Parliament refuses to ratify Convention signed with Canada

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 7 2005

Baku, March 4, AssA-Irada

The Milli Majlis (parliament) refused on Friday to ratify the
Convention ~SOn eliminating double taxation on revenues and property
taxes and prevention of tax evasion~T signed between the governments
of Azerbaijan and Canada, as well as a protocol of the Convention.

The refusal came as protest against attempts by Canadian companies to
develop the disputed ~SKapaz~T field in the Caspian Sea jointly with
Turkmenistan and tap gold deposits in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

Samad Seyidov, chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on
international relations, said that the Foreign Ministry is scrutinizing
the issue.

Parliament speaker Murtuz Alasgarov withdrew the issue from the agenda,
saying ~Slet the Foreign Ministry notify us of its final decision~T.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress