THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO BAKU SHOULD TAKE PLACE ON JUNE
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The official visit of the President of Greece of Mr. Konstantinos Stefanopulos to Azerbaijan should take place on June 20, Media-Press has been informed in the Embassy of Greece in Azerbaijan.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Ambassador of Azerbaijan in the IRI Mr. Abbasali Gasanov has conducted press conference in Tehran and told about bilateral relations on it.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Uzbekistan, which stopped in membership of GUUAM in 2004 seems to refresh the cooperation within frameworks of this structure. Results of negotiations of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Mr. Konstantin Grisenko and his colleague from Uzbekistan Mr. Sadik Safayev, who was in Ukraine with the state visit, show this.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will not take part in the summit meeting of the NATO planned for June in Istanbul. The press secretary of the President Ashot Kocharyan has informed journalist about this.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Citizens of the Georgian villages of the Tsalk Region (the Eastern Georgia) hold a protest action near building of the State Office in Tbilisi demanding immediate bringing of interior troops of the MI of the country in the region.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
In 2004 Azerbaijan intends to let out 20 MM young sturgeon fishes to sea, the Chief of the Department of Reproduction and Biological Resources Saving of the Ministry of
Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mr. Rauf Gajiev has told about this.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Today in Baku the 10th Azerbaijan International Exhibition :"The Food Products, Beverages, Packages and Production Technologies" (INTERFOOD AZERBAIJAN - 2004) opens today in Baku.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
Today the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev came to the Nackchivan Automous Republic for three days. He will study social-economic development of the autonomy, which celebrated its 80th Anniversary this year.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Foreign Minsters of Azerbaijan and Armenia Mr. Elmar Mamedyarov and Vardan Oskanyan discuss today issues of adjustment of Nagorni Karabakh conflict in Strasburg.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
On the Turkish and Georgian pieces of the Main Exporting Pipeline Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan, which is being constructed two additional construction areas supplemented by technical means and human resources have been opened for removal of delay in schedule. The company BP-Azerbaijan has informed Media-Press about this.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Chinese oil companies are interested in the further cooperation with Azerbaijan. They intend to take part in new larger projects up to development of offshore fields and they are ready to allocate large investments to this field.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Norwegian Statoil, which operates in Azerbaijan long time ago, intends now to develop as well the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea. By the information of the Kazakhstan Agency "Khabar", the company, which is one of the world leaders of the offshore oil production, leads negotiations on sharing in the development of the Kazakhstan shelf.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
In the technical council of the JC "Azeenerji" at participation of officials of the Ministry of Economic Development and State Oil Company of Azerbaijan consideration of offers of the Finnish company Enprima on construction of steaming gas installation (SGI) by a capacity of 400 - 500 MWt in Sumgayit have been passed.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA) have made the next step on liberalization of currency regime in the country. The management of the NBA have taken a decision on canceling limits for advance payments being transferred abroad within frameworks of import operations.
BAKU.12.05.2004.MEDIA-PRESS:
The Account Chamber of Azerbaijan has approved the plan of audit checking up in the Ministry of Taxes of the country.
By results of the visit it is planned to sign about 10 agreements on cooperation between both the countries. Particularly, the agreements on development of trade, escaping double taxation, mutual protection and encouragement of investments, cooperation in air transport, science, culture and tourism should be signed. Within frameworks of the visit the sitting of the Azerbaijan-Greek intergovernmental commission on the economic cooperation will be held.
By opinion of the sides, the potential of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Greece is not used in relevant extent, although there are real opportunities for its deepening and extension. The Greek companies may take an active part in privatization of the state objects in Azerbaijan and carry out their activities in the bank, insurance, construction and transport spheres.
First of all the visit of Mr. Konstantinos Stefanopulos will allow activating trade-economic relations between Baku and Athens. In this plan perspectives of two countries in the gas sphere are of great interest too. As it is known, Baku and Athenes plan to organize re-export of the Azerbaijan gas from the field "Shakh-Deniz" through Turkey to Greece and from there to countries of the south Europe. Several rounds of negotiations on this issue between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and Greek Company DEPA have been held already.
As some time ago the Ambassador of Greece in Azerbaijan Mr. Merkurious Karafotias has said to Media-Press, the pipeline, which will connect gas systems of Turkey and Greece and be laid further to Europe would be capable to export up to 30 bn cubic meters of gas per annum. Before offering this project to Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Greek experts studied demands of the European market and determined countries, which would be ready to purchase and consume such gas volumes. By the words of Mr. Karafotias, the pipeline will be laid in two directions: the first - France and Italy, the second one - Slovenia, Bosnia and Gersegovina and Croatia. By opinion of the Ambassador, there should not be great problems on realization of the project "Shakh-Deniz" and export of the Azerbaijan gas to Europe.
THE PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND IRAN WILL TAKE PART IN THE CEREMONIAL OF START OF CONSTRUCTION OF CAR ROUTE BAKU - ASTARA
By the information of Iran.ru the diplomat has noted that the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev continues the policy of his father with more energy, which is directed for development of multisided relations with Iran. At the present time 9 agreements in different fields have been signed between Iran and Azerbaijan.
By the words of the Ambassador, the project of the reconstruction of car route Baku - Astara is an example of fruitful cooperation and Iran has spent $40 MM for its realization. Up to date preparation works have been completed and in 2 - 3 months a ceremonial of start of construction of the road will be held at presence of both the Presidents.
Moreover, soon the energetic systems of Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia will be united. At the present time within frameworks of this project the construction of the EPTL Imishli - Parsabad is conducted, Mr. A. Gasanov has noted.
DOES UZBEKISTAN REFRESH ITS COOPERATION WITHIN FRAMEWORKS OF GUUAM?
On the press conference Safayev has emphasized the interest of its country in the further development of GUUAM, "within frameworks of which there are very perspective trends of cooperation". At the same time, by his opinion issues of efficiency of work associated with "problems in some countries of GUUAM" remain. "I hope that as the situation in the countries of GUUAM normalize, common regional project will be chief and ideas fixed in main documents will be realized", - the Minister has said.
Mr Grisenko in his turn has expressed his hope that the summit meeting of GUUAM in the end of May will give an impulse to joint projects of the organization; the summit meeting will be held in Tbilisi, but not in Yalta.
THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA WILL NOT TAKE PLACE IN THE SUMMIT OF THE NATO IN ISTANBUL FOR NON-ADJUSTMENT OF RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
By his words, it is provided by "the present state of the Armenian-Turkish relations". In the past year during the meeting of foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey no significant progress was registered in this sphere however Armenia affirms its readiness for normalization of relations with Turkey without preliminary conditions".
He has informed that the Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan will present Armenia on summit meeting. By the words of the President, relations of Armenia with the NATO "are developing in progressive direction within frameworks of the program "Partnership for peace". And Kocharyan has reminded that the President has visited Brussels where he has met the high-ranked officials of the NATO and took part in summit of the NATO in Washington and Prague.
RESIDENTS OF THE GEORGIAN REGION TSALKA DEMAND TO PROTECT THEM FROM ATTACKS OF LOCAL ARMENIANS
As the RIA "Novosti-Georgia" has informed with a reference to the Georgian TV company "Rustavi-2" the demonstrators have declared that residents of the Tsalka of the Armenian nationality, who make 80% of total population dwelling in the region, hurt rights of residents of other nationalities and they are exposed permanently to moral and physical abasement.
The Envoy of the President of Georgia in the region Kwemo Kartli Mr. Iosif Mazmishvili has declared commenting the situation formed in the region: "Probably we shall take decision and appeal to the Ministry of Interior for conduction of concrete measures on confiscation of arms from population of the Tsalk region and removal of impunity syndrome, which has been formed for several years in this region".
The incident in Tsalka, which came to blow then between group of dwellers of the Georgian and Armenian nationalities on past Sunday has caused an exacerbation of the situation. Conflict has emerged after football match, where young dwellers of two villages took part. In result of the incident about 37 persons were injured in various degrees. Prosecutor office have incited criminal affair on this fact and it investigation is gone.
As RIA "Novosti" informs, "servicemen of the MFA of Georgia and local police has started joint patrolling in villages of the Tsalk region for prevention of possible conflicts between Armenian and Georgian population.
By the works of Mr. Iosif Mazmishvili, the Envoy of the President in the region Kwemo-Kartli, in Tsalk region detachment of interior troops of 150 servicemen and special troops of 30 servicemen have been located in the Tsalka region. Temporary block posts have been opened in the Georgian and Armenian villages of the region.
"The interior troops will remain until dwellers will tell that their joint dwelling in the region does not cause any problems", - the President official has noted.
As the Georgian TV Company "Rustavi-2" informs, the dwellers of the Georgian villages, which demanded bringing interior troops in the region declare that now they may sleep silently, not being afraid of attacks from the Armenian side. The local Armenian population is not agreed with the decision of the authorities of Georgia and declares that "there is not real conflict, population lives culturally and normally".
Disarmament of the local population is one of objectives of the interior troops. As the TV Company "Rustavy-2" informs, by nonofficial information, arms from military base located not far has been delivered to several Armenian villages of the Tsalka Region.
IN 2004 AZERBAIJAN WILL LET OUT 20 MM YOUNG STURGEON FISHES TO SEA
As "Interfax-Azerbaijan" informs, in 2003 two fishery plants let out 12 MM young fishes to sea. In the current year already 20 MM of young fishes will be let out and not 2 but 4 specialized enterprises will take part in this venture - Neftchala and Kuri fishery plants will breed 6 MM young fishes by each one and Ali-Bayramli and Kura experimental plants will breed 4 MM ones by each one.
THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION "INTERFOOD AZERBAIJAN" HAS BEEN OPENED IN BAKU
The main issues of the exhibition are food products, food additions and ingredients, alcohol and nonalcoholic beverages, tea, coffee, equipment for processing industry, packing technologies, equipment for production of food products and beverages, fridge equipment and equipment for restaurants. Both local and foreign companies have exhibited their production. Russia, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Poland are among them.
In the past year about 60 companies from Germany, Italy, Austria, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Spain, Holland, France, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova will take part in the analogous exhibition.
The British Trade-Exhibition Company ITE Group PLC and its partner in Azerbaijan Iteca Caspian Ltd at a support of the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade-Industrial Chamber of Azerbaijan will take part in the exhibition.
THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN HAVE COME TO THE NAKHCHIVAN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC
At once after the arrival to Nakhcivan, Mr. I. Aliyev took part in opening of the international airport here, which will significantly enlarge communication capacities of the autonomous republic, being blocked since 1990 for continuing Azerbaijan-Armenian conflict on Nagorni Karabakh.
As well a number of objects will be opened at participation of the President including secondary school, swimming basin.
On May 13, the President of Azerbaijan will conduct the working sitting with authorities of the Autonomous Republic.
THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA JOINTLY WITH CO-CHAIRMEN OF THE MINSK GROUP OF THE OSCE CONSIDER ISSUES OF ADJUSTMENT OF NAGORNI KARABAKH CONFLICT TODAY IN STRASBURG
Their meeting is held within frameworks of the sitting of the foreign ministers of countries of the Council of Europe and at participation of co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the OSCE on Nagorni Karabakh.
As the Russian co-chairman of the MG of the OSCE Mr. Yuri Merzlyakov has said recently, the meeting of Mamedyarov and Oskanyan will "be held with open agenda; that means that sides of conflict and co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the OSCE may make any offers". By the words of Mr. Merzlyakov, "intermediaries want find compromise variant between so called package and stage by stage variants of the adjustment of the conflict".
The press secretary of the MFA of Armenia Gamlet Gasparyan has noted in his turn, that "there is not still clear and determined agenda of negotiations". He determined that meeting of private officials of presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Nagorni Karabakh conflict is not planned. The chief of press-service of the MFA of Azerbaijan Mr. Metin Mirza has informed also that he has not information on holding of possible consultations of private officials of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on issues of the Karabakh adjustment - the Deputy Foreign Ministers Mr. Araz Azimov and Tatul Margaryan.
TWO ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION AREAS HAVE BEEN OPENED IN THE TURKISH AND GEORGIAN SECTORS OF BTC
As Media-Press informed earlier, delays on Turkish and Georgian segments of the pipeline have been caused by winter and large snowfalls in the southeast of Turkey and near the Georgian frontier. The analogous situation has been formed in the construction of four pumping stations in the Turkish segment of the pipeline. Here as well for large snowfalls the works were stopped. In connection with this a decision on block mounting of stations out of construction areas was accepted. After the normalization of weather ready station blocks were mounted directly on the construction areas.
As the President of BP-Azerbaijan Mr. David Woodward said earlier, the foundation of supplementary construction areas will not increase a cost of the project as a special fund has been provided for these purposes.
On the Turkish segment of the pipeline the welding works have been completed by 30%, the construction of the pumping stations - by 20%. On the Georgian area 60% of all provided works have been executed.
Still on February the Executive Director of BTC Co Mikle Townsend visited Turkey where he studied the situation formed and met the management of the general contractor of the construction of the Turkish area - the company BOTAS and government of the country. In the beginning of June the commission led by the Vice-Premier of the Government of Azerbaijan Mr. Abid Sharifov will depart to Turkey for plan checking up of the construction of the Turkish area of the MEP BTC.
In accordance with the agreement with the Turkish side every month officials of Azerbaijan and general contractor of the construction conduct monitoring on the Turkish segment of BTC monthly - the Turkish company BOTAS in rotation.
A length of the oil pipeline BTC makes 1762 km and 443 km of them lay in Azerbaijan, 249 km in Georgia, 1070 km in Turkey. The capacity of pipeline makes 50 MM tons of oil per annum. The construction of the pipeline should be completed in the end of 2004.
The Greek Company Consolidated Contractors International Company is the contractor of the construction of the Azerbaijan segment, the French-American Alliance Spie Capag/Petrofag - is the contractor of the Georgian area and contractor of the construction of pumping stations on territory of both the countries. The Turkish BOTAS is the contractor of the Turkish segment of the pipeline.
THE CHINESE COMPANIES ARE INTERESTED IN THE FURTHER COOPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN IN OIL AND GAS SECTOR
The Chinese Ambassador in Baku Mr. Cjan Siyun has informed about this.
The dimplomat has noted that the negotiations with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan on sharing of the Chinese companies in development of oil and gas fields of the country are conducted constantly.
As it is known, for the present oil companies of the CPR share in development of onshore fields of Azerbaijan - "Kyursangi and "Garabagli", "Yugo-Zapadni Gobustan" and "Pirsagat".
Moreover, the Chinese companies have intension of conlusion of contract on development of other onshore Azerbaijan field - "Muradkhanli". However, then they refused of these plans after studying data on the field. By opinion of the Chinese geologists, there is complex geological structure on "Muradkhanli" and small oil supplies.
THE NORWEGIAN STATOIL INTENDS TO DEVELOP THE KAZAKHSTAN SECTOR
The management of Statoil thinks that in the next time the Caspian shelf of Kazakhstan may be added to regions, where this company operates. Officially tenders on development of local fields have not announced for the present. However negotiations are conducted already.
By the words of Mr. Ottar Rekdar, the Vice-President of Statoil, at the present time the Norwegians actively cooperate with the national oil and gas company of Kazakhstan "Kazmunaygaz". We look at those opportunities, which become available for us and think that this work is very interesting. We have determined the regions of the greatest interest, - the President of Statoil has said.
Mr. Khelge Smamo, the General Manager of the Norwegian oil platform "Slipner", installed in the North Sea has said to the agency "Khabar": "I do not know very well conditions of the Caspian Sea. However I am sure that Statoil will be capable always to assist to its Kazakhstan colleagues. We have sufficient experience in offshore production".
Statoil interests not only by the Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan sectors of the Caspian Sea. It intends to operate in the Russian one too. As well the Caspian Sea attracts the Norwegian Company because Statoil is operator of the pipeline company Baku - Tbilisi - Ceyhan. "We believe that opportunities, which are opened for us are very interesting, - the Vice-President of the company Mr Ottar Rekdal has said. However, of course some adjustment of finance issues is required for creation of necessary conditions for causing interest of foreign investors".
OFFERS OF THE FINNISH COMPANY ENPRIMA ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEAMING GAS INSTALLATION IN SUMGAYIT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED
As press-service of the service "Azenerji" informs, the specialists of Enprima have informed members of technical council of the JC about executed work, technical parameters of the future SGI, submitted positive and negative sides of alternative variants of the main equipment. The work is conducted for announcing relevant tender on June and determine general contractor of the construction of the SGI.
Agreement on rendering consulting services to the project of the construction of the steaming gas installation in Sumgayit was signed between "Azeenerji" and the Finnish company on results of tender and both the Swiss company Colenco and Finnish one Elecrowatt-Econo have taken part into singning.
We shall remind that still in 2002 two heating electric power stations were shut down in Sumgait: they were recognized unprofitable for deterioration of equipment and large fuel consumption. Just then a decision on construction of steaming gas block in Sumgayit by a total capacity of 400 - 450 MWt instead of two old ones have been taken.
THE NATIONAL BANK BANK OF AZERBAIJAN HAVE BEEN MADE A STEP ON LIBERALIZATION OF THE CURRENCY REGIME IN THE COUNTRY
As Media-Press was informed earlier in the NBA, if a total of import deal exceeds $25 thou, physical and juridical persons should submit document showing legal character of deal and on a base of this receive a permit of the National bank for transferring money abroad.
However automatic system of statistic accounts allow monitoring of finance operation for prevention of "washing" of "dirty money". Thus, a necessity in special permit is not required. Such permit will promote to the further development of business in Azerbaijan, officials of the NBA have noted.
THE ACCOUNT CHAMBER OF AZERBAIJAN WILL CHECK UP THE MINISTRY OF TAXES
By the information of the press service of the Account Chamber, checking up of spending finances allocated from the state budget for maintenance of the staff of the Ministry is a goal of the audit.
The Accountant Chamber as well has approved the program of conduction of plan complex control measures on determination of correspondence of forecasting and execution of local incomes of the state budget and spending of budget means in education, health, culture, dwelling-communal economy in Gyanja.
Checking up will start in the second half of May.
