BP ANNOUNCED WINNERS OF “ECOLOGY AND ECONOMY ARE HARMONIOUS” PROJECT
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Fuel and Energy of Azerbaijan Mejid Karimov, chairman of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) standing commission on natural resources issues, energy and ecology Asya Manafova, president of “BP-Azerbaijan” company David Woodward, representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, NGOs.
Speaking at the ceremony, “BP-Azerbaijan” president David Woodward stressed an importance of environment protection, role of official organs and non-governmental organizations in building of ecological policy of Azerbaijan. He reminded that the contest had been announced in May 2003 and 25 projects on biodiversity were submitted by various NGOs.
According to the president, two independent organs were formed to select the best project: scientific-consultative council, consisted of famous National Academy of Sciences figures, while the leading specialists and the company’s leaders joined the Prize Council.
Speaking at the ceremony chairperson of the Milli Majlis standing commission Asya Manafova thanked the BP management for support of the projects on environment protection and called on all oil and gas companies to join the activities in ecological field. “We do want and will strive for preservation of Azerbaijan’s biodiversity”, Asya Manafova said.
As a result of a 3-stage selection process, Azerbaijan Demographers Association (ADA), which presented a project on revival and preservation of biodiversity of sturgeons reserves in the Caspian sea, was announced a winner of the contest 2003. A diploma was presented to NAS academician Musa Musayev from Minister of Fuel and Energy of Azerbaijan Mejid Karimov. As was noted, projects in this field were valued by BP at $20 thousand.
The second place and a $5thousadn prize were secured by the non-governmental social-ecological center “Ecosphere” who prepared a project of protection of biodiversity of mammas in Azerbaijan.