Official news
On 31 March Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited a monument to victims of Azerbaijani genocide. Fresh wreathes were put at the memorial and prayers were given. Attending the ceremony were state and government officials, MPs, representatives of the diplomatic mission accredited in Azerbaijan.
Former late President Heydar Aliyev issued a decree on March 26, 1998 to commemorate March 31 at the state level as the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. The Azerbaijani parliament appealed to the UN, the Council of Europe, OSCE. Interparliamentary Union and other international organizations with proposal on recognition of the genocide committed by Armenian nationalists and government against Azerbaijani people in the 19th and 20th centuries.
A genocide policy started upon violent annexation of the North Azerbaijan to the Russian empire. At the order Nikolay I Armenian families were replaced from Iran and Turkey to the territory of Azerbaijan. They were mainly settled in most favorable fruitful lands of Karabakh, Shamakhi, and Irevan Khanates. There were established historic pre-conditions for the establishment of Armenian state in South Caucasus. Goal-directed policy had been pursued over two centuries for deportation of Azerbaijanis fro their historic lands. The history and historic documents were falsified, different terror organizations were established to conduct anti-Azerbaijani actions.
The Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev has accepted the Prince and the Ras al-Heim Emirate of United Arab Emirates (UAE) vice Emir, Sheikh Saud bin Sagra al- Gasimi, Trend reports.
The Head of the State has noted that connections between Azerbaijan and UAE are at the highest level and the two countries cooperate in many areas. He has also expressed hope that the current visit will make a significant contribution for the development of the bilateral relations.
Sheikh Saud bin Sagra al- Gasimi, in his turn told that changes that took place in Azerbaijan have impressed him positively. UAE are interested in improving relations with Azerbaijan till the level of strategic partnership, the guest said, adding that bilateral relation will continue to expand.
On Thursday Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, received the delegation led by Senator Roberto Castelli, the Italian Justice Minister, Trend reports.
At the meeting Aliyev stressed the bilateral relations were successfully developing. He recollected his official visit to Italy in 2005. He noted that during the negotiations in Rome the sides discussed the development of the bilateral cooperation in different fields.
The dialogue between Italy and Azerbaijan is intensively held in different levels, Aliyev added. He voiced hope that the current visit of Castelli would make its contribution into development of the Azerbaijani-Italian cooperation.
In his turn, Castelli highly appreciated the bilateral relations and expressed assurance in the further development of the bilateral cooperation.
Castelli handed over the letter by Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Primer, to the Azerbaijani President. The visit of Aliyev to Rome stimulated development of the bilateral cooperation. Commission of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline will serve as proof of the positive development of the economic and political sphere in Azerbaijan, as well as success for energy sector, where Italian companies also participate. Italy is always ready to assist to Azerbaijan in integration to Europe, the letter says.
Valdas Adamkus, the Lithuanian President, plans to pay his first official visit to Azerbaijan in April, Trend reports quoting Vitautas Naujus, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, who handed over his credentials to Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, the day before.
According to Naujus, the visit will open a new page in the history of the bilateral relations and serve to expansion of the cooperation between EU and the Caucasus countries.
The Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev has accepted credentials from the French ambassador Bernard Amodrique du Shafo, Trend reports.
In the course of the ensuing conversation the Azerbaijani leader confidently emphasized that the relations between Azerbaijan and France will continue to strengthen. Cooperation is very successful in all areas. Several visits that I have made to France confirmed that our cooperation in political, economic and cultural areas continues to grow, the President said, adding that growth of relations between Azerbaijan and EU also positively influences relations between the two countries.
France as an OSCE Minsk group co-chairman has also made a huge contribution to the cause of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, Aliyev said. I hope that the co-chairmens efforts will yield the results, he added.
Azerbaijan ` s position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unchanged- territorial integrity of the state has to be restored. The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev said at the flag handling ceremony during an opening of a museum and monument of Heydar Aliyev at the Ministry of National Security Academy, Trend reports.
Azerbaijan still follows the strategy of peaceful negotiations, but unfortunately, they do not yield any results. In that case we have to introduce changes into our policies, Aliyev
Peace talks potential is not yet exhausted, he said. However, Armenia has skipped the meeting in France, which says about non-constructivity of the Armenian side. There is an impression of prolonging time and imitating the negotiations. Armenia should know that we are capable to solve the problem militarily, he said.
A decree was signed by the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev to award the high military titles to several employees of Azerbaijan Ministry of National Security, Trend reports. Vice minister, Ali Nagiyev, Head of the security services at the Ministry of National Security, Farkhad Wahabbov and the Head of the personnel management, Alimusa Aliyev have received the title of the general-major.
Besides, the head of state has signed another decree awarding a number of other Ministry employees. Thus, two of them were awarded with the Flag of Azerbaijan decoration, 7 with the medal For Motherland, 6 with the medal For Heroism, and 10 with the medal for Military Feats.
Elman Arasli was appointed as an extreme and plenipotentiary Azerbaijani ambassador to Jordan by the decree of the Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.
Previously he was in charge of the Azerbaijani diplomatic representation in the Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on 29 March to dismiss Firudin Babayev from the post of the head of the Hajigabul District. Ahmed Mukhtarov will replace in this post.
In accordance with another decree, the President dismissed Elman Allahverdiyev from the post of the head of the executive power of Barda District. Ilham Agayev was appointed to this post.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on 29 March 2006 to appoint Tofik Abdullayev the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Saudi Arabia, Namik Aliyev will head the diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan in Georgia, Trend reports.
In accordance with another presidential decree, Aliyev and Abdullayev were granted a rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador.
On 23 March Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Imishli and Ali-Bayramly districts The Azerbaijani government is charged to cover all demand for agriculture products in the country, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, stated to an opening ceremony of a sugar factor in Imishli District, east Azerbaijan, on Thursday (23 March). The task must be fulfilled shortly and both state and private investments must be attracted in this respect.
More than 350,000 new jobs have been created in Azerbaijan over the past 2 years, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated in his speech in Ali-Bayramli district, Trend reports.
He said that poverty level in the country has fallen from 49% to 29% and this number will be further decreased in the coming year. Head of state also added that the state budget has grown from $1.2bln to $4bln in 2006 and it is expected to grow even more.
Considering social problems, existing in the country, the President stated that social policy has to be enhanced and all the problems have to be solved rapidly. The largest problem is the fact that 29% of population still live beyond the poverty level, he said. President has emphasized necessity of opening new job in the country, which largely depends on employers. All necessary orders were passed, programs adopted, the only thing that is left is to bring them in life, the President said..
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received a delegation headed by the vice chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on human rights, member of the PACE monitoring group, Edward Linthner on March 22, Trend reports.
The head of state has positively recalled his previous meetings with Linthner in Baku and Strasbourg. President Aliyev has emphasized that cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe is at the highest level now and will be developing further.
Linthner in his turn appreciated the Presidents position on the development of bilateral relations. The guest expressed his confidence in bright future of existing relations between Azerbaijan and PACE.
The resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh passes through the rehabilitation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and repatriation of refugees, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated in his appeal to nation at the ceremonial celebration of Novruz Bayram.
The head of state noted that Azerbaijan guides the international rule of law and the strengthening of the statehood and development of economy is priority of Presidents activities.
The President reminded of the soonest commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export oil pipeline and assured that revenues from the realization of the project will be directed at the development of infrastructure and education. He added the average monthly income in the country will be increased.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited building site of TPG-500 sea platform and its underwater foundations on Zykh, within the frames of Shah-Deniz project March 22.
Fuzuli Sadikhov was dismissed from the post of the head of the Naftalan Executive Power at the 24 March 2006 decree by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Musa Musayev was appointed to this post, Trend reports.
Gazanfar Agayev was appointed the head of the Yardimly Executive Power at other decree by the President.
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev signed a decree conduct of additional measures on strengthening of socio-economic development of Agdam, Terter and Barda districts of Azerbaijan.
The document underlines that a meeting held in Barda on 1 March 2006 with the participation of the head of state discussed the situation in the regions and outlined complex measures on removal of existing shortcomings.
A decree approving the national strategy and action plan for protection and consequential use of the biological diversity of the country was signed by the president Ilham Aliyev on Friday, Trend reports.
In accordance with the article 6 of UN Convention on Biological diversity, a new strategy and action plan will be adopted for protection of the consequential use of the biological diversity of Azerbaijan.
We want Azerbaijan to become a powerful country and live in peace and prosperity, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on 16 March to an opening ceremony of the 2nd conference of the World Azerbaijanis.
According to Aliyev, the oil strategy of Azerbaijan is successfully implemented and this year the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) main export oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will be complete. Following the exploitation of the pipelines in this year for the crude transportation to the world and European markets the country will receive additional incomes and consolidate its positioning the region, continent and world
Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan is the most active player in the regional development and implementation of political or economic, as well as energy and transport projects is impossible without its participation. The project on construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway route is one of the major tasks and we will achieve it, he stressed. It will lead to increase of deliveries between Azerbaijan and Turkey and put Armenia an occupant country - apart from the regional transit communications, the head of state underscored. We will never allow an aggressor country which occupied our territory to carry out cooperation in the region, Aliyev added.
Azerbaijan must develop its economic and military potential and intensify all political capacities. The Azerbaijani Diaspora can play great role in this respect, including the propaganda of Azerbaijan worldwide, spread of truth, active participation in the public-political life of the residence-countries, Aliyev underlined.
Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan should reconsider its participation in peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution if it founds Armenia violating the peace process and showing unconstructive approach. The 12-year peace talks yielded no results, while it is unknown how long will they continue. We are loyal to peace talks, but our patience expires when we face with unconstructive position by Armenia. If Azerbaijan sees the negotiation process to be of imitation character, it will refuse from participation in it, he stressed
On 17 March Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation headed by Peter Semnebi, the European Unions special representative on South Caucasus, Trend reports.
The head of state congratulated Semnebi n his new appointment and wished him successes. Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijans relationships with the European Union are successfully developing and Azerbaijan hopes in the consolidation of the relationships in the near future.
On 15 March Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, received Dastan Sarigulov, the Kyrgyz State Secretary.
During the conversation the guest handed over the letter by Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the Kyrgyz President, to the Azerbaijani President, Trend reports. The letter says that balanced policy of Azerbaijan aimed at defense of national interests was found by Ex-President Heydar Aliyev, who undertook burden of historic responsibility in difficult days, particularly during the 20 January tragedy. It also mentions significance of Azerbaijan as important source for development of the Kyrgyz state.
In his turn, Aliyev expressed gratitude to the guest for greeting and asked Sarigulov to convey return greeting to his Kyrgyz counterpart.
On Thursday Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, received Galina Koveskaite, the adviser to Lithuanian President. The sides mentioned that the relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania successfully developed in different spheres, as well as Azerbaijani Diaspora took active part in the economic and the public life of Lithuania.
The same day the head of the country received Jan Berzina, a member of the Czech and the European Parliaments. At the meeting the sides exchanged opinions on cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, on March 13, Trend reports.
A number of questions regarding the resolution of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh were discussed at the meeting.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Japan on 7-10 March. He had a number of meetings, including talks with the Japanese Emperor and Prime Minister, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Itochu Corp. and Inpex, heads of the Azerbaijani-Japanese league of interparliamentary friendship.
The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is not subject of the peace negotiations with Armenia on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, said at the Japanese International Relations Institute in Tokyo.
According to Aliyev, the subject of the negotiations is liberation of the occupied territories, repatriation of the victims of the ethnic clearance and aggression, granting Nagorno-Karabakh with high status of autonomy within Azerbaijan.
All these must meet norms and principles of international law. We hope for peaceful settlement of the conflict. International community must play more active part in the solution of the conflict, which is the largest hindrance for development of the region on the whole, the President stressed.
Touching upon development of oil and gas sphere, Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan can play the role of energy source for Europe, experiencing gas crisis and looking for alternative sources. He stated that pipelines were being constructed to take Azerbaijani gas and oil to the world markets.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with the chairman of the Board of Directors of Itochu Corp., Unichiro Niva, on Friday with in the framework of his official visit to Japan, Trend reports in reference AzTV television channel.
During the meeting Niva with satisfaction remembered his meeting with former late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev in 1998 in the course of the Winter Olympic Games in Nagan and stressed his companys strong interest in expansion of business in Azerbaijan. The current visit by the Azerbaijani President to Tokyo opened new perspectives for the boosting cooperation between the two countries.
Recalling his first visit to Japan in 1996 the Azerbaijani leaders stressed that the visit by former President Heydar Aliyev to Tokyo and the agreements signed during the visit gave impetus to the development of the Azerbaijani-Japanese relationships.
After Aliyev held a meeting with the President of Inpex Corp., Kunihiro Matsua. The head of the company appreciated the result of the Azerbaijani-Japanese economic forum and underlined that over the past two year Azerbaijan has achieved considerable successes in the sphere of economic progress. Matsua noted that in autumn 2005 the Azerbaijani embassy in Tokyo played a considerable role in the expansion of the bilateral bonds.
Besides, the Azerbaijani President received the chairman of the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, Kuosuke Sinozava to discuss the perspective for development of cooperation in the financial sector.
On the last day of the official visit the signing ceremony of bilateral documents was held at the residence of the Japanese Primer. Aliyev and Koizumi signed joint declaration on further development of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan.
Azerbaijani Economic Development Minister Heydar Babayev and Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tadahiro Abe signed agreement on technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Tadahiro Abe - cooperation program between the Foreign Ministries of the countries.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on financing work, to be implemented under the program measures on intensification of socio-economic development of villages of Baku. The decree notes that with respect to ensure the implementation of work the Ministry of Finances is committed to ensure approval of 26m manats out of the Reserve Fund of the President set by the 2006 public budget.
Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, signed a decree on establishment of the Diplomatic Academy under the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday.
The decree underlines that the Academy is established to provide the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other state bodies acting in international sphere with highly skilled personnel.
