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WEEKLY POLITICAL REVIEW

Politics Materials 20 July 2005 16:32 (UTC +04:00)

The events of the last week essentially differed from the previous week of July.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russian Ambassador Yuriy Merzlyakov, U.S. Ambassador Steven Mann and French Ambassador Bernard Facie arrived in Azerbaijan on Monday. They met with Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Nizami Bahmanov, the head of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The negotiations focused on the current phase of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict resolution after the Warsaw talks between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia and Paris consultations between the Foreign Ministers.

Commenting on the results of the talks Bahmanov said that the meeting was "constructive". Among the other questions their discussed the details of proposals on opening of the road Agdam-Khankendi-Shusha-Lachin-Goris-Shabuz going to Turkey.

The same day the mediators met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The co-chairs did not inform media on the results of talks referring to their confidentiality. " We have discussed with the president and the Foreign Minister the main moments of this peaceful agreement," the Russian diplomat said. Merzliakov did not make comments on the information of "Svoboda" radio on conduction of referendum on the status of Nagorno Karabakh during the coming15 years.

Mann spoke about existence of "good atmosphere" for discussing. He said there are "Serious possibilities" for the progress at the talks. The fruitful process, which started in Prague, is "deepening" at present.

Concerning joining the talks the countries of the region, including Iran and Turkey the opinion of the mediators split. French cochairman considers important regular consultations with Iran and Turkey, and Georgia. One can come to a ground that no document will be signed in the forthcoming meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents. The co-chairs left Baku for Khankandi on 13 July.

The most interesting event of the last week was a two-day visit of Madeleine Albright, the former U.S. Secretary of State, the head of the National Democracy Institute.

Albright held meetings with representatives of NGOs and women-politicians. The talks focused on the preparations for forthcoming elections. She also met with the heads of the political parties. After a two-hour meeting Sardar Jalaloglu, the chair of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party told Trend that the talks were very fruitful and hoped for their efficient end.

The 3-day seminar, organized by President’s Executive Power with support of Media Department of the Council of Europe, was held last week. It finished with the adoption of a memorandum on mutual understanding between media and Azeri authorities.

The document underlines existence of a dialogue between state bodies and media, which targets informing the society about issues of much interest, conduct of exchange of information, establishment of normal and transparent relations on the base of mutual understanding.

The Azerbaijani President had a tense business schedule last week. On 12 July Ilham Aliyev took part at the opening ceremony a modern House of Communications in Mashtaga settlement of Baku. He got familiar with the activity of the station and held a video conference with communications houses of Ganja and Shaki. The head of state also interested in problems of residents and promised to resolve them in the shortest period.

On 13 July Mehdi Safari, a special representative of Iranian President for Caspian diplomacy, arrived in Baku on a one-day visit. The key objective of the visit was to discuss bilateral relationships, as well as the Caspian legal status.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received on Wednesday a special envoy of the Iranian President on the Caspian diplomacy, Mehdi Safari.

The diplomat conveyed to Azerbaijani President Aliyev a reply letter from the newly elected Iranian President, Mahmud Ahmedinejdat, who stated that the new authorities of Iran will continue the policy directed at the development of fraternal and friendly relationships with Azerbaijan.

Meanwhile Albright continued his meetings in Baku She met with the functionaries of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) on 13 July and discussed the pre-election situation in the country РІ СЃС'ране.

Meeting of the former US Secretary, head of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) Madelaine Albright with members of the electoral block �New Policy” Coordinating Council (NPCC) took place on 13 July at the Hyatt Regency hotel of Baku. The CC members Eldar Namazov, Etibar Mammadov and Ali Masimov have been participating in the meeting.

The socio-political situation in the country, preparation to the parliamentary elections have been discussed at the meeting. The CC members have also discussed in detail improvement of the Election Code, the elections monitoring issues, creation of equal conditions for authorities and opposition at the TV channels and other issues.

On July 13 President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Albright. Noting that in the passed period, the relations between Azerbaijan and the United States had successfully developed, stating “we are pleased with the current state of cooperation between our countries”.

