% - sea transport. A share of the private sector in the cargo transportation made 56%.
In 2004 the volume of the cargo transportation would make 111.5 MM tons. Particularly, in 2004 61 MM cargos would be transported by the car transport (a growth makes 7%), 19.3 MM tons - by the railway (a growth makes 3.7%), 17.2 MM tons - by the pipelines (a growth makes 2.3%), 14 MM tons by the sea transport (a growth makes 12.9%).
In 2004 the traffic flow would make 12.7 bn of the passenger-km (a growth makes 5.1%), moreover a share of the car transport makes its major part - 10.1 bn passenger km.
THE CARGO ACTIVITIES BY THE EURO-ASIAN ROUTE THROUGH AZERBAIJAN GREW BY 13% FOR 11 MONTHS
Within the total structure of cargos transported by the route, transit transportation made 46.4% or 17.4 MM tons. In comparison with the rates of the relevant period of 2002 this rate has grown by 16.2% or 2.4 MM tons.
By the words of the official of the State Statistic Committee, the volume of incomes received by the Azerbaijan carriers grew by 19.7% and reached a level of 828.5 bn manats in comparison with 11 months of 2002 (the official rate of exchange on January 22 makes 4931 manats - $1). The incomes from the transit transportation for the reportable period grew by 22.8% - up to 507.7 bn manats. The volume of incomes of the carriers from the transit passenger traffic grew by 8.2% an made 133.4 bn manats.
The transport route Europe - Asia connects Frankfurt (Germany) with Shankhay (China); Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are shareholders of the project.
IN BAKU THE VICE-PREMIER OF UKRAINE WOULD DISCUSS ISSUES OF THE ECONOMIC RELATIONS DEVELOPMENT
"During the visit meetings with the members of the Azerbaijan government have been planned, and a wide spectrum of issues on the different fields and problems would be discussed. The sides would touch problems of the mutual property pretensions", - the Ambassador of Ukraine Mr. Boris Alexeenko has told to the agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan".
By the words of the Ambassador, during the negotiations the sides as well would discuss ways of activating the trade-economic cooperation between two words.
AZERBAIJAN PLANS TO STRENGTHEN THE FRONTIER WITH RUSSIA AND IRAN IN THE NEXT TIME
"In the next time the forming of the frontier detachments in Goradiz and Sheki (accordingly the frontier with Iran and Russia - "IF-Az"), opening of the aircraft base of the State Frontier Service, - the Chief of the State Frontier Service of Azerbaijan Mr. Elchin Guliyev has said.
By his words, other measures on the strengthening of the boundaries of the country in the north and north-west and south directions are planned for the next perspective.
Mr. E. Guliyev has informed about the soon the Frontier Service of Azerbaijan would be commissioned to register all ships coming out of the regime waters".
As well he noted the successful interaction of Azerbaijan with Russia and Georgia in the fight with the international terrorism and drugs contraband and other crimes on the frontier.
By the words these problems would be discussed during the visit of the Chief Commander of the Frontier Troops of Iran Mr. Bekham Shariyati Fara on January 26 - 28.
BAKU HAS THE INFORMATION ABOUT LABORATORIES OF NARCOTICS PRODUCTION ON THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN
By his words, the SCC and special services have the information about operation of laboratories on processing of the raw narcotics on the occupied territories.
Mr. Kyamaletdin Geydaro has reminded that the Azerbaijan side has repeatedly rose this problem in the international forums.
THE PRESIDENTS OF FRANCE AND AZERBAIJAN WOULD DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS AND KARABAKH ADJUSTMENT AT THE MEETING TODAY
As well problems of the democracy development and legal state, the internal political situation in Azerbaijan after elections would be discussed. However, the main attention would be paid to the issues of the further development of the cooperation with Azerbaijan. "The volume of our bilateral trade has grown in three times and France has become the third trade partner in Azerbaijan by its meaning. It is not occasionally that the program of the visit of the President of Azerbaijan to France provides several meetings with officials of business circles".
"As one of the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group on the Nagorny Karabakh, France actively takes part in the negotiation process on the adjustment of this problem, - Mrs. Lorans Oer has noted. - So it is quite naurally that this problem would be discussed in the negotiations as well as other problems of the Caucasus region".
The meeting of Mr. Ilham Aliyev with the chairman of the Senate Mr. Kristian Ponsele and officaials of the business circles of France was held in the first day of the visit.
The signing of several bilateral agreements in accordance with the results of the visit is expected.
THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN MR. I. ALIYEV: BAKU PAYS A GREAT ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AS WELL THE USA, FRANCE AND OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE EU
"Getting warm of the relations with Russia has begun in 2000", - Mr. I. Aliyev has said in interview published in the Paris newspaper "Figaro" on Friday in connection with the visit of the Azerbaijan President to France.
The President has emphasized that Moscow and Baku has managed to get great success in all fields of the cooperation. By his words, the Russian-Azerbaijan relations "may be represented as an example of good relations between neighbors".
Mr. I. Aliyev has affirmed the succession of the external course of Azerbaijan, "which has showed its successfulness". "Having good relations with one countries does not mean bad ones with another",- the President of Azerbaijan has said.
By the words of Mr. I. Aliyev, Azerbaijan is able to conduct completely independent policy, maintaining good relations with the USA, Russia and European countries. "We account ourselves the part of Europe", - the President has noted. Azerbaijan is the eastern boundary of Europe, one, which sees its future in the integration into the European structures". In connection with this he has emphasized significance of the relations with the EU, particularly with France.
The issue of military bases in the South Caucasus and adjustment in the Nagorny Karabakh were considered in the interview.
The chief of the Azerbaijan state said that there is not any foreign base on the territory of the country. "We do not conduct any negotiations on this matter with the Americans", - Mr. I. Aliyev has added.
The President expressed the opinion that "Caucasus should be free of any military bases", including the Russian base in Armenia, which was called the "danger source" by Mr. I. Aliyev.
As to the Karabakh problem, the President noted: "Azerbaijan never agree with neither independence of Karabakh and joining of it into Armenia". Totally, by his words, activities of the Minsk Group of the OSCE should be put as a base.
Mr. I. Aliyev has been asked about lessons from events in he neighboring Georgia for him. "We should not study any lessons", - the President answered. The emerged events have showed the degree of delicateness of the state in Georgia. We have another situation. The people support us.
THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN MR. ILHAM ALIYEV TO KAZAKHSTAN IS PLANNED BY THE FIRST HALF OF 2004
As well the diplomat has informed that in the beginning of March the second sitting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission on the economic cooperation should be held in Baku and issues of the bilateral economic relations extension would be considered at it.
The Vice-Premier of the Government of Azerbaijan Mr. Abbas Abbasov is the co-chairman of the commission from the Azerbaijan side and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Kazakhstan Mr. Vladimir Shkolnik is the co-chairman from the Kazakhstan side. For holding the preliminary preparation for the sitting the Kazakhstan experts from the National Bank, MFA, Ministries of Economy and Finances of the Republic would arrive in Baku the next week.
RUSSIA SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF HOLDING THE CASPIAN SUMMIT MEETING IN TEHRAN
He reminded that at the previous summit meeting of "the Caspian Five", which includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran, "the question had been to hold the next meeting of the Presidents of the countries on the Caspian problems in Tehran". "Russia did not oppose to this", - Mr. S. Prikhodko has said.
Moreover, he has noted, the Russian side believes that "concrete agreements on either the legal status of the Caspian Sea, ecological problems or some other ones should be achieved before the summit meeting".
Mr. Prikhodko as well has noted that before the summit meeting of the "Caspian Five" the meeting of the Foreign Ministries of five Caspian states would most likely take place.
BP-AZERBAIJAN AND ITS PARTNERS ON THE PROJECT "SHAKH-DENIZ" HAVE AWARDED GRANTS IN A VOLUME OF $1.5 MM TO THE PROGRAM "INVESTMENTING TO THE POPULATION"
As the Social Investments Manager of the project "Shakh-Deniz" Mr. David Parums has informed, ten local and international non-governmental organizations had taken part in the tender. In result of selection following companies were awarded by grants:
The International Community Assistance ($399.773 thou) - for the microfinancing of the local businessmen not far from the Baku settlements Zikh and Bibi-Eybat, where works within frameworks of the project "Shakh-Deniz" are conducted.
The center of the humanitarian and social assistance "Umid" ($649.875 thou), has received the grant for the realization of the program of the local population encouragement for using the internal and external resources in purposes of the life conditions improvement by solving main social-economical problems. Given program would be realized in the Khatai region of Baku in the area, being adjacent to the production area of the Zikh plant, which as well takes part in realization of the project "Shakh-Deniz".
