Official news
The Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev has accepted the European Commission director on foreign affairs, Fokion Fotiadis, Trend reports.
Perspectives of cooperation between Azerbaijan and EuroComission were under discussion.
The Azerbaijani-Polish relationship expands in different spheres, Trend reports quoting Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, as stating at a meeting with Petr Voznyak, the Polish Economic Minister.
The head of the country said that during his official visit to Warsaw he met with the Polish President, who was a mayor at that time. Aliyev also noted the visit of Voznyak would have great importance for further development of the bilateral ties.
Voznyak stressed significance of the current visit in the point of political and economic view. He called it a good opportunity for development of the economic relations.
Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani president, received the delegation led by John Bourn, the chief inspector and auditor of the British National Audit Office. The head of the country mentioned significance of the cooperation of the British National Audit Office with the Azerbaijani Accountancy Chamber, Trend reports.
Aliyev stressed that the Accountancy Chamber was a new establishment and noted importance of use of experience of appropriate bodies in the world , including, the British National Audit Office.
In his turn, Bourn touched upon existence of the memorandum on mutual understanding on cooperation between the Azerbaijani Accountancy Chamber and British National Audit Office. Bourn stressed that during the visit the sides held discussions on deepening of the ties between appropriate bodies of the both countries.
Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, has congratulated the collective and members of the Audit Chamber on 10th annivrsary of the body.
Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, received Jacob Kellenberger, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), on Monday, Trend reports.
Aliyev noted that the visit of Kellenberger was important in the view of close familiarization with processes taking place in Azerbaijan, particularly, the state of the Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced people.
The head of the country said the state of the refugees and IDP was the main social problem in the country and the government was taking necessary measures to solve it. He voiced assurance that the economic development of Azerbaijan would assist in solution of all social problems.
In his turn, Kellenberger said he first visited Azerbaijan in 1995 as the State Secretary of the Swiss Foreign Ministry and got pleasure from the meeting with Ex-President Heydar Aliyev. He mentioned considerable changes taken place in the country over the past period. According to Kellenberger, Azerbaijan is on the way of rapid economic growth. The guest underlined significance of the measures taken by the Azerbaijani government to solve the problems of the refugees and IDP.
Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, has received Stephen Krasner, the Director for Policy Planning under the U.S. State Department, and Matthew Braise, the Adviser to U.S. State Secretary on affairs of Europe and Asia on Monday, Trend reports.
The head of the country noted the interaction between the countries successfully expanded. He stressed the partnership between two countries was very important factor for development of the region. According to Aliyev, the meeting became a good opportunity to discuss issues on the bilateral relationship presenting mutual interest. The President voiced hope the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the USA would expand hence.
In his turn, Krasner said his country highly appreciated the support by Azerbaijan in the struggle with terrorism in the hot spots of the world, particularly, Afghanistan and Kosovo. He underlined the bilateral relations were of important character and expressed satisfaction with the successful expansion of the Azerbaijani-U.S. ties.
The Azerbaijani-Turkish relationship is in high level, Trend reports citing Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, as stating on the results of the negotiations with Ahmad Nejded Sezer, the Turkish President, who arrived in Baku with an official visit.
We permanently sense assistance and support by Turkey from the moment of restoration of Azerbaijans independence. The relations in all spheres are very successful and we have discussed main directions of the relations today. We also have exchanged opinion on further perspectives, the Azerbaijani President stressed.
According to Aliyev, the negotiations concerned international regional projects, including, the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan export pipeline and the South Caucasus gas pipeline. The objects are under construction and they will be commissioned in 2006.
The position of Azerbaijan in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will remain unchangeable, Trend reports citing Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, as stating on the results of the negotiations with Ahmad Nejded Sezer, the Turkish President, who arrived in Baku with an official visit.
The issue may be solved only within international legal norms. The territorial integrity of the country must be restored. The Azerbaijanis exiled as a result of the political clearing must repatriate. The principles reflect both reality and justice, as well as meet international legal norms, Aliyev said.
The settlement of the conflict was one of the issues discussed by Azerbaijani and Turkish Presidents. Turkey always supports Azerbaijan in this issue and this support is very important. We are grateful to Turkey for this support. The position of Turkey is fair and Azerbaijan is grateful to it for this, Aliyev added.
Minara Tahirova was awarded by the Sohret medal by the presidential decree on April 6 2006. She was awarded for successes in the development of education in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
The Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on April 7 appointing Eldar Nuriyev as a head of the State Control of the President Apparatus, Trend reports.
The other decree signed by the head of state released Salman Jafarov from the above mentioned position.
Foreign policy
Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, holds negotiations on the further perspectives of the bilateral relations in Washington, Trend reports referring to Azertaj.
The Azerbaijani Minister has some meetings with senator Seem Brownback, the chair of the Helsinki commission, Richard Armitaj, the former First Deputy Secretary of U.S. State, Solomon Ortiz, the chair of the U.S. Congress working group on Azerbaijan, and Congressman Sylvester Reyes, a member of the same group. The meetings discussed the current state of the bilateral relations and their perspectives, the situation in the region, energy security in the Caspian Sea, expansion of the economic relations and contacts between Azerbaijan and the U.S. Congress.
During the reception in the honorary of the Azerbaijani Minister Mammadyarov met with the representatives of the Heritage Fund, John Hopkins University, State Department and White House, as well as Azerbaijani-U.S. Trade Chamber.
On Friday the Minister plans to come out at the Heritage Fund. The program includes meetings with Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State, Steven Mann, the chair of the Minsk Group, Daniel Fred, the Deputy Secretary of State on issues of Europe and Eurasia, and Steven Hedly, the assistant of the U.S. President on national security.
Agenda of Azerbaijan president` s visit to USA is worked out, the head of the President` s Executive Apparatus, Novruz Mammedov told Trend.
The visit will take place in the recent time by the invitation of the American president, George Bush. Undoubtedly, president will meet George Bush and other officials in the course of the visit. Bilateral questions, regional policy, international cooperation and terrorism struggle will be discussed at the meeting. We are still working out the exact agenda, he said.
Commenting on the question that political scientist supposed that Iranian matter will be discussed during the visit, Mammedov said that political scientist often make improvable claims.
The exact date of the visit, planned for the third part of April, will be announced recently.
Work done at the US Congress for unmasking the forces favoring Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which bans direct government assistance to Azerbaijan has yielded concrete results, Araz Azimov, the Azerbaijan Deputy Foreign Minister, told a news conference in Baku on Thursday. Annual waiver of the document also testifies for it.
The United States and Azerbaijan are strategic partners in the sphere of struggle with terror. Formal existence of the section should be of any significance for Azerbaijan, as major direction of assistance approved for Azerbaijan is focused on security section.
Section 907 should not disappoint Azerbaijan, but become a base for more objective standpoint on Baku, Azimov underlined. Such document is one more opportunity for damage on US interests in the South Caucasus.
The NATO General Secretary special representative in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons will pay a visit to Azerbaijan on April 10-13, Simmonss office told Trend.
Simmons will meet Azerbaijani officials in the frames of the visit. Cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan and performance of the Action Plan of Individual Partnership by Azerbaijan will be discussed at the meeting. Simmons visit will not have a regional nature
Simmons was appointed to the position on September 2004. He also occupies the NATO security and politics department` s head position.
The visit of the Polish parliament speaker, Bogdan Borusevic to Baku was postponed, the Polish embassy in Baku told Trend.
The visit was initially scheduled for April 6-7, but was postponed due to the technical reasons, the embassy said. The date of the visit is not yet defined.
The Polish speaker was invited by his Azerbaijani counterpart, Oktai Asadov. Matters of inter-parliamentary and state cooperation were expected to be under discussion.
Solidarity and Cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan is a good example for the region, the Turkish president, Ahmed Nejed Sezer said during his visit to Baku on April 4, Trend reports.
The partnership in the provision of security of our countries has increased due to the common implementation of new projects i. e. Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline that will be ready in the coming months. In the given context I have invited the president, Ilham Aliyev to take part in the BTC opening, the Turkish president said.
According to Sezer, in the course of the meetings we have again stated our intensions to launch Baku- Tbilisi- Erzerum gas pipeline project and Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkali- Kars railroad project, which will bring our countries even closer, he said.
My current visit to Baku is a new justification of brotherly connections between Azerbaijan and Turkey and it will give another impetus to the development of our ties, he added.
Turkey views the Nagorno-Karabakh problem resolution only within the context of preserving territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and only via peaceful negotiations, Sezer said, adding that Ankara is ready to do everything possible to resolve the conflict.
He also mentioned the resolution of the Cyprus conflict. We have again expressed our satisfaction with the Azerbaijani position on the end of international isolation of the Cypriot Turks, he concluded.
Two documents on the development of bilateral cooperation have been signed during Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarovs visit to Argentine, Tahir Tagizade, the head of the Press and Information Department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, told Trend. He was commenting on the current visit of the Azerbaijani FM to Argentine.
The visit started with a meeting with Argentines FM Korkhe Tayane. The talks focused on the perspectives of bilateral relationships, opening of Azerbaijani embassy in Buenos Ayres, as well as plan on exchange of visits on the top, in particular, perspectives for Argentines FM to Azerbaijan. As a result of talks the Ministers two documents: Memorandum on cooperation between the Foreign Ministries and Agreement on non-visa visit of people holding diplomatic passports.
As part of his visit to Argentine Mammadyarov also held a meeting with the Minister for Public Investing and Planning of the federal services, Khulio Migel de Vido. Moreover, the minister also met with the Chairman of the Senate and Vice President of Argentine, Daniel Skiole. The Azerbaijani FM answered some questions of media representatives accredited in Buenos-Ayres. The Minister informed them about the situation in the region, on the development of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and efforts taken for peaceable resolution of this conflict, development of Azerbaijan and economic, political, and social reforms, development of Caspian energy resources.
2 cooperation agreements documents have been signed during the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammeryarov visit to Brasilia, the press and informational department head of the foreign ministry told Trend.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister has had a number of meetings with the Brazilian officials. In particular, he spoke to the Industry and Foreign Trade vice minister, Ivan Gimarayesh Ramalio and the Nature Resources Minister, Saylos Rondo.
Mammedyarov has also met the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Selso Amorim. A wide number of issues of bilateral cooperation in political, economic, energetic areas, situation in the region, Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict peaceful resolution, Azerbaijani role in the system of world security, political and economic reforms in the country were under discussion.
Two documents on bilateral cooperation have been signed at the end of talks: Memorandum on cooperation between the foreign ministries of two countries and Agreement on visa-free travel for the owners of diplomatic and official passports.
17 issues are included into the agenda of the next meeting of the Minister Council of the CIS countries Foreign Ministers. The meeting was scheduled on April 21 in Moscow, the Foreign Ministry told Trend.
One of these questions- is performance of the CIS Council` s decision on modernizing and reforming of the Commonwealth bodies. The High level decision making group is expected to be created in order to increase CIS efficiency and active the cooperation of members in the CIS re-admission area.
Besides, issues concerning legal status of the member-states borders and guarantees of the Common wealth citizens in the pension provision matters. The issues of creating transport corridors for transporting energy sources to the countries of Central, South and West Europe will also be widely discussed. Another important question to be reviewed by the meeting is a free trade zone inside the CIS.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammedyarov will take part in the meeting.
Next summit of GUAM, a regional organization among Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, will be held in Kiev in May, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.
At present an expert group in involved in the development of statutory documents on the transformation of GUAM into an international organization. Prior to the summit it is planned to hold a meeting of the representatives of the member-states for final coordination of the agenda and signing of documents.
33 Conference of the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO) foreign ministers will take place in Baku on June 19-21, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. Mass Media accreditation to report on the work of the forum starts on April 15.
The ICO was founded in 1969 at the conference of the Muslim leaders in Rabat. 57 states are now ICO members and 10 other states are observer- states. Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan became ICO members in 1992, Kazakhstan in 1995 and Uzbekistan in 1996.
The GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) permanent delegates to the Council of Europe will hold meetings to discuss the ways of the cooperation of the GUAM countries within the organization and its structural subunits, Trend reports quoting Agshin Mehdiyev, the GUAM permanent delegate to CE.
According to Mehdiyev, the decision was made as a result of the last meeting of the former chairs in Strasburg. The sides come to an agreement on establishment of permanent mechanism of consultations and practical cooperation to develop a joint approach to the issues stirring GUAM, he underlined.
I hope the re-run parliamentary elections [scheduled for 13 May 2006] in Azerbaijan will be held in line with international standards, Matthew Bryza, the adviser to US Secretary of State on Europe and Asia, told local television channel ANS.
She grounded her assurance with the great work done by the Azerbaijani government in this direction. It will come as an excellent result of the joint efforts of the government of Azerbaijan and the United States, she added.
Bryza arrived in Baku on 3 April with the Director on planning of the US Department of State, Stephan Crazner and held a meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Yunis Ganuni, the speaker of the Lower chamber of the Afghan Parliament, will pay a visit to Azerbaijan. The issue was discussed at the meeting of Eynulla Madatli, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Yunis Ganuni in Kabul, Trend reports.
The meeting concerned the ways of development of the interparliamentary cooperation. Madatli handed over the invitation by Azerbaijani speaker Ogtay Asadov to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan.
The Nagorno-Karabakh problem and elections in Azerbaijan won` t be discussed at the PACE session, the permanent Azerbaijani representative at the CE, ambassador, Agshin Mehtiyev told Trend, adding that these questions are not on the agenda.
However, two other questions related to Azerbaijan will be raised at the session; considering the first document- of the resolution project on refuges in the South Caucasus countries. Mehtiyev stated that the given document in general is not bad, though it has mistakes in numerical data. The resolution project has to be corrected, and works on that problem are now carried out, he said, adding that Azerbaijani delegates who will arrive to the meeting will have personal discussions with the rapporteur. The document will be finalized during the session itself. So its prematurely to evaluate it now, he concluded.
In his Interview for Trend the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Antanas Valionis, said that Lithuanian-Azerbaijan relations are friendly, based on sympathy from the past and on the common future goals to live in prosperous and safe Europe. Still these relations could be more intensive especially in the economical sphere. We receive signals from our businessmen about their interest in developing trade relations with Azerbaijan and I hope that the forthcoming visit of our President Valdas Adamkus to Baku this April will serve as an impulse for the enhancement of such cooperation.
I think the agenda of the visit of Lithuanian President, which is planned for April, should reflect all major issues of common interest bilateral cooperation and possibilities to develop it in particular fields, the EU and NATO integration, energy security. Regional issues and cooperation of Baltic-Black-Caspian sea regions should be very important subject of discussions, he underlined.
There is a deep tolerance to Jews in Azerbaijan both from government and population. The State Committee` s on work with the religious structures head, Rafik Aliyev told at the meeting with the head of the Israeli prime-minister office, Ariel Romot, Trend reports.
He has reminded about the existence of denomination of freedom in the country and protection of all Jews living in the country, adding that such policy will be continued.
Aliyev has highly praised the activities of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan for the development of the bilateral relations. The problems of the religious communities are under the governmental control and a number of changes will soon be made in that regard, he said.
The German ambassador to Azerbaijan, Detlef Lingeman has visited Ganja. Some issues of economic cooperation and cooperation between Ganja and Germany were discussed at the meeting between ambassador and the head of the executive power in the city, Eldar Azizov.
The Azerbaijani ambassador to Italy, Emil Kerimov, who is also accredited in the San-Marino Republic, has submitted the credentials to the officials terminating their service in government of this country- the Captain- Regent, Claudio Muccioli and Antonello Bajiocci, in accordance with the protocol rules.
The Talks to create the Turkish States Parliamentary Assembly are now being held, the head of the constant commission on culture in Milli Mejlis, head of the Inter-parliamentary Friendly group Azerbaijan-Turkey, Nizami Jafarov told Trend.
The given idea has already received the negative reaction on part of Armenia, he said. However, they have to reasons to worry, he added. As our aim is not to create a big, great Turan state. Neither do we want to create a single parliament or hold single elections in the Turkish world. The aim is to build ties between the Turkish countries parliaments, conduct consultations, to take part in the joint harmony of peace.
The Israeli ambassador in Azerbaijan, Arthur Lenk has visited Nachchivan. The major aim of the visit was to observe the situation in this region of Azerbaijan, the Nachchivan consulate told Trend.
Lenk will meet the Nahchivani Supreme Mejlis chairman, Vasif Talibov and will pay visits to several places of interest in the area. He has already met the students in the Nachchivani University.
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
Armenian Armed forces again breached the armistice last week.
On 2 April the Azerbaijani positions located in the Kedabeck district came under small arms fire from the Armenian positions located on the Lagziyal mountain at the Krasnoselsk district of Armenia from 15:00 P.M. to 15:10 P.M. And from 19:10 P.M. to 19:15 P.M. Azerbaijani armed forces positions came under from the opposing side in Kazakh district.
On 4 April the units of the Armenian armed forces dislocated in 3km of Boskevan village of Noyamberian District fired from 14:55pm to 15:00pm the positions of the Azerbaijan National Army placed in Gushchu Ayrim village of Kazakh district.
On 3 April the units of the Armenian armed forces dislocated in 1.7km of Mosesgah village of Barda District fired from 17:55pm to 18:00pm the positions of the Azerbaijan National Army in the nameless height of Tovuz District, Defense Ministry told Trend. The Azerbaijani positions in near Ahmedgah village were also fired from 21:30 to 22:00 from the Armenian positions dislocated in 2.5km of Javahirli village of the occupied Agdam district.
At 09:00, positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces located near the Ashagi Abdulrahmanli village of the Fizuli district came under the small arms fire from the Armenian armed forces located 1,3km to the north. As a result one Azerbaijani soldier, Shaban Mohamed oglu Yagubov has died from the wounds and another, Niameddin Shirinov, was injured.
At 21:45 Armenian armed forces located near the Ashagi Abdulrahmanli village and at 23:05 from positions near Jafarli village of Kazakh district has subjected to the small arms fire the adjacent Azerbaijani positions (including Jafarli village)
Monitoring that was held at the front line between Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces according to the current OSCE mandate has passed without any incidents, the Defense Ministry press-service told Trend.
The monitoring took place near the Mazamli village of Kazakh district.
From Azerbaijani side monitoring was supervised by the personal representative of the OSCE chairman, ambassador, Andjey Kasprshik with his assistants, Imre Palatinus and Yuri Aberle.
Monitoring from the opposite side was supervised by the OSCE chairman `s field assistants, Alexander Samarski, Harry Eronen and Peter Key.
The Azerbaijani delegation will raise the issue of destroying of the historic monuments, flora and fauna of Azerbaijan as a result of the Armenian occupation policy at the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Trend reports citing Aydin Mirzazade, a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE.
In accordance with procedure, such issues can not be raised at once. PACE will discuss the state of the refugees and internally displaced people in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia on 13 April. We will raise the issue of destroying of historic monuments, appropriation of some of them, plunder of natural wealth in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenians, Mirzazade stressed.
The French OSCE Minsk group co-chairman, Bernard Fasie arrives to Baku on April 10, the vice- foreign minister, Araz Azimov told Trend.
The current visit is a part of the regional visit, in the course of which Fasie will visit Armenia as well. The negotiations will be continuation of the talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Rambouilet.
Major principles in the resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] conflict are based on the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which implies the observation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, inviolability of borders and sovereignty. They are also the principles of the international rule of law that we have based on, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK, Rafael Ibrahimov, said in an interview for BBCRussian.com.
As to timeline, I cant say that it exclusively work for us without any exclusion in the relationships, but the point is that as times goes by there appears a critical mass and the attitude of the international community changes in favor of intensification of a decision making process, he underlined.
The diplomat underlined that the territorial integrity is the major principle and Azerbaijan regards it as a basis. As to implementation of an agreement, if it is achieved it is planned to place peacemaking forces following the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan. It is to be followed by the repatriation of the Azerbaijani internally displaced people (IDP) to their native territory. Azerbaijan has always supported preventing any authorities for monopolization of the issue of the composition of the peace-keeping forces. We have always considered the issue on international peacemakers, Ibrahimov underlined.
The General Consulate of Azerbaijan in Istanbul organized a scientific symposium entitled Armenias genocide policy against Turks and future of the Turkish-Azerbaijani mutual relationships. Ibrahim Nabioglu, the General Consul of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, told Trend that attending the event were over 500 scientific and public figures of Turkey, heads of diplomatic missions, MPs, officers in reserve, representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora.
The speakers to the event were the head of Marmara society, Akkin Suver, ex-head of the gendarmerie forces, General Shener Eyruyrug and Prof Shener Ushumezsoy.
The symposium was divided into three plenary meetings first dedicated to the anniversary of the Azerbaijani Genocide Day 31 March, the second on the development of the Azerbaijani-Turkish relationships, the third general discussions. There was an exchange of opinions on the so-called Armenian genocide by the Osmanly Emore in 1915.
The OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen will probably visit the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict region in May, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group, Yuri Merzlyakov told Trend.
A Russian co-chairman, Bernard Fasie will soon visit the region, he added. Besides, the Armenian foreign minister, V. Oskanyan is expected to visit Moscow in April and his Azerbaijani counter-part Washington. The current stage of the peaceful negotiations and future steps will be discussed in the course of these visits.
The negotiating process will continue after the mediators consultations in Washington and Istanbul. The further steps and the exact dates of the co-chairmen arrival to the region will be defined after the meetings end, he said, adding that not all sides will be available to make a visit to the region in the second part of April.
The USA believes that 2006 will be decisive year for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the United States ambassador to Azerbaijan, Reno Harnish told journalist on April 4, Trend reports.
The United States, as an OSCE Minsk group co-chairman has always supported the talks between the heads of states and foreign ministers of the conflicting sides and will continue its role of the mediator in the conflict. We support the Azerbaijani and Armenian efforts aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict, the ambassador said.
Political life
144 candidates will ballot in the 13 May 2006 by-elections, Trend reports referring to a message by the Secretariat of the Central Elections Committee (CEC) in relation to the re-rerun elections to the Milli Majlis [Parliament] of the 3rd convocation.
CEC confirmed candidacy of 218 people to run for the Milli Majlis. The number of the people taken signature lists comprised 215, while 196 of them returned signature list. Candidacy of 158 was registered. Nevertheless, the number of candidates balloting in the by-elections comprised 144 due to different reasons (candidacy of 2 was cancelled by the Court of Appeals, while 12 withdrew their candidacy).
Most candidates (71) is nonparty, while 20 people did not indicated their party belonging. 20 candidates balloting from New Azerbaijan Party, 12 - Musavat party, 5 - the Popular Front of Azerbaijan Party, 5 - the Azerbaijan National Independence Party, per 3 candidates from Adalat Party, Communist Party and Umid Party. 10 parties are represented by 1 candidate.
The district and regional electoral stations have finished the submission process of the voters lists to the Central Elections commission of Azerbaijan (CEC), the CEC told at the press-conference, Trend reports.
The specification process of the voters lists will continue till the end of May, the informational center head, Igbal Babayev told. 85 districts have already submitted the lists and the remaining 40 will soon submit them as well. All statistical information relating to the lists will be available at the end of May. The clarification works will be carried out 35 days before the voting begins, from 9 to 13 of May all citizens who did not find their names in the lists can restore their rights in courts.
He also stated that during the last 5 years electoral structures are also active in the internet. The voters lists, addresses of polling stations on the internet pages are very useful for people and the electoral commission, he said. The electoral press- service will be open from 07:00 A.M. at the elections day and the protocols from each polling station will be announced in the course of 24 hours.
The court made sentence in regard to 516 former candidates, as they did not return the funds allocated from the public budget in the last parliamentary elections, Trend reports referring to Ramiz Ibrahimov, a member of the Central Elections Committee (CEC).
In accordance with the Elections Code, the candidates, who balloted in the last parliamentary elections and gained less 3% of votes, are due to return the funds allocated from the public budget for their election campaign. Not returning the funds, 516 candidates faced with trial.
Some of them returned the money after court sentence. Over 700 people, who did not overpass 3% barrier, withdrew his candidacy or whose candidacy was canceled, covered the debt. Over 300 candidates took respites to return money within 2 months. This process will last approximately till November 2006, Ibrahimov stressed.
Ismayil Aymat, the deputy chairman of the Permanent Committee of the Chinese Assembly of the Peoples Representatives, held a meeting with a delegation of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), led by Ali Ahmadov, the Deputy Chairman and also Executive Secretary of the NAP, Trend reports cutting Sinkhua news agency.
The meeting was held at the House of Peoples Assembly with the participation of deputy head of the Foreign Relationships Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Chen Fensian, and other senior officials.
The National Independence party (NIP) of Azerbaijan chairman, Etibar Mammedov has visited Italy at the invitation of the European National Party, Mammedov told Trend.
He took part at the European National Party meeting, which unites more than 60 parties from 35 European countries and is a largest faction in the European parliament. A new president of the organization has been chosen at the meeting. Mammedov discussed the possibility of cooperation between the European party and NIP. Sides have agreed that NIP will play a role of observer.
Political parties of non- EU countries can be presented in the European party only as observers.
Mammedov has also met several officials and held talks with the European parliament representatives.
After the problems with the National Independence Party (NIP) registration will be solved Azadliq bloc has to admit its mistakes, the party leader, Etibar Mammedov told Trend.
Some parties have made a mistake calling a party as organization headed by Ali Aliyev, he said. Mamedov has addressed the Mass media asking not to present NIP as a party in a split. Addressing his call to the Azadliq bloc he said that all other parties should also admit their mistakes.
Speaking about the change of Ali Aliyev `s party he said that they can call their party in whatever way they want.
The IV Assembly of the World Democratic Movement has started its work in Istanbul from April 2, the Azerbaijani party for Democratic Reforms chairman, MP, Asim Mollzadeh told Trend.
The Turkish prime minister, Rajab Teyub Erdogan took part at the conference. He has started the meeting with the entering phrase. Leaders of democratic movements, political parties, NGOs from around the world took part at the conference. It will work till the April 5.
Another meeting dedicated to NGOs was held within the frames of the Assembly in Russia on April 3. Several meetings aimed at the development of democracy will also be held on April 4 in some of the east European countries.
Mollazadeh, who has represented Azerbaijan at the meeting, had a number of discussions with the meeting participants and representatives of foreign political parties. A meeting of the Democratic MPs of the world Organizations will also be held, MPs from several countries will take part at the meeting. We will have common discussions and meetings in the frames of the conference, he concluded.
The World Democratic Movement, founded by the United States, unites the leaders of the world democratic political structures.
MP Asim Mollazade is leaving for Strasbourg on 6 April to attend the international conference dedicated to future status of Kosovo, the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijan parliament] told Trend.
The event was organized by the European Liberal Democratic Party of the Alliance of European Liberals and Democrats of the Council of Europe jointly with the International Liberal Group.
On 24 April the Supreme Board of the Popular Front of United Azerbaijan Party (PFUAP) will hold a meeting, Trend reports quoting Elchin Mirzabayli, the PFUAP secretary on foreign relations.
Mirzabayli noted that the meeting was planned in relation to the commemoration ceremony of the Turkish soldier saved Azerbaijani people from genocide. Armenians mark the day of invented genocide on 24 April, but this date must be marked as the day of rescue of the Azerbaijani people by the Turkish forces from genocide, he added. According to Mirzabayli, on 24 April the members of the party will hold a commemoration ceremony in front of the monument erected in the memory of the Turkish soldier at the Alley of Martyrs prior to the meeting of the Supreme Board.
He also said the meeting of the Supreme Board would consider organization issues as well. It will approve the mandates of new members of the Supreme Board. The same time, some structural changes are not excluded.
The party under the leadership of Ali Aliyev will pretend to the name of the Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP) till its congress, Trend reports quoting Aliyev.
Aliyev said that the congress of the party would be held in May to inject changes to the name of the party led by him. It will function under the name of ANIP till the congress.
The meeting of the political board of the party is planned for 14 April to call the meeting of the central board. It will be held approximately on 29 April and determine the date of the congress.
The congress of the group of the Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP) led by Ali Aliyev will be held in May, Trend reports.
According to Aliyev, the meetings of the political and central boards of the party will be held in late April to determine the date of the congress. The congress is planned to change the name of the party, as well as to inject some changes into the regulations and the structure of the organziation.
ANIP led by Etibar Mammadov also prepares for the congress scheduled in late April.
The US State Secretary Advisor on Europe and Asia, Matthew Brise met the opposition leaders in the American embassy in Baku on April 3, the head of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) press-service Nurreddin Ismayilov told Trend.
The Azdliq bloc co-founders- ADP first vice-chairman, Serdar Jalaloglu, leader of the National Unity movement, Lala Shovket Hajiyeva, People` s Front party chairman, Ali Kerimli and Musavat party head, Isa Gambar took part at the meeting.
The last year` s parliamentary elections and preparation for the re-run elections on May 13 as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh problem were also discussed during the meeting, Ismayilov said.
The Consultative Council of Pro-governmental Parties must make turning point in its activities in relation to the re-run elections to the Milli Majlis, Trend reports quoting Mammad Alizade, the chair of the Consultative Council, as well as the leader of the Democratic Azerbaijani World Party.
Alizade underlined that reforms had been carried out in some parties entering the organization for reorganization. The party led by me, regional branches of the Free Republicans Party, Democratic Enlightenment Party, Republicans Party were reformed. We recognized backwardness and weakness in our activities, he stressed.
The head of the organization also noted that founders of Reforms election block did not join the 13 May by-elections due to our decision to support single candidates from New Azerbaijan Party (NAP). Alizade also said they considered inclusion of 4 parties to NAP. Now we think over the mechanism. The issue is probable to be solved after the by-elections, he added.
The Azerbaijani youth wait for the order by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on beginning of war and are ready to liberate their occupied territories, Trend reports quoting Fuad Muradov, the chair of the National Council of Azerbaijani Youth Organizations (NCAYO), as stating at the 10th conference of the organization on Saturday.
If international community does not ensure territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in peaceful way, we will not have other option except war, he said. According to Muradov, the major goal of the organization is to inform world community on the Karabakh realities, carry out work in the direction of ensuring of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as well as propagandize national and spiritual values and patriotism among the youth.
State building
Oktai Asadov, the Azerbaijani Speaker, received a delegation headed by the Polish Minister for Economic, Piotr Wazniak, the MiIli Majlis [Azerbaijan parliament] told Trend.
The speaker informed that Azerbaijan take mores interest in the development of cooperation with Poland, which is one of the first countries which recognized the independence of the country.
The talks focused on exchange of opinions on exchange of experience and information in the sphere of legislation, establishment of legislative base of economic reforms and issues of mutual interest.
No Azerbaijani peacekeepers will be sent to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq this April, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry press service vice head, Ilgar Verdiyev told Trend.
The next group of peacekeepers will send in July, he said.
Noting that the last time Azerbaijani soldiers were dispatched to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan this January. 3 groups consisting of 104 peacekeepers were send to Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan. 90 of them went to Iraq, 9 to Kosovo and 5 to Afghanistan.
On Monday Bahar Muradova, the Vice-Speaker of the Milli Majlis [Parliament], has met with Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, the Regional Director of UN Population Fund in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, the press service of the Milli Majlis told Trend.
Muradova touched upon the history of the relations between Azerbaijan and UN, cooperation of the different bodies of UN with the country. She highly appreciated the activities of the UN Population Fund in Azerbaijan and expressed interest in the expansion of the relations with UN.
In her turn, Albrectsen noted that the UN Population Fund attentively followed the process taking place in the country, particularly, the reforms in the sulution of problems of children, the youth and women. She also said the UN Population Fund drawn up projects on gender equality, children and the youth. According to Albrectsen, the UN Population Fund is ready to assist in the implementation of the projects in Azerbaijan and further improvement of legislative basis.
Muradova presented overhaul information on the laws on rights of children, the youth and women, adopted by the Parliament, as well projects and reforms.
Treatment against the heaviest form of tuberculosis started among the prison inmates, the head of the healthcare department of the Justice Ministry, Rafael Mehtiyev told Trend.
The treatment is implemented in the medical facilities with the application of the most effective medicines. More than 80 inmates are passing the procedures. The given project is implemented with the financial aid of the Technical and Global fund of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The results of the treatment will soon be obvious, he said.
More than 400 inmates were hospitalized with the tuberculosis diagnosis in the last year, Mehtiyev said.
Due to the modern equipment and medicines there are lesser cases of the tuberculosis, he said.
The Azerbaijani Interior Minister, Ramil Usubov has paid a visit to the Absheron Police department on April 6, the Ministry press-service told Trend.
Speaking to the personnel he said that there is a dynamic development in all areas of the country which was achieved due to the reforms held in the State. He also mentioned the successes of law enforcement bodies in keeping the law and order in the country.
After he gave to the Department leadership the keys from the two Volswagen-Passat cars designed for service usage.
The Interior head has also checked the recently renowated administrative building of police department.
A group of Azerbaijani parliamentarians will pay a visit to Pakistan, Trend reports referring to Eldar Ibrahimov, the head of the Azerbaijani-Pakistani interparliamentary friendship gropup.
The visit is planned for May. During the visit the sides will discuss the cooperation between the parliaments of the countries. The group will also include Samad Seyidov, the chair of the Milli Majlis [Parliament] Permanent Commission on International Issues.
The Azerbaijani-Pakistani interparliamentary friendship group consists of Isa Habibbayli, Aydin Hassanov, Musa Guliyev, Siyavush Novruzov, Javanshir Pashazade and Tahir Rzayev.
В"Members of the inter-parliamentary friendly group Azerbaijan Georgia will pay a visit to Georgia, the groups leader, Ganira Pashayeva told Trend.
The visit will take place in the coming days, she said. Our aim is to see problems of our neighbors have talks with officials and ordinary people, she assured.
The meeting with the inter-parliamentary friendly group Georgia Azerbaijan has also been planned. Of course, we will discuss future of our inter- parliamentary contacts.
The funds allocating from the public budget to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has increased from $170m to $600m, Trend reports quoting Khanlar Valiyev, the Military Prosecutor, as saying at a news conference on 6 April.
Valiyev said that budgetary financing increased as a result of the permanent attention and the care of the Armed Forces by Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President. Considerable work was carried out in direction of solution of the social and common problems of the officers of the Defense Ministry, State Frontier Service and Internal Forces and other military bodies, including, staff. New soldier quarters and medical institutions were built, as well as Central Military Hospital was provided with modern equipment. The repaired military hospitals of the Internal Forces and the State Frontier Service were reconstructed anew. Dwelling buildings and health centers were constructed for officers, Valiyev stressed.
According to Valiyev, the presidential decree envisages doubling of monthly bonus of servicemen, military rank bonus and other payments, as well as issue of privileged mortgage loans.
Valiyev noted that the key objective of the Military Prosecutor Office was to toughen up behavior regulations in the armed forces and increase fighting efficiency. The Military Prosecutor Office strengthened struggle with criminality, violation of legality and legal norms as a result of the measures in this direction.