ANAS president: "Reduction of staff expected in Academy"

He told APA that in order to spend the money allocated from the state budget more rationally reforms should be carried out in the Academy.

"Reduction of the stuff is expected. The scientists having no scientific contributions for a long time will be reduced," he said.

Mahmud Kerimov said a special commission concerning the reduction and the reforms is expected to be established.

"After the commission's investigations, we will begin the reduction. Besides, the commission will also define the institutions which will be united. As a result of the investigations, new institutions may be established," he said.

Kerimov said a special program is being prepared to increase the efficiency of the Academy's activity.

"A program on improving the scientific activity, managing system, financing of the Academy has been prepared. We will begin to implement this program. This program covers all spheres of the Academy. The program will be implemented in stages. The main aim of the program is to make the academy's activity more effective, renew material-technical base, strengthen social defense of the scientists, improve the functions of the expert examination, broaden innovation issues and international scientific cooperation," he said.

Touching upon the problem of strengthening of the scientists' social defense Kerimov said that they are going to make proposals for improving their living conditions.

"We expect increase of the scientists" salaries. Then we will apply to international organizations for increasing the scientists' pension assurance and social defense," he said.

Kerimov said that the youths' interest in the science has increased recently.

"Special programs will be implemented for involving the youth in the science. Young scientists will be sent abroad for experience," he said.

The academician said that Intellectual Development Center on Work with the Youth has been established in the Academy of Sciences. Kerimov said the relations of the Academy with international organizations are improving.

"The Academy is cooperating with a number of international organizations, such as, NATO, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international funds. We have signed agreements on bilateral cooperation with a number of foreign scientific institutions. An agreement on cooperation with French Academy of Sciences will be signed soon. These agreements allow our scientists to make scientific researches together with foreign scientists. 500 officers of our Academy were on scientific mission last year," he said.

Kerimov said that the elections to the National Academy of Sciences will be held before the presidential elections to the Academy expected to be held in March-April this year.

"After that the Presidium of National Academy of Sciences will be reelected. The presidential elections will be held afterwards. In case the members of the Academy give their confidence I will participate in the elections," he said.