The Scientific Production Company the World Vision has received the grant of $450 thou for the microfinancing of the population in the Garadag region of Baku.
Totally, BP-Azerbaijan and its partners on the project "Shakh-Deniz" would spent $1.780 MM for investing of the population. The remained $280 thou would be allocated for the realization of other programs.
We should remind that the last year the company BP-Azerbaijan and its partners on all the projects in Azerbaijan invested $4.525 MM to the social sphere of the country.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE MODERN SYSTEM OF THE MODERN DISPATCHING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SKADA HAS BEEN HELD IN "AZERENERJJI"
As the press-service of the JC "Azenerjji" informs, the system of the dispatching system SKADA has been successfully put into operation in Ukraine an is being introduced now in Tajikistan. At the same time in Paris Areva T&D conducts courses for the staff, which would serve these systems.
Earlier the German Siemens and the Swiss-Swedish ABB had conducted their presentations in Baku.
The dispatching system of the JC "Azenerjji" mounted in 70 years of the past year, has become out of date morally and physically and its would be required. SKADA would allow significant improvement of mobility and efficiency of the Azerbaijan energy system, operative reacting on the emergent situations and provide a high quality operation of "Azerenerjji".
2.5 MM evro would be required for introduction of the new system and these means would be taken from the credit of the German bank KFW by 17.3 MM evro, provided for the rehabilitation of the Azerbaijan energy system.
We shall remind that the program "Rehabilitation of the Electric Energy Transmission System" as well provides the technical re-equipping of 13 system forming high-voltage substations. The out-of-date switches, transformers, isolators and other equipment would be replaced at them. By the opinion of the specialists, executing of these works would allow to shorten losses of the electric energy at its transportation by 20 - 25%.
BP-AZERBAIJAN JOINTLY WITH THE TURKISH TPAO WOULD START THE DRILLING ON THE SHELF OF THE BLACKS SEA ON DECEMBER OF 2004
The Minister of Energy of Turkey Mr. Khilmi Guler has told particularly about a great probability of revealing of the oil supplies. At the present time Turkey produces 39 thou bbl of oil daily and it makes less than 15% from its consumption.
Bp already has invested $25 MM and probably would allocate subsidiary $25 - $30 in 2004, the Associated Press in Ankara.
THE INVESTMENTS TO THE ECONOMY OF AZERBAIJAN GREW UP BY 71.2% IN 2003
By the information of the State Statistic Department, the foreign investments made 14.3 trln manats or 80.2%, the internal ones - 3.51 trln manats within frameworks of the total volume of allocated means. In comparison with 2002 the volume of the foreign investments grew up by 45.45%, internal ones 28.77%.
The main investment sources: own funds of companies - 15.9 trln. Manats, the bank credits -284.9 bn manats, the budget funds - 498.68 bn manats, the out of budget funds - 142.45 bn manats, proper means of the population - 569.9 bn manats.
79.7% of the investments were allocated to the industry, moreover 95% of them were transferred to the developing field. 0.2% of ivestements were made to the construction industry, 10.1% - to the transport and communications, agriculture - 0,1%, trade and services - 0.8%.
In accordance with the project of state budget for 2004, the volume of the foreign investments would grow by approximately 9%. At the same time the direct investments would grow by 8%. As in the previous years, the major share of investments would be made to the oil sector (a growth by 5.9%). Totally a volume of all investments would grow by 7.4%.
THE GOVERNMENT OF AZERBAIJAN WOULD CONSIDER THE ISSUE ON THE NEXT INCREASE OF THE MINIMUM SALARY ON AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
We should remind that since January of the current year the minimum monthly wage in Azerbaijan was increased from 45 thou manats up to 60 thou manats (the official rate makes 4931 manats/$1 on January 23). This change would touch 217 thou employers of the budget sphere. 44 bn manats have been allocated for the state budget for 2004.
Mr. A. Alekperov has noted that "the increasing of the minimum salary up to 60 thou manats is already a great step and there is not a necessity of doing this twice in the year, moreover the balanced policy is required in this issue".
Earlier the Chairman of the Parliament Commission on the Social Policy Mr. Khadi Rajabov had declared that the government considers a possibility of increasing the minimum salary up to 120 thou manats in accordance with requirements of the Social Chart, to which Azerbaijan has joined recently.
