Parliament news

ANOTHER OPPOSITION MP JOINS PARLIAMENT

For the first time in 2.5 months, the parliament session was joined Friday by Shirzad Ayyubov, a member of the Musavat party elected on the majority of votes ballot.

He said he had decided to take part in parliament sessions on the insistence of his electorate.

Mr. Ayyubov added that he had informed the party chairman Isa Gambar of his decision Thursday. The latter castigated the move, he said.

Mr. Ayyubov said he regrets his inevitable expulsion from Musavat, that he would not join any other party and would continue promoting Musavat ideas independently.

Earlier, Vagif Samadoglu was also expelled from Musavat for deciding to take part in what Musavat believes is a falsified parliament.*

COE REPRESENTATION TO RECEIVE DIPLOMATIC STATUS

MPs have adopted the law "On establishing a diplomatic representation under the Council of Europe" Friday. The draft of the bill was forwarded to the parliament by President Aliyev on February 8.

Introducing the draft bill, chairman of the permanent commission on inter-parliamentary contacts Samad Seyidov said although there was a permanent representation in the Council of Europe, it didn't have a diplomatic status.

According to him, the representation will be led by a diplomat in an ambassadorial rank.

TWO DRAFT LAWS ADOPTED IN SECOND HEARING

The Milli Mejlis adopted two draft laws "On psychiatric aid" and "On protection of atmospheric air" in the second hearing Friday.

The former envisions rules of protecting psychiatric health and provision of psychiatric care. This includes statutory medical examination, diagnosing psychiatric disorders, their treatment, medical and social rehabilitation and prophylactic measures for the mentally ill.

The draft also stipulates that assistance to the mentally retarded and control over institutions involved in such care be exercised by relevant executive power bodies.

AZERBAIJAN ADOPTS IAEA BY-LAWS

On Tuesday, the Milli Mejlis adopted the law on Azerbaijan's joining the by-laws of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted in 1959.

According to the chairperson of the permanent commission on natural resources, energy and ecology Asya Manafova, joining the by-laws will require Azerbaijan to pay a yearly membership fee of $19,000. Besides, Azerbaijan may receive funds for implementation of separate programs of the Agency. In 2001, $121,000 will be allotted to Azerbaijan and in 2002 - $135,000.

Armenia joined the by-laws long ago and has taken part in the implementation of 5 programs, fetched around $2 million.