Noting successful cooperation of the two countries in security, energy and other fields, President Aliyev said these relations base on mutual understanding, partnership and cooperation The American guest said since her first visit to Baku in 1994, the city had become nicer and brighter with positive changes. Albright said she attaches great importance to development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States in the field of security, combat against international terrorism and etc

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received on 13 July Director of the Foreign Relations Institute of Japan, chief adviser of the Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the Ambassador Toshiuki Fudjivara, who noted, that has arrived in Baku on behalf of the Prime Minister Dzyunitiro Koidzumi, having handed over the Azerbaijan’s President the invitation to pay an official visit to Japan.

President Ilham Aliyev conveyed his gratitude to the Prime-Minister of Japan for the invitation, having underlined, that the Azerbaijani-Japanese links develop in all aspects. Head of the Azerbaijani state has also appreciated highly the contribution of Toshiuki Fudjivara to the development of relations between the two countries.

The resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh was on the top of discussions at several international events. On 13Jult Tbilisi hosted a three-day international seminar on �Nagorno-Karabakh: opportunities and perspectives for resolution of the conflict.

Azerbaijani Interior Minister Ramil Usubov left for Austria on an official visit at the invitation of Austrian Interior Minister Liza Prokop. Interior Ministry's press office told TURAN during his two-day visit Usubov will meet with Ministers of Internal Affairs and Justice, General Prosecutor, chairman of Supreme Court, first parliament vice-speaker and other Austrian officials.

During his two-day visit Usubov met with Ministers of Internal Affairs and Justice, General Prosecutor, chairman of Supreme Court, first parliament vice-speaker and other Austrian officials. As a result of meeting the two Ministers signed an agreement on Cooperation in Police.

On 15 July Asim Mollazada, the chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party (DRP) paid a visit to the United States at the invitation of the Carnegie Foundation and Enterprise Institute. He was scheduled to make remarks at the organizations, as well as the National Democracy Institute. He will also hold meetings at РџРѕРјРёРјРѕ СЌС'РѕРіРѕ, Р±С‹Р"Рё запР"анированы РІСЃС'речи Рђ.РњРѕР"Р"азаде РІ the White House, the Department of State and Congress.

On 17 July journalists staged a rally to commemorate the 38th birthday of late Elmar Husseynov, the editorвЂ"in-chief of the magazine Monitor.

Besides, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on strengthening of strengthening of the social security of people, referred as war veterans for participation in the armed operations for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The decree envisages payment of a monthly benefit of 55,000 manats to cover their communal charges and different services and supplementing to Article 1 of the decree on ensuring the indemnity for privileges granted for communal, transport and different services, dated 26 December 2001, the words �people granted with the title of war veteran for participation in the armed operations for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan’.

The decree will enact into law since August 1

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Zakir Nasirov, the ex-head of the Criminal Search Department of the Interior Ministry, has been arrested and a relevant investigation into the case has been set up, Trend reports quoting Eldar Mahmudov, the National Security Ministry, as saying.

According to Mahmudov, the Ministry will publicize detail information on the case when necessary, while for the time being it is secret of the investigation, the Minister underlined.

Nasirov was arrested on 8 July on the base of testimonies presented by Haji Mammadov. At present he is kept at the isolation cell of the National Security of the National Security Ministry with charges of deliberate murder and kidnapping of people.

The Constitution Court celebrated its 7th anniversary last week During its activities starting in 1998 the Constitution Court (CC) has made 115 sentences, Farhad Abdullayev, the chairman of the CC, said on Thursday in a briefing dedicated to 7th anniversary of the CC.

Abdullayev said that two of the sentences were considered on the base of inquiries by the President, four by the Cabinet of Ministers, 45 by the Supreme Court, 13 вЂ" by the Prosecutor General’s Office, 4 вЂ" by the Ombudsman’s Apparat and the rest - on the base of individual complains by citizens.

A grand ceremony held at Gulustan Palace on 14 July in connection with Heydar Aliyev’s accession to power. He started rule the country from 14 July 1969.

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