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
Armenian armed forces violated ceasefire regime repeatedly during the month.
Due to the armistice violation by the Armenian armed forces monitoring which had to take place at the front line near Gapanli village of the Terter district did not happen on 29 March. Shots from the Armenian side showed that Armenian armed forces are not observing the agreed armistice.
Azerbaijan has repatriated POW Vartan Martikovich Saakyan to the Armenian side, Commission for work with the prisoners of war, lost in action and hostages told Trend.
V. Saakyan, born 1986, was detained on February 2, 2006, next to the Azerbaijani-Armenian front line near Gasangay village of Terter district. In the course of investigation, it was discovered that he was serving on contract in the military forces of Armenia at the occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Sabine Freizer, Caucasus project director for the International Crisis Group, said March 28 in Washington that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not a frozen conflict, Trend repots. There are still people being killed regularly, she underlined,
As many as 19 people, including eight civilians, have been killed in cease-fire violations over the past month, following inconclusive peace talks in Rambouillet, France, she said. As many as 90 people were killed in 2005.
She said renewed warfare does not seem imminent but could be triggered by an unraveling along the tense, heavily armed confrontation line.
Many of the Armenian-occupied towns outside of Nagorno-Karabakh have been destroyed and would require substantial rebuilding, Freizer said.
The region is especially sensitive because of its geography. Renewed fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh potentially could involve Russia, Iran, the Republic of Georgia and Turkey, Freizer said.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution talks have to be continued. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is ready to go on negotiations and there can be no timeout, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammedyarov told on March 27, adding that works within the frames of the Paris process have to be continued.
This is the position of the president Ilham Aliyev. However, if the dialog will be fruitless, we will apply another measures, the minister said.
Commenting the statement made the Armenian Foreign minister, Vardan Oskanyan, claiming that in the modern state of things next step in negotiations has to be done by Azerbaijan, the minister said that this sort of statements have an aim of affecting domestic policies in Armenia.
Azerbaijani position remains unchanged. We were talking and we are talking about the liberation of the occupied lands. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has to be restored. Refugees and forcibly displaced persons have to be returned to their homes,
Bernard Fasie, the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is expected to arrive in the South Caucasus region in April, Trend reports quoting Elmar Mamdyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, as saying to journalists on Monday.
During the last visit to Baku Steven Mann, the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE, voiced the proposal on possible visit of Fasie to Baku, Mammadyarov stressed. The same time he said that the exact date of the visit had not been determined yet.
Goran Lenmarker, the PA OSCE repporteur on Nagorno-Karabakh, will arrive in Azerbaijan in April, Trend reports quoting Eldar Ibrahimov, a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PA OSCE.
Ibrahimov stressed that he participated in the parliamentary elections in Ukraine on 26 March as a representative of PA OSCE. He met with Hasting Elsi, the chair of the organization, and Spenser Oliver, the Secretary General, in Kiev. During the meeting Ibrahimov found out that Lenmarker would arrive in Azerbaijan in April to rework out the report on Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani delegation to PA OSCE intends to include the Nagorno-Karabakh problem into the agenda of the summer session to be held in Brussels from 3 to 7 July. We plan to meet with Goran Lenmarker in Azerbaijan and exchange opinions on the report, Ibrahimov stressed.
Mistake at the EU EuroComission website, where Nagorno-Karabakh was showed as an Armenian territory, is fixed, Azerbaijani ambassador to Benelux and EU countries, Arif Mammedov said
After the tough reaction from the Azerbaijani side, EU EuroComission representatives have admitted the mistake committed by some of its employees, he said. Admittedly, mistakes on the map were committed not only towards the Azerbaijani territory but also the Balkan states and the Palestinian autonomy.
An appeal was send to the EU General Directorate on international relations considering the fact that EU EuroComission website` s on energy Gas section showing the pipeline route depicted Nagorno-Karabakh, adjacent regions and Nakhcivan as an Armenian territory.
OSCE Fact Investigation mission will arrive to Karabakh in June to investigate hostage issue, head of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh, Nizami Bakhmanov told Trend. Fact investigation mission is due to investigate all illegal actions of separatists in Karabakh, including destruction of forests and national parks.
Armenian separatists are cutting down the platan forests, which are part of the State Protected Area Basitchay at the Zangillan district. The Ecology Ministry has already addressed the international organizations on that issue. OSCE Fact Investigation mission will arrive this June to investigate the problem of hostages. They should also investigate the cutting down of the rare platan forests in the area. The mission has recently investigated the fact of resettling the non-native Armenians in Karabakh and has confirmed it. The report on the results of the investigation was presented to OSCE member countries and co-chairmen of the Minsk group. Despite, Armenian site ignores all legal international norms and treaties of the international organizations; this document was issued in our favor. If the fact of destruction of the rare forests in Karabkh will be confirmed the world will know about it. And that will be in Azerbaijan `s favor, Bahramov said.
OSCE Minsk group co-chairmens consultations can be regarded as a positive event, but this is not enough for us. We want the negotiations process to yield the exact results, head of the Azerbaijan President Executive apparatus department of foreign affairs, Novruz Mammedov told Trend.
He did not support the statement that the negotiating process is in the state of stagnation due to absence of information. The process has been never publicized, as there was no need in it. Information will be spread only in case if some agreement will be reached or some steps forward achieved, Mammedov said, adding that negotiations are always held behind the closed doors.
The European Union (EU) will take a direct part in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Peter Semnebi, the EU special representative on South Caucasus, said.
The resolution of conflict in the South Caucasus is one of the EUs priorities. It signals to more active attraction of the organization to the resolution of the problem situation, Semnebi underlined in his interview for Radio Liberty. EUs mandate in the issue has been expanded and resolution of conflict situation has been included in it.
Possible war in the South Caucasus will become disaster for the all region, Trend reports quoting Daniel Fried, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. State for European and Eurasian Affairs, as saying at a news conference on Tuesday.
He noted that Washington was interested in the urgent return of Azerbaijanis to their native lands. At present Azerbaijan adheres to clear and strong position reflecting national interests of the country. Nevertheless, the approach doesnt hinder continuation of constructive negotiations, he stressed. According to Fried, none of the sides can achieve wishful result by 100 percentages and it is necessary to find more acceptable version of the regulation of the conflict, he added.
Nether now, nor 20 years later the military way will not become the final one in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports quoting Steven Mann, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair (the USA), as saying at a news conference on Tuesday.
He noted that though the USA expressed dissatisfaction with failure of expected result in the negotiations of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents in Rambue, the process continues.
According to Mann, the USA maintains good relations with the both countries and dont regard military way as acceptable. This conflict is due to be solved on the base of bilateral agreement, he added. The co-chair noted that some moments disturbing the sides were due to be reflected in the final agreement. According to Mann, choosing military way, Azerbaijan is due to answer some questions such as what will happen to the financial revenues into the energy sector or what will the further fate of the existing borders.
In reply to the question on the reasons for non-imposing of sanctions in regard to Armenia by Washington, Mann said that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem may be solved only on bilateral agreement and that was the position of the USA.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party (ADRP) sent an adress to the EU, CE, OSCE and other international organizations in Europea in relation to illegal acts at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenians, ADRP told Trend.
The conducted investigations revealed that Armenians cut the plane forest in the Besitchay state preserve, located in the Armenian-occupied Zangilan region. The occupants opened a woodshop the territories of the Razdere village, Zangilan region, and use the forest as raw materials for the workshop. Besides, Armenians uproot the trees, burn the territory and use it as area under crwon.
The statements on military settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, voiced recently, are apprehended negatively, Lori Bristow, the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said on Monday, Trend reports referring to ATV channel.
According to Bristow, peace negotiations are more optimal way of solution of the problem. The UK supports continuation of negotiations process and regards it as more acceptable version, which ensure long-term peace in the region and meet interests of all sides, the British diplomat stressed.
According to Bristow, he did not have any illusions in relation to possible military solution of the problem, frozen during many years. I want to mention that the Azerbaijani and the Armenian Presidents are loyal to the liabilities on peace settlement of the conflict and I support their position, the Ambassador stressed.
As to adoption of the resolution by the European Parliament in relation to alleged destruction of Armenian headstones in the Julfa region, Azerbaijan, Bristow noted that he did not have any information in this regard. The document basing on personnel positions of MPs doesnt reflect the positions of their states, the diplomat said.
Foreign policy
Arrangements to commemorate the 31 of March Genocide Day in Azerbaijan will be carried out in CIS countries, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Australia and some other countries, the State Committee for work with the Azerbaijanis living abroad told Trend.
In the Name of Azerbaijan society will held a meeting in Stockholm on March 31 to address the international organizations and denounce the genocide.
Another action to commemorate the genocide organized by the Azerbaijani embassy in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Congress of Azerbaijanis will be held on the Kiev` s square named after Bogdan Khmelnitski on March 31. A press conference will be organized at the end of the meeting to inform on facts of the genocide and Armenian terror.
A walking procession will organized by the initiative of the Azerbaijani cultural Center Aydan and Bakili club in Tallinn, Estonia. Estonian Mps, representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspors, employees of the Turkish embassy and re-known political leaders are expected to take part in the procession. Genocide victims commemoration ceremony will be held in Ankara and Aden on March 31. Commemoration will be held in Dubai JW-Marriot hotel in Dubai by the local Azerbaijani community on March 30. And the Japanese- Azerbaijani Society will organize the similar action in Osaka. Brochures on genocide will be distributed among the Canadian MPs and international organizations. Azerbaijani community in Australia will held a meeting in Canberra in front of the parliament building. Armenian Terror movie will be show to participants.
Co-reporters of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Azerbaijan Andres Herkel and Andreas Gross will arrive to Baku for the re-run parliamentary elections monitoring, Anders Herkel, Estonian MP told Trend.
According to the preliminary agreement with Gross we are planning to visit Baku during the re-run parliamentary elections, Herkel said, adding that both co-chairmen will stay in Baku within the frames of the PACE monitoring mission. We will arrive to Baku at the end of April, approximately on April 22, he said.
Re-run parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 13.
Turkish President Ahmet Nejdet Sezers official visit to Azerbaijan will give additional incentives to expansion of the bilateral relationships, Trend reports citing Novruz Mammadov, the head of the Foreign Relationships Department of the Azerbaijani Presidents Apparat, as saying to journalists.
During the visits scheduled for 4-5 April it is planned to discuss a range of issues of interest, including the development of bilateral economic and regional cooperation, as well as international relationships.
Originally scheduled for late this January Sezers visit to Baku has been postponed in connection with the bad weather.
Azerbaijan and Canada determined range of mutual interest during the bilateral military and political consultations, held within the current visit of Araz Azimov, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, to Canada, Trend reports quoting Fakhraddin Gurbanov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Canada, as stating Azertaj.
According to Gurbanov, during the visit Azimov had some meetings with his Canadian counterpart Jim Rait and other officials of Canada to discuss the cooperation in security, struggle with global terrorism, international organized criminality, as well as exchange opinions on the situation in the South Caucasus, partnership within NATO, OSCE and other international organizations.
During the visit to Ottawa Araz Azimov delivered a speech at the Carlton University of Canada. He also plans to make a speech at the Quebec University. The both reports concern security in the Caspian Sea. According to Gurbanov, during the meetings Canada showed great interest in Azerbaijan.
Experts of the European Union are expected to visit Baku in mid-April, Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister told journalists.
The key objective of the visit is hold consultations with Azerbaijan on the Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy, Trend reports. The experts plan to discuss the uncoordinated issues during the last round of consultations due in Budapest on 7 March.
2006 will be a significant year in connection with the visits of senior state and government officials of China, Chian Khaikhjou, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of China to Azerbaijan, told Trend.
This year senior officials of the Chinese Council of State plan to visit Azerbaijan, while mutual visits of the chairs of legislative bodies, as well as the heads and members of the parliamentary groups are also on agenda. Shortly, it Azerbaijani Minister for Communications and Information Technologies, Ali Abbasov, is scheduled to pay a visit to China, the diplomat underlined.
The plans also include conduct of consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and China. The embassy has set up organization of visits.
Newly appointed US Ambassador to Azerbaijan will come to Azerbaijan in August 2006, the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Reno Harnish, told journalists. He was commenting on his pre-mature accomplishment of diplomatic mission.
Harnish said that he had no aware of the name of the new US Ambassador to Azerbaijan. He only noted that the US President will shortly present to the legislative body a candidature of the new diplomat.
Harnish is to accomplish his diplomatic tenure in Baku late this April.
In an interview with Trend Arif Mammadov, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan in the Benelux countries and the European Union said that The relationships between Azerbaijan and Belgium differ for their friendly character, there are broad opportunities, particularly, economic capacities for further development of bilateral relationships and we try to utilize every opportunity for consolidation of the relationships.
Proximity in the relationships between Azerbaijan and Belgium are real base for broad and productive dialogue in all levels.
Fikion Fotiadis, deputy head of the General Directorate of the European Commission (EC) on foreign relationships will visit Baku from 6 to 8 April 2006, Arif Mammadov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Benelux countries and the European Union, told Trend.
Fauzi Bensars, adviser of the Directorate on energy issues, will accompany him in this visit.
During the meeting with the leadership of the country it is planned to discuss European Neighborhoods Policy, issues linked with the EU energy security, as well as the expansion of transit corridors from Middle Asia via Azerbaijan in compliance with the EU Green Paper, a document defining EUs Energy Security strategy.
Valdas Adamkus, the Lithuanian President, plans to pay his first official visit to Azerbaijan in April, Trend reports quoting Vitautas Naujus, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, who handed over his credentials to Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, the day before.
According to Naujus, the visit will open a new page in the history of the bilateral relations and serve to expansion of the cooperation between EU and the Caucasus countries.
US State Secretary advisor, Matthew Brise and the State Department representative, Stephen Hisener will arrive to Azerbaijan in the beginning of April, US embassy press-service head, Jonathan Henik told Trend.
