Azerbaijan

The Heydar Aliyev Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline by Facts and Figures

2006-08-04T16:01:00.000+05:00

Specifications

The total length of the pipeline is 1768 kilometers, of which 443 kilometers lies in Azerbaijan, 249 kilometers in Georgia and 1076 kilometers in Turkey.

The pipeline is mostly 42 inches in diameter, widening to 46 inches in Georgian and the small part of Turkish section, and narrowing to 36 inches diameter near Ceyhan.

The pipe's wall thickness ranges from 8,74 to 23,8 millimeters.

The pipeline has 8 pumping stations: two in Azerbaijan, two in Georgia and 4 in Turkey.

The pipeline’s capacity is 1 million barrels per day. It takes 10 days for crude oil to reach its final destination.

Huge oil terminals have been constructed in Sangachal, Azerbaijan and Ceyhan, Turkey.

Construction of the pipeline started in April of 2003, and its filing with oil on May 18, 2005.

The oil appeared in Georgian section of the pipeline on August 10, 2005, Turkish section on November 18, 2005, and reach Ceyhan terminal on May 28, 2006.

A total of 110 million man-hours have been worked for the construction of the pipeline.

In total, 220.000 pipes have been welded together.

Along its route the pipeline travels through 1500 rivers and 13 seismic faults.

The highest place the pipeline passes through is in Turkey at the elevation of 2800 meters above sea level.

The pipeline was buried along its entire route, and crossed 500 settlements without move of a single resident during construction activities.

Main contractors are: CCIC in Azerbaijan, Spie Petrofac in Georgia and turnkey contractors BOTAS to implement the Turkish Section of the BTC pipeline.

Planned annual capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is 50 billion tons of oil.

Over 400.000 barrels a day are transported currently by the BTC pipeline.

In 2008, the pipeline will carry 1 million barrels of oil daily

Cost and finance

Implementation of the BTC pipeline project came to 4 billion dollars. (It concerns construction activities only - the cost of the pipeline’s filling with oil, and bank interest charges are not included).

The total amount of the loans provided for the BTC project is 2.6 billion dollars. The providers are:

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD);

Export credit agencies and political risk insurance companies from 6 countries including UK, USA, Germany, Japan, France and Italy;

Fifteen commercial banks lead by ABN Amro, Citigroup, Mizuho and Societe Generale;

The companies BP, Statoil and ConocoPhillips provided loans as main sponsors.

Employment

Workforce of about 22.000, 70-80% of which locals, was involved when construction activities were in full swing. After it is put into operation, the pipeline will employ some 850 on a permanent basis.

Public Relations

450 communities (about 750.000 people) including some 100.000 landowners were registered to be affected by the pipeline along the route.

The landowners had been paid $133 million US dollars of indemnity until the end of 2003.

22.000 agreements on lease of land parcels have been signed.

A $25 million grant have been awarded for implementation of the Community Investment Program, from which 500 communities including 115 in Azerbaijan have benefited.

The program started in July 2003 will continue by the end of 2006.

In Azerbaijan, the Community Investment Program was implemented by Community Assistant Fund, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children and International Medical Co.; in Georgia Care International and Marcy Co.; in Turkey Ataturk University, SURKAL and International Blue Crescent.

32 medical units, 43 schools and 100 kilometers of roads were constructed, 314 doctors and 2.700 farmers took training courses, 184.000 people were rendered medical aid, and 15.800 micro-credits were granted under the program.

Environment

Precautionary and some additional measures to protect environment and cultural heritage were taken in the following areas along the pipeline’s route:

Borjomi National Park (Georgia)

Erzurum lowland (Turkey)

Posof (Turkey)

Ktsia-Tabatskuri Preserve (Georgia)

Gobustan cultural preserve (Azerbaijan)

The total cost of the Environment Investment Program, as well as the projects to protect turtles, black tetra fish, bears and seals, is 9 million dollars. Five million dollars were spent on archeological monitoring.

