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No US funding needed for regional railway - Azeri official
Olaylar, Baku
28 Jul 06
Excerpt from report by Azerbaijani independent newspaper Olaylar on 28
July headlined "The position of the US Congress" and subheaded "Abid
Sarifov: The construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
will not be hindered"
The session of the Azerbaijani-Turkish joint intergovernment economic
commission has discussed the issue of energy supplies to Naxcivan
[Azerbaijani exclave]. The Azerbaijani side made its own proposals on
paying off its energy debt to Turkey, the co-chairman of the
commission and deputy prime minister, Abid Sarifov, has told
journalists.
[Sarifov] The president has issued an instruction to increase
commodity turnover between Turkey and Azerbaijan to 1bn dollars in two
years. This figure will increase to 700-750m dollars this
year. Moreover, the Turkish side has raised the issue of Naxcivan's
energy debt. This is an issue that is always raised. Azerbaijan has
other proposals in this regard. We suggest paying off our debt with
energy in several years' time. In connection with gas supplies to
Naxcivan, power stations will be reconstructed and we can pay off our
debt not with money, but with energy. We have made such a proposal and
will see if the Turkish side will accept it.
Moreover, the Turkish side has proposals regarding transport
issues. We have prepared 2,500-3,000 permits that will allow Turkish
vehicles to enter Azerbaijan free of charge. The Turkish side wants to
increase their number. This is a mutual issue and for the time being,
we want to delay the consideration of this issue for the time
being. We do not want to make hasty decisions. The issue will be
considered. On the other hand, Turk Petrollari wants to expand its
activities in Azerbaijan, and this is a matter of the future. It is
too early to talk about it yet.
[Correspondent] Did you discuss the construction of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway?
[Sarifov] Of course. If we have signed some protocol, its discussion
is natural. The Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway is an important
issue for both countries. We do not raise it as a problem. The
president has issued an instruction and we are working on this
issue. The Turkish side has already drawn up and presented the
feasibility study of the project. The meeting of transport ministers
in Astana is negotiating on this issue. This issue is under the strict
control of the president. The governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey see
eye-to-eye on this issue and are absolutely confident that
construction work will begin next year.
[Correspondent] The US Congress has decided not to finance the
construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway and has
asked banks not allocate funds for the project. Can this factor
influence the implementation of the project?
[Sarifov] A great number of questions have been asked about this. The
president has a categorical opinion about this issue and everyone
agrees with it. We will not use US banks and there is no need for
that. The project can be implemented with the help of domestic and
other sources. This is a matter of the future and I see no problem
about this.
[Passage omitted: Other issues discussed at the meeting]
Olaylar, Baku
28 Jul 06
Excerpt from report by Azerbaijani independent newspaper Olaylar on 28
July headlined "The position of the US Congress" and subheaded "Abid
Sarifov: The construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
will not be hindered"
The session of the Azerbaijani-Turkish joint intergovernment economic
commission has discussed the issue of energy supplies to Naxcivan
[Azerbaijani exclave]. The Azerbaijani side made its own proposals on
paying off its energy debt to Turkey, the co-chairman of the
commission and deputy prime minister, Abid Sarifov, has told
journalists.
[Sarifov] The president has issued an instruction to increase
commodity turnover between Turkey and Azerbaijan to 1bn dollars in two
years. This figure will increase to 700-750m dollars this
year. Moreover, the Turkish side has raised the issue of Naxcivan's
energy debt. This is an issue that is always raised. Azerbaijan has
other proposals in this regard. We suggest paying off our debt with
energy in several years' time. In connection with gas supplies to
Naxcivan, power stations will be reconstructed and we can pay off our
debt not with money, but with energy. We have made such a proposal and
will see if the Turkish side will accept it.
Moreover, the Turkish side has proposals regarding transport
issues. We have prepared 2,500-3,000 permits that will allow Turkish
vehicles to enter Azerbaijan free of charge. The Turkish side wants to
increase their number. This is a mutual issue and for the time being,
we want to delay the consideration of this issue for the time
being. We do not want to make hasty decisions. The issue will be
considered. On the other hand, Turk Petrollari wants to expand its
activities in Azerbaijan, and this is a matter of the future. It is
too early to talk about it yet.
[Correspondent] Did you discuss the construction of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway?
[Sarifov] Of course. If we have signed some protocol, its discussion
is natural. The Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway is an important
issue for both countries. We do not raise it as a problem. The
president has issued an instruction and we are working on this
issue. The Turkish side has already drawn up and presented the
feasibility study of the project. The meeting of transport ministers
in Astana is negotiating on this issue. This issue is under the strict
control of the president. The governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey see
eye-to-eye on this issue and are absolutely confident that
construction work will begin next year.
[Correspondent] The US Congress has decided not to finance the
construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway and has
asked banks not allocate funds for the project. Can this factor
influence the implementation of the project?
[Sarifov] A great number of questions have been asked about this. The
president has a categorical opinion about this issue and everyone
agrees with it. We will not use US banks and there is no need for
that. The project can be implemented with the help of domestic and
other sources. This is a matter of the future and I see no problem
about this.
[Passage omitted: Other issues discussed at the meeting]