Azerbaijani president increases SOFAZ expenditure for 2012
The amendments to the budget of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) for 2012 were approved by a decree under Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
According to the decree, SOFAZ expenditures increased to 10.751.304 billion manat compared to the previously approved of 10.561.304 billion manat to ensure timely implementation of measures related to social issues and placement of refugees and homeless people.
According to the budget, SOFAZ revenues for 2012 were approved at 10.697.030.6 billion manat.
Net revenues obtained by Azerbaijan from the sale of hydrocarbons are expected to reach 10.365.432 billion manat; investors' acre payments, 3.342.800 billion manat; revenue from oil and gas transportation through Azerbaijan, 8,137 manat; revenue from asset placement, 319.218.8 manat and other income 900,000 manat all in the SOFAZ revenue budget for 2012.
According to the changes, expenditure increased to 300 million manat compared to the previous figure of 110 million manat in SOFAZ expenditure budget for 2012.
According to the Fund's budget, 9.905 million manat will be transferred to the state budget in 2012. About 200 million manat will be used to finance the reconstruction of the Samur-Absheron irrigation system, 20 million manat to finance programme on the education of Azerbaijan youth abroad during the years of 2007-2015 and 252,484 manat to finance the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.
The Fund's expenditures totaled 73,820 manat, whilst SOFAZ's assets stood at $29.8 billion.
Azerbaijan to transfer $19 mln to pay membership fees in int'l organizations in 2012
The Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers has approved a decree on funds for membership fees in international financial and socio-political organizations.
According to the decree, the total expenditures under the article are 15 million manat, of which 9 million manat fall to socio-political organizations, and 6 million manat to financial institutions.
The fees for the Islamic Cooperation Organization are 1.351 million manat, CIS organizations 628,200 manat and others 2.769 million manat.
According to the decree, membership fees to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are expected to hit 70,000 manat, the Asian Development Bank 1.15 million manat, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 0.4 million manat, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank 1.7 million manat, the Islamic Development Bank
0.1 million manat, the Trade and the Development Bank of the Economic
Cooperation Organization 2.5 million manat.
The Finance Ministry and the Foreign Ministry are instructed to carry out all measures emanating from this order.
Azerbaijani President simplifies visa procedures for people arriving at Eurovision-2012 song contest
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has today signed a decree on simplification of the procedures for issuing visas to foreigners and stateless persons visiting the Republic of Azerbaijan in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest-2012 to be held in Baku.
The citizens of the countries participating in the contest and the stateless persons residing permanently in the countries participating in the "Eurovision Song Contest-2012", who visit the Republic of Azerbaijan in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Baku shall be entitled to obtain a visa at the structural units of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan functioning at the international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
According to the decree, an official invitation letter issued by the Organizing Committee of the Eurovision Song Contest-2012, a document confirming the accreditation in accordance with the relevant rules of the European Broadcasting Union, a ticket for the Eurovision Song Contest-2012 or a document confirming the obtaining of a ticket shall be regarded as a ground for issuing a visa.
The citizens of the countries participating in the contest indicated in the paragraph 1 of the Decree shall be entitled to apply for obtaining a visa within the following time-limits:
The persons visiting the country upon the official invitation letter issued by the Organizing Committee of the Eurovision Song Contest-2012, as well as the participants and members of the delegations accredited in accordance with the relevant rules of the European Broadcasting Union - from April 15 till June 1, 2012;
Persons who have passed the accreditation in accordance with the rules of the European Broadcasting Union, journalists and members of the fanclub, who have bought tickets for Eurovision-2012 song contest - from May 10 to June 1, 2012.
The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan must solve the matters of logistical support of the process of issuing visas at the international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the persons visiting the Republic of Azerbaijan in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest-2012 and solve other issues arising from the Decree;
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan must provide the European Broadcasting Union and the relevant agencies of the foreign countries with the information on simplification of the procedures for issuing visas to the persons visiting the Republic of Azerbaijan in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest-2012; ensure that the information on the websites of the Ministry, as well as the Embassies and Consulates of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the foreign countries.
The State Migration Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan must provide the airline companies carrying out flights to the Republic of Azerbaijan with the information on simplification of the procedures for issuing visas to the persons visiting the Republic of Azerbaijan in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest-2012.