Day: April 26, 2023

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US threatens Kazakhstan with sanctions over aid to Russia

Media reports say that the US and UK envoys told reporters in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, on April 25 that Kazakhstan may face consequences if it continues helping Russia evade Western sanctions. 'The Kremlin has tasked its intelligence services with finding ways' to dodge the sanctions, by setting up shell companies or middlemen in third countries, Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, US Department of the Treasury, Ms. Elizabeth Rosenberg, was cited as saying. If Kazakh companies participate in these schemes, this will expose them and the country to the risk of secondary sanctions, Ms. Rosenberg said. Kazakh companies 'can keep their ties to the world's most important markets, or they can be active participants in the Russian war effort by facilitating, or turning a blind eye to, the provision of goods that make their way to the battlefield,' Rosenberg added. She was in Astana with Deputy Commerce Secretary Matthew Axelrod and UK Foreign Office representative David Reed. Axelrod, for his part, insisted that the Western embargo has 'disrupted Russia's military-industrial supply chains and weapons procurement,' while Reed cited 'open source trade information' to claim Kazakhstan is exporting goods sanctioned by the UK to Russia. According to the Western envoys, their governments are working with Kazakhstan to stop the delivery of goods and services to [President Vladimir] 'Putin's war machine.' Some media outlets reported on April 25 that after Kazakhstan, U.S. officials intend to travel to Uzbekistan for the same purpose. The main task is to strengthen the implementation of sanctions and to counter money laundering and terrorist financing, the US Treasury reported.

Source: Asia Plus

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Azerbaijan on track to increase natural gas deliveries to Europe

The national gas system operators of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia yesterday agreed to boost the transfer of natural gas from Azerbaijan using the existing infrastructure of their countries, which were until recently highly dependent on Russian energy. Euronews says Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev, called the signing of the agreement between the European nations and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan 'a very timely step' that would bring bigger and more secure gas supplies to many more countries in Europe. Aliyev reportedly attended the signing ceremony in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital. Bulgaria is linked to the Southern Gas Corridor, a multi-segment pipeline project to get natural gas from Azerbaijan to Italy, through an inter-connector with Greece. The connector allows for the delivery of 1 billion cubic meters of Caspian gas to Bulgaria, covering nearly one-third of the country's needs, and has capacity to increase the volume to up to 5 billion cubic meters annually. According to the agreement on cooperation with the European Union, which was signed in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, in early February this year, Azerbaijan plans to double natural gas exports by 2027. The meeting was attended by representatives of the EU, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Britain, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States. The EU was represented by Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson.

Source: Asia Plus

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Azerbaijan, Hungary sign Memorandum of Cooperation in banking sector (PHOTO)

President of the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA) Zakir Nuriyev and Secretary General of the Hungarian Banking Association Levente Kovács signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on April 26, Trend reports with reference to the ABA.

The memorandum provides for the promotion of cooperation between the parties, the organization of events, including joint educational programs, the exchange of information between member banks of both organizations, the development of correspondent relations and the implementation of other activities related to the banking and financial sector.

At the same time, the issues of cooperation include the fight against fraud in the field of digital payments, cooperation in the field of cyber security in banks, the exchange of experience in optimizing tariffs for various services, the study of international experience in matters related to the implementation of relevant government programs.

The Azerbaijan Banks Association was founded in 1990. The main purpose of the association is to protect the interests of member organizations, assist in meeting their needs in various types of business services and coordinate their activities. ABA members include 25 banks and 5 non-banking organizations.

Source: Trend News Agency

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Azerbaijani SOFAZ made over $165 billion in revenues under “Contract of Century” – bp

A total of 4.2 billion barrels of oil have been produced at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block of fields since the signing of the Contract of the Century, bp’s Vice President for the Caspian region, Communications and External Affairs Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli said, Trend reports.

Aslanbayli made the remark at the international scientific conference themed "Architect of Independent Azerbaijan", dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

According to him, within the framework of this contract, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) raised funds in the amount of $167 billion.

"Indicators of production and attracted profits are of great importance for the growth and development of the economy, social and other spheres of Azerbaijan. Today eight platforms equipped with advanced technologies are operating in the Caspian Sea,” he noted.

The ninth platform will be completed in June this year, added the vice president.

ACG’s participating interests are: bp (30.37 percent), SOCAR (25 percent), MOL (9.57 percent), INPEX (9.31 percent), Equinor (7.27 percent), ExxonMobil (6.79 percent), TPAO (5.73 percent), ITOCHU (3.65 percent), and ONGC Videsh Limited (2.31 percent).

Source: Trend News Agency

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Cost of transporting fuel from Iran to Nakhchivan and back drops threefold

The amount of the road tax levied by the Iranian side for the transit of specific goods from vehicles transporting fuel to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan, and other relevant expenses has been reduced, Azerbaijani Ministry of Digital Development and Transport told Trend.

According to the ministry, following the reduction, Azerbaijani carriers began paying the road tax of not $520, but $175 per truck for transportation of specific goods by a truck to and from Nakhchivan through Iran.

It was also determined that the road tax is calculated for the transportation of goods weighing not over 38 tons, but over 41 tons by trucks, and the amount of tax for cargo-free vehicles has been reduced from $105 to $85.

These changes have been applied from the current month.

Thus, the costs of national carriers engaged in international road transport in this specific direction have been reduced by about three times.

Source: Trend News Agency

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Azerbaijan to provide one-time financial assistance to veterans of WWII – order

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order on the provision of one-time financial assistance to participants of World War II, widows of soldiers who died in the war or died later, and persons awarded orders and medals for selfless work in the rear, Trend reports.

Under the presidential order, the participants of the World War Two will receive a one-time allowance of AZN1500, while widows of fighters who were killed in the war or died later, those awarded with medals and orders for selfless labor in the rear, employees of special units, which were fulfilling tasks for the army and naval, persons awarded with medals and orders for the defense of Leningrad, as well as participants of the Siege of Leningrad will get AZN750.

Under the order, AZN 2.9 million was allocated from the Presidential Contingency Fund for this purpose.

Source: Trend News Agency

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President Emomali Rahmon Opens General Secondary Education Institution No. 16 in Safobakhsh village of Dangara District

The Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, in the village of Safobakhsh, Dangara district, visited the general secondary education institution No. 16.

The magnificent modern school has 3 floors, it was built within the framework of mutually beneficial cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the People’s Republic of China in order to provide decent conditions for education and training.

The educational institution is designed for 1,280 students in two shifts.

The construction works of the general secondary education institution No. 16 in the village of Safobakhsh of Dangara district, with the support of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, began in 2021 and were completed by the Chinese company «POWER — CHINA» within the stipulated time with high quality.

The educational institution has 27 spacious classrooms, including chemistry, physics, mathematics classrooms, labor education technology classrooms for boys and girls, computer classrooms, a library and a spacious reading room with 24 seats, an electronic library, work rooms for teachers and employees of the institution, and others.

In the laboratory rooms of the school, there are educational tools and visual aids, which are effectively used by students to carry out various experiments.

Now, with the use of this beautiful and modern institution, the previously existing problem of lack of seats has been completely eliminated.

We remind that the former building of this institution was built in 1937 and did not meet the requirements of the time.

Now, students study using the most modern conditions of science and art in this luxurious modern school.

In order to promote and encourage more sports and thus to develop a healthy lifestyle, 2 sports fields have been built in the educational institution, where there is an opportunity to play football, basketball and volleyball.

A spacious assembly hall with 150 seats has been built in order to organize and hold various social and cultural gatherings and events.

On the first floor of the building of the institution there is a canteen, which can accommodate 160 people.

50 qualified teachers are working in the school for the education of students.

The goal of building and commissioning a new educational institution in Dangara district is the logical continuation of the educational policy of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and thus improving the level and quality of education, introducing new methods of teaching and training gifted students in the spirit of science and patriotism.

Honorable Head of State Emomali Rahmon, while familiarizing himself with the conditions created in the newly built educational facilities, highly appreciated the level and quality of construction works, and gave instructions and guidance to teachers on the wise use of existing opportunities and training of educated and talented young people.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

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ANAMA updates on condition of driver injured following mine explosion in Azerbaijan’s Tartar

The driver of the International Eurasian Press Foundation, Khazar Babashov (33-year-old), who was injured following the mine explosion in Azerbaijan's Tartar, had his right leg amputated above the ankle, the press service of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) told Trend.

Khazar Babashov was involved in mine clearance activities on the territory of Tartar. Currently, his condition is now assessed as stable.

Following the liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation in the 2020 Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands of mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.

As a result of the mines laid by the Armenian armed forces, 295 Azerbaijani citizens have become victims of mines and other explosive devices, 51 of whom were killed and over 200 received injuries of varying degrees of severity.

Source: Trend News Agency

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President Emomali Rahmon Gets Acquainted with the Progress of Construction Works in the Building of Khatlon State Medical University in Dangara district

During his working visit to Dangara district, the Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, got acquainted with the progress of construction works in the building of Khatlon State Medical University in the center of the district.

It was informed that the State Medical University of Khatlon will be built in stages with the funding of the Government of the country on an area of more than 23 hectares.

According to the planned project, there are more than 15 buildings and other auxiliary facilities, including the main building, four educational buildings, two student dormitories, a teacher’s dormitory, three lecture halls, a dining hall, a sports hall, a swimming pool, and a modern clinic with the new design is built in accordance with the world standards of construction and architecture, and it is equipped with the most advanced devices and equipment and scientific accessories.

During the familiarization with the construction works, it was informed that the main corps of the university consists of 4 buildings and is intended for 900 students.

The main building consists of 71 classrooms, 255 working and auxiliary rooms, and is intended for the use of various departments, lecture and conference halls, a museum, a library, various laboratories, a test center and other departments of this higher professional educational institution.

A large meeting hall with 1200 seats, a library, an electronic reading room with 80 seats, a basement for storing books, a canteen with 300 seats and other auxiliary facilities will be built here.

The customer of the facility is the State Institution «Directorate of Construction of Governmental Facilities of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan», the designer is JSC «PILJ SANIIOSP» and the main contractor is JSC «STS Construction».

Currently, more than 200 local residents are employed in construction works.

Based on the instructions of the Leader of the Nation, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, the main building, the number one educational building and the cafeteria of Khatlon State Medical University in Dangara district will be put to use this year on the eve of the great national holiday of State Independence.

It is worth noting that Khatlon State Medical University has been operating in Dangara district since 2016, and currently 2250 students study in 3 faculties.

After the construction of all the buildings of the university and the establishment of the campus in Khatlon State Medical University, conditions will be created for the education of more than 5000 students.

During the introduction to the construction process, the Honorable Head of State Emomali Rahmon gave instructions and orders to the workers to complete the work within the specified time and with high quality.

It should be said that the State Medical University of Khatlon was established in order to provide health institutions of the region with highly qualified personnel.

Honorable Leader of the Nation, Emomali Rahmon, called the implementation of this project a continuation of the constructive actions of the Government of the country and considered it a solid step in improving the health of the society.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan