Parliament adopts important laws

Milli Mejlis [Azerbaijan parliament] held its first plenary meeting of the extraordinary session which included discussions of 28 issues on June 14.

Among the issues on agenda were approval of the agreements and memos on the mutual understanding signed with Iran and Korea, the discussions on the law "On science", changes to the Migratory Code, Code of Administrative Offences, Tax Code, Procedural Civil Code as well as changes to the laws "On military service", "On protection and effective use of genetic resources of cultivated plants", and the law "On state duties".

MP’s made certain changes to the law "On military service". In accordance with the changes military service delay will also be presented to the students of master’s and doctor’s degree courses. Previously bachelors were eligible to continue their education under these programs only after military service.

Military service delay will also be presented to the students of scientific institutions which were established by the bodies of executive power, passed accreditation process and hold a special license for operation as well as to the fulltime students of bachelor’s, master's and doctor's degree courses, as well as students getting basic higher medical education and students of medical residentura (medical internship) studying abroad.

Within the framework of the meeting parliamentarians have also adopted the clause on science which was worked out in the course of several years. Isa Habibeyli, parliamentary committee chairman on the issues of science and education and vice-president of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), said that all proposals made by MP’s concerning the clause have been taken into account. He noted that the main objective of the law is to provide constitutional rights for all entities engaged in the sphere of scientific activity as well as to determine the legal basis in the sphere.

MPs also discussed the changes proposed to the Tax Code of the country. The changes envisage doubling the volume of means allocated for a social security fund of the employees of tax authorities.

Commenting on the issue MP Siyavush Novruzov expressed his objections mentioning that the non-budget funds lead to the appropriation of means. Sahib Alekperov, Deputy Tax Minister, in his turn mentioned that all means in the non-budget fund are under control.

Under the changes, non-budget fund will be created at the expense of 50 percent of the total sum of the financial sanctions while annual formation of the nonbudget fund at the expense of 25 percent of the total volume of financial sanctions imposed by tax authorities with the view of social security provision was envisaged in the previous version of the Law.

The creation of the non-budget fund of the tax authorities and arrangements for using will be defined by the appropriate body of the executive power.

Changes to the Tax Code of the country have been put to the vote and adopted with a majority of votes.

Parliamentarians also adopted the removal of certain duties as well as decreasing the amount of fee for the single-entry visa processing.

The changes envisage determining the fee at the level of $20. Previously the amount of the fee for single-entry visa processing was $50

Under the changes certain fees for consular operations held in Azerbaijan and diplomatic missions abroad are removed.

The changes also envisage removal of state duty for processing tourist, student and transit visa. In accordance with the previous law the state duty for the students who get their education on the basis of individual contract and single transit visa amounted to $20 while the duty for double transit visa was at the level of $40.

The changes are aimed at the simplification of the entry process to the country.

The parliament has also approved several changes to the Migratory Code. The changes refer to the rules for issuing electronic visas to foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan through "ASAN Viza" system.

Under the new rules, foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan will be able to receive e-visa system through the "ASAN Viza" within the period of three days. The duration of stay is set to 30 days.

E-visa will be issued to citizens of countries approved by the relevant executive authority, as well as citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in these countries.

Foreigners and stateless persons, who wish to receive an evisa, must enter information into the system of "ASAN Viza", and after receipt on acceptance of confirmation pay online a state fee in the amount specified by law "On state duty".

The system of "ASAN Viza" sends the appeal to the interagency automated retrieval system "Entry-exit and registration". The relevant executive authority verifies the information not later than three days from the time of appeal in "ASAN Viza", checks restriction list of the "Entry-exit and registration".

Then a visa is sent to the email address of the contact person. In case of failure the person is also informed. The electronic visas are not stuck in the passport but presented together with the passport while crossing the border check-point. Foreigners and stateless persons may apply for a new e-visa only after they will leave the territory of Azerbaijan.

The organization of “ASAN Viza” operations, information which should be presented for obtaining a visa as well as sample form of the e-visa should be defined by the body of executive power.

The presidential order which was signed on June 1 and entered into force on June 6 is aimed at simplification of e-visas issuance procedure for foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan.

Creation of an e-visa system is expected to ensure transparency and efficiency with the use of modern information technologies.

Parliamentarians also ratified the PSA-contract on the share of extraction, restoration and exploring operations in the land-based blocks of Muradkhanli, Djafarli and Zardab oil fields. The contract is signed between Azerbaijan’s state SOCAR company and Canada’s Zenith Aran Oil Company Limited.

The total area of the block which is located in the territory of Imishli district is 642.4 square kilometers. In accordance with the contract the share of Zenith amounts to 80 percent while the share of SOCAR is 20 percent.

Average daily volume of oil extraction in the fields currently amounts to 350 barrels. The field also possesses small volumes of gas.

MPs also ratified a number of agreements signed between Azerbaijan and Iran. Parliamentarians ratified an agreement on cooperation in the field of energy and use of water resources, continuation of the construction and operation of hydroelectric power plants and hydroelectric complexes Khudaferin and Giz Galasi on the Araz River, the agreement on the cooperation in the sphere of elimination, restriction as well as diminishing effects of the emergency situations, an agreement on the mutual administrative assistance in the issues related to customs operations as well as an agreement on the sale of electric power and coordination of railways of Azerbaijan and Iran.

The decision on the conduct of extraordinary session was taken upon the basis of requests of certain number of parliamentarians.

The extraordinary session includes two plenary meetings, as well as meetings of several parliamentary committees.