Official news
On 9 Jan, Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijan President, received the US delegation led by Robert Wexler, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe within the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Robert Wexler said the United States and Azerbaijan are close strategic partners, and are rapidly developing their relations in all the fields.
President Ilham Aliyev stressed that the Azerbaijan-US relations are successfully developing. The Azerbaijani leader voiced his hope that Wexler`s visit will be a good opportunity to eyewitness the development processes in Azerbaijan, and will contribute towards the expansion of the bilateral ties.
On 10 Jan, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, received the delegation headed by Bill Schuster, the co-chair of the working group on Azerbaijan at the US House of Representatives of Congress.
The head of the Azerbaijan State noted the active and successful cooperation between the two countries, in the diverse fields. The Bilateral relations and mutual activity on the different levels, promote the expansion of strong partnership ties between Azerbaijan and the United States, the President emphasized. The two countries are allies and partners, he said. Speaking of the ongoing development processes in the country, President of Azerbaijan said that the Azerbaijan's position has considerably strengthened in the region. He expressed the confidence that the current visit would also contribute in the widening of the partnership relations.
Mr. Bill Schuster, in his turn, noting the importance of the current visit of the US delegation to partner country, highly assessed the active participation of Azerbaijan in the anti-terror coalition, the mission of Azerbaijani peacekeepers implemented in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also stressed the importance of the partnership of Azerbaijan in the energy sphere.
On 10 Jan, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, received the President of TeliaSonera Lars Nyberg and his accompanying delegation. The Azerbaijani leader stressed that the cooperation between the TeliaSonera and its counterparts in Azerbaijan, is successfully developing. President Ilham Aliyev pointed to his country's great achievements, in the telecommunications sphere. Lars Nyberg said during its more than the ten-year activity in Azerbaijan, TeliaSonera has done much to create the modern telecommunications infrastructure in the country.
On 10 Jan, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, signed an order, approving the Conception of reforms in the system of the financing health sphere in Azerbaijan and applying the compulsory medical insurance. Without the fundamental reforms in the principles of financing health, it is impossible to render the qualitative medical service to the people, the order says.
It needs to approve the conception to create new economic grounds of the financing health, improving the management in this sphere, raising the quality of the medical services and applying the compulsory medical insurance.
The Cabinet of Minister is in-charge of preparing the plan of measures for 2008-2012, within a month. The order comes into the force from the day of signing.
Foreign policy
he Turkic peoples residing in the autonomous as part of the various countries, are expected to be represented in the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries. "Firstly, the independent Turkic states and then the Turkic peoples residing in autonomous in the various countries, especially in Russia and China, will be represented in the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries," Nizami Jafarov, the Head of Azerbaijan Parliament's working group for relations with Turkey and the Chairman of Permanent Culture Commission, reported to Trend.
There are six Turkic countries around the world: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Nearly, 20 Turkic autonomous are located in the countries worldwide. The establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries was discussed at the 11th congress of the Turkic-speaking countries, which took place in Baku in 2007. According to Jafarov, in the final stage the Turkic peoples residing in the various countries are expected to be represented in the Assembly as well. "These include -the Turks residing in Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia as well as the Southern Azerbaijanis," he said.
According to the Commission's Chairman, the discussions are still in progress for the shape and activity principles of the Assembly. "There are proposals to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries: in the form of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe or in the form of consultation- advisory structure," he said.
Jafarov stated that establishing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic-speaking countries without studying international experience, may present some problems in the future. Jafarov considers that there is a need to expand the relations between the Parliaments of the Turkic countries, in order to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries. For this, there is a need to form a commission for establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly. This issue may be discussed, at the coming meeting of the State Heads. It is impossible to decide upon this issue, without the will of the Presidents. An agreement on this should be reached at the level of Presidents. The Heads of the Turkic countries positively approach this issue. It is the high time to decide this issue, he said.
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS
The project of supplements and amendments to the bill on Freedom of Assembly has been developed and will be submitted to the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) for ratification, MP Chingiz Askarov, a member of the Governmental Task Group and representative of the Presidential Administration, stated.
According to Askarov, negotiations between Azerbaijan and the Venice Commission have ended. The proposals submitted for consideration have been agreed.
Changes have been injected into all points of the bill, Askarov said. The bill was improved and meets European standards.
"All proposals made by the Venice Commission have been taken into consideration in the project. The bill on Freedom of Assembly will completely meet European standards," Askarov noted.
Under the bill on Freedom of Assembly, Azerbaijani citizens should inform executive bodies about their plans to stage a rally. However, unsanctioned rallies are dispersed by police in Azerbaijan.
Askarov said that the point including citizens having to inform executive bodies about possible rallies but there is no need for permission to stage a rally was kept in the new bill.
The Baku Executive Power does not allow the staging of rallies in big parks and squares in Baku, as well as in the front of many state bodies. The new bill envisages limits to assembly in case of emergencies, Askarov noted.
The project will be submitted to the Parliament by the spring session.
According to the media, representatives of the Venice Commission will come to Baku in February and the bill on Freedom of Assembly will be re-considered. However, Askarov in turn stated that negotiations had been completed and all proposals agreed.
The Azerbaijani Government and Venice Commission held negotiations in order to improve the bill on Freedom of Assembly. Representative of the Venice Commission Simona Granata-Mengini stated in an interview with Trend that if the Azerbaijani Parliament passes the new project, the bill on Freedom of Assembly will meet European standards. The Venice Commission proposed to include in the bill places where people may stage a rally without the permission of state bodies.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) started preparation work on the threshold of the presidential election in Azerbaijan.
The Deputy Executive Secretary of NAP Mubariz Gurbanli stated to Trend agency that the party has already defined all directions of the election process.
The presidential election in Azerbaijan is scheduled for 15 October 2008. NAP stated that the party would nominate the candidature for the presidential post of the current President Ilham Aliyev.
The Azadlig bloc, which unites opposition parties Popular Front, Liberal, Citizen and Development, stated that the bloc would boycott the upcoming election if no changes were made in the composition of election commissions.
According to Gurbanli, the ruling party implemented an analysis of previous errors made during the previous elections held in the country. "NAR will implement preparations to the election campaign in compliance with the election program. The key factor which can provide a successful election campaign at the upcoming presidential election is the existence of respect and power of the party's candidate among Azerbaijani voters," Gurbanli said.
One of the main directions of the party is to hold a meeting on the threshold of the election where the candidature from the party officially is to be approved.
NAP was founded in Nakhchivan in 1992. The All-Nation Leader, late Ex-President Heydar Aliyev was the first Chairman of the Party. President Ilham Aliyev is the present Chairman of the Party, which has been ruling for 14 years.
Discrepancies occurred amongst the youth organization of the Musavat opposition party due to the legitimacy of the structure.
The conference of the youth organization of the party was held on 23 December. During the conference Tural Abbasli was elected as chairman of the party. Prior to that the party was chaired by Elnur Mammadli, an active member of the youth organization, who had taken on the post for nine months.
After the election of the new chairman, Mammadli appealed to the Central Control-Revision Centre (CCRC) of Musavat and accused Abbasli of acting illegally. Mammadli reported to Trend that the election where Abbasli was elected as chairman of the party did not meet the Charter of the party. He wishes to call the next conference from the members of the youth organization of Musavat and to elect a new chairman. Mammadli is confident that he may be elected to the post of chairman. CCRC will respond to Mammadli within a month.
Commenting on Mammadli's statements, Abbasli said to Trend that the full governing power of the party belongs only to him. "I was elected the chairman of the party at the conference which was attended by officials of Musavat," Abbasli noted.
The protocol of the conference held on 23 December, where Abbasli was elected on the chairmanship post, will be considered at the meeting of the Supreme Council of Musavat on 2 January.
The term allocated for the election campaign may be reduced, Ali Ahmadov, the Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), reported.
Under the Azerbaijani Election Code, the election campaign takes place over four months.
The representatives of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe will visit Azerbaijan in February and will focus their attention on the amendments and supplements in the Election Code. Azerbaijani opposition parties demand that election commissions be formed on a parity basis, but the Government is against such a proposal. The Government noted that only some technical changes may be injected into the election legislation.
According to Ahmadov, election campaigns in other countries do not last for four months. Ahmadov believes that the election campaign in Azerbaijan, like in many other countries, should last two months. "The presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections are held in Azerbaijan every five years. One year out of five is spent on the election campaign," Ahmadov said.
NAP was founded in Nakhchivan on 1992. The All-Nation Leader, late Ex-President Heydar Aliyev was the first Chairman of the Party. President Ilham Aliyev is the present Chairman of the Party, which has been the ruling Party for 14 years.
The regional factor became the main reason for the weakness of the Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP) which resulted in the loss of some of its staff members, Ali Aliyev, the ex-chairman of ANIP, said Trend.
Due to poor health Ayaz Rustamov left the chairmanship post of ANIP in 2007. Etibar Mammadov, the founder and leader of the Party, reported that the functioning of ANIP was not satisfactory. According to information by the media of the Geranboy region of Azerbaijan, Rustamov's resignation was connected with the struggle of the party activists. However, Rustamov reported to Trend that his resignation was not connected with any pressure.
Aliyev, who held the chairmanship post of ANIP from 2004 to 2005, stated that the party lost its influence and force. "The fact that ANIP was not successful during the latest parliamentary election in 2005 has demonstrated that the party has weakened. ANIP took part at the election with more than 60 candidates. However, no candidates from the party, including myself, won the election. If an ANIP leader could not win the trust of the population and has taken 4th place at the elections, this demonstrates the party's position in the community," the former ANIP chairman said.
According to him, there is a geographic and regional factor within ANIP, like in many other parties, which weakens the parties resulting in the loss of staff members. Aliyev does not believe that ANIP is able to restore its previous force and influence. "I do not know of any well-known and strong persons to be elected to the chairmanship post within the party. Those members who would have been able to restore the party's former power have left the party. I do not know anyone who we can be appointed as chairman of the party," Aliyev said.
Ali Orujev, ANIP press-secretary and secretary on popularization issues, told Trend that there were no regional differences within the party. "We can prevent a split amongst members of ANIP, which belong to some active region. ANIP is not a party which belongs to any region," Orujev stated. Concerning the weakness of ANIP, Orujev said that this is a problem of almost all Azerbaijani parties.
ANIP was the first party to have received registration in Azerbaijan in 1992. Etibar Mammadov had been the founder and chairman of the party until 2004. Presently, Mammadov is the deputy chairman of the International Democratic Alliance.
Robert Veksler, The United States Congressman, began his visit to Azerbaijan and met with the opposition representatives, Eldar Namazov, the head of the For Azerbaijan Forum stated to Trend agency.
The meeting was attended by Isa Gambar, the head of the Musavat opposition party, Lala Shovkat, the leader of Liberal Party, Ali Karimli, the chairman of Popular Front Party and Eldar Namazov.
According to Namazov, the Congressman was informed about the political situation in the country, the forthcoming presidential election, pressure over freedom of speech, political imprisoned persons and providing the right of freedom of assembly.
"We informed the Congressman about the protection of the human rights and the recognition of the right of human beings for the freedom of assembly", Namazov said. Namazov handed the Congressman the photos which confirm that no conditions were created for the political parties to meet the people, stage rallies, as well as the Baku Executive Power allocate the most unfavorable places to stage rallies.
The Citizen Unity Party (CUP), which represent the opposition in the Parliament, changed its political course.
"CUP supports the political course implemented by Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President," Sabir Hajiyev, CUP chairman and a member of the permanent Parliamentary Commission on Legal Policy and State Building, said to Trend agency.
CUP was founded under the leadership of Ayaz Mutallibov, the ex-President of Azerbaijan, in 1999. Mutallibov has been living in emigration in Moscow, since 1992. The differences occurred within the party, after the parliamentary election in 2000. The party was divided into two parts, ones support Igbal Agazade, the party secretary, who is the chairman of the Umid party, and the others support Mutallibov.
In 2005, CUP took part in the parliamentary election as an opposition organization and at present represents as the opposition in the election commissions. According to Hajiyev, CUP denied the radical opposition. "There is no prosperous radical opposition in the country. The policy carried out by the Authorities meets the interest of the State and population," Hajiyev said. Hajiyev said that CUP would hold meeting in the summer, in order to take a decision how the party will participate in the upcoming presidential election.
"My position concerning determination of a candidate for the presidential post does not coincide with the position of some members of party. The announcement of the name of the candidate, whom I support before the meeting, may be evaluated as the pressure on the party members. Therefore, I do not want to announce the name of the candidate whom I support," Hajiyev said.
The Azadlig bloc, which unites the three opposition parties, does not agree with the proposal made by the opposition concerning the participation in the upcoming presidential election, in October 2008. Ali Aliyev, the co-chairman of the bloc, stated to Trend agency that the structure would not take a decision concerning participation in the presidential election before May or July.
Eldar Namazov, the head of the Forum For Azerbaijan, proposes the opposition to take part in the elections, hold meetings with the people, form its platform and gain the support of the people
According to Aliyev, Azadlig will not take part in the presidential election, if no democratic election condition will be created, as well as no changes will be made in the composition of election commissions and there is a complete provision for the freedom of speech. "Therefore, because of the various reasons we do not consider the participation in the election, as acceptable," Aliyev said. Azadlig will take waiting position till summer, observing the political situation in the country.
Azadlig unites the three opposition parties: Popular Front, Liberal and Citizen and the Development. The presidential election in Azerbaijan is scheduled on 15 October 2008.
Musavat Party of Azerbajan thinks that the several small parties functioning under the name of opposition, do not have a chance in the upcoming presidential elections to be held in Azerbaijan this year. "Unlike Georgia, the small opposition parties in Azerbaijan can not gain even 6% of the votes in the presidential elections", Arif Hajili, the head of the Central Administration of Musavat Party reported Trend.
The Musavat party which is considered to be one of Azerbaijan's big oppositional parties, last year decided to take part in the upcoming presidential elections to be held in October. The Oppositional parties such as Great Establishment, Umid (Hope), United Azerbaijan Popular Party have made the same decision.
Hajili thinks that the government creates the favorable conditions for the small parties to take part in the election with their candidate, which leads to the split in the opposition. The activist of Musavat thinks that in 2008 there will be many candidates from the opposition as there were in 2003, but none of them will have a chance to win.
According to Hajili, Musavat Party thinks that a candidate who has a good chance to win in the elections is Isa Gambar, the chairman of his party. The representatives of Musavat and Yeni Azerbaijan, which is the ruling party, have alike positions, Igbal Agazade, the chairman of the party reported Trend.
"Both Yeni Azerbaijan and Musavat state that there is no one, but them. These political parties with such an approach can not lead Azerbaijan to the development", said the chairman of Umid Party adding that does not believe in Gambar's victory in the elections.
"If I were confident in the victory of a Musavat party candidate, I would not take part in the elections". Agazde said.
"The current president of Yeni Azerbaijan will be the only candidate from the government and he has the highest rating", executive secretary of Yeni Azerbaijan ruling party Ali Ahmadov reported Trend.
"There is no candidate in Azerbaijan, who can rival Ilham Aliyev in the presidential elections", Ahmadov said.
The Opposition party "Musavat" was founded in 1992. Isa Gembar, the present Chairman of the Party was the Ex-Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) in 1992-1993 and the candidate nominated to the Presidential elections held in the country in 2003. Five MPs represents the Party in the Parliament of the Country.
