Official news
Azerbaijan marks National Revival Day on 17 November.
On the first days of 1988 Armenia started its evident attack against Azerbaijan. Basing on the indifferent attitude of Moscow and particularly of Mikhael Gorbachov's, the head of the USSR, Armenians started planned mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from their native lands in Armenia under the directions of Armenian government. Above 200,000 Azerbaijanis were deported from their homes, killed and burned by the Armenians. Gorbachov and those surrounding him showed no reaction to the Armenian vandalism. At early February 1988 Armenians carried out revolts in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and even raise a question to join those lands to Armenia.
People of Azerbaijan expressed its protest to the government. Slogans, portraits and flags carried by the Azerbaijani citizens proved their belief to Moscow and local authorities at that time.
But getting no serious answer from Moscow and the then government, people from every corner of the republic moved to Baku and gathered in Azadlig square (named 'Lenin Square' at that time), they held meetings and evidently express their protest.
On 17 November 1988 the society of Azerbaijan began rallies at Azadlig square to protest the anti-Azerbaijan policy of the Soviet state. People formed movement for freedom. However, the Soviet army brutally disrupted the demonstrations at the beginning of December.
The abovementioned events are evaluated as the national movement in Azerbaijan and considered to be important facts in achievement of independence.
November 17 is celebrated as the Day of National Revival since 1992.
On 17 November, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Commander of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) General Duncan J. McNabb and his accompanying delegation.
Successful development of bilateral relations in all spheres was underlined during the meeting. The sides also exchanged views on prospects for U.S.-Azerbaijan cooperation in relevant areas.
General Duncan McNabb said he had witnessed great development in Baku during his second trip to the country.
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan sent a message of congratulations to the Latvian President Valdis Zatlers whereby extended his best wishes on his country's Day of Republic.
"The Azerbaijani-Latvian relations today develop successfully," President noted.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a message of congratulations to Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Qaboos bin Said and the people of his country on the national holiday - Birthday of Sultan
The President expressed his confidence that friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Oman would further enhance for the sake of both peoples` interests.
On 17 November, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed an order conferring rank of 'Honorable culture worker' upon a number of employees of the Azerbaijan National Library named after M.F.Akhundov for their service in development of library work in Azerbaijan.
Other Presidential order awarded four employees of the National Library with the Tereggi Medal ("Progress").
On 18 November, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Minister for Employment of Sweden Sven Otto Littorin and his accompanying delegation.
President Ilham Aliyev said the two countries have good potential to develop cooperation in various spheres. He emphasized that opening of Azerbaijan's Embassy in Sweden would contribute to expansion of bilateral relationship.
Sven Otto Littorin praised rapid development processes in Azerbaijan. The Swedish Minister underscored that opening of Azerbaijan's Embassy in Sweden would contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
On November 18, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation of the World Bank led by its Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia Region Shigeo Katsu. Shigeo Katsu informed the President on the meetings his delegation is planning to have in Azerbaijan, adding they are also going to participate in an event the Asian Development Bank is organizing here in the framework of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program. President Ilham Aliyev described this visit as a very good opportunity for the WB delegation and relevant government officials to discuss prospects of further cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Bank.
On 18 November, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev received U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor David Kramer. During the meeting, they stressed US-Azerbaijan relations are successfully developing in all spheres. They discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev participated in opening ceremony of new shopping centre Shuvalan Park in Shuvalan settlement of Baku on 19 September.
The President was informed that a total of 32 shops have been located in the centre with 15,000 sq.m area, which was built by Pasha Inshaat company. Famous firms, functioning in the centre of Baku, opened their branches there, as well. Basically, products of famous foreign firms will be sold at this shopping centre.
Some 90% of 230 people to be employed at this centre will be local residents. The centre will offer to customers banking, telephone, tourist services, and will have drugstore, canteens, children entertaining centre and business club. Underground garage was built at the centre, as well.
The President visited different sections of the centre, appraised construction of such shopping house in outskirts Baku, as well as expressed his satisfaction with comfortable and cultural work conditions provided for people here.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed an order establishing State Securities Committee.
The order envisages establishment of State Securities Committee on the base of State Securities Committee under auspice of Azerbaijan President. According to the Presidential order, the Ministers are in charge of preparing proposals on the project and dealing with the organizational issues on the establishment of the Committee.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed an order establishing State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patent of Azerbaijan Republic.
According to the order, the Committee shall be established on the base of the State Agency on Standardization, Metrology and Patent of Azerbaijan Republic. According to the Presidential order, the Ministers are in charge of preparing proposals on the project and dealing with the organizational issues on the establishment of the Committee.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed an order appointing the heads of organs of central executive powers.
According to the order, the heads of the relevant structures were appointed as following:
Chairman of State Committee for Town Building and Architecture - Abbas Aleskerov
Chairman of State Real Estate Registry Service - Arif Garashov
Chairman of State Statistics Committee - Arif Veliyev
Director of State Civil Air Administration - Arif Mammadov
Chief of State Migration Service - Arzu Rahimov
Chief of State National Archives Administration - Atakhan Pashayev
Chief of State Border Service - Elchin Guliyev
Chairman of State Committee for Problems of Family, Women and Children - Hijran Huseynova
Chairman of State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations - Hidayat Orujov
Chairman of State Customs Committee - Aydin Aliyev
Chairman of State Committee for Work with Diasporas - Nazim Ibrahimov
Chairman of State Committee on Land and Cartography - Garib Mammadov
Chairman of State Committee on Management of State Property - Kerem Hasanov
Chairman of State Agency on Standardization, Metrology and Patent - Ramiz Hasanov
Chairman of State Social Protection Fund - Salim Muslimov
Chief of State Marine Administration - Gudret Gurbanov
Chairman of State Agency on Purchases - Iskender Chendirli
Chairman of Agency of Copyrights - Kamran Imanov
Rufat Aslanli - Chairman of the State Committee under securities
President of Azerbaijan appointed Rufat Aslanli as a chairman of the State Committee under securities replacing with Gunduz Mammadov.
