Parliament news

MUNICIPAL TAXES IN DEBATE

The permanent parliamentary commission on regional issues focused last week on the draft law "On local (municipal) taxes and payments". The commission insisted that municipal taxes should constitute one-time levies on services in markets and fairs, 0.5% of the fees paid by holiday makers in sanatoriums, camps and tourist bases, and 1% of hotel, motel and guest-house fees.

The draft has been sent to the Milli Mejlis for deliberations.

NEW INSURANCE POLICY PROPOSED

While discussing the bill "On ecological insurance", members of the permanent parliamentary commission on natural resources, energy and ecology decided that a minimum insurance amount for enterprises producing harmful substances should be set at 150,000 conditional currency units, while insurance tariffs should be regulated by the market. The draft has been sent to the parliament.

MILLI MEJLIS TO PASS 24 BILLS IN FALL

The Milli Mejlis is expected to pass 24 bills in its fall session starting on October 1, first vice-speaker Arif Rahimzadeh told a traditional news conference at the Yeni Azerbaijan Party headquarters Friday. The drafts include those on ombudsman, on the status of the Baku city, on combat against corruption, on alternative military service, on execution of court rules, on state purchases, on ecological insurance, on education, on the use of the Azerbaijan language, on youth policy, etc.

Mr. Rahimzadeh said the parliament had adopted as many as 135 draft laws and 37 resolutions in three sessions. He brushed aside media publications on upcoming changes in the parliament administration. Such changes are not necessary and are not being planned, he said.

PARLIAMENT TO JOIN ANTI-TERRORIST CONVENTION

First vice-speaker of the Azerbaijan parliament Arif Rahimzadeh told journalists Friday that the Milli Mejlis is expected to join an international convention on eradicating economic pillars of terrorism in its first fall session. The document has been forwarded to the Milli Mejlis by President Aliyev.