BAKU, Azerbaijan - Whether the World Bank can approve lending for the poverty reduction program in Azerbaijan in September as expected will depend on the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by the Azeri government. The World Bank is planning to support institutional capacity building and reforms in areas dealing with improving conditions for poor people through its Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC).

The PRSC would support the implementation programs in the following areas: increasing the quality and access to basic education; improving the effectiveness of social protection programs; enhancing access to essential drugs and healthcare services; improving monitoring mechanisms; expanding access to financial services; and improving rural infrastructure.

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Azeri-Greek negotiations, as part of the official visit of Greek President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos to Baku June 20-22, resulted in the signing of three bilateral agreements dealing with the protection and encourage of investment, mutual assistance in customs' affairs, and cooperation in road cargo transportation.
In addition to the intergovernmental agreements, Azeri and Greek business delegations also signed protocols on cooperation in a number of different areas, particularly on the development of information technologies, and establishment of joint ventures for promoting increased volumes of road and railway transportation. Greek and Azeri vintners also came to a pact on collaboration in winegrowing and winemaking, as well as the supply of necessary equipment.
More than 100 Greek and 200 Azeri companies came together last week in Baku to discuss opportunities for expanding trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Following the successful start of the last year, the UNHCR office in Azerbaijan, marked the World Refugee Day on 20 June 2004 with a number of different public awareness activities. A short video clip was prepared to be shown on two large size video boards in Baku's central streets from June 19 to 25. Also, two banners were hung announcing the World Refugee Days as a day of solidarity with the world's refugees well as emphasising that Azerbaijan is the signatory to the UN 1951 Refugee Convention. UNHCR's long-time partners HAYAT and BUTA also organised a series of celebrating events in Sumgait and Baku.

On June 14, the European Union’s (EU) Council of Foreign Ministers adopted a conclusion to include Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia in the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).

The German embassy in Baku told AssA-Irada that the privileged relationship within the ENP covering Ukraine, South Caucasus, the Mediterranean and Middle East will be based on common values, including democracy, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights, and to the principles of market economy, free trade and sustainable development, as well as poverty reduction