On 20 November, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the delegation led by Haruhiko Kuroda, President of the Asian Development Bank and the Chairperson of ADB`s Board of Directors. Noting that it was his first visit to Azerbaijan, the ADB president said he was eyewitness of rapid economic development in the country. According to Kuroda, true economic management and effective use of the oil profits will open new opportunities for further progress. The Head of Azerbaijani State noted high economic growth in the country, underlining that thanks to expedient reforms conducted in all fields the republic doesn't face economic crisis the world is currently experiencing. President of Azerbaijan also touched upon the programs being realized in the non-oil sector, and expressed confidence for their continuation in the years ahead.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed an order on additional measures for an improvement in the supply of population with ecologically clean water.
The President ordered to allocate AZN 2mln from the Reserve Fund of the President for the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources for beginning the installation of modular type water-cleaning devices in 200 more populated areas, located along the banks of Kur and Araz rivers.
The further development of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia will be of great significance for the development of regional processes, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at the meeting with the participants of round table Azerbaijan in 21st Century- Strategy of Development held in Baku.
President said there is political will of governments, strong legal basis and signed documents for this purpose. "Documents reflect our intentions and the important is that they open opportunities to build relations that rest on friendship and mutual respect. It will of great significance for the development of regional processes," President said.
President described Azerbaijan-Russia ties as good-neighbor relations and strategic cooperation.
" Azerbaijan is pleased with the development of these relations. Azerbaijani-Russia relations are very important for our country and development of entire Caucasus and the Caspian region... We are hopeful that bilateral relations with Russia will develop successfully in future as well," President said.
"Russian speaking population of Azerbaijan play an important role in public life of the country who made their own contribution to the development of the republic in Soviet times and during years of independence," Ilham Aliyev stated.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued an order approving the Regulation of the Academy of Justice at the Ministry of Justice of the country. Within a month, the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan is in charge of preparing and presenting to President the proposal on bringing all normative-legal acts into conformity with this order. The order comes into force from the day of signing.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued an order conferring honorable ranks 'Honorable lawyer of the Azerbaijan Republic' upon employees of justice agencies and member of the Court Legal Council.
For their long work in the court and justice agencies, conducting court-legal reforms, effective activity and significant contribution to the work of Court Legal Council, honorable ranks "Honorable lawyer of the Azerbaijan Republic" was conferred upon the Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan, Fikret Mammadov, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, Ramizu Rzayev and also four employees of the Ministry of Justice.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, congratulated the employees of justice, courts and veterans on the 90th anniversary of the justice agencies of the country.
The congratulation says that within the carried out court-legal reforms in Azerbaijan, a legislative base, which corresponds to the international standards, was created, a new court system, which is based on the democratic principles, was founded, the authorities of the justice agencies were extended and new tasks were set before them. Also, professional court and juridical corpus was formed on the basis of transparent procedures.
The improvement of legal system was also directed toward the establishment of notary and other legal services, state registration of legal and physical entities, court examination, and work of penitentiary institutions and court executors in accordance with the contemporary requirements.
At present, court organs and justice agencies faces the task to ensure legality, the law-making and the legal enlightenment, protection of human rights, application of new information technologies, staff policy and other directions, the congratulatory letter of the President of Azerbaijan says.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued an order awarding judges, employees of justice, court organs and Court Legal Council.
The order says that for the exemplary performance of the post of judge, difference in the service in the justice agencies and court organs and other services, the medal "For the Service to Native Land" was awarded to Hikmet Mirzoyev, Chairman of Court Board on Economic Lawsuits of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, Togrul Musayev, Deputy Minister of Justice, Imran Nagiyev, Chairman of Court of Appeal, Mahmud Nabiyev, Chief of Court on Heinous Crimes, Vilayat Zakirov, Deputy Minister of Justice.
"Tereggi" medal ("Progress") was awarded to 18 people, medal "For Military Service" - three people, medal "For Difference in State Service" - 27 people.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued an order approving Regulation on Official Emblem of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan and Description of Official Emblem of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan.
Other Presidential order approved Regulation on Flag of Guarding Regiment of the Penal Service of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan and Description of the Flag of Guarding Regiment of the Penal Service of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of congratulation to Lebanon's leader Michel Suleiman on his country`s Independence Day. President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would serve welfare of both peoples. The Head of State offered his best wishes to Michel Suleiman and peace and progress to the friendly people of Lebanon.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva have today watched the ballet "Legend about Love" by outstanding composer, USSR people`s artists, people`s artist of Azerbaijan Arif Melikov at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The ballet was performed by the ballet company of the Academic Mariinsky Theatre of Saint Petersburg, which is in Baku on the occasion of the 75th birthday of gifted Azerbaijani composer marked in Azerbaijan under the President Ilham Aliyev`s order. During the intermission, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with people`s artist of USSR and Azerbaijan Arif Melikov. The Head of State Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva once more congratulated Arif Melikov on his jubilee. Arif Melikov thanked President Ilham Aliyev and presented a CD and album on his creative activity to the Head of State and his spouse.
Parliament
The first meeting of the Interparliamentary Council of the Turkic speaking countries took place in Antalya city of Turkey on 20 and 21 February. A protocol of intention was signed to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic speaking countries. Representatives of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan did not participate in the meeting.
A meeting of the parliamentary speakers of the Turkic speaking countries will take place in Istanbul on 20 and 21 November. Establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly will be discussed and agreement will be signed at the meeting. The Azerbaijani delegation under Asadov's leadership will take part in the meeting.
According to Alasgarov, the delegation includes the Chairman of the parliamentary permanent commission for human rights Rabiyyat Aslanova, the Chairman of the parliamentary permanent commission for law policy and state establishment, Ali Huseynov, the Chairman of the parliamentary permanent commission for culture affairs Nizami Jafarov, MPs Rafael Jabrayilov, Farhad Garibov and Rovshan Rzayev.
The parliamentary speakers of the Turkic speaking countries will lead delegations at the Assembly, he stressed.
"Seven representatives from each country will represent at the newly established Parliamentary Assembly. One of them will lead delegation and six will be MPs. Chairmanship at the Assembly will be realized in line with rotation rule in alphabetic order. Turkey will be the first chairman country," Alasgarov said.
It is planned to hold meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly at least twice a year and to elect chairman at every meeting, the head of the Secretariat said. Meetings will take place in the chairing country.
"Decision will be made unanimously through consensus at the new organization. If any country is against of the discussed issue, a decision will not be made on this matter," Alasgarov said.
According to Alasgarov, it has been preliminary agreed that secretariat of the organization will be located in Turkey. However, official Ankara has not yet fully agreed on this matter. Turkey demands finance to maintain secretariat, Alasgarov said.
"However, big financing is not required, as the secretariat will not include many employees. Azerbaijan insists on the secretariat of the Assembly to be located in Turkey and other countries support this proposal," he said.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have not yet made their decision to take part in the meeting in Istanbul to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic speaking countries and participation of these countries in the meeting remains undecided, Alasgarov said.
Refusal of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan from participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic speaking countries will not influence on fruitful work of a new organization, the Azerbaijani Parliament believes. "Non-alignment of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the Assembly will not have serious impact on activity of the new organization," Akif Nasirov, press secretary of the Parliament, said at a briefing.
According to the press secretary, Azerbaijan hopes that other Turkic speaking countries will be represented at the Assembly, as well.
It is planned to discuss establishment of General Secretariat of the Assembly at the meeting, Nasirov said.
The speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament will hold several bilateral meetings and discussions to expand interparliamentary relations within the framework of the visit, Nasirov said.
Nasib Nasibli, member of MP group of opposition Musavat Party in the parliament says the legislative body should hold special hearings about the situation of Azerbaijanis living in Georgia.
"The Azerbaijani parliament needs to a great extent to hold hearings on the situation of Azerbaijanis living in Georgia as the life condition of our compatriots are not good," member of the MUsavar MP group said to journalists on November 19.
According to unofficial reports, nearly 500,000 Azerbaijanis live in Georgia. They are mostly populated in Kvemo-Kartli (Borchali) province.
Nasibli said he has several times initiated to discuss condition and problems of Azerbaijanis living in Georgia in the parliament. However, his proposal failed.
"At least International Relations and Interparliamentary Ties Commission of the parliament can hold such discussions," MP added.
The pressures on Azerbaijanis living in Georgia still continues. A month ago, Georgians were appointed director and deputy director of a secondary school in Qochulu village, which is totally comprised of Azerbaijanis. The Azerbaijanis in this village protested against it, Nasibli said.
"The number of Azerbaijanis living in Georgia is dwindling rapidly. There is no any progress in poor life conditions of the community there. It means that our compatriots living there are facing serous danger. Two years ago all school directors were planned to be replaced by Georgians. But Azerbaijanis prevented it by protest. They want to carry out this plan again. All these developments show that pressure on Azerbaijanis has become part of Georgia's state policy. Because a school is state-owned and it is government officials who put pressure on Azerbaijanis," Nasibli said.
MP noted that a delegation of Azerbaijani parliament should visit Georgia in order to study life conditions of our compatriots on a local level. Parliaments across the world hold hearings on various problems. But Azerbaijani parliament does not have such experience. Such hearings can be held in a closed form as well, he said.
Georgia's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolaz Natbiladze rejects pressures on Azerbaijan. "These are all issues discussed by the media. There is no fact about pressure on Azerbaijanis living in Georgia".
Azerbaijani Parliament believes fall in oil prices on the world market will not negatively affect country's budget for 2009.
"Fall in oil prices on the world market will affect profits of any country importing or exporting oil. But the budget of Azerbaijan has been formed and balanced so that its main part is not very contingent on oil prices," Vice-Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Valeh Alaskarov said to Trend on 19 November.
According to Alaskarov, the revenues of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) depend on oil prices. "But the budget has been formed so that it is little contingent on those revenues. Azerbaijani financial and banking systems and other fields practice such a conservative system that the global crisis does not seriously affect us. We are always criticized because we use the experience of Europe and the United States. Absence of global crisis's impact on Azerbaijan is a result of the conservative economic policy practiced in the financial and banking systems," said Alaskarov.
"Any country would make use of that. There are such countries in which 70-90% of budget revenues are provided by oil. In Azerbaijan, the figure is much lower. Oil revenues are one of the sources of the Azerbaijani budget. And we should make use of that," he said.
"Future generations need roads, power stations, water supply, bridges, hospitals, schools and sports centres. We use oil revenues to provide all that," he said.
Foreign policy
Azerbaijan is always ready to contribute in ensuring of peace and international security, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the meeting with Commander of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) General Duncan J. McNabb.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry quoted Mammadyarov as saying that Azerbaijan peacekeeping force was involved in ensuring stability in Afghanistan and Iraq.
U.S. General highly appreciated presence of the Azerbaijani peacekeeping force in Iraq and Afghanistan and voiced his satisfaction with the cooperation between the two countries in this field.
As to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov emphasized its threat for the region.
The officials discussed the frequency of U.S. high-ranking officials' visits to Azerbaijan and stressed the importance of enhancement of bilateral relations in the military field.
Legal status of the Caspian Sea is being discussed at the meeting of the working group of the Azerbaijani and Iranian Foreign Ministries in Tehran on 18 November, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Abbasali Hasanov told Trend in a telephone conversation from Tehran.
Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov represents Azerbaijan at the meeting.
"I am convinced the meeting will give an impetus to determination of the status of the Caspian Sea," said Hasanov.
After collapse of the USSR, delimitation of the Caspian Sea has been a subject of disputes regarding division of the Caspian shelf resources - oil and gas, as well as biological resources. Caspian littoral countries have been negotiating the status of the Sea for a long period - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia want the Caspian sea bed divided along a modified mid-line. Iran and Turkmenistan meanwhile, wants the seabed divided equally among the five. In 2003, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on partial delimitation of the Caspian Sea along a mid-line.
According to Hasanov, bilateral issues between Iran and Azerbaijan will be discussed during Khalafov's visit.
David J. Kramer, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, commenced meetings in Baku on 18 November to discuss many-sided cooperation.
During the visit Kramer intends to meet with the governmental officials, representatives of the political environment and civil society to discuss the freedoms of media, religion and assembly, according to the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan.
Kramer's visit is the continuation of the dialogue between Azerbaijan and the United States. Last time Kramer visited the country in June 2007.
Books about the culture, history and nature of Azerbaijan, as well as about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh were presented at the Dutch Leiden University Library.
The Azerbaijani Embassy in the Netherlands held the presentation of books about Azerbaijan in the Dutch Leiden University Library, Elchin Bashirov, the first secretary of the Azerbaijani Embassy in the Netherlands, told Trend on 18 November.
The presentation began with the submission of detailed information about the books that reflect the live of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, and his activity for the benefit of the people of Azerbaijan. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev modern Azerbaijan Republic has been able to take their rightful place in international relations, as an independent European state.
The books about Azerbaijan tell about the history and nature of Azerbaijan, as well as its achievements, up-to-date development of economy, tolerance, culture and oil strategy, Fuad Iskandarov, the Azerbaijani ambassador to the Netherlands, said at the presentation. Books designed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation were amongst the presented books.
Ambassador Iskandarov expressed his gratitude to the University library for the preservation of valuable books in excellent condition. He expressed hope that the Azerbaijani specialists will be given an opportunity to explore this collection.
During the talks held after the presentation, an agreement was reached on cooperation between Leiden University Library with specialized centers of Azerbaijan.
On 18 November the Ambassador of Norway to Azerbaijan Yon Ramberg was invited to the Foreign Ministry. The Ambassador was declared that categorically the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan does not agree upon the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Norway dated 12 November regarding the activity of the foreign radio stations in Azerbaijan. He was notified that that the statement of the Norwegian side does not reflect the real situation and the question will be solved exceptionally within the framework of the legislation of Azerbaijan, the press service of the Foreign Ministry reports.
Ambassador Yon Ramberg was said that the Norwegian side should be more attentive in its statements, since similar facts can bring harms to the development of bilateral relations.
During the meeting on the issues of 'Eastern partnership' which will take place on 3 December, the European Union intends to make several proposals on co-operation, Christina Hohman, press secretary of EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, told Trend on 18 November.
On 26 May, Poland and Sweden presented proposal to the EU Foreign Ministers regarding establishment of united forum for the eastern neighbors - "Eastern partnership". It will include 27 EU states and also Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Within the organizations, negotiations will take place on the cancellation of visas, introduction of free trading zones, signing of strategic agreements.
Polish experts will help Azerbaijan prepare for the World Trade Organization (WTO), Poland's Embassy in Azerbaijan said on 19 November.
A delegation of Polish experts will arrive in Azerbaijan on 19 November to assist Azerbaijan to enter WTO. The delegation will meet with the officials of the Economic Development Ministry.
Poland is willing to offer experts to Azerbaijan who will help the country to enter WTO, Poland's Deputy Economy Minister Marcin Korolec said earlier at the 18th economic forum in Poland's Krynica city.
Afghanistan intends to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan. Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta will visit Baku on 16 December in order to discuss the prospects of cooperation, Secretary of the Afghanistan Foreign Ministry Najm Pur said to Trend in a telephone conversation from Kabul on 19 November.
Spanta intends to discuss in Baku the regional cooperation to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan, as well as Azerbaijan's peacekeeping activity in Afghanistan and its potential to invest in Afghanistan's economy, Pur said.
There are 90 Azerbaijani peacekeepers operating in Afghanistan within the International Security Assistance Force. They patrol Kabul.
The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan will rotate permanent representative of the country in Afghanistan.
Permanent representative of Azerbaijan to Afghanistan Ibrahim Gafarov has been called back to the Foreign Ministry as his term of office has expired, advisor of Azerbaijani Embassy in Pakistan Sabir Rzayev said to Trend from Pakistan.
The term of office of Azerbaijani diplomats abroad is four years. Nomination of a new candidate for this post is being examined which will be approved by the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Rzayev said.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Eynulla Madati, who is accredited to Afghanistan at the same time, has assumed the office of the permanent representative for the time being.
Ibrahim Gafarov took the office of the representative in Afghanistan in June 2008. Prior to this position he was advisor in Azerbaijan's Embassy in Pakistan.
PACE intends to study post-election situation in Azerbaijan.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will direct a monitoring mission to Azerbaijan for studying the situation after the 15 October presidential elections in the country. Co-rapporteur of PACE for Azerbaijan Andreas Herkel will visit Baku in February for this purpose, he told Trend on 19 November by telephone from Paris.
"My responsibilities include studying the situation with freedom of speech and human rights in Azerbaijan after the presidential elections in the country," said Herkel.
The decision to conduct next monitoring in this regard was made at the session of the PACE Monitoring Committee, which took place in Paris on 19 November. The session of the Committee focused on the results of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
As a result of elections, the Chairman of News Azerbaijan Party, President Ilham Aliyev gained the greatest number of votes - 88.73%.
"The results of the presidential elections were assessed positively by the members of the Monitoring Committee," Samad Seyidov, Vice President of the PACE, Chairman of Azerbaijan Parliament's Permanent Committee on International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations, told Trend by telephone from Paris.
"PACE co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan Andreas Herkel and Yevgeni Zhivkova presented regarding the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Those who made speeches expressed positions on the objectivity of election mission of the Council of Europe. They consider that the activity of PACE observation mission in the presidential elections in Azerbaijan was realized at high level. But subjective and double standards were noted in the final reports. In this regard, the members of the PACE Monitoring Committee expressed concerns," he said.
The PACE winter session which will take place in January will discuss the results of the presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
Baku stated that Azerbaijan would struggle until the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven regions attached to it from the Armenian occupation. "Nagorno-Karabakh and seven regions attached to it are the Azerbaijani territory, we will struggle and act to liberate these occupied territories and this is the major position of the Azerbaijani authorities," Elnur Aslanov, head of the Political Analysis and Dataware Department of the Azerbaijani President's Administration, told journalists on 20 November.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh's seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
The Armenian media claims that Yerevan will return five Azerbaijani occupied regions at the first stage, the referendum will be held to determine status of Nagorno-Karabakh in two years and finally, Armenia will return Kalbajar region to Azerbaijan.
Both Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven surrounding regions are the Azerbaijani territories and will be the Azerbaijani territories in future, as well, the official of the President's Administration said.
Serzh Sargsyan, the Armenian President, will discuss the current situation on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement with leader of political parties of the country.
"Discussions on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement were held at the Azerbaijani Parliament several years ago. At present we do not need to hold such a discussion," Aslanov said.
Russia is sure that realization of Azerbaijan's strategic policy will provide prosperity and stability for the nation in near future.
" Azerbaijan is associated with success and dynamic development notions in Russia. This development will continue in future and the Azerbaijani-Russian relations will serve as an example for other countries," Sergey Vinokurov, head of the Russian Presidential Administration's Department for inter-regional and cultural relations with foreign countries, said in Baku on 20 November during the round table on Azerbaijan in the 21st Century - Strategy of Success.
According to Vinokurov, Azerbaijan plays an important role in strengthening of stability and security in the region. " Azerbaijan's strategy has been successful thanks to President Ilham Aliyev's reasonable and wise policy. His convincing victory in the presidential elections demonstrated high level of the Azerbaijani nation's support to his foreign and interior policy," he said.
Aleksey Ostrovski, the chairman of the Russian State Duma [Parliament] Committee on CIS affairs and relations with compatriots, Elkhan Nuriyev, the head of the Strategic Investigation Centre at the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Valeriy Tursunov, the President of Development Fund of the Eurasia Investigation Institute, Ali Ahmadov, executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party and MP of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Rashad Rzaguliyev, the director of the Social Development Fund, other MPs of the Azerbaijani Parliament, political scientists, as well as representatives of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Iran are participating in the discussions.
Azerbaijan is not only an important centre of transportation of power resources but is also an important base where merging, dialogue and exchange of views on the effective interaction of cultures and civilizations take place, department head of the Azerbaijani President's Office said.
"In recent years Azerbaijan has improved its political area and got to the point that political analysts call the beginning of democratic consolidation," Elnur Aslanov, head of the Department of Political Analysis and Information at the Azerbaijani President's Office, said during the round table entitled Azerbaijan in the 21st Century - Strategy of Success on 20 November. According to Aslanov, this is a very important stage of up-to-date development of the state, especially in the new world order. Azerbaijan is a country gradually forming its civil society. In recent years the State has laid foundation for the future formation of the foundations of the third sector, its effective cooperation with the authorities and society, said Aslanov." Azerbaijan is a bridge between cultures, civilizations and geo-economic centres. This is a big responsibility to Azerbaijan and I am sure the Government will fulfil this task with success," said Aslanov.
" Azerbaijan's strategy of success" is debated in Baku at a round table on 20 November with the participation of prominent political scientists and representatives of state structures of the region. Discussions take place in two sessions - Azerbaijan and Eurasian Space - Stability and Development and The Role of Political Parties and the Functioning of the Political System of Azerbaijan; Program of the New Azerbaijan Party as a Basis for Successful Development of the Country.
Russia takes Azerbaijan as one of its most important partners.
"The foreign political course of the two countries is intended to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and remains unchanged. The current high level of political cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia, growing potential of the national economies, prospects of humanitarian cooperation provide a very good basis for partnership" Alexey Ostrovsky, the chairman of the Russian Parliament's Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots, said during the round table entitled Azerbaijan in the 21st Century - Strategy of Success in Baku on 20 November.
Owing to the policy of the Azerbaijani President, the Azerbaijan-Russia relations have shifted to a qualitatively new level and began to develop in a fruitful line, said Ostorovsky.
"There is a democratic open society in Azerbaijan, the main value of which is the man, his well-being and future," he said.
According to Ostorovsky, the problems of the Russian-speaking population are not so acute in Azerbaijan as in other former Soviet countries. " Azerbaijan has ensured all conditions for equitable development of all nations and religions. And the Russian community in the country enjoys a very high status and prestige in the Azerbaijani society," said Ostrovsky.
The United States and Russia have much more common ground in Azerbaijan for cooperation than for conflicts, said Elkhan Nuriyev, the head of the Centre for Strategic Studies at the Azerbaijani President's Office. "Today Azerbaijan is the field where Moscow and Washington successfully cooperate. The Kremlin and the White House are interested in maintaining a strong and long-term stability in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is the country of the former Soviet space where the strategic interests of the United States and Russia coincide," Elkhan Nuriev, the Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies at the Azerbaijani President's Office, said during the round table entitled Azerbaijan in the 21st Century - Strategy of Success in Baku on 20 November.
According to Nuriyev, the government maintains a strategic line in the evolution of integration into European structures and good neighbourly relations with countries in the region, taking into account the national interests of Azerbaijan. "Pursuing a balanced policy, Azerbaijan has strengthened not only its positions in the international arena, but also in the field of national security. President prevented Azerbaijan from turning into an arena of political rivalry, and therefore it is not surprising that the power centres of the world politics maintain Ilham Aliyev's pragmatic and multi-vector foreign policy," said Nuriyev.
" Azerbaijan's strategy of success" is debated in Baku at a round table on 20 November with the participation of prominent political scientists and representatives of state structures of the region.
The official Baku stated that Azerbaijan does not have plans to join the NATO. "The talks on joining NATO are far from reality," Elnur Aslanov, the head of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration's Political Analysis and Dataware Department, said at the " Azerbaijan's strategy of success in the 21st century" round table.
Yuriy Krupnov, the head of the Russian Strategic Development Institute, said at the round table that the CIS countries have positions and opinion on integration into the West, which does not reflect reality.
" Azerbaijan's integration into Europe and joining NATO are not real and is a tale. This can be published in press or used for popularization purpose. Azerbaijan's joining NATO is impossible in the next ten years. This is evident, and this must be taken into consideration in policy," Krupnov said.
