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THE PAST YEAR THE GOODS TURNOVER BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND CHINA HAS MADE $240 MM

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The goods turnover between Azerbaijan and China in 2003 has made $240 MM, the Ambassador of the Chinese Public Republic in Azerbaijan Mr. Chjan Siyun has told.
By his words, the goods turnover between our countries has increased by 160% as compared to 2002. And by results of the first quarter of 2004 it has increased else by 60% as compared to the analogous period of the past year. Moreover, the Chinese export makes the major share in the goods turnover.
Nevertheless, Mr. Chjan Siyun has noted, the export of the Azerbaijan goods to CNR grows: in 2003 grew in 2 thou times as compared to 2002. Mainly China purchases polyethylene and cotton in Azerbaijan.
The diplomat has told that the Azerbaijan businessmen have made first investments already to the Chinese economy. The past year they opened two small dress fabrics.


THE AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN ARE READY FOR INVESTMENTS TO NON-OIL SECTOR OF AZERBAIJAN

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The American companies are interested in investing to non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, the Minister of the Economic Development of Azerbaijan Mr. Farkhad Aliyev has said after the meeting with the special official of Commerce and Business Bureau of the US State Department Mr Frank Mermud.
"Issues of the development of the American business in Azerbaijan as well spheres of possible investing of the American capital were have been discussed", - Mr. Farkhad Aliyev has said.


IN BAKU THE MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL PROTECTION OF TURKEY WILL CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES OF ENLARGING OF BILATERAL COOPERATION

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Turkey Mr. Murat Basheskiogli will discuss perspectives of enlarging of the Azerbaijan-Turkish cooperation during his visit, which starts today. The agency "Interfax-Azerbaijan" has received this information in the press service of the Turkish Embassy.
During the visit the Turkish Minister will conduct negotiations with the Azerbaijan colleague Mr. Ali Nagiyev and other officials of the government of the country.


AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT INTEND TO JOIN TO THE NATO, THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE COUNTRY HAS SAID

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Azerbaijan does not intend to join to the NATO, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the country Mr. Araz Azimov has said on the international conference in Baku, devoted to the 10 th Anniversary of the joining of Azerbaijan to the program of the NATO "Partnership for Peace".
"I would not tell about the joining of Azerbaijan to the NATO as we intend to continue the cooperation with the alliance on the real base and interests of our country", - A. Azimov has said on the conference.
He has said that the cooperation of Azerbaijan with the NATO is peaceful and "the joint operations are not directed against the third countries". By my opinion, up to date the NATO is the more improved mechanism in comparison of ensuring safety in the world as compared to other organizations", - Mr. A. Azimov has emphasized.


THE ARMENIAN OPPOSITIONISTS ADVISED THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE COUNTRY TO HOLD HIS TONGUE

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The officials of the Armenian opposition in the PAEC have not gather signatures on behalf of inclusion of issue on internal political situation in the country to the agenda of the Assembly", - the member of the Armenian delegation in the PAEC, the official of the oppositionist block "Justice" Shavarsh Kocharyan has said.
By his words, the given issue was accepted by 106 votes of the European parliamentarians "yes" and 42 "no". He has called the foul falsehood the affirmations that the members of the Armenian delegation have gathered signatures from the Turkish and Azerbaijan parliamentarians.
As to the main point of the resolution of the PAEC, Kocharyan has noted that the issue of the conduction of the referendum on credit to authorities was estimated by the PAEC as the first reason for crisis.
Shavarsh Kocharyan claimed the Foreign Minister of Armenia in incorrect interpretation of the resolution of the PAEC. Particularly, by his words there is not affirmation that the legitimacy of the President Elections in Armenia can be doubtful in the document. Actually, by his words, the document only notes that "in spite of violations, the international organizations only estimate, but do not are engaged in legitimacy problems"
The other official of the opposition, the leader of the party "The National Uniting" Artashjes Gegamyan has sharply criticized the Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan, particularly his comments on the document accepted by the PAEC.
The Minister Oskanyan should hold his tongue, as he has mistaken again when called liberated territories as occupied. The better he would think about, why the President of Azerbaijan has constructed all his speech on a base of mistakes of our famous Foreign Minister", - Gegamyan has said.


