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DRAFT "CODE ON LABOR" FOR CIS TO BE DISCUSSED
Another meeting of the CIS Parliamentary Assembly, due in St. Petersburg in March, is expected to focus on a draft "Code on Labor" for CIS countries. According to a Milli Mejlis source, Azerbaijan will be represented by MPs Eldar Gahramanov and Fazayil Agamali.
JOURNALISTS VOICE CONCERN
Most of Azeri newspapers circulate only in Baku and its vicinity, while on the countryside the population has to be content with state-run television and pro-governmental papers.
As a result, the population receives a one-sided coverage of events, director of the Humanitarian Research Society Avaz Hasanov told a meeting of NGOs with permanent representatives of the Netherlands and Sweden in the Council of Europe Hendrich Vagenmakersom and Hakan Wilkenson Friday.
Mr. Hasanov said the authorities do nothing to enforce the broadcast of independent Azeri channels to provinces and to prevent that of Armenian and Iranian channels in borderline and northern provinces of Azerbaijan.
Attending the meeting on behalf of Azerbaijan were the director of the "Yeni Nasil" journalistic association Arif Aliyev, chairman of the League of Labor Rights Sahib Mammadov and chairman of the "Ruh" journalistic association Aflatun Amashov.
2 BODIES STILL BURIED IN SNOW
11 Azerbaijan army soldiers were buried with a snow avalanche in Dashkasan province while standing guard.
Bodies of 9 have already been recovered, including one of an officer Agil Abdullayev.
Defense Ministry has asked mountain rescuers for help as the search for the other 2 is underway, according to the Defense Ministry spokesman Ramiz Malikov.
AZERI PEACE-KEEPERS TO UNDERGO MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Defense Minister Colonel-General Safar Abiyev has signed an order to protect the health of Azeri soldiers included into a peace-making platoon in Kosovo, MOD told AssA-Irada Tuesday.
The order instructs relevant MOD subdivisions to organize comprehensive medical examination of Azeri soldiers both still serving in the Dragash settlement of Kosovo and those who have already returned home.
The edict follows reports on a suggested link between uranium-tipped weapons and cases of cancer among Balkan peacekeepers.
38 POLITICAL PARTIES REGISTERED
24 public unions, 12 religious communities and 114 joint ventures were registered in 2000, Ministry of Justice told Azernews Saturday.
To date, there are 1,450 public organizations and associations, 247 religious communities and 38 political parties in Azerbaijan. The number of registered legal entities exceeds 80,000, including 4,500 enterprises with a share of foreign investment. The rest are local entities.
ECOLOGISTS TO FOCUS ON CASPIAN PROBLEMS
Baku is expected to host an international seminar, "Legal problems of ecological monitoring of transnational oil producing companies in the Caspian basin", on January 23-24, chairman of the pubic ecological and legal "Ecolex-Azerbaijan" organization Samir Isayev told Azernews Saturday.
Organizers of the seminar are "Ecolex", Moscow Institute of Ecological and Legal problems "Eco-Jurist" and the association of ecologists of Bashkortostan (Russia). During the seminar, ecologists and lawyers are expected to review the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) compiled and submitted by transnational oil companies as part of the contracts, their competence and feasibility.
"SALYANOIL" INVOLVED IN SEISMIC SURVEY?
According to an informed source, "SalyanOil" is conducting a seismic shooting not only on the "Kursangi-Garabagli" license area, but also in the Shirvan preserve.
Used in the survey is special equipment prohibited for application in preserves, not to mention the ground drilling for data collection.
The source added that some NGOs intend to verify authenticity of the information.
CHEMICAL, PETROCHEMICAL SECTORS REVITALIZING
In January-November 2000, chemical and petrochemical production increased 34% and 38% respectively to 1999. Besides, there were no serious marketing problems in evidence, except tyres, varnishes and paints (all tyres manufactured over the past few years remain unclaimed in warehouses, while the remainder of varnishes and paints constitutes half of yearly output).
In November 2000, unclaimed chemical and petrochemical products reduced 11%.
