Day: April 8, 2023

On Sunday, April 9 in Baku and Absheron peninsula is expected variable cloudiness, overcast at times, mostly without precipitation, moderate northwest wind blowing. Night temperature will be +8 +11°, daytime will be +16 +20°, National Hydrometeorological Service of Ministry of Ecology said. Areas of Azerbaijan are also expected to be mostly without precipitation. Short-lived precipitation is forecasted in some areas during the day. Fog is expected in some places and a western wind may blow. Night temperature will be +6 +11°, daytime +20 +25°, in the mountains - 0 +5°, daytime +6 +10°.

Source: Turan News Agency

It has become known what issues the Azerbaijani-Kazakh intergovernmental commission managed to coordinate on the eve of the official visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan on April 10. In particular, at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission in Baku on April 7 the parties agreed to raise the volume of intermodal rail freight on the route Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan-Turkey/Europe-Kazakhstan transit via Baku with attraction of new cargo in these directions. As part of the development of the Middle Corridor, the parties agreed to take measures to boost the capacity of the ports of Baku, Aktau and Kuryk. Baku and Astana have agreed to hold as soon as possible the third meeting of the working groups on the implementation of transportation of Kazakh oil and oil products in transit through Azerbaijan (transit of 1.5 million tons of oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline in 2023 from the fields Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak has been negotiated, other possibilities for transit are on the table), as well as supplies of any oil products and liquefied gas from Kazakhstan to Baku. As an informed source explained to Turan, Baku is unlikely to buy or provide transit of liquefied gas. As for the import or transit of Kazakh oil products, everything will depend on the commercial attractiveness of the proposals. The parties are also interested in the participation of companies from both states in the RES auctions. The Kazakh side stressed the need for continued cooperation in the transit of uranium products through Azerbaijan (!). When it comes to information and technological sphere, the parties agreed that the joint strategic telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia across the Caspian will be implemented by "AzerTelecom" and "KazakhTelecom" within the framework of the "Digital Silk Road" project. Also promising are directions of cooperation between the aerospace committee of the Kazakh Ministry for Digital Development and "AzerCosmos" space agency under the Azerbaijani Ministry for Digital Development (the parties may come to an agreement in October 2023 during the 74th International Astronautics Congress in Baku). In the agricultural sector there will be exchange of information on products with export potential, as well as the exchange of experience in the field of horse and sheep breeding and veterinary issues. On transport - JSC ESC "KazakhExport" offered the Azerbaijani side, in case of purchase of Kazakh locomotives and other high-tech products, works or services, to use the possibility of subsidizing the interest rate for financing in Kazakhstan's banks of the second level. JSC "Development Bank of Kazakhstan" under the insurance coverage of JSC "KazakhExport" up to the level of the CIRR rate for financing in US dollars, Euro or up to 50% of the base rate of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Note that Kazakhstan's investments can be involved in the process of rehabilitation and sustainable development of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. The issue of expediency of conclusion of an agreement in the sphere of pension provision will be studied. The sides also recognized it important to develop cooperation in healthcare, education and culture. A study tour to Azerbaijan will be organized for Kazakh experts in the field of tourism. Interaction of diaspora will be continued. The next, 20th IGC meeting of both states will be held in 2024 in Astana.

Source: Turan News Agency

The Biden Administration says it will apply a laser-like focus on cracking down on Russia's sanction evasion efforts, in an effort to keep the Kremlin from obtaining the technology and financing it needs to fund its war machine in Ukraine, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports. Next week, the leaders of the global financial system will gather in Washington D.C. to attend the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's annual meetings, which will provide the U.S. Treasury officials an opportunity to ramp up pressure on countries key to Russia's attempts to evade sanctions. "Our message is clear: If companies and countries continue to skirt sanctions and sell Russia materials in support of their war effort, then they're not going to have access to the economies of our coalition," senior officials told reporters. In the meantime, the U.S. Government will also mobilize partnership opportunities in Ukraine during the first the U.S.-Ukraine Partnership Forum, which will also be held next week in Washington. This joint event "aims to accelerate American investment and engagement in Ukraine while building opportunities for planning and collaboration to support Ukraine's economic recovery," the State Department said on Friday "The event will feature conversations with high-level stakeholders on topics ranging from catalyzing investment and engagement to unleashing market potential in Ukraine and building a sustainable future through an attractive regulatory framework, entrepreneurship, and renewable energy," reads the Department's media note.

