News in brief

CASPIAN STATUS TALKS DUE IN BAKU

Russian President's Caspian status negotiator Viktor Kaliuzhny is expected to hold another round of Caspian status consultations in Baku Thursday. According to a diplomatic source, Mr. Kaliuzhny will meet with Azeri deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov.

Mr. Kalyuzhniy will then visit Tehran.

SCHOLARS' SALARIES RAISED

The Azerbaijan President has resolved the raise the salaries of the Academy of Sciences Presidium. Since April 1, the president of the Academy will be making as much as vice-premier, first vice-president of the Academy - as much as the first deputy minister, while vice-president and academic secretary of the Academy - as much as deputy minister.

CIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EXPECTED ON A VISIT

The CIS executive secretary Yuri Yarov is expected to visit Baku in late April as part of his tour of Caucasus countries. He will discuss the agenda of the CIS summit due in Minsk on May 31-June 1.

AZERI-UKRAINIAN COMMISSION MEETING POSTPONED

A meeting of Azeri-Ukrainian inter-governmental economic commission has been put off till May, a source from the Cabinet of Ministers told AssA-Irada Tuesday.

During the meeting in Odessa in May, the parties are expected to sign agreements on consular issues, facilitation of naturalization of Azeris in Ukraine and Ukrainians in Azerbaijan, and cooperation in automobile and railway transport. Also to be discussed is the purchase of Azeri fuel, shipbuilding for Azerbaijan, etc.

NATO OFFICIAL IN BAKU

Deputy director of the NATO international military staff, head of the regional security and cooperation department Major-General Dastor has come to Baku on an official visit. The visit is being paid as part of the "Partnership for Peace" program.

Gen. Dastor is expected to hold meetings at the Foreign Ministry, department for international relations of the Azerbaijan MOD and military attaches of NATO member-states. Major-General will be in Baku till March 30 and visit the "PfP" chair at the Baku Senior Command School, according to the MOD press-service.

AZERI OFFICERS TO ATTEND NATO ARRANGEMENTS

A NATO expert group on anti-aircraft defense weapons is due in Prague, Czech Republic, as part of NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program. Representatives of the Azerbaijan Armed Forces will take part.

TURKISH DOCTORS CIRCUMCISE REFUGEE CHILDREN

41 refugee children were circumcised in Azerbaijan in March on the joint initiative of the Turkish Medical Center, "Budan" and the Committee for protection of refugee women and children.

According to deputy chairman of the Committee Telman Dadashov, a total of 250 kids have undergone circumcision.

ENGLAND SENDS COMPUTERS

28 computers will be brought to Azerbaijan shortly to open computer courses in 4 provinces of the republic. The computers have been provided by British "Aid International". The equipment will be delivered by local "United Aid for Azerbaijan", according to the director of the business development department of the local humanitarian organization "In the name of the future" Israyil Asaliyev.

The courses will be opened in secondary schools in Mingachevir, Sumgayit, Shuvelyan settlement of Baku and Ismayilli province.

YOUNG VOLUNTEERS TO DONATE BLOOD FOR THALASSAEMIA PATIENTS

The board of the UN Young Volunteers Program, together with some 100 volunteers, has decided to donate blood to those suffering from thalassaemia. The humanitarian action is expected to take place at the Blood Transfusion Institute in Baku at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Initiators of the action intend to attract donors to the program, a source from the Young Volunteers Program told Azernews Monday.

AGREEMENT ON INDIRECT TAXATION EFFECTIVE

Russian President has ratified the agreement "On principles of indirect taxation in mutual trade with Azerbaijan. Earlier, the agreement had been approved by the Azerbaijan President. Enactment of the covenant will eliminate double taxation in bilateral trade relations.

ADB DELEGATION EXPECTED ON VISIT

A delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on April 16. The visit is to last till April 27, a source from the Ministry of Finance told Azernews Saturday.

ADB experts are expected to identify key strategic directions of long-term cooperation with Azerbaijan and to meet with some government officials.

CIS CURRENCY COMMITTEE TO MEET IN MOSCOW

Moscow is expected to host a meeting of the CIS Intergovernmental Currency Committee on April 6, a source from the Ministry of Economics told Azernews Saturday. The participants will focus on ways of liberalization of national financial markets, cooperation in the use of credit cards, etc.

The meeting will be attended by CIS finance and economics ministers.

AZERBAIJAN TO HOST ECONOMIC COMMISSION MEETING

The Azerbaijan government has proposed to conduct a regular meeting of the Russo-Azeri economic commission meeting in Baku on April 10, according to vice-premier Abbas Abbasov.

The Azeri party has also suggested that a number of new projects be inserted into the agenda, including modernization of the Sumgayit pipe-rolling plant and some canneries, construction of dairy and meat enterprises.

21 ENTERPRISES TURN INTO JSC IN FEBRUARY

The department for privatization of medium and large enterprises under the Ministry for State Property converted 21 enterprises into joint stock companies in February, the Ministry told Azernews Saturday.

37 JSCs will be put on specialized voucher auctions and 919 cash auctions (most of the latter have already been put on sale, but without much success).

COTTON FABRICS REMAIN UNCLAIMED

In the first months of 2001, production of cotton fabrics has risen to 262.8 million square meters. Despite a great need for this product in the domestic market, local fabrics cannot withstand competition with imported ones and fully remain unclaimed in warehouses. As of early March, the remains of finished products exceeded monthly output 5 times.

WHOLESALE PRICES ON INDUSTRIAL GOODS UP

As compared to early March 2000, wholesale prices on industrial goods have risen 8.6%. At the same time, wholesale prices in other spheres have reduced. For example, in oil and gas production the decline made up 1.9%, in production of chemicals 5.2% and leather articles 17%.

OVER A THIRD OF GDP IN INDUSTRY

In January-February 2001, GDP worth AZM3,640,000,000,000 was formed, or 8.2% over 2000. GDP per capita constituted AZM457,000, or 7.3% over 2000.

34.4% of GDP was formed in industry, 24.2% in transport and communications, 7.3% in trade and public catering, 2.1% in agriculture, 1.8% in construction, while the rest in other spheres.

CUSTOMS FULFILL TWO-MONTH PLAN

According to the State Customs Committee, in January-February 2001, AZM110,000,400,000 in taxes and duties were transferred to the state budget, which was above the forecast.

In February budget revenues made up AZM65,100,000,000.

PHYSIOLOGICAL SUBSISTENCE MINIMUM UP

In February 2001, the physiological or subsistence minimum per person made up AZM223,200, or 0.3% over January, a source from the Confederation of Trade Unions told AssA-Irada Thursday.

Average subsistence minimum per jobless constituted AZM335,050, while per worker - AZM405,410. An average monthly wage was AZM243,100 and pension AZM70,000.

The unemployment allowance of AZM38,362 was paid to 3,939 people. 44,810 jobless were registered as of early March.

Azernews

AssA-Irada