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$60 BN TO BE INVESTED IN OIL INDUSTRY
The Day of Oilmen, marked on September 20 to eternalize the signing of the Contract of the Century in 1994, was celebrated in an official meeting at the Republican Palace Saturday. Opening the meeting, SOCAR President Natiq Aliyev said it is the first time Azerbaijan is marking the Day of Oilmen, as 105 oilmen have been honored by a presidential decree. The SOCAR chief stressed that the country has signed 21 contracts with 31 international companies to develop its hydrocarbon reserves. Taking the floor afterwards, the honored oilmen voiced their gratitude.
In his remarks, President Aliyev said a new oil strategy has been launched in Azerbaijan. The head of state appreciated the national oil personnel and the contribution the State Oil Academy has made to the oil sector. He indicated that the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict led to a downturn in oil production in 1993-1995, which, however, was eliminated with stability that followed. Foreign companies became convinced sure of the stability and signed contracts with Azerbaijan, undertaking an investment plan of $60 billion in the country. The contracts were inked despite numerous opponents both in and outside.
President Aliyev then touched upon the operating northern and southern oil pipelines, the work over the Baku-Ceyhan MEP and the signing of the Shah Daniz gas transportation with Turkey. The Azeri head of state voiced confidence that a similar agreement would be signed with Georgia. President Aliyev spoke of the problems the country is facing due to the presence of over a million refugees and IDPs. We will need more funds to restore the infrastructure after the occupied Azeri lands are recovered, the President said adding that these funds will primarily come from oil revenues.
At the end of the meeting a documentary on the history of Azerbaijan's oil industry was demonstrated and a concert held.
Six CDC employees honored
6 employees of the Caspian Drilling Company (CDC) joint venture have been awarded, including two drilling foremen the Shohrat (Glory) Order and four others the Taragghi (Progress) medal, CDC general director Shaiq Bakirov said Saturday.
CDC, set up jointly by SOCAR and US Santa Fe, conducts drilling operations in the Caspian using the "Istiglal" and "Dada Gorgud" semi submersible drilling rigs. The company has implemented 90% of all the PSA operations in the Azeri sector of the Caspian. According to Mr. Bakirov, some 250 Azeris are employed in the company, with their salaries much over an average level in the country.
NEW RANGE OF AZERI-GEORGIAN TALKS STARTS
A new range of Azeri-Georgian intergovernmental talks on transit fees for transportation of natural gas from the Shah Daniz field of Azerbaijan to Turkey via Georgia started Tuesday after a Georgian delegation led by foreign minister Irakli Menagarashvili arrived in Baku Monday. Also in the delegation is the president of the Georgian International Oil Corporation Georgiy Chanturiya.
A source from the Georgian embassy told AssA-Irada Tuesday that the delegates are expected to hold meetings at the President's office, the Cabinet of Ministers, SOCAR and discussions with the Shah Daniz investors. It is not clear how long the visit is expected to last, as its time will hinge on the course of the negotiations.
SOCAR said that all the points concerning the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline project, outside transit tariffs, have been already coordinated.
The bone of contention is likely to find a solution during Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's upcoming visit to Baku in October.
President Aliyev is expected to receive the Georgian delegation.
AZERBAIJAN, UKRAINE TO SIGN NEW CO-OP AGREEMENTS
Azerbaijan and Ukraine are expected to sign new agreements on cooperation in transport, youth, sports, copyright, customs and financial policies. The signing will take place during the upcoming official visit by Ukrainian foreign minister Anatoliy Zlenko to Baku, according to a diplomatic source.
Accompanying Mr. Zlenko will be representatives of Ukraine's business circles who intend to look into opportunities of expanding business-like relations with Azerbaijan.
The date for the visit is currently being ascertained through diplomatic channels.
AZERI-FRENCH CO-OP PROSPECTS TO BE DISCUSSED
The Azeri-French inter-governmental economic commission is due to meet in Paris in November. The parties are expected to discuss prospects of cooperation in the energy, chemical, petrochemical, agricultural, light industries. Also on agenda are draft agreements on collaboration in the sphere of customs, avoiding double taxation, tourism, etc., the government said Monday.
DEMOGRAPHIC CONCEPTS, ANALYSIS METHODS TO BE STUDIED IN BAKU
UN Population Fund (UNFPA) jointly with the Azerbaijan government will hold a workshop on "The Techniques of Demographic Analysis" in Baku on September 24-29, 2001.
The workshop will aim at examining the main demographic concepts and methods of demographic analysis currently applied in international practice and represent an example of multilateral collaboration involving UNFPA, the Azerbaijan government, non-governmental organizations, and the Institute of Population Studies of Hacettepe University, Turkey.
Representatives from the State Statistical Committee, Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Ministry of Health, and non-governmental organizations are expected to participate in the workshop which is believed to be a progressive and fruitful continuation of UNFPA's prior active collaboration with these and other counterparts within the framework of the joint programs and projects. The participation of the experts from Hacettepe University's Institute of Population Studies in this joint training undertaking would allow for a dynamic exchange of expertise between international and local specialists and provide a valuable opportunity for all the participants to gain a deeper insight into conceptual frameworks and practical applications pertaining to modern demography. The conduct of this seminar is expected to lay groundwork for an expanded development of similar events in the future.
The "Techniques of Demographic Analysis" workshop will take place in Park Hyatt's Amirov Room with the opening ceremony scheduled for Monday, September 24th, at 10.00 am. The ceremony will be attended by the representatives of UN-System organizations, the State Statistical Committee, Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and Ministry of Health of the Azerbaijan Republic.
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Issue No.N39 (221), 2001
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