Natik Alekperov: "Azerbaijan's Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov has transferred the Baku bus station for operation to his son" - UPDATED

26.02.08

16:08

"I consider the complaint of owners of 62 transport companies, engaged in bus passenger transportations in Baku, to be legal and caused by the situation, currently existing in the said sphere. It is still impossible to say that the said market segment is fully monopolized by Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov, however everything proves that this service sector has much in common with an attempt to establish monopoly in it. Moreover, if we consider the complaint of owners of 62 transport companies, it can be said that Ziya Mamedov is to be blamed for the said situation".

The due announcement was made by Eyub Guseynov, chairman of the Union of Free Consumers, commenting on the accussations put forward by owners of the transport companies, engaged in bus passenger transportations in Baku against Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov.

He said justice will gradually be restored, the rights of those who complaint on the actions of the Transport Minister will be observed and they will manage to attain the reconsideration and more objective settlement of contracts, which were annulled.

Asked, whether it will lay a foundation for launching a criminal proceeding against Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov, E.Guseynov said: "I do not think that Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov will be brought to criminal responsibility. But at the same time I consider that there are grounds to launch a criminal case against his son, who was transfered the Baku bus station for operation", Guseynov announced.

At the same time, he said the spokesman for the Ministry Namiq Gasanov, who announced that "the Minister does not settle issues in the framework of "father-son" relations,  he could give anything to his son as to a businessman, an individual or a legal entity", has in fact introduced Ziya Mamedov, as a state official or a Minister has no right to deal with trade.

"The spokesman of the Ministry has told the truth, being unaware of it. In fact, he has recognized that Ziya Mamedov is dealing with trade, with his own son, which is prohibited by the law", Guseynov concluded.

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25.02.08

16:25

Azerbaijan's Transport Ministry will support only those organizations which come out with real and effective proposals.

The due announcement was made by spokesman for the Ministry Namiq Gasanov told Day.Az commenting on the discontent of the representatives of 62 owners of transport companies with the actions of Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov.

He said the ministry struggles against monopolization in this sphere.

"Perhaps, one's interests have been violated. Perhaps, someone was told: "your buses do not meet standards and they should be withdrawn from the route. However this does not mean that this sphere is the monopoly of one organization", he said.

Touching upon the announcement of Natik Alekperov, chairman of the public association "Independent transport workers" that "Ziya Mamedov transferred the Baku bus station to his son", Gasanov said that the construction of the bus station is held by the company, which has won the tender.

"This announcement does not reflect the reality. The Minister does not settle issues of "father-son" relations. He could give it to his son as to a businessman, an individual or a legal entity.

This is not a private property to just transfer it by right of succession. If the company puts forward real proposals, regardless of who leads it, even, if it is Minister's son, why not give preference to it", Gasanov said.

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15:57

Natik Alekperov, chairman of public association "Independent transport workers" considers complaint of owners of 62 transport companies, engaged in bus transportation of passengers in Baku, to be substantiated.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the owners of companies appealed to country's president Ilham Aliyev, chairman of Association of Free Consumers Eyub Guseynov with a complaints against the actions of the Transport Ministry. They consider that the Ministry undermines the plan of measures on improvement of the system of passenger transport of Baku, adopted by the president of February 2 of 2006.

"Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov created favorable conditions for four companies, engaged in passenger transportations in Baku and transferred the Baku bus station, where intercity routes start, to his son.

The transport ministry violates the laws of the country, fulfilling functions of a road police and forcedly driving private buses away to fine stations. The practice of conclusion of contracts with owners of transport companies for work on city buses for a term of three months, while licenses for passenger transportations are for five years, is illegal and causes rise in corruption", Alekperov said.

He considers that the Transport Ministry deliberately creates hard conditions of work for companies, engaged in passenger transportations. They are imposed numerous non-substantiated references, Ministry's inspectors stop the buses during their work, fine drivers and carry buses to fine stations.

According to Alekperov, the Ministry rather than transporters are to be blamed for the violation of the rules of passenger transporters, as they are not informed of the passenger transportation rules. The network of bus stations has been destroyed since 2001 in Baku, while few stops are not designed for all buses of the said route and passenger taxis, therefore the punishment of bus owners for stopping a car in the undue place is also illegal", Alekperov announced.

In order to settle problems created by the Ministry, the bus owners have to pay to Ministry's officials. According to Alekperov, this obliges private entrepreneurs to give up business in this economic sector, releasing a place for businessmen, close to Minister Mamedov.

These companies have brought over 200 large and middle passenger buses to Baku, process of order and delivery is going on and several buses will be brought to Baku soon.

According to the owners of the companies, Transport Minister Ziya Mamedov decided to take control over the passenger transport of the capital city. For this purpose, the Transgate company, controlled by the Minister, has brought Dew buses to Baku, annulling contracts with companies, serving passengers at routes No 83, 242t, 242, 334, 252, 42, 175, 7t, 59, 105, 109 and 343. 12 companies lost work in the result of it.

The heads of Avtonagliyatservis (Chingiz Bakhishev) and Baki sernishinnagliyat (Jeyhun Abdullayev), controlled by the Transport Ministry, communicated the declaration of Minister Z.Mamedov, according to him he does not allow them to bring buses to Baku, as they will not have a right to transport passengers any more.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the owners of the transport companies ask the president to protect them from illegal actions of Transport Minister Z.Mamedov.

/Day.Az/