News digest

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION DUE ON VISIT

A European Parliament delegation is expected to pay a brief visit to Baku in late May, according to the Greek ambassador Mercurios Karafotias. He said the 8-people delegation would meet with Azeri parliament speakers and discuss ways of expanding its cooperation with the European Parliament.

The parties would focus on prospects of bilateral cooperation and the status of EU-operated projects in Azerbaijan. They are also expected to exchange views concerning the conformity of the national legislation with international requirements.

The delegation will be received by President Aliyev.

GERMAN MINISTER's VISIT DATE SET

German foreign minister Joschka Fischer is expected to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on May 23. According to a diplomatic source, Mr. Fischer is expected to hold talks with Azeri authorities on ways of expanding bilateral political, economic and cultural ties.

The parties will also sign a number of bilateral documents, which are not being spelled out yet.

UNDP TO ALLOCATE $5MLN A YEAR

The Azerbaijan Parliament ratified Tuesday the Agreement on Assistance between the Azerbaijan Republic and the UN Development Program (UNDP). Speaking of the significance of the agreement, chairman of the MM permanent commission on issues of economic policy Mr. Safarov said UNDP had provided $19 million worth of assistance to Azerbaijan between 1993 and 1999.

Following the ratification of this document, UNDP will be allocating $5 million to Azerbaijan for the next 4 years.

EBRD PRESIDENT EXPECTED ON VISIT

President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Jean Lemier is expected to visit Baku from May 9 till 11. The Bank's Baku office confirmed the information, but declined to give details of the meetings to be held.

According to an informed source, the EBRD president may meet with President Aliyev and Prime Minister Rasizadeh. He is also expected to hold meetings at the Ministry for Finance and the National Bank.

Mr. Lemier will become familiar with the progress of EBRD projects in the country and be updated on further cooperation prospects.

SEISMOLOGICAL CENTER TO PURCHASE MODERN EQUIPMENT

The seismological center is inviting bids for the supply of 30 sets of seismological devices made by US "Telemetrix", deputy director Abuzar Aliyev told Azernews Friday.

The equipment registers weak and powerful tremors. One such device costs $100,000, with a total of 14 to be purchased.

5 sets of the equipment currently used by the center were purchased last year at $365,000. The equipment is jointly manufactured in the Netherlands and Italy.

SOLAR ACTIVITY TO LAST TILL END OF 2001

A medium-power outburst was registered on the Sun Friday, according to the head of the theoretical astrophysics department of the Shamakha Observatory Dr. Aliyev.

He said the period of active solar turbulence will last till the end of this year and may cause earthquakes and spread of different epidemics.

Azernews

AzadInform