Monitoring

On behalf of creditors, a quarter-long environmental and social monitoring by the company D’Appollonia;

On behalf of creditors, 6-month social monitoring and that of the plan of land parceling, by the independent experts’ council;

A 12-month monitoring by Caspian Development Advisory Panel;

Monitoring and analysis by NGOs: In Azerbaijan by the Open Society Institute, in Turkey by TESEV through implementation of the population involvement program, in Georgia by TBC;

Human rights monitoring by Foley Hoag

BTC Co. Shareholders

BP (30,1 %); AzBTC (25 %); Shevron (8,90 %); Statoil (8,71 %); TPAO (6,53 %) ; ENİ (5 %); Total (5 %), İtochu (3,40 %); İNPEKS (2,50 %), KonokoPhillips (2,50 %) and Amerada Hess (2,36 %).

Historic milestones

September 20, 1994: signing of the Contract of the Century;

November 18, 1999: Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia come together in Istanbul to sign an Agreement on transportation of crude oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline;

August of 2002: the company BTC Co. is founded in London to construct and further exploit the pipeline;

September 18, 2002: foundation stone of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline is laid in Baku with the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia, and US Energy Secretary in attendance;

May 25, 2005: inauguration of the Azerbaijan section of the pipeline, and filling it with the first oil in Sangachal terminal;

October of 2005: inauguration of the Georgian section of the pipeline;

May 28, 2006: Azeri oil reaches Ceyhan terminal;

June 16, 2006: Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan meet in Astana to sign an agreement to encourage and create conditions for the Kazakh oil to be delivered from Kazakhstan through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, and through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline to the world market;

June 4, 2006: first tanker filled with the Caspian oil dispatches from the port of Ceyhan to Europe;

July 13, 2006: Official inauguration of the pipeline in Ceyhan.

AzerTAg

President of Azerbaijan awarded persons from Absheron area

2006-08-04T10:15:00.000+05:00

According to the decree President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed August 3, a group of persons that serviced to social and economic development of Absheron area.

Trend reports Nadir Agayev, Mahira Gasimova and Nuru Nadirov were conferred the title «Honorary Teacher», Raya Bayramova, Gencha Drgahova, Solmaz Mamedova and Sona Saklmanova the title «Honorary Physician», Gitas Masimov the title «Honorary Worker of Physical Culture and Sports».

According to another decree, Agababa Akhundov was awarded the third degree of order «For Services To Motherland»; big group of persons was awarded «Tereggi» medal.

Trend

Biggest GDP growth in CIS recorded in Azerbaijan

2006-08-04T10:08:00.001+05:00

Biggest GDP growth in CIS recorded in Azerbaijan

Source: Trend
Author: А.Маmmadov

03.08.2006

In average throughout the CIS, GDP growth in January-July 2006 totaled 6.5% over year. The CIS Intergovernmental Statistical Committee reports the biggest GDP growth is recorded in Azerbaijan (36.3%), Trend reports.

Azerbaijan is followed by Armenia with 11.9%, Belarus with 10.1%, Tajikistan with 7.1%, Russia with 6%, Ukraine with 5% and Kyrgyzstan with 3.1%.

Trend

Azerbaijan’s industry displays highest growth rates across CIS

2006-08-04T10:08:00.000+05:00

Across the CIS, industrial production in the first half-year 2006 grew in average by 5.5% compared to 4.5% in first half-year 2004, Trendreports with reference to the CIS Intergovernmental Statistical Committee.

RBC reports the highest growth rate in industry was recorded in Azerbaijan (41.1%), Byelorussia (12.6%) and Turkmenistan (22.4%). Industry declined in Armenia by 1%, in Kyrgyzstan by 6.8% and in Moldavia by 6.4%.

Trend

Baku State Circus not Abroad

2006-08-04T10:05:00.000+05:00

“The information disseminated that the Baku Ste Circus has gone on tour to Turkey does not represent the facts”, Mahir Humbatov, the Chief of the Baku State Circus Press-Service told Trend.