Krupnov said that Azerbaijan would take into consideration Russia's policy. The issue is not to implement a unilateral policy, but to establish good relations with neighbor, which will exist ever, as well as to secure its future.
Aslanov stated that Azerbaijan builds its policy basing on reality. However, in the most cases the Russian press carries out propaganda which does not meet reality in Azerbaijan. "The statements on location of NATO military bases in the territory of Azerbaijan are also false," Aslanov added.
The ground foreign policy of Iran is to develop and strengthen relations with the regional countries, and Azerbaijan is one of the important neighbors for us, Aliakbar Javanfekr, the Iranian President media advisor, told Trend from Tehran.
"We always tried to deepen the cooperation in the relations between our countries. The warming, which has been observed in the relations, is an approval for it," Javanfekr said.
Despite of some forces wanted to cut the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, the both countries tried to support relations on the highest level," Javanfekr said.
Azerbaijan and Switzerland intend to transfer to the new level of co-operation. The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, discussed in Bern with the Government of Switzerland the prospects for co-operation during his visit to this country.
During his visit, Mammadyarov held meetings with the President of Swiss Confederation, Pascal Kushpen, Speaker of Parliament, Andre Bunon and the Foreign Minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, a source at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Switzerland told Trend on 20 November.
The negotiations focused on the present state of the bilateral relations in the political, economic, cultural and parliamentary spheres. At the meeting was mentioned the existing potential for further development of mutually advantageous cooperation both in the bilateral and multilateral formats. Switzerland intends to enlarge energy co-operation with Azerbaijan, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said at the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov.
"Ill-wishers do not want the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan to be maintained at a high level," Iran's Interior Minister Sadig Mahsuli said to Trend in Tehran.
However, the minister did not specify the "ill-wishing" countries.
According to Mahsuli, Azerbaijan and Iran must build their relations so that they could develop by an ascending line, and the countries have a huge potential for that.
"We will build the relations by ourselves ignoring the ill-wishers," he said.
On 21 November the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, received the copies of the credentials of the newly-appointed Ambassador of Qatar, Mubarek bin Fahd Kasim al-Fanin, the Foreign of Azerbaijan said.
It was stated at the meeting that the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Qatar are dynamically developing in every respect. It was also noted that there is a large potential for the development of mutual relations at the higher level. The prospects for the intensification of interrelations were also discussed during the meeting.
Vagif Sadikhov, Deputy Foreign Minister, met with Sada Cumber, the US Ambassador to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
"During the meeting it was said that bilaeral partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States within the OIC, has much greater importance and the joint efforts of both countries to rise the authority of the Organization in the world should be extended."- MFA officials informed Trend on Friday.
Both Sadikhov and Cumber said that they were intrerested in the partnership between the United States and OIC. They also said the importance of the organization when viewed as convergence factor of the United States and the Islamic World.
Ambassador Cumber appreciated the international conferences held at Baku.
During the meeting, OIC approved the resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which supported the position of Azerbaijan, while the majority of member countries also voiced their suport to Resolutions of UN General Assembly on situation in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.
Ambassador Cumber gave a lecture on topic " America should build dialogue with the Islamic World" at the Diplomacy College.
The basic goal of the Kiev meeting of the national coordinators of GUAM member states, which took place on 20-21 November, was to prepare the meeting of the GUAM Foreign Ministers, GUAM Secretary General, Valerie Chechelashvili, told Trend on 21 November."The meeting of the Foreign Ministers due on 4 December in Helsinki within the OSCE Ministerial meeting will focus on three groups of the questions: questions of political interaction in the organization, questions of sectoral co-operation and questions of organizational activity of GUAM," said Chechelashvili.
At the same time, he said that the questions regarding political interaction are the co-operation with the international organizations and co-operation in the format of GUAM plus. Questions of sectoral co-operation deal the improvement of the activity of working groups and working organs of GUAM in accordance with the decisions of Baku summit.Within the organizational activity, there will be considered the technical and technological innovations of Secretariat of GUAM due to removal to a constant address in Sofievskoy street, 2a (Maydanas Nezalejnosti]) in Kiev.
Political movements
The decision to restore the activity of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was taken at the meeting of the Supreme Assembly of the Classical Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (CPFPA).
"A resistance organization of all public and political agencies is needed to prevent any serious pressure on Azerbaijan due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Zalimkhan Mammadli, the chairman of the Supreme Assembly of CPFPA, said to Trend on 17 November.
NRM was established by the initiative of ex-President Abulfaz Elchibay. The movement united different parties, public organizations and intellectuals. The organization's key goal was to defend Nagorno-Karabakh from outside threats and to reach democratic changes in the country.
In March 2006, CPFPA held a meeting. Before, the party pretended to the name of Popular Front party of Azerbaijan and was known as Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) 'classics'. Mirmahmud Miraligolu, the former deputy chairman of PFPA, and Elchibay was the chairman of 'classics' after the split of the party in 2000. In 2006, the party was renamed in CPFPA.
According to Mammadli, the talks dedicated to restoration of the activity of NRM were instructed to Mehriban Vazir. "A single document will be adopted after discussions," Mammadli said.
he Union of Azerbaijan left-wing forces will be of large format, than it was expected before.
"Some parties are about to join the union. The applications will be considered at the next meeting of chairmen of parties, which are united in the union. The number of parties in the union will be announced after the discussions," Telman Nurulayev, the chairman of the Communistic Party of Azerbaijan on platform of Marxism and Leninism, told Trend .
The municipal and parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan will be held in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
According to Nurulayev, a declaration and plan of actions until the end of December was accepted at the meeting on 16 November. "The issues related to names of the union will be considered at the next meeting," Nuruluyev added.
There no differences in opinions on considered issues amongst party chairmen. "Parties have a one strategic line on establishment of the union. There is a need in Azerbaijan to unite left-wing parties," Nuruluyev said.
Three regional organizations of the Classical Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (CPFPA) suspended their activity.
"We came to a conclusion to suspend the activity of the Hajigabul, Imishli and Goygol organizations of the party, as well as its office in the Baku State University, at the Supreme Assembly," Zalimkhan Mammadli, the chairman of CPFPA Supreme Assembly, told Trend .
In March 2006, CPFPA held a meeting. Before, the party pretended to the name of Popular Front party of Azerbaijan and was known as Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) 'classics'. Mirmahmud Miraligolu, the former deputy chairman of PFPA, and Elchibay was the chairman of 'classics' after the split of the party in 2000. In 2006, the party was renamed in CPFPA.
According to Mammadli, inactivity of regional organizations became the reason for suspension. An organization committee is set up to restore organizations' activity.
Political organizations, which are represented at the Centre for Opposition Cooperation of Azerbaijan, discuss a new agreement.
"There is necessity for larger coordination of relations amongst political parties, represented at the Centre. Necessity aroused to regulate the relations through more serious document," Ali Aliyev, the chairman of the Citizen and Development Party (CDP) and co-chairman of Azadlig bloc, represented at the Centre, told Trend on 18 November.
The agreement envisages cooperation in the field of protection of human rights at an international level, democratic reforms, as well as freedom of media. The document is under discussions. The Centre's position on the agreement will be formed after specifying positions of every side," the CDP chairman said.
The Azerbaijani opposition party does not regard real to restore the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
"An idea, which does not reflect reality, cannot assemble supporters around itself. Second, evolution process does not like repeats and repeats usually occur as a sign of regression," Sardar Jalaloglu, the chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party, told Trend on 18 November.
Sardar Jalaloglu established the right-of-centre ADP in 1991. The party pursued a radical oppositional course with respect to the operating authorities until January 2007. The ADP began to pursue a new political course, providing for dialogues with the authorities in January 2007. Rasul Guliyev, a former chairman of the party, and his supporters protested against the course of the party and left the party and established their Open Society Party.
According to Jalaloglu, there is not any social order to restore the NRM. "I think, attempt to restore the NRM would be back to the past," Jalaloglu said.
The opposition should find new integration forms for way out of the current state, the ADP chairman believes: "I accept an idea of the CPFPA on necessity of opposition's integration. However, as their proposal is not real, it is impossible to assemble the opposition together."
Political parties, which previously were united in the opposition Our Azerbaijan bloc, are likely to expand the Azerbaijan Opposition Cooperation Centre.
"The Musavat party proposed an idea on cooperation of all political parties, which stick to a single position towards the authorities and existing political conditions, within one centre. If the idea will be accepted by other parties, the opposition parties previously united in the Our Azerbaijan bloc, will cooperate in the centre," Arif Hajili, the head of the Central Executive Department of Musavat, which is united in the Opposition Cooperation Centre, said to Trend .
Centre for Opposition Cooperation includes bloc Azadlig (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Liberal Party, Citizens and Development Party), Musavat Party and For Azerbaijan public forum. At early September, Azadlig bloc, Musavat Party and the Public Forum 'For Azerbaijan' signed a joint statement on recognition of the presidential elections to be held on 15 October as illegitimate. Government to be formed after the presidential elections was announced as illegitimate in the statement.
Parties represented earlier in the Our Azerbaijan bloc, creates a bloc around Musavat party in connection with the municipal election. Our Azerbaijan bloc, which united 24 opposition parties, was founded during the presidential elections in 2003. The goal of the bloc was to support the candidacy of Isa Gambar in the election.
Hajili said that the creation of a new bloc around Musavat by political parties, which previously were united in Our Azerbaijan bloc, had nor been discussed. "The relations amongst parties united in the bloc with Musavat are still being held. The issue is not to create a new bloc, but to support candidacies of parties during the municipal election," Hajili added.
The cooperation of the Musavat party with political parties, which are not united in the Opposition Cooperation Centre, in connection with the municipal election, will not prevent their representation in the Centre. "Musavat supports a joint participation of opposition parties in the municipal election. A united opposition coalition is possible to establish during the municipal election. For this purpose, Musavat held preliminary talks with some parties, which are united in the Centre, with regard to joint participation in the election," Hajili said.
Hajili stated that Musavat may introduce proposals not on joining of opposition parties, which previously were united in the Our Azerbaijan bloc, to the Centre, but to stand amongst co-founders of the organization.
Ali Aliyev, the co-chair of the Azadlig bloc, which is united in the Center, and chairman of Citizens and Development Party, said that he had no information regarding the official position of the party to establish a bloc around Musavat in connection with municipal election. "Each party is free to act. The intention of the Musavat is to create an organization is not a factor that would affect the presentation or not presentation in the Center. The party reserves the right to voice its attitude on the format of the Cooperation Center," Aliyev said.
Both the governing New Azerbaijan party and opposition Great Establishment consider that political parties need in serious reforms. Azerbaijan needs in parties with new opinion, Siyavush Novruzov, the deputy executive secretary of New Azerbaijan party and member of the standing Committee of Parliament on security and defense, said at the "Azerbaijan's strategy of success in the 21st century" conference.
The role of political parties in the society was discussed at the round table, Trend reported.
There are over seventy political parties in Azerbaijan and fifty-three of which were registered in the Justice Ministry.
Political parties play an important role in the fate of any country.
"In the early of 1990s a lot of parties were founded in Azerbaijan, and only some of them are functioning today. Some parties suspended functioning, some changed their opinion and positions, while others are still functioning," MP said.
Novruzov stressed that the main task of political parties is to participate in election and the legislation offers favorable conditions for this purpose. "If any party does not participate in election, it loses its social base, and those who support it, becoming a base of other political organizations. Azerbaijani political parties need in serious reform. Parties must pass state registration once more, as well as serious reforms must take place within parties. There are parties whose leaders do not change for twenty years," Novruzov added.
MP believes that society does not support such parties. Because they can not provide society with new ideas. "There is a serious need for democratic governance within parties," Novruzov said.
MP Fazil Gazanfaroglu, the chairman of the opposition Great Establishment party, said that the necessity to hold reforms within parties arouse after the presidential election in Azerbaijan on 15 October.
" Azerbaijan has a multi-party system, which becomes apparent in quantity rather than in quality. At present, parties face crisis," Gazanfaroglu said.
The proportional election system must be restored in order to increase parties' role within the society. Parties must be financed from the public budget and supported to participate in elections. Azerbaijan needs in new opposition parties to understand conditions of the new century better.
The Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (LDPA) created an initiative group to resume the proportional election system. LDPA Chairman, former presidential candidate Fuad Aliyev said that 55 members of the initiative group had been elected.
From behalf of the LDPA the initiative group will offer all parties functioning in Azerbaijan to join the campaign on collection of signatures on 24 November to resume the proportional election system. Vahid Nazarov, a member of the initiative group, said that about 600,000 signatures of the voters will be collected and submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC). After approval of the signatures, CEC will submit them to the Parliament to resume the proportional election system.
The youth organization of the opposition Musavat party will stage a rally before the Youth and Sports Ministry of Azerbaijan on 27 November.
"We intend to stage a rally to protest biased attitude of the Ministry to different youth organizations, Tural Abbasli, the chairman of the youth organization of Musavat party, told Trend .
Abbasli said that the Ministry does not invite opposition youth organizations to arrangements. "Representatives of the Ministry do not take part at meetings that we hold. However, they attend at meetings that is held by other youth organizations," Abbasli said.
The main slogan of the rally is 'Stop political discrimination among youths!'. Fifty people are expected to participate in the rally. The organization has already appealed to the Baku City Administration to sanction the rally. If the Administration will respond negatively we do not exclude unsanctioned rally," Abbasli said.
Nagorno-Karabakh
The Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire by firing at the Azerbaijani Armed Forces' positions in Gizilhajili, Jafarli, and Gushchu Ayrim villages in the Gazakh region from Berkaber and Azamut villages in the Ijavan region and from Voskevan village in the Noyemberan region of Armenia from 9.40am 9.45am and from 10.05pm to 10.15pm on 16 November.
The Armenian Armed Forces fired at the Azerbaijani Army's positions from nearby of the Chayli village in the Terter region from 8.15pm to 8.35pm; from nearby of the Chojugmarcanli village in the Jabrayil region from 9.10pm to 9.30pm; from unnamed hills in the Terter region from 10.50pm to 11.15pm; from nearby of the Alkhanli village in the Fuzuli region from 6.10am to 6.20am on 17 November; from nearby of Yusifjanli village in the Agdam region from 6.30am to 6.50am; from unnamed hills in the Khojavand region from 6.30am to 6.50am, according to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry.
The National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported.
On November 17, the subunits of the Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces from the nameless heights of Terter region from 10:30a.m. to 10:40a.m.
The Armenian armed forces also fired from position in Goranboy region from 06:00p.m. to 06:10p.m.,. from Chilabert village of Terter region from 11:30p.m. to 11:40p.m., from positions located in nameless heights of Khojavand region from 11:35p.m. to 11:45p.m. and on November 18 from Gizil Oba village of Terter region from 02:00a.m. to 02:30a.m., Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
The National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported.
The Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire by firing at the Azerbaijani Armed Forces' positions in Ashagi Askipara, Baganes Ayrim, Gizilhajili, and Jafarli villages in the Gazakh region from Voskepar village in the Noyemberan region, from Berkaber and Azamut villages in the Ijavan region of Armenia from 2.05pm to 2.25pm on 18 November.
The Armenian Armed Forces fired at the Azerbaijani Army's positions from unnamed hills nearby Gulustan village in Goranboy region from 5.00pm to 5.15pm; from unnamed hills in Khojavand region from 6.55pm to 7.10pm; from nearby of Chayli village in Terter region from 8.50pm to 9.10pm; from nearby of Yusifjanli village in Agdam region from 9.25pm to 9.40pm; from unnamed hills and from nearby of Alkhanli and Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages in Fuzuli region from 1.30am to 2.05am on 19 November; from nearby of Kangarli village in Agdam region from 12.20am to 1.00am; from nearby of Goyarkh village in Terter region from 1.00am to 2.00am; and from nearby of Namirli village in Agdam region from 1.00am to 2.15am, according to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry.
The National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported.
Armenia has handed over the body of Azerbaijani soldier Orkhan Shamilov, who died during a skirmish at the Armenia-Azerbaijan troops contact line nearby Fuzuli region in the early morning of 16 November.
The body was handed over nearby Khangarvand village in Azerbaijan's Agdam region on Wednesday at 3.00pm.
Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said on 18 November that Orkhan Farhad oglu Shamilov, a soldier of the Azerbaijani Army, died during an exchange of fire which was commenced by the Armenian side. Shamilov, who was on duty, attempted to retaliate, killing two soldiers of the Armenian Armed Forces.
On November 20, the subunits of the Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces located in Jafarli and Gizilhajili villages of Gazakh region from Azamut and Berkaber village of Armenia from 09:10p.m. to 09:20p.m.
The Armenian Armed Forces also fired from Kuropatkino village of Khojavand region from 03:45p.m. to 03:55p.m., from Yuifjanli village of Agdam region from 08:30p.m. to 10:25p.m,. from Kuropatkino village of Khojavand region from 09:55p.m. to 10:15p.m., on November 21 from 00:25a.m. to 04:00a.m. from Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of Fuzuli region, from Jafarli and Garagashli villages of Agdam region form 02:20a.m. to 02:20a.m., Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
The Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire by firing at the Azerbaijani Armed Forces' positions in Gizilhajili village in Gazakh region from Berkaber village in the Ijavan region of Armenia from 7:20pm to 7:30pm on 21 November.
The Armenian Armed Forces fired at the Azerbaijani Army's positions from the positions nearby Chayli village in Tartar region from 3.25pm to 3.50pm; from positions in Gulistan village in Goranboy region from 4.45pm to 5.00pm; from nameless territories of Khojavand region from 8.15pm to 8.30pm; as well as on 22 November from nearby of Javahirli village in Agdam region from 3.00am to 3.15am; Ashagi Abdulrahmanli villages in Fuzuli region from 5.50am to 6.10am; from nearby of Khojavand region from 6.00am to 6.35am, according to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry.
The National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported.