IN 2003 THE TRAFFIC ACTIVITIES GREW UP BY 3.1% IN AZERBAIJAN
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In 2004 the volume of the traffic activities in Azerbaijan made 920.9 MM persons. In comparison with 2002 this rate grew by 3.1%.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: By the results of 2003 the Azerbaijan Railway (ARW) had the best rates in the CIS.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Azerbaijan Railway Office has signed the contract with the Italian Company Codest on the realization of the project on the reconstruction of the washing-steaming station Balajari (suburbs of Baku).
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Director of the Frontier Service of the IRI Mr. Bekhham Shariati Far arrives in Baku today. He would conduct the negotiations with the Director of the Frontier Service of Azerbaijan Mr. Elchin Guliyev, authorized officials of the Ministry of the National Security.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Council of the Islamic Revolution has rejected the reforming of the election system in the country and put a veto on the resolution of the Parliament of this country accepted on the eve. The reform had supposed either the enlarging of rights of the Council and allowed hundreds of liberals to take part in the February elections to the legislative organ.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The forming of the government of Georgia will be completed during this week, the State Minister of Georgia Mr. Zurab Zvania has declared to journalists in Tbilisi.
BAKU.26.01. The Russian TV company "ORT" would start the redeeming of the debt for broadcasting on the territory of the country to the Ministry of the Communications of Azerbaijan in the end of February, the agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" informs.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Russia considers necessary "the soonest as possible the renewing of the negotiations on adjusting of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict". The First Deputy Foreign Minister of the RF Mr. Vyacheslav Trubnikov has declared in the interview to ITAR - TASS.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Minister of the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mr. Konstantin Grichenko and his colleague from Armenia Vardan Oskanyan discussed issues of the adjustment of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict during the meeting in Tbilisi. The Director of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Markiyan Lubkivski has informed the journalists about this.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The situation in Cyprus and Georgia would be in the attention center of the winter session of the Parliament Assembly of the European Council opened today in Strasbourg. Moreover, the European parliamentarians plan to attend to the report on the results of elections in Georgia, Russia and Azerbaijan.
BAKU.26.01.2003.MEDIA-PRESS: The gas from Azerbaijan would be competitive on the markes of the Southern Europe and potentially of the Central Europe, the Vice-President of the company Statoil on the natural gas Mr. Peter Mellbye, which has been visited to Baku.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The joint Azerbaijan-American maneuvers on the guarding of the offshore oil and gas platforms begin today in Baku.
BAKU.26.01.2004. MEDIA-PRESS: Washington supports the acceleration of the construction of the Caspian oil pipeline for oil deliveries to the oil processing plants in the basin of the Mediterranean Sea in the context of the recent decision of Turkey to limit passing of large oil tankers through the Bosporus. The Deputy State Secretary of the USA on Europe and Euroasia Mrs. Elizabeth Jones has told about this.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The National Oil and Gas Company of Kazakhstan "KazMunayGaz" plans to begin the construction of the oil pipeline Atasu - Alashankou from the center of Kazakhstan towards to the Chinese frontiers. The President of the "NC" "KazMunayGaz" Mr. Uzakbay Karabalin has declared at the press conference in Aktau, the agency "Iterfax" reports.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The company Azersun Holding started the construction of the first sugar plant within Azerbaijan in the Imishli district.
BAKU.26.01.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Ministry of the Economic Development of Azerbaijan has completed the work on the determination of dislocation of the state enterprises, organizations and objects offered for privatization and still not privatized up to date.
For the year the transportation by aircraft transport grew by 18.9% and made 870.4 thou passengers. Moreover, 20.4% of aircraft transportation was carried out in non-state sector.
4.7 MM persons used services of the railway transport and this is by 5.7% higher than in 2002.
The growth in traffic activities was registered and on the municipal transport. The Baku Metropolitan transported 127.1 MM passengers in 2003 and this is by 9.9% higher than the rate of 2002. The volume of the traffic activities by cars made 785.6 MM passengers (a growth by 2.3%). At the same time trolleybus transportation decreased more than by 27%. This kind of transport transported totally 2.2 MM passengers. The tram transportation volume decreased up 64% an made 405 5hou passengers.
The car transportation makes the major share in the total traffic activities - 85.3%. The car transportation made 785.6 MM passengers and this is higher than rate of 2002 by 2.3%. The non-state sector transport means carried out 84.6% of the total transportation volume.
