Azerbaijan, Baku Nov. 17 / corr. Trend A.Axundov /
The number of embassies and diplomatic representations of Azerbaijan abroad will increase to 73 in 2012.
Samed Seyidov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations and Inter-Parliamentary Relations, made this statement in a Thursday joint session of parliamentary committees on culture, science and education, legal policy and state building, regional issues, human rights, international and interparliamentary affairs dedicated to discussing of the draft budget for 2012.
"Financing for diplomatic representations abroad will increase in 2012. The 2012 state budget for includes expenditures for 73 embassies and diplomatic representations abroad," Seyidov noted.
Azerbaijan has 65 embassies and diplomatic representations abroad.
"There agreements on opening diplomatic representations of eight other countries, but they will be implemented next year," Seyidov said.
Azerbaijan plans to open embassies in Brazil, Oman, Thailand and in other countries.
In 2011, Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Argentina, Libya, South Africa, Croatia, the consulate in Batumi (Georgia), Ekaterinburg (Russia) and Aktau (Kazakhstan).
According to Seyidov, Azerbaijan meets all its financial obligations to international organizations.
A total of 100.6 million manat will be allocated in 2012 to enable Azerbaijan successfully to continue its activities in the international arena and to pay membership fees to international organizations. The sum has been increased by 1.8 percent, or 1.8 million manat compared to 2011.
Expenditure on maintenance of 65 embassies and consulates of Azerbaijan is 53.6 million manat, or by 3.5 percent, or 1.8 million manat more than the current year.
A total of 15 million manat will be allocated out of the 2012 public budget for payment of membership fees in a number of organizations within the UN, Council of Europe, CIS and other international organizations. At the same time, 32 million manat will be allocated to cover other activities of Azerbaijan in the international arena.
Official exchange rate for Nov. 17 is 0.7865 AZN/USD.