Both representatives of the State Department will arrive to Baku next week, Henik said, adding that the goal- is participation at the international conference on transparency in the oil sector.
The next (4th) meeting of the International Consulting Group of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) will be held in Baku on April 5. International conference EITI: piloting countries experience will be held within the frames of this meeting (on April 6)
The action will be conducted in cooperation with the EITI commission and Coalition for the Increase of Transparency in the Extractive Industry. Representatives from USA, UK, Russia, Egypt, Nigeria, Peru, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan will take part at the conference. Heads of the US, UK, French, Norwegian and Kazakh diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan will also participate at the conference.
In his interview with Trend with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of China to Azerbaijan, Chan Khaichzhou The friendship between China and Azerbaijan has deep roots dating to ancient time and the Great Silk Route testifies for the traditional friendship of the two nations. China attaches great importance to the development of the bilateral relationships with Azerbaijan.
China pursues independent peaceful foreign policy, policy on development of friendship and cooperation with all countries on the base of principles of mutual respect, mutual benefits and mutual equality. The Chinese-Azerbaijani relationships are also firmly based on this immutable base
China decisively supports Azerbaijans efforts directed at maintenance of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. China approaches with understating Azerbaijans concerns in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and sincerely believes that Azerbaijan and Armenia would be able to resolve the conflict based on the UN Charter and Principles, as well as UN Security Council resolutions, and it will finally bring happiness and prosperity to the people of Azerbaijan, as well as the nations of the region..
First Israeli MP of Azerbaijani origin will arrive in Baku soon, Trend reports quoting Arthur Lenk, the Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, as saying at a meeting with the students of the Khazar University on Thursday.
According to Lenk, Joseph Shagal was elected to the Israeli Knesset [Parliament] as a result of the 28 March 2006 parliamentary elections.
Shagal is a mountain Jewish lived in Baku and removed to Israel after collapse of USSR. The deputy ran for the parliamentary elections from Israel -Our Home Party. Earlier he worked journalist at 9th channel of the Israeli TV, Lenk stressed.
If the report by Latvian MP Broris Silevich includes the items unsatisfying Azerbaijan, we will be able to change it, Samad Seyidov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, stated, Trend reports.
The document, worked out by Latvian MP Boris Silevich and put on the agenda of the spring session of PACE, reflects moments contradicting to Azerbaijans position on refugees and internally displaced people. The Latvian MP wrote the number of the Azerbaijani IDP was 580,000, while 8,000 refugees came from Chechnya, Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq. The report also says that 250,000 IDP live in Armenia with 15,000 people received citizenship. The rest 235,000 Armenians are regarded as Azerbaijani citizens.
The report is not related only to Azerbaijan. It also reflects the state of the refugees in Georgia and Armenia. Similar report was worked out earlier and also included the items unsatisfying Azerbaijan. Under the rules of the procedure, if the report includes the items unsatisfying Azerbaijan, we will be able to interfere and change the report, Seyidov said.
Some thoughts voiced during the 2nd congress of world Azerbaijanis in relation to Iran can not be the official position of Azerbaijan, Nazim Ibrahimov, the chair of the State Committee on Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, stated.
Some critical thoughts voiced by Javad Derekhti, the chair of the World Azerbaijanis Congress, in relation to Iran at the 2nd congress of world Azerbaijanis on 16 March was the reason for anger of Afshar Suleymani, the Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, who sent note to the Azerbaijani Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Ibrahimov stressed that the State Committee and other state bodies did not interfere in the internal affairs of Iran. The Satte Committee exists 3 years and we repeatedly stated that we doent interfere in the internal affairs of Iran. The people left Azerbaijan is our Diaspora. We also work with the Azerbaijanis from Iran. Everybody has own position and these thoughts are irrelevant to the Azerbaijan Republic, he added.
Every Azerbaijani irrelevant of the country, where he lives, is eligible to do his best in order to regard himself as Azerbaijani and expressed attitude to his historic motherland Azerbaijan, as well as defense his rights, Trend reports quoting Azerbaijani MP Ali Ahmadov. He was commenting the statement by Afshar Suleymani, the Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Opinions voiced for defense of these rights must not annoy anybody. The Azerbaijani government made a statement on building of its foreign policy on the base of respect to national interests of all countries. Baku repeatedly stated that it did not interfere in internal affairs of other countries, as well as advised other countries not to interfere in the internal issues of Azerbaijan, Ahmadov stressed.
Leo Platvoed, a co-rapporteur of the PACE Committee on migration, refugees and population, will tour the South Caucasus region in June, MP Gultakin Hajiyeva, an Azerbaijani parliamentary representative to PACE, told Trend.
PACE Committee on migration, refugees and population met on 20 March. MPs Gultakjin Hajiyeva and Aydin Mirzazade represented Azerbaijan in the gathering. The two-day event discussed the state of migrants in Europe, missing people in South Caucasus countries, refugees, migrants and people in search of asylum.
Hajiyeva announced that Leo Platvoed was to deliver a speech on missing people in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. Following his absence from the gathering on definite reasons it was decided to dispatch him in April to Switzerland, where the Headquarters of the Red Crescent Society is placed, in order to investigate the issue on which he was to make a report.
India will to purchase Azerbaijani oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Trend reports quoting Jioti Svarup Pande, the Indian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, as saying at a news conference in Baku on Thursday.
According to Pande, earlier Indian companies showed interest in the BTC project in the view of construction. One big Indian company put forward the proposal on construction of the Georgian section of the pipeline, but Azerbaijan did not give a reply to their proposal.
Of course, we are interested in the purchase of Azerbaijani oil, he said. According to Pande, Indias own oil production comprises only 34m tons per year, while consumption of oil reaches 120m tons and this figure permanently grows.
В"Danial Ahmetov, the Kazakh Primer, will pay a visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to Andar Shukputov, the Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
According to Shukputov, the goal of the visit is to participate in the next summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which is planned in Baku for 5 May. Attending the event is expected to be representatives of the ECO member-countries. The invitations have been already sent.
Preparations for the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission on delimitation and demarcation of the state borders between Azerbaijan and Georgia are underway, Trend reports quoting Zurab Gumberidze, the Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
According to Gumberidze, at present they carry out technical work. Experts continue the work on the agenda of the negotiations, which will include discussions on determination of parameters of the border. The meeting is expected to be held in Baku. The agenda will also include determination of ways of solution of some disputable issues, simplification of the function mechanisms of the check-points at the Azerbaijani-Georgian border.
The forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (PA CIS) will be held in Saint Petersburg from 13 to 14 June, Trend reports referring to Aydin Jafarov, the Azerbaijani delegate to PA CIS.
Jafarov noted that the Saint Petersburg forum will approve documents on preparation of the International Institute on Development of Democracy, defense of suffrage of citizens and monitoring on strengthening of parliamentarism.
A meeting of the South Caucasus Parliamentary Assembly originally scheduled for late March has been postponed, a member of the South Caucasus parliamentary assembly (PA) from Azerbaijan, MP Zahid Oruj told Trend.
He added that such meetings are held at the initiative of British organization Link with support from Conrad Adenauer Funds to Link.
Peace conditions and glance to the future will be the major subject of discussions, Orudj underlined. Azerbaijan will be represented at the meeting by a 9-member PA delegation headed by Siyavush Novruzov. It consists of 9 MPs. According to Novruzov, each of them will have a right to speak at the meeting.
Elmar Mammedyarov, Minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan, left for Saudi Arabia for a working visit on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.
In the course of the visit Mammedyarov will take part at a meeting of foreign ministers of Turkey, Yemen and Azerbaijan that will be held in Jeddah. The major subject of the meeting is preparations for the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) due in Baku in June 2006 at the foreign ministers level.
Mammedyarov left Jeddah for Brunei and Malaysia. Meetings with the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, Albar, familiarity with Petronast company, as well as program on technical cooperation with the headquarters at the Prime Minister of Malaysia, were held.
Ukrainian president Victor Yuschenko held a meeting with the First Deputy Premier of Azerbaijan, Abbas Abbasov, Trend reports.
The Ukrainian government announced that the sides mulled the trade-economic relationships between the two countries, noting their development over the past year and the considerable potential.
The talks centered on the bilateral interrelationships in he energy sector and capacities for development of joint energy projects.
Khalaf Khalafov, the Azerbaijan Deputy Foreign Ministers, will participate in the 20th meeting of a special working group on definition of Caspian legal status. The meeting is scheduled for 14-15 March, Trend reports.
During the consultations the high ranking expert delegations will continue coordinating a draft Convention on Caspian legal status. The document reflects issue concerning the exploitation of Caspian natural reserves, in particular, the oil and gas reserves, shipment, fishing, and ecology problems.
The polish Defense minister Radoslav Sikorski will visit Azerbaijan no earlier than May-June this year.
The Defense minister`s visit will coincide with the visit of the Senate chairman Bogdan Borusevic and Economy Minister Peter Vojnyak, planned for April 6-7. He said that this visit would be a separate one and preparations for it will start soon.
Next round of consultations between Azerbaijan and the European Union (EU) started in Brussels on 7 March under the EUs New Neighborhood Policy, Trend reports citing Tahir Tagizade, the head of the Media and Information Department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
Mahmud Mammadguliyev, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, as well as officials of different ministries and state bodies represent Azerbaijan in the talks.
The mandate of the EU Special Representative on the South Caucasus countries was expanded, Trend reports quoting Peter Semneby, the EU Special Representative on the South Caucasus countries, as saying at a news conference in Baku on Friday.
My mandate was particularly expanded for solution of frozen conflicts. I will follow all aspects of conflict situations and draw up recommendations for the leadership of EU, he stressed. Semneby stressed that EUs support in solution of the conflicts in the South Caucasus might consist of dispatching of observation missions, peacemaking forces or rehabilitation of territories.
Semneby also said that from 1 March 2006 the Office of the EU Special Representative on the South Caucasus countries would be removed from Finland to Brussels due to increase of interest in the region. It has two reasons. First, two countries will became member of EU soon. They both have access to the Black Sea that is very important. Besides, Turkey, bordering with the region, also holds negotiations on joining EU.
The efficiency term of the Council of Europes Action Plan on parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan has been prolonged. The resolution has been taken at 958th meeting of the CE Ministerial Committee held in Strasbourg on 15 March on the level of permanent representatives.
Term of the action plan officially exported with the November elections in 2005, while taking into consideration the forthcoming re-run elections scheduled for 13 May 2006 in 10 constituencies, the CE Ministerial Committee took a resРѕlution to prolong the term of Action Plan.
The meeting of the CE Ministerial Committee ranked the issue as the first in the context of discussions of 2 items of the agenda political issues.
It should be mentioned on 12 December 2005 the official start to discussions of the Action Plan between Azerbaijan and EU within the European Neighbourhood Policy was launched. At that time the head of the Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia office head, Yug Mingarelli arrived in Baku. In this meeting the sides will discuss the final version of the Action Plan between Azerbaijan and the European Union (EU) in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
Political life
The media group, functioning under the Central Election Committee (CEC), controls adherence to the rules of election campaign, Trend reports referring to Mazahir Panahov, the chair of CEC. The main duty of the group is to control violation of the rules of election campaign.
The media group led by Azer Taghiyev, a member of CEC, considers the complaints relevant to the election campaign. It also controls adherence to laws and rules of agitation by candidates. In case of revealing of violation, the media group presents information to CEC. It proposes to send the complaint to the Prosecutor Office or court. It has not revealed serious violations relevant to the agitation period of the parliamentary elections yet, the chair of CEC stressed.
CEC has received several complaints in relation to the by-elections to the Milli Majlis. They are considered by commissions. Nevertheless, we have not received serious complaints. Some issues raise discontent that lead to entering of complaints. Its natural, Panahov said.
Ray Monitoring Center publicized the results of the last social inquiry conducted in Azerbaijan. In accordance with the inquiry, most of the population supports the political course persuaded by Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, Trend reports.
Rizvan Abbasov, the head of the Center, noted that the inquiry was held among 1,508 respondents in 36 settlements from 15 to 16 March 2006.
In reply to the question How do you appreciate the activities of the Azerbaijani President? 82.8% answered that they regarded it as good.
The same time 74.1% of respondents noted that they trust to the head of the country, 7.4% political parties, 5.5% intelligentsia, 3.5% media, 2.2% the Milli Majlis [Parliament], 1.1% courts.
As to question Whom would you vote for if the presidential elections were held in nearest Sunday?, 72.2 % named Ilham Aliyev, 4.9% - Isa Gambar, the head of Musavat Party, 4.4% - Mehriban Aliyeva, the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, 3.3% - Lala Hajiyeva, the leader of the National Unity Movement. Other political leaders gained less 3%.
The deputy chairman of Council of Europe chairman on human rights and legal issues and a member of CE monitoring group, Edward Lithner, met leaders of political parties and NGO during his visit to Azerbaijan on March 20-21, Trend reports.
Edward Lithner, representative of German delegation in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, has met with the Association on Development of Civil Society in Azerbaijan (ADCSA) leadership on March 20 and Eni Siyaset group co-founder Eldar Namazov
He also met with leader of Musavat party, Isa Gambar, Azadlig block co-chairman, leader of National Unity Movement Lala Shovket, Azerbaijan National Independence party leader Etibar Mammedov and the Council on the political prisoners leadership on March 21. The socio-political situation in the country, condition of democracy and human rights, results of the 6 November elections, re-run parliamentary elections and Azerbaijans obligations set by the CE were discussed by Edward Lithner and Verner Munge during their meetings with the leaders of political parties in Azerbaijan.
Linthner is satisfied with the pre-electoral situation in the country. He considered that re-run parliamentary elections is a good chance to show the ability to conduct democratic elections in the country.
I leave Azerbaijan with positive impressions. The CE recommendations to the government on the ways of improvement of the situation in the country were brought to life after the last parliamentary elections. I think that the Azerbaijani government realizes that re-run elections are a good chance to show the world that country is capable to hold truly democratic elections. Council of Europe is also very interested in upcoming elections and presented to government the pre-electoral plan, he concluded.
Registration of candidates for the re-run parliamentary elections is over on March 13, the Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission (CEC) told Trend.
The CEC 154 of 196 applicants registered therefore of 196 candidates who have submitted the subscription lists to the Commission.
In total, 218 candidatures were put forward for the participation in the re-run parliamentary elections. 196 of this them have submitted the subscription lists. 20 persons have later rejected their candidatures and other 22 were rejected by the Commission. According to the registration results total number consists of 154 candidates.
The determination of voters lists is over in relation to the by-elections to parliament, Trend reports quoting Igbal Babayev, the Director of the Sechkiler information center of the Central Election Committee (CEC). The first stage of determination was completed at all 10 constituencies. The voters lists will be publicized on Tuesday and posted up at all election stations on Thursday. The renewed version of the lists will be posted up on the website of the information center www.infocenter.gov as well. At present the website includes data on the candidates balloting in the re-run elections.
27 candidates are women and 71 are independent candidates. 23 members are nominated by the New Azerbaijan party, 12 by Musavat, 5 by Peoples Front and National Independence, 3 by Umid, Adalyat and Communist party, 2 by People `s Front (classics) and 1 from Great Azerbaijan, Democratic world of Azerbaijan, People `s democratic party, the Civil solidarity party, the Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Reforms and Civil Unity party respectively. 18 candidates did not indicate their party belonging.
On Thursday New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) held presentation of Monuments of Western Azerbaijan book at Europe Hotel. Attending the event were NAP leadership, representatives of state bodies and heads of political parties, Trend reports.
MP Ali Ahmadov, the executive secretary of NAP, dedicated his speech to the crimes committed by Azerbaijanis against Azerbaijanis. He noted that the appropriate decree undersigned by Ex-President Heydar Aliyev played an important role in revealing of the crimes. Ali Hassanov, the Deputy Primer, as well as the head of the State Commission on Refugees and IDP, Abulfaz Garayev, the Culture and Tourism Minsiter, Nizami Jafarov, the chair of the Milli Majlis Permanent Commission on Culture, and other spoke about the crimes by Armenians.
The participants of the gathering made an address to world Azerbaijanis after the speech by Aziza Alakbarli, the author of the book. The message mentions necessity of joint activities in informing of world community on the Azerbaijani genocide.
There is a huge necessity to create political centers in Azerbaijan, Yeni Azerbaijan (YAP) vice executive secretary, Siyavush Novruzov told Trend.
Retired political scientists and political analysts in different countries create such centers and continue their work. I assume that the President apparatus and Milli Mejlis should have such centers and they should make recommendations on different areas, he said.
Such recommendations can play very important role in the stabilization of political situation or formation of some views in the society, he concluded.
A draft law on Political Parties with supplements and changes will be adopted at the spring session of parliament, Yeni Azerbaijan (YAP) party vice- executive secretary, Siyavush Novruzov told Trend.
He stated that the draft on Political Parties should be prepared in the complete form. Creation of the political parties, building of fractions and financing was included into the draft. I have prepared changes for 4 aspects in the project. This document will soon be presented to the parliament.
He added that the draft will be discussed at the spring session of parliament.
The implementation of state financing of political parties in Azerbaijan is impossible in 2006, Ali Ahmdaov, the Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), told Trend.
According to Ahmadov, the first reason for non-implementation of the issue in 2006 was absence of such funds in the 2006 public budget. The issue has been put for discussion among the political parties. Along with positive aspects the state financing of political parties is a difficult process. Prior to approval of funds it is necessary to discuss widely the criteria and mechanisms to be used for financing. If the idea finds support in public and all interested sides, the discussions can be held in higher level. I hope the Azerbaijani government will shortly adopt the necessity of public financing of political parties and take relevant steps in this respect, he underscored.
On Wednesday Ali Ahmadov, the deputy chair of New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), also executive secretary of the party, met with Emil Shultz, the new Director of the U.S. National Democracy Institute (NDI), and Tomas Wary, the chief program manager of the NDI Washington Office, the press service of NDI told Trend.
Wary congratulated NAP on the victory in the November 2005 parliamentary elections and expressed assurance in the further continuation of the cooperation between the parties.
Ahmadov noted importance of the cooperation with NDI and said that NAP was interested in the implementation of joint projects. The sides held exchange of opinions on the existing relations between NAP and NDI, as well as perspectives of development of further cooperation.
Ana Veten party will support candidates from the ruling New Azerbaijan at the re-run elections scheduled for 13 May 2006, the chairman of Ana Veten, a pro-governmental party, MP Fazail Agamali told Trend.
He explained the reasons for partys non-participation at the re-run elections with minimal chances for victory. Realizing that we have a few chances to win at the repeating elections we decided not to move forward any candidatures, Agamali said.
However, party members are not forbidden from participating independently at the elections, he also noted. Those who are confident in their victory can put forward their candidatures, head of the party said, adding that his party will support Yeni Azerbaijan party at the elections. Preparations for this process are underway, he underlined.
State building
Azerbaijani Speaker Oktay Asadov received the Minister of Defense of Romania Theodore Atanasiu March 14. Asadov highly appreciated Romanian support in political and military areas during the talks, Trend reports. We hope that bilateral relations will develop in all areas, he said.
Atanasiu in his turn emphasized Azerbaijans important role in the region and expressed interest of developing closer ties with Azerbaijan. The visit targets expanding existing relations between the countries.
Perspectives of Azerbaijani-Romanian contacts and other questions of bilateral interest were discussed at the meeting.
On Thursday Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, received the delegation led by Senator Roberto Castelli, the Italian Justice Minister, Trend reports.
At the meeting Aliyev stressed the bilateral relations were successfully developing. He recollected his official visit to Italy in 2005. He noted that during the negotiations in Rome the sides discussed the development of the bilateral cooperation in different fields.
The dialogue between Italy and Azerbaijan is intensively held in different levels, Aliyev added. He voiced hope that the current visit of Castelli would make its contribution into development of the Azerbaijani-Italian cooperation.
In his turn, Castelli highly appreciated the bilateral relations and expressed assurance in the further development of the bilateral cooperation.
7 questions were suggested for discussion at the next meeting of the Milli Mejlis on March 24. The Annual report of the Azerbaijani Ombudsmen, Elmira Suleymanova was presented after MPs finished discussing all current issues, Trend reports.
Suleymanova, reported about the ombudsmen monitoring mission at the November 6 2005 parliamentary elections during her speech in parliament. She said that a number of appeals arrived to the ombudsmen office before and after the elections, they very turned over for revisal to the relevant institutions.
She also informed about constant human rights monitoring activities in the places of detention, and noted that illegally detained persons were found in some of the police stations. Relevant measures were undertaken to tackle this problems and those guilty were punished, ombudsman said.
Tuesday sitting of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani parliament] heard a report by the Cabinet of Ministers on its activities in 2005. Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizade delivered a report. He said that 2005 was remembered for many achievements in the activities of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Rasizade noted that last year the Gross Domestic Product and average salary increased, reforms were held in the state government system, state credits approved for the development of entrepreneurship, positive results were achieved in the sphere of privatization and education.
Bilateral agreements on military cooperation were signed during the meeting of Safar Abiyev, the Azerbaijani Defense Minister, with his Rumanian counterpart Theodore Atanasiu on Tuesday, the press service of the Azerbaijani Ministry told Trend.
At reception of the delegation led by Atanasiu, Abiyev noted that the visit of Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, in October 2004 stimulated further deepening of the Azerbaijani-Rumanian ties. We pin great importance to the cooperation with Rumania in all spheres, including, military field, Abiyev underlined.
Touching upon the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict, he stressed that Azerbaijan supported the regulation of the problem within international legal norms and territorial integrity. In case of unsuccessful negotiations, Azerbaijan will resort to other opportunities, Abiyev said.
In his turn, Atanasiu noted that the visit would serve to further expansion of the cooperation. According to Atanasiu, ensuring of peace and stability in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea countries is important issue to Rumania.
The Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Safar Abiyev, received on 17 March the Polish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Kshishtof Krayevskiy, the Defense Ministry told Trend.
The meeting was of familiarity character. Abiyev congratulated Krayevskiy with his new appointment and wished his successes in the development of Azerbaijani-Polish relationships.
Participation of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in any training in the territory of Armenia is impossible, Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense assistant of the press service Ilgar Verdiyev told Trend.
Military training within the frames of NATOs Partnership for Peace program will be held in May, Armenian agency Panarmenia told, in reference to the Armenian deputy minister of defense, Artur Agabekyan. Agabekyan stated that the Azerbaijan Armed Forces might participate in the training among 20 other countries.
He said that Armenian government is ready to accept those representatives of Azerbaijan Armed Forces who would wish to participate at the NATO training.
The Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense regards visit of Azerbaijan Armed forces representatives to Armenia as impossible. Verdiyev stated that Armenia is only formally participating in the NATO training under Partnership for Peace. In the course of year Armenia hosts only 1 exercise of this program, which is completely of formal character. Armenia is an occupant country and by participating in this program it wants to show itself as a peaceful state, he said.
Even if Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense will receive any official invitation to participate in training in the territory of that country it will be declined, he concluded.
The head of Azerbaijani National Center of Interpol, Madat Guliyev was freed up from his current position by the decree of the Azerbaijani Interior Minister, Ramil Usubov and appointed as a Chief Security Department ` s director of the Interior ministry, Guliyev told Trend.
Usubov has also issued a decree to free up the chief of the Khatai district Police Department, Mamed Mikaylov and appoint him as the head of Azerbaijani National Center of Interpol.
Guliyev has served as a National Interpol head for 4 years. His latest appointment came after he has returned from a work trip.
Emergency Ministers Kamalladin Heydarov, of Azerbaijan, and Sergey Shoigu, of Russia, signed a protocol on further cooperation in Moscow on Monday.
This document is supplement to the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in prevention of disasters and elimination of consequences dated to 2001, the Information Department of the Russian Emergency Ministry told Trend.
According to Shoigu, the establishment of the Emergency Ministry in Azerbaijan became important occur. Earlier different bodies were involved in security and liquidation of consequences of disasters. We will be able to set closer cooperation with our counterparts on all issues related to security of the population and territories i.e. from forecasting of risks to establishment of rescue technique and equipment. We will render overhaul aid to the new Azerbaijani Ministry, help them to avoid the mistakes committed by us and share with 15-year experience, the Russian Minister promised.
In his turn, Heydarov voiced hope that the representatives of the Azerbaijani Emergency Ministry and their Russian counterparts would work not only within the both countries, but also solve issues on rendering of aid abroad. Azerbaijan and Russian historically developed and worked together. Now we will render aid hand in hand, he stressed.
Arrangement took place to commemorate 87 year existence of the Azerbaijani Ministry for National Security (MNS) on March 28. National Security Minister, Eldar Makhmudov held a speech at the ceremony, Trend reports.
He stated that the given period was the most significant for the Ministry `s existence. Reforms started in 2004 are continued. Works to modernize the legislature, legal normative and material- technical base of MNS and social protection of the MNS employees are conducted.
Special attention is paid towards the development of international cooperation, the Minister told. Ministry cooperates with the special agencies from 42 other countries. Multiple agreements, memorandums and protocols were signed. State Commission on refugees and disappeared persons priority is Armenian terror and vandalism. Business cooperation was created with International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organizations. 6 Azerbaijani citizens were released as a result of mutual cooperation, he said.
Considering the counter-intelligence activity of MNS, Makhmudov noted, that it is one of the major activities of the Ministry. Serious steps were made last year to unravel plans and undermining activities of foreign intelligence services against Azerbaijan, the Minister added.
He also told about the MNS perspectives. Ministry should develop the achieved successes. Our work should be based on new technologies, principles and directions of the security concepts in the constantly changing world, he concluded.
At the end of the ceremony a number of former and current MNS employees were awarded by medals, decorations and valuable gifts.
Cooperation between Azerbaijani and Russian special services is at the highest level. Azerbaijan National Security minister Eldar Mahmudov made the statement after his visit to Moscow on March 9-10.
Minister expressed his satisfaction with the talks and meetings held there. I appreciate the results of my first visit to Moscow and consider that bilateral relations between our special services are at the highest level now, he said. The talks in Moscow covered a wide range of questions of bilateral interest
According to the Minister, a wide exchange of opinions on the situation in the region took place at the meetings and the joint protocol for durable cooperation was signed.
Azerbaijan and Russia expressed their interests in closer relations and deeper bilateral cooperation, Mahmudov stated. Russia is very interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan. We have signed a number of documents that serve now as a basis for cooperation, exchange of opinions and information. he said.
He especially emphasized, that a large criminal group involved in kidnappings was neutralized last year in Azerbaijan. Two of the group members were hiding in the Russian territory.
A solemn event was held on the 14th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Internal Forces on Saturday. In his remarks, Ramil Usubov, the Internal Affairs Minister, noted that during the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan the Internal Forces like other law-enforcement bodies showed selflessness in defense of our territories and liberation of lands, Trend reports.
According to Usubov, the Azerbaijani leadership keeps social security of the staff of the Internal Forces in the center of the attention. Over the last several years the Internal Forces decisively participated in prevention of some mass illegal actions, aimed against the statehood. Besides, the Minister mentioned the role of the Internal Forces in the defense of the national interests and internal peace in the country.
An executive protocol on cooperation was signed between the Ministers of Justice of Azerbaijan and Italy at the meeting of the ministers in the Ministry ` s Central Apparatus on March 30, the Ministry `s press-service told Trend.
The Azerbaijani Minister of Justice, Fikret Mammedov told his Italian counterpart, Roberto Castelli that successful cooperation between two countries is rapidly developing. The Italian minister was informed about the democratic reforms that are taking place in the country, including progressive judicial-legislative reforms. Perspectives of the bilateral cooperation were broadly discussed.