Some Turkish media sources reported that the troupe of the Baku State Circus goes on tour to Turkey and is to present its program to several cities of the country.

Mahir Humbatov refuted this information and told that the Baku State Circus has not gone on tour to any country.” First of all it should be mentioned that the official name of the Circus is the Baku State Circus, not the Azerbaijan State one, as it was reported on these media sources. Moreover, there has been neither state nor private circus in Azerbaijan. The national team of the Baku State Circus has not been found yet. That is why the circus` tours abroad are not possible. Probably somebody unofficially visits any country, since it is possible that some actors works in other countries by any companies`, legal and natural persons` invitation. However, if we speak about the trope which goes on tour in Turkey, they are not related to the Baku State Circus.” – told M. Humbatov.

According to M. Humbatov, the national team of the Circus was broken up during the period of transition. Following the appointment of Vagif Baghirzadeh as the Director of the Circus, he raised this issue, and works on founding the national team of the Circus has been launched. Today these works approaches the end. The Press-Service Chief pointed out that during the 2006-2007 seasons, the first appearance of the national team of the Circus is expected, and that will happen in Baku.

Trend

Russian and French co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group can be replaced – Azeri deputy Foreign Minister

2006-08-04T10:03:00.000+05:00

Azerbaijan passed its position to US co-chairman of OSCE Mink Group Mathew Bryza regarding the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Araz Azimov, President’s special representative o Nagorno-Karabakh and deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to ATV channel.

Azimov said following the replacement of US co-chair Russian and French co-chairs may get replaced as well. «From this point of view Bryza’s visit to the region opens some prospects», Azeri official said.

Commenting Mr Bryza’s statement saying ‘status of Nagorno-Karabakh shall be determined by its people, including those left homes in 1988’, Azimov said people living in there shall be treated as ‘population’, not ‘nation’. «We think Azeri and Armenian community alike shall be accounted for in this process», said Azimov. The question of Nagorno-Karabakh status, he added, shall be considered just in a view of returning occupied grounds to Azerbaijan.

Trend

Intergovernmental commission for delimitation and demarcation of Azerbaijan-Georgia border meets in Tbilisi

2006-08-03T16:48:00.000+05:00

The Azerbaijani delegation led deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov arrived in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi today.

The 19-member delegation represented by Elchin Guliyev, head of State Border Service and Garib Mammadov, head of State Land and Cartography Committee as well will discuss issues regarding delimitation and demarcation of borders between the two states with the Georgian delegation led by deputy foreign minister Georgi Manegaladze. The sides will try to reach agreement on disputed issues regarding Georgia-Azerbaijan border.
Mr.Khalafov told the APA’s Georgia bureau that they will discuss disputed and uncoordinated issues concerning Azerbaijan-Georgia border.
“We’ll make efforts to solve these issues as soon as possible. We have to reach common position satisfying both sides,” deputy foreign minister said.

APA

One Azerbaijani killed and one wounded in BMW explosion in Saratov

2006-08-03T16:34:00.000+05:00

This morning an Azerbaijani-owned BMW X5 was exploded in Saratov. APA quoting Russian sources reports that. Initial investigations show that a bomb pre-placed in the car was operated by a remote controller.

34-aged Azerbaijani was killed and another was wounded. Investigation is underway on the fact. Saratov law-enforcement bodies do not refer to the name of the killed Azerbaijani but linked the killing to his business activity.
The deceased Azerbaijani was one of the game hall clients.

Sabir Ilyasov: An140-100 crashed due to designer’s mistake

2006-08-03T16:03:00.000+05:00

“Azerbaijan Airlines State Company announced the causes of the crash of the An140-100 plane en route to Aktau. The plane crashed on the Caspian shore in Azerbaijan on December 23 last year. APA reports quoting the Radio Liberty, the crash was due designer’s mistake.

The Company deputy general manager Sabir Ilyasov said after three-month investigation into the crash, Russian specialists arrived at a conclusion that the crash was caused by the mistake made in designing of the plane. So, the version of terror or pilot’s carelessness is not acceptable.
Mr.Ilyasov the state commission dealing with the crash will make public preliminary report in details in two weeks. He did not rule out the Azerbaijani government will demand indemnity from Ukraine for making such planes and will not purchase any AN140-100 planes any more.
The AN140-100 passenger plane, which was en route to Aktau, Kazakhstan, from Azerbaijan crashed few minutes after setting off and fell down the Caspian shore killing 23 (18 passengers and 5 crew members).
AN140-100 is middle-sized, 52-seat plane. Azerbaijan purchased four AN140-100 planes from Ukraine two years ago.

APA

Belarus President calls GUAM and CIS destructive forces

2006-08-03T16:01:00.000+05:00

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko considers GUAM (alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as destructive forces.

APA’s Eastern Europe bureau reports Lukashenko said during the meeting with ambassadors to foreign states the territory once called 1/6 of the earth today has become the scene of the most intensive global struggle for energy carriers, military involvement and power. He said the characteristic feature of this fighting is that it has no rule.
Belarus President also said very complicated domestic and external processes are ongoing in the Post-soviet arena today.
“There are interior and external attempts to not even “shake” the CIS but also lead these countries to various political barricades and provoke conflicts among them. I mean the transformation of the GUAM. Since they want to make the CIS collapse in such a way, no one needs this,” Lukashenko said.
He said the Belarusian government supports guaranteeing stability, confidence, welfare and prospects of its people and other CIS states and it is necessary to join integration processes.

APA

Kars parliamentarian Zeki Karabayir: “Azerbaijani nation should know that Turkey will not act against its concerns”

2006-08-03T15:55:00.000+05:00

“Opening of Turkey-Armenia border is not work of Gars municipality head, government, even state.” This statement was given to Turkey bureau of APA by AKP Gars parliamentarian Zeki Karabayir.

Expressing attitude to the opinion of Naif Alibayoglu “Turkey should open borders with Armenia”, Gars municipality head said that Armenia has not followed the rules pursued against it. “Armenia has not withdrawn from their claim that means that it has not freed the territories occupied. Besides it, through Diaspora it made impact on Turkey for recognizing alleged “Armenian genocide”. Opening of the borders is significant composition of government and even state policy. This is not the work within responsibility of municipality head.” Zeki Karabayir added: “How much can Armenia with 3,5 mln population impact on foreign trade turnover of Turkey … As concerns the opinion of Turkey’s losing Russia market , it is not true. Our trade turnover with Russia increases year after year without Armenia. For example, in 2005, trade turnover between Turkey and Russia was 16 milliard dollars, increase of this figure is considered to be 25 milliard dollars in 2008. Azerbaijani nation should know that the state of Turkey will not act against concerns of Turkey.”

APA

Terrorists in Dagestan attempt to enter Azerbaijan

2006-08-03T15:52:00.000+05:00

Dagestan’s Interior Ministry, Federal Security Service and Russian Defense Ministry squads conducted special operation in Andi and Gunkha villages of Botlikhsk region on 1 August.

As a result, Botlikhs resident Temirsultan Khayrullayev, Khasavyurt resident Magomed Kasumov and resident of Vedenski region of Chechnya Muslav Baysalayev were arrested. Great deal of military supplies were found in the stronghold of the terrorists.
Dagestani Interior Ministry spokeswoman Anjela Martirosova told the APA’s bureau that the investigation found out that the terrorists attempted to enter Azerbaijan for treatment. Though they planned to enter Georgia first, they gave up later on.

APA

CIS Defense Ministers Council will discuss cooperation issues in military field in the meeting to be held in Azerbaijan

2006-05-29T18:46:00.000+05:00

On May 31 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Defense Ministers Council will hold the next meeting.

Defense Ministry press service has told APA that Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Ukraine Defense Ministry, as well as CIS Executive Committee and Defense Ministers Council Secretariat delegation staffs will participate in the meeting.

Cooperation issues on military fields among the CIS participant countries will be discussed in the meeting.

It should be noted that, Armenia Defense minister Serj Sarkisian will not participate in the meeting.

APA

Georgian Railway Department to Send Train to Moscow through Baku

2006-05-27T05:04:00.000+05:00

Georgian Railway department restores the movement of the train through Tbilisi-Baku-Moscow. After 13-year pause, the first train will leave the Tbilisi railway department on May 27 at 17:15 with local time.

According to information provided by the special correspondent of Trend in Georgia, this project has been drown up for long and the agreement on renewal of the movement was reached by means of consultations.

At the first phase, the passengers will be transported three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Two trains will leave for Baku which will join the Baku-Moscow train. The ticket in compartment costs $110, but $75 in reserved seat.

If the demands increase, the number of the trains will be increased.

Trend

MINISTRY OF ECOLOGY & NATURAL RESOURCES ESTABLISHES LAB TO DISCOVER ANIMAL DISEASE

2006-05-20T04:25:00.000+05:00

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan will set up lab to discover animal disease, including ‘avian flu’.

Thereupon, tender to purchase relevant equipment for construction of the laboratory has been announced.

State Commission for avian flu prevention has allotted 200 thousand AZN to establish the lab.

AzerTAj

COMMANDER OF NATO AIR FORCES ARRIVES IN BAKU

2006-05-20T04:13:00.000+05:00

Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe General Tom Hobbins on 18 May has arrived in Baku with a 2-day visit.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev and Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe Tom Hobbins met to discuss military cooperation, the press service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.

Mr. Hobbins arrived in Baku on Thursday for a working visit to closer familiarize himself with Azerbaijan’s Air Forces. He expressed confidence that the two countries’ air forces will expand cooperation.

The American general emphasized the importance of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO and put emphasis on a partnership plan implemented by the sides.

Mr. Abiyev, for his part, noted successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and NATO within the framework of the Individual Partnership Plan.

During their exchange of views, the sides “also touched upon issues of Azerbaijan’s integration in European security agencies and its participation in the international anti-terrorist coalition, the DM press service said.

The U.S. Embassy to Azerbaijan has reported that after a trip to Azerbaijan Tom Hobbins will visit several other countries. It did not specify, however, which countries the general will visit.

AzerTAj

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS’ PROBLEMS DISCUSSED

2006-05-20T04:11:00.000+05:00

The seminar on the topic “Problems of the human rights institutions in the South Caucasus” has ended in Tbilisi.

At the seminar in which representatives of the countries of Southern Caucasus took part, also were present employees of the ombudsman of Azerbaijan Republic.

At opening ceremony, the legal expert of Georgia S. Subari has told about the purposes and duties of seminar.

Delivered were lectures of known experts in the field of law on themes “Problems which face the national institutes of human rights in the countries of Southern Caucasus”, “Experience of creation of effectively operating national institutes”, “Successful initiatives directed on propagation of human rights in mass-media, carrying out of national researches”.

Staff member of Azerbaijan Ombudsman Aydin Safikhanli has in detail informed on creation of Ombudsman institute in the country, main principles of activity of the representative in the field of protection of the human rights, and the reached results. He emphasized, that as a result of aggression of Armenia twenty percent of the Azerbaijani lands were occupied, in the mass order the rights of more than one million Azerbaijanis who have appeared on the native lands in plight of refugees and IDPs, were violated, and that this continues already more than 18 years, and impedes restoration of steady peace in region of Caucasus.

AzerTAj

OEC SUMMIT FOCUSES ON REGIONAL POLICY AND SECURITY

2006-05-04T04:05:00.000+05:00

Issues dealing with economy, social area, large energy projects, regional policy and security will be in the focus of Organization for Economic Cooperation /OEC/ summit to take place May 5 in Baku, Ali Hasanov, head of socio-political department of President’s Administration told AzerTAc correspondent.

He stated that heads of OEC member states adhere to mutual cooperation in establishment of peace and security in Eurasian region. Therefore, summit is very useful not only from the economic but also from the political and security point of view.

AzerTAj

United States to tell about the ‘bird flu’ pandemic

2006-05-04T04:02:00.000+05:00

The United States administration expected to publish a global action plan in case of the ‘bird flu’ pandemic in the country on Wednesday, White House told.

The document will define duties of all branches of government and representatives of the private sector. The plan should be based upon the adopted last fall National Strategy against flu pandemic.

According to experts, if things will start unraveling negatively; the disease is capable to kill 1, 9m Americans for 18 months. In order to stop the disease spread all residents will be advised to work at home via Internet, instead of going to office. In some cases it is planned to engage pensioners in order to provide stable work of public services. Another plan has been worked out to vaccinate the population, Interfax reports.

Trend

Russia will transport 400 carriages of military equipment via Azerbaijan- vice transport minister

2006-05-04T03:58:00.000+05:00

Russian side asked for a permit to transport 400 carriages via Azerbaijani territory from Georgia. They will transport military equipment and vehicles from the military base in Georgia, the first vice transport minister of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The carriages will arrive to Azerbaijan from Beyuk-Kesik station at the Georgian –Azerbaijani border will pass approximately 700km through the Azerbaijani territory towards the Russian border station Yalama, he said.

Transportation of cargo, marked as dangerous, will be carried out in accordance with transportation norms of dangerous cargoes in the world and in CIS, and according the normative accepted in Azerbaijan.

TREND

Norwegian human rights house to open its office in Baku

2006-05-04T03:53:00.000+05:00

Norwegian human rights house is planning to open its office in Baku in order to coordinate NGO activities here, the Norwegian human rights house representative, Anne Tuswik Bondeni told at his meeting with the Azerbaijani ombudsman, Elmira Suleymanova.

Bondeni also expressed wish to find a donor for financing the project of starting an office in Baku. Ombudsmen highly appreciated importance of the project, emphasizing it positive side for human rights protection.

Zagatala resident invents first electronic stringed instrument “Oguz” in history of Azerbaijani culture

2006-05-04T03:47:00.000+05:00

Resident of Ashagi Tala village, Zagatala Zahid Mustafayev has invented the first electronic stringed instrument in the history of Azerbaijani culture.

He told APA Sheki-Zagatala bureau that he managed to make this musical instrument after 20-year hard work.

“This musical instrument is like guitar. This instrument enables to play the sound of about 20 stringed, percussion and wind instruments”.

This instrument has sound of synthesizer, flute, saxophone, violin and etc.

“I am a guitarist. I was keen on musical instruments in my childhood. This interest in musical instruments stimulated me to make a perfect instrument. I named Oguz for my instrument”.

He wishes to achieve mass production of this instrument and spread it in the world.
“Some foreigners wanted to buy this instrument offering $100,000. But I refused to sell. I want this instrument to be produced in Azerbaijan. I don’t want this instrument to face the fat of Tar (Tar is an Azerbaijani national musical instrument).

Armenians made very slight changes to Tar in 1979 and called it Armenian instrument.

APA

The US allocates $40mln. to support Press Freedom

2006-05-04T03:45:00.000+05:00

“Though press is free in several fields in Azerbaijan here are series of serious restrictions that affects activity of press negatively”, the US embassy to Azerbaijan Public Affairs Officer Jonathan Henick has stated in the press conference dedicated to World Press Freedom Day.

The government of America considers freedom of press as main principles of democracy in Azerbaijan as well as in different places of the world, and added that his country allocated $40mln. to support Press Freedom over the world. Jonathan Henick dealt with the history of the press freedom in his country. Yet in 1735 not ensuring the claim raised against one publisher is evaluated as victory of press (the Court made award on his right criticizing the government).

