Miscellaneous

UNESCO announces 2003 Pure Water year
UNESCO has declared the 2003 year as the year of Pure Water. This move aims at deploying measures to ecologically purify waters in oceans, seas and other basins. In view of this, cleaning of the Caspian Sea and other water basins of Azerbaijan should be on the focus of the government.
A number of undertakings are planned during Pure Water year. Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel and the Azerbaijan national commission are jointly conducting a children's painting contest.
A news conference held at the Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel on February 17 provided detailed information about the event, which aims to draw public attention to ecological concerns.
Works by the contest winners are intended to be used for preparing postcards, calendars, as well as international publications relating to Azerbaijan.

AzTV-1 to be broadcast in all Europe
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Communication and State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company have installed and commissioned an Italian COEL-made four-storey three-face antenna system at the 310-m TV tower in efforts to improve the broadcasting quality of Azerbaijani National Television channels I and II.  A spokesman for the Ministry has told AssA-Irada that the broadcasting performance of AzTV-1 was enhanced and broadcast signals increased by 2 or 2.5 times, as AzTV-1 started on February 8 to be carried via the 22nd channel by 4-kWt transmitter and AzTv-2 via the 33rd channel by 1-kWt transmitter. Moreover, AzTV-1 and State Radio programs began to be aired through the Eutelsat-Sesat 36 satellite to broaden their broadcast into European countries via satellite.  Earlier, AzTV-1 programs were available to view in Turkey, the Caucasus, Eastern countries, Central Asia. And henceforward, it will be viewed in all European countries as well.

AFFA complains about Economic Court to President
Heads of the Azerbaijani Football Federations Association AFFA has complained to the President about the Economic Court that has considered claims against the AFFA. In its appeal to President Aliyev, the AFFA says that as a result of a claim filed by Turkish company Atak, which was a subcontractor in the construction of the Safa stadium, the Economic Court ruled that property of the association be confiscated. AFFA describes this decision as fully unjust and considers it unlawful since Atak has no contract with the association. AFFA asked the president to assist in repealing this decision. For some years, Azerbaijani football has done poorly, while other sports thrive.