AS WELL AZERBAIJAN AS ARMENIA SUFFER FROM THE ADJARIAN CRISIS

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The oil terminal of the Batum port in Adjaria, through which about 10 MM tons of oil are delivered annually, may stop its work for destroying the railway communication connecting the port with the rest Georgia by the local authorities, the Minister of Economy of Georgia Mr. Irakly Rehviashvili has said. "The oil terminal and oil processing plant will stop as there is not the railway communication with Adjaria", - the Minister has said.
As it is known, on Sunday by the order of authorities of Adjaria two car bridges were exploded; they connected the region with the rest Georgia and the railway track was destroyed.
The official of the Batum oil terminal has informed the agency REUTERS by phone that conduction of negotiations on restoration of the traffic by the railway is expected. He did not know how much supplies are available on the terminal, however has told that for the present it continues its operation.
In the turn the SOCAR has informed that it has stopped the kerosene export to Georgia for unavailable communication with the Batum port.
Meanwhile the Azerbaijan Railway continues deliver the trains shipped by oil to Georgia including ones from Kazakhstan. "We sent eight trains shipped by oil to Georgia today, and 15 ones yesterday. And we request Georgia to adjust quickly this problem", - the press secretary of the ARW Office Mr. Nadir Azimamedov has said.
By the opinion of the Minister of Economy of Georgia the crisis around Adjaria will affect catastrophically on the economy of the country. "We have expected the growth of the GDP by 6 - 7% in 2004, however if it is continued so, the GDP may reduce even", - Mr. Rekhviashvili has said to journalists.
The breaking of the car and railway communication between Adjaria and rest part of Georgia may damage significantly the economy of Armenia too. As ITAR-TASS informs with a reference to the Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia Andranik Manukyan, after explosion of railway bridges, 63 wagons shipped with products and other goods stay idle in the Batum port; they are addressed to Armenia. Erivan negotiates with the Georgian side on redelivering these cargos to the port Poti.


THE IRANIAN DREAM OF UKRAINE

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Ukraine and Iran have agreed to activate the cooperation in the oil and gas field, the press-service of the premier on issues of the fuel-energy complex of Ukraine Mr. Andrey Kluyev has informs referring to the results of the visit of the Vice-Premier to Iran on April 26 - 27.
By the information of the press service, Iran has promised to assist to the Ukrainian enterprises in participation in the international tenders on exploration, development of the oil and gas fields of the country. Moreover, the sides have discussed a possibility of transportation of the Iranian gas to Europe, using the Ukrainian gas transportation system.
As the Ukrainian press writes on this matter, Iran is rich by oil and gas in such degree that it is worthwhile scarcely for Kiev to miss a possibility for participation in determination of their future. Negotiations between Ukraine and the IRI on realization of joint projects in fuel-energetic field were conducted intensively enough for last two years. The interest of Kiev is evident: intension of diversification of its energy carriers, especially gas (which is delivered mainly by Russia at the present time) on one hand and of strengthening its status of the transit country on the other. The interest of Iran is in making itself effective player on the market of energy carriers in Europe.
It has all preconditions. By explored supplies of the natural gas the country occupies the second place in the world (21 trln cubic meters or 14% of the world supplies) delaying only from Russia. And explored oil supplies make about 370 bn bbl.
In the next 2 - 3 three years Iran intends to reach the annual gas production by 116.8 bn cubic meters and it is supposed to sell 40 bn of them abroad. By preliminary accounts, less than 7 - 10 bn cubic metes and it makes 35% of the production demands of the EU. By this cause the official Tehran tries to advance ther construction of the transit gas pipeline "Iran - Armenia" in the last time. The total length of the pipe will make 141 km in accordance with the project, however Iran intends to continue it to Georgia and Ukraine - by the bottom of the Black Sea up to Feodosia. From there gas may be delivered by the Ukrainian pipes to the EU. The approximate capacity of the Iran-European gas pipeline makes up to 60 bn cubic meters per annum. Moreover, recently the Armenian officials for displeasure of Moscow have tried to refuse of this idea and declared that the pipeline from Iran will be constructed for only satisfaction of own gas demands of Armenia and no more.
On February 2004 the main line "Iran - Armenia" became one of the matter of talk of the Chief of the Ukrainian government Mr. Victor Yanukovich and parliament delegation of Iran under the presiding of the Chairman of the Iranian Medjlis Mr. Mehdi Kyarrubi. The Iranian parliamentarians have expressed the interest in participation of Ukraine in the construction of the gas pipeline and Mr. V. Yanukovich has confirmed that Ukraine has all necessary technological and staff opportunities for sharing in this project and as well in other joint projects in oil and gas field.
The declarations of the Iranian parliamentarians are interesting although from the point of view that else on October of 2002 during the negotiations with the Ukrainian colleague the President of Iran Mr. Muhammad Khatami called routes Tebriz - Erzurum and Tebriz - Ankara and then to Europe through Greece as the most preferable ones in the western direction. The President L. Kuchma has recognized that the issue of the Iranian gas export through Ukraine is not one of today, but possibly of tomorrow". Nevertheless, the other is known as well: one of the Ukrainian project institutes processed the feasibility report of the Iranian-European gas pipeline by the mentioned route.
As to he underwater piece of the gas pipeline after putting into operation of the Russian - Turkish gas pipeline "Blue Flow" it is not so unreal idea from the technical point of view. The other matter is a quantity of money and where will they taken. By preliminary accounts $2.5 bn - $5 bn should be required for them. And neither Iran nor Ukraine has spare $5 bn. And there was not serious conversation on attraction of investors for this idea.
Most likely, Ukraine should leave the hope of receiving gas in the next time from Iran in spite of there is agreement between both the countries on annual gas deliveries by a volume up to 15 bn cubic meters. Moreover there is non-piped version, which may make the official Kiev to participate actively in the construction of the main line Iran - Armenia. From there gas may be delivered to the Georgian seaports by the gas pipeline system of Armenia and Georgia. And for the further transportation of gas to Ukraine special gas ships-gas carriers would be required and else special terminals and installations for liquidating of gas in both Georgia and Ukraine are required. In any case this scheme will cost less for Ukraine than the construction of the underwater pipeline does.
The Ukrainian-Iranian projects will be probably realized with fewer problems. Else in the beginning of 2002 during the visit of the Foreign Minister of Iran Mr. Ali Akbar Velayati to Kiev, the memorandum on cooperation in using the Eurasian oil transport corridor was signed and in accordance with it Iran is ready to deliver 1 MM tons of oil produced in the Caspian shelf to the oil terminal "South" for the further transit to the West Europe. Reshipment in Baku should precede it and from there the existing oil pipeline deliver oil to Supsa and then to terminal "South" through the Black Sea and further to the West.
The memorandum was signed when perspectives of completion of construction and further using main line Odessa - Brodi - Plotsk were not clear quite and issues associated with them were adjusted slowly. Now when the position of the Ukrainian government on this issue on using the main pipeline Odessa - Brodi is determined there is a time for actualize this memorandum and possibly even to put the question on increase of the Iranian deliveries by connecting it perspectives of participation of the Ukrainians in the development of oil fields of Iran. Moreover, there is small problem too - Iran does not produce oil in the Caspian Sea for the present, moreover it is not known, when will it take place, not mentioning about million tons for Ukraine.


FOR JANUARY - APRIL ABOUT 3 MM TONS OF OIL HAVE BEEN PRODUCED IN AZERBAIJAN

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Since the beginning of the current year the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and the JC formed by it sharing have produced 2.97 MM tons of oil and this is by 2.7% or 78.2 thou tons more than it was planned. As Media-Press has been informed in the SOCAR, the oil production has increased by 0.7% as compared to the analogous period of the past year.
From this volume the departments of the SOCAR produced 2.668 MM tons (a growth by 0.9%), the JC - 301.8 thou tons (a growth by 22%).
On April the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan produced 739.6 thou tons of oil and it is more by 22.6 thou tons or 3.2% than it was planned. The oil and gas offices produced 665.3 thou tons and joint enterprises - 74.3 thou tons.
In accordance with forecasts, in 2004 the oil production in Azerbaijan will make 15.45 MM tons and the SOCAR will produce 8.75 MM tons and the AIOC (The Azerbaijan Operating Company) will produce 6.7 MM tons. 9.2 MM tons of oil will be exported. By the pipeline Baku - Supsa 6.7 MM tons will be pumped and 2.5 MM tons will be pumped by the route Baku - Novorossiisk.


SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AZERBAIJAN HAS PRODUCED 1.674 BN CUBIC METERS OF GAS

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: For January - April of the current year 1.674 bnn cubic meters of gas have been produced and this is by 4.9% more than it has been forecasted.
As Media-Press has been produced in the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, departments of the SOCAR produced 1329 cubic meters, the AIOC produced 345.3 MM cubic meters. The joint ventures produced 45.9 MM cubic meters of gas.
On April the gas production made 414.6 MM cubic meters. The SOCAR produced 326.8 MM and the AIOC - 87.9 MM cubic meters. The joint ventures produced 10.5 MM cubic meters.
Azerbaijan needs in up to 10 bn cubic meters of gas annually. In the past year Azerbaijan purchased 4 bn cubic meters of "blue fuel" from the international group of companies "Itera". This year "Gazprom" replaced "Itera" and plans to deliver 2.75 bn cubic meters of the natural gas to Azerbaijan. Recently else one agreement between the SOCAR and the CJC "KazRosGaz" has been signed on deliveries by 4.5 bn cubic meters of gas.
The CJC "KazRosGaz" started the gas deliveries since January of the current year. For January - February Azerbaijan has imported already almost 1 bn cubic meters of gas from Kazakhstan. The SOCAR purchases the Kazakhstan gas for $52 per 1 thou cubic meter. The annual import gas demand of the Azerbaijan market makes about 6 bn cubic meters.
The republic will receive the subsidiary volumes of gas also since within the frameworks of the project of extension of the Sangachal oil terminal the gas drying installation will be installed. Today all oil delivered to the terminal is separated from water and gas. Received gas is liquated. The construction of new installation would not allow liquating gas, but delivering it to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, which in its turn will deliver it to consumers. Gas will be burned in flames only in emergencies. For realization of this idea the SOCAR also plans to build special gas receiving installation and the pipeline up to the Sangachal gas distribution point.


ON APRIL THE MEO OF THE SOCAR HAS EXPORTED 70.19 THOU TONS OF OIL AND 103 THOU TONS OF OIL PRODUCTS

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The Marketing and Operation Operations Office of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan exported 70.198 thou tons of oil on April.
As Media-Press has been informed in the SOCAR, the diesel fuel and car benzene have made the largest share in the export structure. 26.726 thou tons and 26.725 thou tons correspondingly were delivered to the purchasers. 15.906 thou tons of aircraft benzene, 842 tons of butane were exported. The furnace fuel was not exported at all. Totally 291.139 thou tons of oil products have been exported since the beginning of the year. The Azerbaijan diesel fuel is of the greatest demand. Since the beginning of the year 145.338 thou tons of it have been exported what makes a half of all exported oil products.
The SOCAR has exported 77.787 thou tons of oil by the pipeline Baku - Novorossiisk. And 843.473 thou tons for four past months.
We shall remind that in the current year the volumes of pumping by this route will remain almost on the former level and make 2.5 MM tons. The tariff for pumping of the Azerbaijan oil by "the north" route makes $15.67 per a ton. (For comparison: the tariff for transit of the Azerbaijan oil by the pipeline Baku - Supsa makes 2.7 per a ton).
The pipeline Baku - Novorossiisk was put into operation on October 25, 1997. In accordance with the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan signed on January 1999, it is automatically prolonged each year if one of the sides does not inform the other one about its intension to stop the force of agreement a half of a year before the date of its expiry. Each five years the sides may change the agreement in accordance with mutual agreement.


THE NEXT ROUND OF THE NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT JOINING OF KAZAKHSTAN TO THE PIPELINE BAKU - CEYHAN WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE END OF MAY

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The next round on joining of Kazakhstan to the Main Exporting Pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan (MEP BTC) probably will take place in the end of May or beginning of June, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan Mr. Andar Shukutov has informed.
By his words, the meeting of experts planned for April has not taken place for technical reasons. The Ambassador has noted as well that the negotiations for the present will pass within frameworks of the working groups and only after that they agree all issues; the negotiations will transfer to higher level.
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 conjectured to complete the negotiations up to the end of 2003 for giving the project of the agreement for consideration of both the countries. After signing of this agreement, investors of the transport system Aktau - Baku and governments of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will sign transit agreements..
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


IN 2004 KAZAKHSTAN PLANS THE PRODUCTION OF OIL BY 55 - 57 TONS AND 16 BN CUBIC METERS OF GAS

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: In 2004 Kazakhstan will produce 55 - 57 tons of oil and 16 bn cubic meters of gas. It is planned to receive the main growth in account of such fields as "Tengiz", "Karachaganzk", "Kumkol".
In 2003 the oil production companies of Kazakhstan have produced about 52 MM tons of oil and 14 bn cubic meters.
The explored supplies of the hydrocarbon crude in Kazakhstan make 4 bn tons of oil and 3 trln cubic meters of gas. And as it is conjectured, supplies of the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea make 17 bn tons of conditional fuel. Expectedly, the total volume of production of hydrocarbon crude may reach 170 - 180 MM tons by 2015.


THE OFFICIALS OF BAKU TROUBLE THAT THE SITUATION AROUND ADJARIA MAY BREAK A CREDIT TO THE TRANSPORT ROUTE THROUGH AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The situation around Adjaria breaks a credit to the transport route through Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Vice-Premier of the government of Azerbaijan Mr. Abid Sharifov has said.
By his words, breaking of the transport communications between Tbilisi and Batumi has brought already to the significant reduction of cargo transportation. "If in the better period 17 - 18 cargo trains shipped mainly by oil and its products today their number has reduced almost in two times", - Mr. Sharifov has said. He has not excluded that if the railway communication between Georgia and Ajaria is not restored, in the next two-three days the cargo activities in this direction will be paralyzed. "Though the traffic to Georgia has not been stopped, shipped trains accumulate on the Georgian railway and it cannot continue for a long time", - Mr. A. Sharifov has signed. By his words, the organizations, which are engaged in the transit cargo transportations, have appeared in front of threat of loosing of consumers. "Some our consumers redeliver already their cargos to Makhackala and Iranian ports", - the Vice-Premier has said.
Oil and oil products from Kazakhstan and Georgia make the main flow of cargos through Azerbaijan and Georgia. The annual volumes of their transportation by this route make 8.2 - 8.3 MM tons. The most number of these cargos goes to the port Batumi and only small part to Poti. The cargos of Azerbaijan make 2 - 2.5 MM in supplement: 90% of them are oil and oil products. Mr. Sharifov believes that readdressing of all cargos in Poti is not real as this port has not relevant technical opportunities and can not receive tankers of large deadweight.
Mr. A. Sharifov thinks that the central authorities of Georgia and of Autonomy should take measures for unblocking of the ways although as if a credit to transit through Azerbaijan and Georgia will be restored with difficulty if it is lost.


8.174 BN KWT/HOURS OF THE ELECTRIC ENERGY WERE PRODUCED FOR FOUR MONTHS IN AZERBAIJAN

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: Since the beginning of the year Azerbaijan has produced 8.74 bn kWt/hour of electric energy. The heating electric power stations have been produced the major part of this volume - 7.07 bn kWt/hour.
As the press service of "Azenerji" informs, on April the production of the electric energy made 1.82 bn KWt/hour; heating electric stations produced 1.506 bn KWt/hour and hydroelectric stations produced 314 MM kWt/hour.
At the same time plan flows of the electric energy from the neighbor states as Russia, Iran and Turkey continued. We shall note that all electric energy delivered to Azerbaijan from Iran and Turkey is delivered to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR). The NAR receives 100 MWT from Iran, 40 MWt - from Turkey and the local HEPS "Araz".
On April 385.7 gr. of conditional fuel have been spent compared to planned 387.42 g. Owing to this economy by 2.711 thou tons of conditional fuel has been achieved.


THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBSTATION BY A CAPACITY OF 80 MBA HAS STARTED IN THE SHARUR REGION OF THE NAKHCHIVAN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

BAKU.05.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS: The construction of the electric substation by a capacity of 80 MBA has started in the Sharur region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
As the press-service of the JC "Azenerji", the equipment of the new substation has been purchased in account of the inner reserves. It has been delivered from Iran, Turkey and Ukraine. We shall remind that Turkey delivers the electric energy to the autonomy by means of the PTL "Igdir-Babek". For the large distance the voltage reduces by 30 - 40% at transportation.
After the putting into operation of the new substation these problems will be solved, the electric supplying of all 18 thou consumers of the Sharur region and 2 thou ones in the Sadarak Autonomy will improve.
In the NAR electric energy is delivered from Iran - up to 100 MWt per diem, and from Turkey - up to 40 MWt. The HEPS on the river Araz produces additionally 20 MWt in the autonomous republic. Meanwhile electric power demands of the NAR reach 220 MWt in winter.

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