APA

Turkish State Minister Beshir Atalai is visiting Baku today

2006-05-04T03:40:00.000+05:00

Turkish State Minister Beshir Alyai is visiting Baku today.

Turkish embassy in Azerbaijan told APA that Mr. Altai will attend the meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers of Economic Cooperation Organization member states. The meeting will take place in Baku tomorrow.

Turkish Prime Minister Racab Tayyib Erdogan will take part in 9th summit of ECO to be held in Baku on May 5.

APA

OSCE MG co-chairs complete discussion in Moscow, Bernard Fasie visits Armenia

2006-05-04T03:36:00.000+05:00

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Yuri Merzlyakov, Steven Mann, Bernar Fasie and OSCE chair-in-office’s personal representative on Nagorno Garabagh Anjey Kaspiisk have completed discussion in Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

Russian FM Nagorno Garabagh group told APA that no information was released about discussion but Bernar Fasie left Moscow for Yerevan today.

Co-chairs should submit the formula gained at discussion to the conflicting sides.

APA

DAY OF GENOCIDE OF AZERBAIJANIS MARKED IN EGYPT

2006-05-01T12:54:00.000+05:00

Workshop devoted to March 31-the Day of genocide of Azerbaijanis was held in Egypt. Azerbaijani nationals living in Egypt, the members of Writer’s Union of Eurasia and representatives of local mass media participated in the action.

In the beginning, the film on the genocide of Azerbaijanis was demonstrated. The ambassador of Azerbaijan in Egypt Faig Bagirov read out the Address by the President of Azerbaijan Republic, Ilham Aliyev on Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.

The participants were informed on genocide and deportation policy realized by Armenians against the Azerbaijanis.

The ambassador told about purposeful policy of President Ilham Aliyev on securing territorial integrity of Azerbaijan Republic, determination of legal and political assessment of this barbarism.

Information about genocide was placed as well on Internet site of embassy.

AzerTAj

BUSH, ALIYEV SEE EYE-TO-EYE ON REGIONAL SECURITY, IRAN

2006-05-01T12:09:00.000+05:00

Issues of regional security, coordination of the fight against terror, the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and energy issues were discussed by US and Azeri Presidents George Bush and Ilham Aliyev at the White House on Friday, says a joint statement after the presidents’ 45-minute meeting.

Bush reiterated that Azerbaijan is an important and strategic partner of the United States in the region. “We highly appreciate Azerbaijan’s involvement in the anti-terror coalition.”

He noted that the sides agreed that the Iranian problem must be resolved through diplomatic channels.

Speaking about the region’s energy security, Bush pointed to the important role Azerbaijan is playing in this issue.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan’s stance coincides with that of Washington on all issues. “Just like the U.S., Baku supports a peaceful settlement to the Upper Garabagh conflict and other problems and the establishment of peace in the region.”

The president said Azerbaijan’s position on the Iran issue remains unchanged and the problem should be resolved through diplomacy.

Aliyev spoke highly of the US support in the issue of development of Azerbaijan’s energy resources and their transportation to world markets.

American experts praised the results of President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the US.
The director of the Nixon Center for International Security and Energy Programs, Zeyno Baran, said it was even more successful than expected.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza said the Garabagh conflict will be resolved soon. “The conflict resolution is around the corner. But this mostly depends on the will of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents. If the two leaders adopt complex but at the same time, very important decisions, I believe it is possible to solve the issue. In a nutshell, we believe a peaceful solution is more appropriate, as there is certain framework for such an accord and our activity is based on it.”

AssA-Irada

AZERBAIJAN STATE OIL COMPANY INCREASES TAX PAYMENTS TO BUDGET

2006-05-01T11:07:00.000+05:00

Azerbaijan State Oil Company said it paid AZN 231 million in taxes to the State budget during January-April of this year.

This is AZN 91 million more than in the same period a year earlier.

During this period, the Company also transferred AZN 14.2 million to the State Social Protection Fund, up 64 percent from 2005.

AzerTAj