BY THE RESULTS OF 2003 THE AZERBAIJAN RAILWAY HAS THE BEST RATES IN THE CIS
As Media-Press has been informed in the ARW Office, the project of the protocol of 37th Sitting of the Railway Transport Council of the countries of the CIS and Baltic states, which would pass on February 11 - 12 in Riga, contents the information about railway offices of the countries of the Commonwealth and Baltic states in 2003. And the Azerbaijan Railway is on the first place by a number of rates, particularly the safe and timely cargo transportation, which in 2003 grew up by 8% in average and as well as turnover of wagons.
As it has been noted in the Azerbaijan Railway Office, it is planned to discuss the course of the execution of decisions of the previous sitting and operation of the railway network in 2003 and preparation for listing park of the cargo wagons in 2004, plan repairs of the cargo wagons in 2004, results of execution of decisions of the railway administrations on the improvement of the technical state of the passenger wagons and services in the international passenger wagons at the sitting of the Railway Transport Council of the countries of the CIS and the Baltic states.
Besides, it is planned to discuss the tariff policy on the international cargo transportation by railways in 2004, the project of the Regulations "About the Observer status in the Council of the Railway transport of the countries of the CIS and the Baltic Sea", some organization issues.
THE ITALIAN CODEST WOULD RECONSTRUCT THE RAILWAY STATION IN BALAJARI OF BAKU
By the information of the agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan", the modernization of the station Balajari is conducted within frameworks of the reconstruction of the Azerbaijan railways, carried out for the funds of the European Reconstruction and Development Bankd in a volume of $20MM. $4.2 MM of the total credits would be transferred for the reconstruction of the station Balajari.
After the washing and steaming of the station, its capacity would increase up to 275 wagons and tanks daily. At the same tine the installation on the cleaning of water, which is used for washing of rolling stock from oil products would be constructed here. Its capacity would make 1000 cubic meters in a day.
The credit of the ERDB for the realization of the project of the reconstruction of the Azerbaijan railways was allocated in 1999 for 15 years and 5 years of them are favorable.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE FRONTIER SERVICE OF THE IRI ARRIVES IN BAKU
The main themes for discussion are interaction on the frontier, a struggle against the international terrorism, weapons, narcotics smuggling and other crimes on frontier.
THE COUNCIL OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION GUARDS HAS REJECTED THE REFORMING OF THE ELECTION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY
By the opinion of members of the Council, - the conservative organ having a right to reject decision of even the government, the offered reform disagrees with the norms of Shari and does not correspond to the Constitution.
As the analysts believe, the power crisis in Iran has reached its maximum. The decision of putting veto at the mentioned law may cause protest of the reformer majority in the Iranian Parliament.
The intensity in the Iranian Parliament has emerged since the Council of the Islamic Revolution Guards had excluded above 3 thou persons from the list of candidates to deputies and major part of them were reforms supporters. This decision directed to the strengthening of the hard line supporters in the legislative organs caused the retirement of several ministers in the Iranian governent.
THE FORMING OF THE CABINET OF GEORGIA WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE WEEK
"The professionalism, patriotism and pure reputation - here are the main requirements for new members of the government" - Mr. Zvaniya has noted and said that young ministers as well as the elder experienced ones would be included in the Cabinet.
THE TV COMPANY "ORT" WOULD START THE REDEEMING THE DEBT FOR BROADCASTING WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN IN THE END OF 2004
"As it is known we have the agreement that the ORT's debt to the Ministry would be redeemed by equipment and the first of its party would be delivered to Azerbaijan in the end of February", - the source in the Ministry of Communications has told.
By his words, "on March a new agreement on broadcasting on the territory with the Public Russian TV Channel should be signed by the schedule; at the present time the broadcasting is carried out in accordance with the former outdated agreement signed still in 2000".
The debt of ORT in a volume of $285 has appeared for default of payment for the broadcasting in 2002. The Russian side will give the broadcasting equipment to the Azerbaijan side in account of redeeming of the debt.
At the present time the Russian Channel NTV also has debts to the Ministry of Communications of Azerbaijan; its broadcasting was stopped three years ago for the debt of $160 thou.
RUSSIA CALLS TO RENEW THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE ESSENCE OF THE NAGORNI KARABKH CONFLICT ADJUSTMENT
"We hope that in 2004 important movements will occurred in the adjustment process", - he has said. The Russian side "makes all possible either on the bilateral base and jointly with the USA and France as co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the OSCE for the new stage would come as soon as possible".
The high-ranked diplomat has paid attention that "in 2002 the negotiations between Baku and Erevan clearly reached a deadlock and during the past year they were not conducted for the elections in both the countries". So, he considers, "the soonest as possible renewing of the negotiation process on the essence of the adjustment is the main objective now".
The December meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Geneva "was important, however it could not to remove all issues including procedure ones. An some time would be required for this, - Mr. V. Trubnikov has noted. - Moreover, the new common base for the negotiations should be worked out and this is not easy because the base positions of the sides are disagreed far more than 2 - 3 years ago".
Estimating the perspectives of the solving of the problem the first Deputy of the MFA of the RF has supposed that "in 2004 the adjustment of the Nagorni-Karabakh conflict would not occur, but the negotiation mechanism should operate".
Talking about the activities of the Minsk Group, Mr. V. Trubnikov has emphasized that "neither its members nor the co-chairman have not been passive". For more than ten years of the history of the Minsk Group, the diplomat has noted, "several versions of adjustment were have been supposed and they were rejected by Armenia or Azerbaijan". Essentially, "all possible versions of the adjustment have been stood on the agenda of negotiation process in this or another shape".
Mr. V. Trubnikov has regretted in connection with that "each side of the conflict" orients only at its interest ignoring the position of the opponent". Nevertheless, he has concluded, "the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group intend to execute their duties of welcome and honest intermediaries".
IN TBILISI THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF UKRAINE AND ARMENIA DISCUSSED ISSUES OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE NAGORNI KARABAKH CONFLICT
By his words, during the meeting Mr. Grishenko has noted that Ukraine supports the soonest adjustment of this conflict and emphasized that the principle of the territorial integrity is the base in the international relations. As it is known, in the end of 2002 Ukraine has announced its readiness for intermediating the Nagorni Karabakh conflict adjustment.
Both ministers have supported the efforts of the Minsk Group of the OBCE directed for adjustment of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The meeting of the ministers has taken place since they had participated in inauguration of the new President of Georgia Mr. Michail Saakashvili.
THE RUSSIAN DELEGATION IN THE PAEC WOULD SUPPORT THE AZERBAIJAN ONE
As the Deputy Chief of the Parliament Assembly of the European Council Mr. Michail Margelov has informed, the "serious discussion" is planned on issue about Azerbaijan, particularly "on the functioning of the democratic institutes in Azerbaijan and as well as so called political prisoners in Azerbaijan". However, Mr. M. Margelov considers impossible to annul the mandate of the Azerbaijan delegation in the PAEC. "It is impossible to imagine such thing", - he has declared and added that "the Russian delegation will support the Azerbaijan delegation".
On the eve of the session of the PAEC, the information as if the mandate of the Azerbaijan delegation in the PAEC may be annulled, was published in some mass media. As if there is such threat in the resolution project, which will be available for consideration of the session of the PAEC in Strasbourg. Mr. Andreas Gross and Martines Kassan would present the reports on Azerbaijan onTuesday, January 27. It has been noted in mass media that the report on Azerbaijan consists of the resolution project and analysis of the situation in Azerbaijan.
THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF STATOIL: THE AZERBAIJAN GAS WOULD COMPETITIVE ON THE MARKETS OF THE SOUTH AND CENTRAL EUROPE
By his words, "the price puts some limitations for distances of possible gas transportation. It seems to me that first of all the Azerbaijan gas would be delivered to the South Europe and may be, the Central Europe", - Mr. P. Mellbye has said.
He has noted, that for this cause the Azerbaijan gas would scarcely compete with the Norwegian gas on the European markets as Norway mainly exports gas to the North Europe and Great Britain.
As Mr. P. Mellbye has noted, at the present time the main goal of the realization of the projects on gas production i Azerbaijan, where the Company Statoil participates is the timely starting the Azerbaijan gas deliveries to the Turkish market. "It is the most important to deliver gas to Turkey in the detemined terms. And there the Azerbaijan gas would be competitive by its cost", - he has noted.
By the opinion of the Vice-President of Statoil, the opportunity of the Azerbaijan gas export outside of Turkey may be realized by 2010. Besides of Turkey and Europe, the markets of Iran and Russia are considered as perspective ones.
It is the most purposeful, Mr. P. Mellbye considers, to grow the gas production gradually on the field "Shakh-Deniz" in accordance with the market requirements. "On the base of our experience on the European market the gradual increasing the capacity of the development of the field is more profitable than a jump to the new stage", - he has said.
In all cases the cos of each version should be calculated and then one of them would be chosen. By his opinion, as well gas supplies available on the field should be determined more precisely. Mr. P. Mellbye considers that the supplies of "Shakh-Deniz" may be compared with the supplies of the largest field in Norway "Trol".
In Azerbaijan Statoil shares the project on the development of the fields "Azeri - Chiraq - Guneshli" (sharing makes 25.5%), "Shakh-Deniz" (25.5%), "Araz - Alov - Sharg" (15%), the construction of the oil pipeline "Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan" (8.71%) and gas pipeline "Baku - Tbilisi - Erzurum" (25.5%).
