OREANDA-NEWS. April 29, 2009. Environment minister Huseyn Bagirov of Azerbaijan received yesterday Joseph Weinstock, chief environment specialist of the Asian Development Bank’s Regional Department.

Well-informed sources say that in the meeting the parties discussed ADB Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (REACH) Program designed for 10 countries of Central and Eastern Asia.

“The Bank endorsed USD 5 million for its realization a week ago and following yesterday’s negotiations in Baku Azerbaijan became the first participant of the program,” a source indicates.

Within the program it will be surveyed not use of renewable energy sources, but impact of their use on climatic changes.

Mr. Weinstock is finishing today his Baku visit.

Since 1999, when the country became an ADB member, the Bank has implemented only environment protecting measures, though almost every its project has a strong ecologic impact.