Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communication Divulges Date of Introduction of Electronic Signature

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 October/ Trend , corr S. Babayeva/ "In 2009, system of electronic signature will be introduced in Azerbaijan," Elmir Valizade, deputy minister of communication and information technologies of Azerbaijan said.

"Tender has been announced on this issue," he said.

Data-computing center has disclosed tender envelops with proposals about installation of national infrastructure of open keys to introduce electronic signature. The number of pretenders is not reported.

The creation of this infrastructure will take a year on average including testing which costs $2-$3mln.

A digital signature or digital signature scheme is a type of asymmetric cryptography used to simulate the security properties of a handwritten signature on paper. Digital signature schemes consist of at least three algorithms: a key generation algorithm, a signature algorithm, and a verification algorithm. A digital signature mainly provides authentication of a "message". In theory it can also provide non-repudiation, meaning that the authenticity of signed messages can be publicly verified, not only by the intended recipient. Messages may be anything, from electronic mail to a contract, or even a message sent in a more complicated cryptographic protocol.

This work is carried out under law of Republic of Azerbaijan on Electronic Signature and Electronic Document.

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