**APPENDIX C - USEFUL CONTACTS AND INFORMATION FOR AZERBAIJAN**

 

                U.S. Embassy Baku:

                Ambassador: The Honorable Stanley T. Escudero

               

                Commercial Section

                Commercial Officer: Michael Lally (as of August 1999)

                BISNIS Representative: Seymour Khalilov

                Time: EST Plus 9 hours

 

                83 370007 Azadliq Prospect

                Baku, Azerbaijan 

                Tel: (994-12) 980-335, 980-336, 980-337

                Fax: (994-12) 98-37-55

                Address from the U.S.: 

                American Embassy Baku

                Department of State

                Washington, D.C. 20521-7050

 

                Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

                Ambassador: The Honorable Hafiz Pashayev

                927 15th Street, N.W.

                Suite 700

                Washington, D.C. 20005

                Tel: 202-842-0001

                Fax: 202-842-0004

 

                **BUSINESSASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS**

 

                United States - Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce

                Executive Director: Galib Mammad

                1030 15th Street, N.W.

                Suite 520

                Washington, D.C. 20005 

                Tel: 202-898-0900 E-mail: [email protected];Web site: www.usacc.com

                Fax: 202-898-0015

 

 

                U.S. - Azerbaijan Council

                1010 Vermont Avenue, NW

                Suite 814

                Washington DC 20005

                Tel: (202) 662-1343

                Fax: (202) 371-2299

                E-mail: [email protected]

 

                American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan

                4th Floor, IDOGD Bldg.

                 Academyof Sciences

                33 Huseyn Javid Street

                370143 Baku, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (994-12) 938-624, 938-501, 975-022

                Fax: (994-12) 975-023

 

                Sumgait Investment Promotion Agency (SIPA)

                Contact: Allon Speiser, Ben Shahar Associates

                Sumgait Mayor's Office (temporary location)

                Azerbaijan Ave. 9

                373200 Sumgait, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (994-164) 200-74 (Sumgait)

                (994-12) 928-378 (Baku)

 

                Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Azerbaijan

                First Vice President: Rauf S. Vezirov

                31/33 Istiglaliyat St.

                370601 Baku, Azerbaijan

                 Tel:(994-12) 927-998

                Fax: (994-12) 989-324

                Telex: 142211 EXPO AI

 

                **INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS**

 

                International Monetary Fund (IMF)

                 6 Samed Vurgun Street

                Baku 370000

                Tel: 994-12-93-56-72

                Fax: 994-12-93-72-68

 

                European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

                Murat Yildran, Senior Banker for Azerbaijan

                5 SabirStreet

                Baku 370004

     Tel:994-12-97-10-14

                Fax: 994-12-97-10-19 

                1 Exchange Square

                London, EC2A 2EH, U.K. 

                Tel: 44-171-338-6812 - Thomas Bley, Associate Banker, Azerbaijan

                 Tel: 44-171-338 - 7164 - Olivier Descamps, Country Team Director,Transcaucasus 

                Fax: 44-171-338-6599

 

                World Bank

                Resident Representative: Kutlay Ebiri

                Tel: 994-12-92-28-87

                Baku, Azerbaijan

 

                IFC - Baku

                Mirza Mansur Street, 91-93

                Icheri Sheher, Baku

                Aliya Nuriyeva, Investment Associate

     Tel: 994-12-92=19-412

 

                 UnitedNations Industrial Development Organization

                (Sumgait Special Economic Zone Project)

                Program Officer: Anne Caroline Volz

                3, UN 50th Anniversary St.

                Baku 1, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (994-12) 921-991

                Fax: (994-12) 983-235

                Tlx: 142 469 UN AZ AI

                E-mail: [email protected]

 

                EU TACIS Co-ordinating Unit

                Tel: 994-12-93-60-18, -14

                Fax: 994-12-93-12-76

 

**                FREIGHT FORWARDERS**

 

                Murphy International

                Rrasul Rza St. 8, Apt. 28/15, Baku, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (9-9412) 98-01-51

                Fax: (9-9412) 93-50-15

                Contact:Graeme Jamieson, Resident Manager

 

                Bertling Caspian Limited

                Aeadlig Avenue 13/15, Baku, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (9-9412) 98-40-61/98-58-65/93-95-08

                Fax: (9-9412) 98-07-36

                 Contact: FionaThorp, General Manager

 

                Interdean Baku

                Huseyin Javid St. 35/15

                Tel/fax: (9-9412) 98-63-18

                Contact: Azad Tamrazov, Regional Manager

                Trans-Oceanic Shipping

                67 Neftchiler Prospect, Apt. 30, Baku, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (9-9412) 92-34-64

                Fax: (9-9412) 98-20-82

                Contact: Bill Frankinburger, Resident Manager

 

                Trucat International, Ltd.

                101/103 M. Magomayev St., Baku 370004, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (9-9412) 93-78-40

                Fax: (9-9412) 98-99-60

                Contact: Matthew L. Authenment, Southern CIS Director

 

                Dialog Freight International

                Hagani St. 39/8, Baku, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (9-9412) 98-67-46

                Fax: (9-9412) 98-87-46

                Contact: Robert Klein, CIS Market Development Manager

 

                **OTHER**

 

                Azerbaijan International Operating Company

                Contracts and Procurement Officer - Baku: Nick Rouse

                2 Neftchilar Avenue

                370004 Baku, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (713) 482-0004 (Houston tie-line)

                 Tel:9-9412-914170 or 914180 or 926396

                Fax: 9-9412 988494

 

                PUBLICATIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON AZERBAIJAN

 

                Azerbaijan International

                P.O. Box 5217

                Sherman Oaks, CA 91413

                Tel: (818) 785-0077

                Fax: (818) 997-7337

                E-mail: ai@artnet. net

 

                US-Azerbaijan Council - See above

                Caspian Business Report, Caspian Crossroads

               

                 US-AzerbaijanChamber of Commerce - See above

                Azerbaijan Investment Guide - 1999

               

                Victor Kamkin, Inc.

                Assa-Irada - Azerbaijan International Independent News Agency

                 JamesBeale

                Director, Periodicals Division

                4956 Boiling Brook Parkway

                Rockville MD 20852 USA

                Tel: 301-881-5973 

                Fax: 301-881-1637

 

                UNDP/UNIDO

                 Sumgait- The City of Tomorrow:

                -Private Sector Development and Bottlenecks in the Business Environment

                -Joint Action Programme

                -Investment Guide to Azerbaijan and the Sumgait SEZ

                -DevelopmentProspects and Business Opportunities

                3, UN 50th Anniversary St.

                Baku 1, Azerbaijan

                Tel: (994-12) 921-991

                Fax: (994-12) 983-235

                Tlx: 142 469 UN AZ AI

                 E-mail:[email protected]

 

                TRAVEL INFORMATION

 

                Visas: A passport and visa are required to enter Azerbaijan. Visas canbe obtained 

                of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The following are required:

from the Consulate of the Embassy

                1) Completed visa application form.

                2) Original passport or reentry permit (no copies accepted).

                3) One passport-size photograph attache to application form.

                4) (For businesstravelers): An invitation from the interested Azerbaijani organization.

                (For tourists): Telex confirmation from hotel where visitor hasreservation.

                Fees: There is no fee for issuing visas. For express handling (less thanfive days for  

                days for tourist visas), there is a fee of forty dollars.

business visas; less than fifteen

                Mail application to: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

                PO Box 28790

                 Washington,D.C. 20005

                Phone: 202/842-0001

 

                Tourist Advisory Information:

                24-hour State Department Travel Warnings: Call (202) 647-5225

                world wide web: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

                or Write:

                Citizens Emergency Center

                Room 4800

                Department of State

                Washington, D.C. 20520-4818

                (Write "Azerbaijan" on outside of envelope)

 

                Medical Advisory Information:

                Centers for Disease Control International Travelers Hotline: (404) 332-4559or on the 

world wide web:

                http://www.cdc.gov/travel/travel.html

 

**CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET**

                1. COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: AZERBAIJAN IS A NATION

                UNDERGOING PROFOUND POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE.

                TOURIST FACILITIES ARE NOT HIGHLY DEVELOPED, AND HOTEL

                SPACE IN BAKU IS LIMITED. MANY GOODS AND SERVICES

                TAKEN FOR GRANTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES ARE NOT YET

                AVAILABLE. PUBLIC DISTURBANCES MAY OCCUR WITHOUT

                WARNING.

 

                2. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A PASSPORT AND VISA ARE

                REQUIRED TO ENTER AZERBAIJAN. TRAVELERS WITH VALID

                GEORGIAN VISAS ARE PERMITTED TO ENTER AZERBAIJAN FOR A

                STAY OF UP TO FIVE DAYS. THEREAFTER, THEY MUST

                INCLUDE A LETTER OF INVITATION FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OR

                ORGANIZATION IN AZERBAIJAN WHEN APPLYING FOR A VISA.

                FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON VISA REQUIREMENTS,

                CONTACT THE EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN, 927-15TH STREET,

                N.W., SUITE 700, WASHINGTON, DC 20005; TELEPHONE

                (202) 842-0001.

 

                3. AREAS OF INSTABILITY: AS A RESULT OF CONFLICT IN

                THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH AREA OF AZERBAIJAN, TWENTY PER

                CENT OF AZERBAIJANI TERRITORY (IN THE SOUTHWEST ALONG

                THE BORDERS WITH IRAN AND ARMENIA) IS OCCUPIED BY

                INSURGENT FORCES. A CEASE-FIRE HAS BEEN IN EFFECT

                SINCE 1994, ALTHOUGH REPORTS OF ARMED CLASHES ALONG

                THE CEASE-FIRE LINE AND ALONG THE BORDER WITH ARMENIA

                CONTINUE. ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES ARE A DANGER IN AREAS

                CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINES. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ENTER

                THE SELF-PROCLAIMED "REPUBLIC OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH"

                FROM AZERBAIJAN. TRAVELERS CONTEMPLATING ENTERING

                NAGORNO-KARABAKH ARE ADVISED THAT BECAUSE OF THE

                EXISTING STATE OF HOSTILITIES, CONSULAR SERVICES ARE

                NOT PREDICTABLY AVAILABLE TO AMERICANS IN NAGORNO

                KARABAKH.TRAVELERS, THEREFORE, ARE CAUTIONED TO

                AVOID TRAVEL TQ NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND THE SURROUNDING

                OCCUPIED AREAS.

 

                4. TRAVEL INFORMATION: TRAIN TRAVEL IN THE CAUCASUS

                REGION IS NOT SECURE. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN

                GENERAL IS OVERCROWDED AND POORLY MAINTAINED. THE

                EMBASSY STRONGLY DISCOURAGES USE OF THE SAKU METRO.

                TRAVELERS ON AIRLINES AMONG THE COUNTRIES OF THE

                CAUCASUS MAY EXPERIENCE PROLONGED DELAYS AND SUDDEN

                CANCELLATIONS OF FLIGHTS. IN ADDITION TO ROUTINE

                DELAYS, FLIGHTS ARE OFTEN OVERCROWDED WITH PASSENGERS

                WITHOUT SEATS STANDING IN THE AISLE ALONG WITH EXCESS

                UNSECURED CABIN LUGGAGE. EVEN BASIC SAFETY FEATURES

                SUCH AS SEAT BELTS ARE SOMETIMES MISSING. AIR TRAVEL

                TO AZERBAIJAN ON INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS VIA THE UNITED

                KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, AND TURKEY IS

                GENERALLY MORE RELIABLE.

 

                5. ROAD CONDITIONS/TRAFFIC SAFETY: WITHIN THE

                CAPITAL CITY OF BAKU, ROADS ARE EXTREMELY POOR.

                DRIVING HAZARDS SUCH AS OPEN MANHOLES, DEBRIS, AND

                POTHOLES ARE COMMON. DRIVERS PAY LITTLE HEED TO

                TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, SIGNALS, LANES, OR OTHER DRIVERS.

                DRIVERS OFTEN TRAVEL AT EXTREMELY HIGH RATES OF SPEED

                AND ACCIDENTS ARE FREQUENT. DRIVING WITHIN BAKU

                SHOULD BE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. OUTSIDE OF

                THE CITY, WHERE ROADS ARE PRESENT, CONDITIONS ARE

                SIMILAR. THEY ARE OFTEN IN POOR REPAIR, UNLIT, AND

                LACK LANEMARKING, TRAFFIC SIGNS, AND WARNINGS. MANY

                RURAL ROADS ARE UNPAVED AND RARELY TRAVELED.

 

                6. MEDICAL FACILITIES: MEDICAL CARE IN AZERBAIJAN IS

                EXTREMELY LIMITED. THERE IS A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF

                BASIC MEDICAL SUPPLIES, INCLUDING DISPOSABLE NEEDLES,

                ANESTHETICS, AND VACCINES AGAINST COMMUNICABLE

                DISEASES. DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS OFTEN EXPECT

                IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES. U.S.

                 MEDICALINSURANCE IS NOT ALWAYS VALID OUTSIDE THE

                UNITED STATES. FURTHER INFORMATION ON HEALTH MATTERS

                CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

                AND PREVENTION'S INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS' HOTLINE,

                TEL: (404) 332-4559 OR VISIT THE CDC HOME PAGE ON THE

                INTERNET AT HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV.

 

                7. CRIME INFORMATION: ALTHOUGH AZERBAIJAN HAS A LOW

                RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME, INCIDENTS OF STREET CRIME AND

                ASSAULTS ON FOREIGNERS ARE INCREASING. THE LOSS OR

                THEFT ABROAD OF A U.S. PASSPORT SHOULD BE REPORTED

                IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOCAL POLICE AND THE NEAREST U.S.

                EMBASSY OR CONSULATE. THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S

                PAMPHLET "A SAFE TRIP ABROAD" PROVIDES USEFUL

                INFORMATION ON GUARDING VALUABLES AND PROTECTING

                PERSONAL SECURITY WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD. ADDITIONAL

                INFORMATION ON THE REGION CAN BE FOUND IN THE BROCHURE

                "TIPS FOR TRAVELERS TO RUSSIA AND THE NEWLY

                INDEPENDENT STATES." BOTH PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE

                FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT

                 PRINTING OFFICE,WASHINGTON DC 20402. THE CONSULAR

                SECTION OF THE EMBASSY IN BAKU CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL

                INFORMATION ON THE CRIME SITUATION INCLUDING SAFETY

                TIPS AND CONTACT NUMBERS FOR THE LOCAL POLICE.

 

                8. CURRENCY REGULATIONS: AZERBAIJAN IS A CASH ONLY

                ECONOMY. TRAVELER'S CHECKS AND CREDIT CARDS ARE NOT

                ACCEPTED. THE LOCAL CURRENCY IS THE MANAT. U.S.

                DOLLARS ARE REQUIRED IN MOST HOTELS AND PREFERRED IN

                MANY RESTAURANTS.

 

                9. DRUG PENALTIES: U.S. CITIZENS ARE SUBJECT TO THE

                LAWS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH THEY ARE TRAVELING.

                PENALTIES FOR POSSESSION, USE, OR TRAFFICKING IN

                ILLEGAL DRUGS ARE STRICT AND CONVICTED OFFENDERS CAN

                EXPECT JAIL SENTENCES AND FINES.

 

                10. REGISTRATION AND EMBASSY LOCATION: AMERICANS ARE

                ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER AT THE CONSULAR SECTION OF THE

                U.S. EMBASSY AND OBTAIN UPDATED INFORMATION ON TRAVEL

                AND SECURITY WITHIN AZERBAIJAN. THE U.S. EMBASSY IN

                BAKU IS LOCATED AT PROSPECT AZADLIG 83. THE TELEPHONE

                NUMBERS ARE (9) (9412) 98-03-35, (9) (9412) 98-03-36,

                OR (9) (9412) 98-03-37.