Within the frameworks of the project "Shakh-Deniz" Statoil is the operator of the company Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company, which is engaged in the issues of the gas sales and is an operator of the commercial issues in the project "South - Caucasus pipeline ", which provides the construction of of the gas pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Erzurum for gas export from the field "Shakh-Deniz".
The following companies are shareholders of the project of the development of the field "Shakh-Deniz" and the construction of the South-Caucasus gas pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Erzurum: BP - 25.5%, Statoil - 25.5%, LUKAgip (Russia/Italy) - 10%, TotalFinaElf (France) - 10%, the Socar - 10%, OEIC (Iran) - 10% and TPAO (Turkey) - 9%.
Besides of Statoil, as well BP(30,1%), the SOCAR (25%), Unocal (8,9%), TPAO (6,53%), ENI (5%), Itochu (3,4%); ConocoPhillips (2,5%), INPEX (2,5%), Total (5%) and Amerada Hess (2,36%) share in the project "Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan.
THE AZERBAIJAN-AMERICAN MANEUVERS ON THE GUARDING OF THE OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS BEGIN TODAY IN BAKU
By the information of the Ministry of Defence of the country, the maneuvers are directed for improvement of skills of the staff of the Naval Forces of Azerbaijan on providing the security and protection of floating oi and gas rigs. 18 American and 45 Azerbaijan servicemen take part in them as well as two picket boats of the NF of Azerbaijan. As it has been emphasized in the Ministry of Defense, the maneuvers will pass in accordance with plan of bilateral cooperation up to February 6.
THE USA SUPPORT THE OPERATION OF THE ROUNDABOUT OIL PIPELINE ROUTES TO EUROPE IN CONNECTION WITH LIMITATION FOR PASSING OF OIL TANKERS THROUGH THE BOSPORUS
Mrs. E. Jones has noted that the ecological problem in the Black Sea becomes especially actual and has an extraordinary meaning for the countries of the Black Sea and Europe, as by her words "there is limited opportunity of the large oil tankers passing through the Bosporus". And principally, the passing of the tankers could be stopped at all if the threat of emergencies, oil pollution and damaging the ecology of the neighbor regions appears", - she has said.
"So it is very important that the governments of Ukraine, Russia and Turkey will understand the significance of the ecological problems. Just so the USA supports the Caspian oil pipeline in the Mediterranean (the pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan - Media-Press), - the official of the Washington administration has declared.
And she has added at the same time: "The increasing of the oil volumes throug the Black Sea would be scarcely purposeful. It is very important issue, which would be realized by officials from Ukraine, Russia and chiefs of the companies including at the adjustment of the issue on a direction of oil transportation by the pipeline Odessa-Brody.
IN SUMMER OF 2004 KAZAKHSTAN PLANS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OIL PIPELINE TOWARDS TO THE CHINESE FRONTIER
"It is the direction, which should be certainly developed. The expected oil deficiency in China will made millions tons. We have and opportunity of getting good prices ", - he has said.
AZERSUN HOLDING HAS STARTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST SUGAR PLANT IN AZERBAIJAN
As Media-Press has been informed in the company, supposedly the construction of the plant would be completed in 18 months. The part of the necessary equipment has been delivered already from Germany, Tukey and Ukraine.
The investments in the construction of this enterprise would make $50 - 60 MM. Putting into operation of two production lines of capacity by 200 thou tons of sugar is planned in the first stage. And since putting into operation of the rest two ones the capacity would increase in two times.
It is planned to purchase the sugar beet from local farmers. It is supposed to allocate credits to the farmers of the Sheki, Imishli regions and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for planting this technical culture. Now the allocation form is considered.
By the information of the Ministry of Agriculture of the country the requirements of Azerbaijan in sugar make 200 thou tons a year. 1.5 MM tons of sugar beet is required for the construction of such volume of sugar. In the past year totally 115 thou tons of it were planted. However, Azerbaijan would not be capable to produce 1.5 - 2 MM tons of sugar for lack of the sown areas. So partial import from Iran and Turkey would supply the enterprise by sugar beet.
THE MINISTSTRY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AZERBAIJAN ACCERTAINS CAUSES OF DELAYS IN THE STATE ENTERPRISES PRIVATIZATION
As Media-Press has been informed in the Ministry, in purposes of the accelerated privatization of these structures causes of delaying of this process and its perspectives were studied. At the same time the list of the enterprises and organizations using the plots illegaly was determined. And at the present time measures on prevention of the similar cases are carried out jointly with the relevant organs of the executive power.