DWELLING SPACE MAINLY BUILT FOR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
In January-November 2000, new apartment buildings with total dwelling space of 302,500 square meters were commissioned. Orders for 91% of the apartments were placed by private organizations, including 83% built by the population.
AZERCELL EXPANDING ROAMING NETWORK
Another country and operator have joined Azercell's roaming network, as subscribers have been hooked to first Indian operator "Bharti". Thus, Azercell currently maintains roaming communication with 126 operators in 65 countries, the company told Azernews Friday.
WB OBSERVES ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CIS
The World Bank has released a report "Global prospects of economic growth and developing nations in 2001", whereby the economic growth tendency in CIS was indicated. According to the report, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan hold leading positions in CIS.
In 11 months of 2000, GDP in Azerbaijan made up 19.91 trillion manats, or 11.3% over 1999.
TWO THIRDS OF OFFICIAL MARKET - SMALL ENTERPRISES
In 11 months of 2000, goods totaling 9.5 trillion manats were sold to the population through the retail network, or 9.8% over 1999. The share of official trade organizations has declined from 29 to 28.4%. Two thirds (69.4%) of the official sector is made up of small enterprises.
WHOLESALE PRICES ON INDUSTRIAL GOODS UP
In November 2000, wholesale prices on industrial goods surged 8.7% to 1999. The highest increase in prices was observed in oil-producing and fuel industries - by 33% and 32% respectively. As prices on domestic industrial goods, which cannot withstand competition with imported ones, rise, this further exacerbates the situation in internal markets.
There have been no palpable changes in wholesale prices in metallurgy, while in chemical and petrochemical industries the prices have even decreased by 15% and 4% respectively.
8 MLN VOUCHERS, OPTIONS KEPT IN DEPOSITARY
As of early this year, 3,835,710 state privatization vouchers and 3,846,952 options owned by 13 legal entities were placed at the National Depositary Center (NDC), according to the State Committee on Securities.
The Center has registered 2,199 certificates for the sale of 11,828,575 shares by 181 emitters, totaling 95,888,878,044 manats. Also registered are 3 certificates for the sale of 1,437,200 vouchers and 2 for the sale of 175,000 options.
Besides, NDC has opened depositary accounts for thousands of physical and legal entities, signed agreement on depositing over 2 million vouchers and options, and accepted hundreds thousands of excise marks for storage.
2000 TELECOM PLAN OVER-FULFILLED
In 2000, the Ministry of Telecommunication fulfilled the government's plan on key economic indicators. For instance, tariff profit constituted 341.2 billion manats with the plan of 340.3 billion (100.3%). 175 billion manats worth of communication services have been provided to the population (109.3%).
As compared to 1999. Tariff profit has increased 13.5 billion manats and services to the population 18.3 billion, according to the Ministry press-service
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRODUCTS BARELY MARKETED
The surge in mechanical engineering production observed in recent months was, however, accompanied with accumulation of it in warehouses and subsequent marketing problems. Thus, only an insignificant portion of electrical engines, TV sets and wheel-bearers produced in 2000 were sold. The unclaimed remainder of power transformers exceeds their average monthly production 1.6 times, bolts 1.7 times, air conditioners 1.2 times, refrigerators 10 times, and gas stoves 7 times.
In all, as of early December 2000, unclaimed products worth 91.2 billion manats were registered in warehouses of mechanical engineering enterprises.
CAUCASUS AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION DUE IN TOKYO
An exhibition of agricultural products of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia is due in Tokyo, Japan, in February. According to a government source, organizer of the exhibition is Japan's Agency for International Economic Cooperation "Chetro". Azerbaijan will display wines, vegetables and fruits. The exhibition is aimed at facilitating the process of marketing the products.
Azernews
AssA-Irada
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Issue No.2(182), 2001
New stage in russo-azeri relationsGov’t workers’ wages raisedOil fund curtain raisedNews digestNationParliament electionOpposition newsNews in briefBusinessOil & gas newsMiscellaneousArts & culture
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