Source: Turan News Agency

During the operations held by employees of the Gubadly district police department, ammunition was found at the military positions abandoned by Armenians in the village of Khudular. According to the Barda regional group of the press-service of the Interior Ministry, one portable anti-tank missile system "Fagot", 120 shells and 4216 cartridges of various calibers were seized. An investigation is ongoing in the Gubadly district police department.

Source: Turan News Agency

Azerbaijani MP Fazil Mustafa, wounded in an armed attack, has undergone a third surgery. He himself wrote about it on facebook, saying that on April 7 he underwent surgery, which lasted for three hours. "Yesterday after the surgery, which lasted more than three hours, my wounds were stitched up. Thank God everything is going well," he noted. The treatment and rehabilitation process is ongoing, Mustafa continued. "Hopefully, in the near future we will continue our fight from where we left off," Mustafayev stressed. On 28 March, Mustafayev was subjected to an armed attack outside his home. The attack resulted in bullet wounds to his shoulder and thigh. The MP underwent two surgeries after being wounded. The State Security Service treated the attack on the politician as an act of terrorism. According to media reports, four people directly involved in the attack, linked to special services and religious circles in Iran, have been detained in the case. Law enforcement agencies did not refute those reports. Many Azerbaijani MPs directly accused Iran of involvement in the attack against the Azerbaijani politician.

Source: Turan News Agency

On April 10, the Azerbaijani delegation headed by President Ilham Aliyev is leaving for Kazakhstan, and a package of documents is expected to be signed during this visit. On April 7, a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission was held in Baku, and the parties agree on important issues. In particular, the governments of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have agreed to increase the volume of intermodal rail cargo transportation on the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan-Turkey/Europe-Kazakhstan route through Baku with the attraction of new cargo in these directions. As part of the development of the Middle Corridor, the parties agreed to take measures to increase the capacity of the ports of Baku, Aktau and Kuryk. Baku and Astana agreed to hold the third meeting of working groups on the issues of transportation of Kazakh oil and petroleum products in transit through Azerbaijan as soon as possible (transit of 1.5 million tons of oil via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline in 2023 from the Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak fields has been precisely negotiated, other transit opportunities are on the negotiating table), as well as the supply of any oil products and liquefied gas from Kazakhstan to Baku. Baku is unlikely to buy or provide transit of liquefied gas, an informed source told Baku. As for the import or transit of Kazakh oil products, everything will depend on the commercial attractiveness of the proposals. The parties are also interested in the participation of companies from both countries in auctions for renewable energy. The Kazakh side notes the need to continue cooperation in the transit of uranium products through the territory of Azerbaijan (!). In the information technology sphere, the parties determined that the joint strategic telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia through the Caspian Sea within the framework of the Digital Silk Road project will be implemented by 'AzerTelecom' and 'Kazakhtelecom'. It also seems promising to determine the areas of cooperation between the Aerospace Committee of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan and the 'AzerCosmos' space agency of the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan (the parties may reach an agreement in October 2023 within the framework of the 74th International Astronautics Congress in Baku). In the agricultural sphere, there will be an exchange of information on products with export potential, exchange of experience in the field of horse breeding and sheep breeding, veterinary issues. On transport - JSC "KazakhExport ESC" offered the Azerbaijani side, in case of purchase of Kazakhstani locomotives and other high-tech products, works or services, to use the possibility of subsidizing the remuneration rate when financing in Kazakh second-tier banks. JSC "Development Bank of Kazakhstan" under the insurance coverage of JSC "KazakhExport" up to the level of the CIRR rate with financing in US dollars, Euros or up to 50% of the base rate of the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Kazakh investments can be attracted to the process of restoration and sustainable development of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. The issue of expediency of concluding an agreement in the field of pension provision will be studied. The parties also recognized the importance of developing cooperation in the field of health, education, and culture. In the tourism sphere, familiarization tours for experts from Kazakhstan will be organized. The interaction of diasporas will continue. The next, 20th meeting of the interparliamentary commission of both states will be held in 2024 in Astana.

Source: Turan News Agency