Since 2001, the head of the Umid oppositional party Agazade, has been an MP in Milli Majlis. He will take part in the presidential elections for the first time.
The work to establish the united lefts of Azerbaijani political parties, Coordinated Council, has been persistent, Rustam Shahsuvarov, the chairman of the Communist Party, reported Trend on 10 January.
"We took a decision to establish a centre of cooperation of the lefts, in order to increase the political activity of the left forces of Azerbaijan," Shahsuvarov said. According to Shasuvarov, the left political camp has been in stagnation for a long period of time, the left parties' plays passive role in the political life of the country, which aroused a need to unite them.
The five political organizations united are: the Communistic Party, United Communistic Party, Communistic Party of Azerbaijan on the platform of Marxism and Leninism, Communistic Party of New Generation and Youth 'Club of Che Gevara fans' organization.
In the near future, the founding conference of the Coordination Council will be held. The Coordination Council will function as the centre of cooperation and then will be turned into the political bloc. The political bloc will stand from the common position because of the presidential election, which is scheduled on 15 October 2008. The centre of the political cooperation will be a constructive opposition towards the Authorities.
A new bloc may be established to support the candidate of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party during the forthcoming presidential election.
"The parties which support the candidate of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, from the New Azerbaijani party, are expected to be united on the threshold of the presidential election in Azerbaijan,"MP Fazil Agamali, the chairman of the Ana Vatan party, told Trend.
The presidential election is scheduled for 15 October 2008. New Azerbaijan party officials stated that they would nominate the candidature of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The Azadlig bloc, which unites the opposition parties, Popular Front, Liberal, Citizen and Development, will boycott the upcoming presidential election if no changes have been made within the election commissions.
According to Agamali, the number of parties supporting the candidature of Aliyev has increased. The parties which followed radical positions previously also took the decision to support the candidature from the ruling party. The chairman of the Ana Vatan party said should the bloc be established which will support Aliyev's candidature then his party will also join the bloc.
NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosian stated in Yerevan on 11 January that he is familiar with the latest proposal by the mediators to resolve the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mediamax reported.
Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan on Ter-Petrosian said that he was not in a position to disclose the details. He drew attention to the fact that the latest proposals by mediators are the first written document after a 'common state' concept, presented to the sides by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in 1997.
The former head of state did not rule out that once he is elected the 'logic of current process' will be the basis for continuing the peace process.
Ter-Petrosian stated that over the past 10 years the Armenian authorities have done nothing to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. With respect to constructive ways in which he is going to utilize to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ter-Petrosian said that "the constructive way will be the way which is non-constructive. To achieve a solution to the conflict it is necessary to change the philosophy.
Armenian armed forces fired at Azerbaijani National Army troops from Kuropatkino village in the Khojavand region of Azerbaijan from 14:00am to 14:25am on 8 January; from the village of Tapgaragoyunlu in the Goranboy region of Azerbaijan from 16:50am to 17:20am; and from hills in the Armenian Berd region 14:50am to 15:50am.
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reported. The Azerbaijani army retaliated, and no casualties were reported.
Azerbaijan demand the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to recognize Armenia as an agressive state.
"The Azerbaijani Delegation to the PACE repeatedly raised the issue to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to recognize Armenia as an aggressive country, during the sessions. However, the Parliamentary Assembly leadership denies to recognize Armenia as an aggressive country," MP Eldar Ibrahim, a member of the Azerbaijani Delegation to OSCE PA and the chairman of the permanent Parliamentary Commission on Agrarian Policy, stated to Trend agency.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988, due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighbouring districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding the peaceful negotiations.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized Armenia as an aggressive country, by passing the resolution 1416 in January 2005.
According to Ibrahimov, in February, the Azerbaijani Delegation will raise the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the issue for consideration in the session of the OSCE PA in Vena. Azerbaijan has six members in the OSCE PA.