Azeri, Ukrainian parliaments sign for co-op

Ukrainian speaker visited Baku last week

Chairman of Ukrainian Rada Ivan Plusch paid an official visit to Baku last week and met Wednesday with the chairman of the Milli Mejlis Murtuz Alasgarov, as the two spoke of prospects of inter-parliamentary relations, exchange of legislative experience and development of cooperation.

Parliament speakers signed an agreement on expanding inter-parliamentary relations.

As part of the visit framework, Mr. Plusch met with President Aliyev, Prime Minister Rasizadeh, Foreign Minister Guliyev, SOCAR officials, etc.

After the meting, Mr. Plusch addressed the Milli Mejlis. In his remarks, he said Ukraine would preside over the March UN SC meeting, which will consider the Garabagh conflict issue.

Ukraine has been provided the status of a temporary UN SC member for 2000-2001.

The Ukrainian speaker added that his country could take part in Azerbaijan's oil contracts and construction of the oil and gas transportation network. Mr. Plusch believes that transportation of Azeri oil via the Baku-Supsa-Odessa-Brodi-Gdansk pipeline is one of the most feasible energy projects between the two countries.

Economic projects

Ukrainian entrepreneurs accompanying the Ukrainian parliament speaker met with government representatives and businessmen at the Ministry of Trade Thursday to focus on prospects of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The Ukrainian party forwarded around 15 projects on construction of sugar and cement plants in Azerbaijan, renovation and maintenance of airplanes, construction of new vessels for the Caspian Shipping Company, as well as a few agricultural projects.

Participating in the meeting, minister for trade Hussein Bagirov said last year's turnover between Azerbaijan and Ukraine was $70 million.

Commission to meet soon

Azeri-Ukrainian inter-governmental commission is expected to meet in late March, Ukrainian ambassador to Azerbaijan Boris Alexenko told journalists Thursday.

According to him, the meeting was initially scheduled for last November, but was adjourned due to the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan. The meeting agenda is currently being ascertained through diplomatic channels. Ukraine intends to initiate a number of economic projects, the ambassador said.