Official news
Today is a historical day. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is put in operation. New oil policy started in Azerbaijan in 1994 with signing the Contract of the Century. The oil produced at Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field is exported to world markets, Trends special correspondent reports quoting President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev speaking today in port Ceyhan on the occasion of putting in operation Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline with throughput capacity 50mln ton a year.
Aliyev said first in history foreign investments have been attracted namely to the Azeri sector of Caspian Sea. В"Today funds obtained from oil projects implementation are intensively used in the country. Azerbaijans economic potential and development made 26% by the totals of 2005 and 40% in first five months of 2006В", he said.
В"This idea has come true only with Contract of the century implementation. There was no trust in BTC around the globe and the project was very difficult to implement. There even were sides that objected this project but joint will of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia make it throughВ", President indicated.
President of Azerbaijan outlined the role of BP in ACG and BTC projects implementation. He also stated the role of the USA. В"We always felt the US support while implementing both ACG and BTC projectsВ", he said.
BTC project enabled create a unity among the countries partaking in it, as well as oil companies and international financial institutions. All social problems in Azerbaijan might get solved through oil projects implementation. В"Azerbaijan is becoming a very important oil exporting countryВ", he indicated.
Head of state also mentioned South Caucasian Pipeline project (SCP), whose completion, he said, is really close. В"Earlier, SCP was in the shade of BTC. But now we all see the big role it plays. Gas delivery to Georgia and Turkey via this pipeline has a strategic meaningВ", concluded President of Azerbaijan.
After the completion of the opening ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in Turkey, the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the Turkish prime minister Rejeb Tayyub Ardogan.
During the meeting, the sides congratulated each other on opening of BTC. Besides, talks were held on Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation and realization of South Caucasus Pipe.
Aliyev visited Ceyhan city where in Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship park named after Heydar Aliyev he held a meeting with public.
Aliyev and Erdogan visited the monuments of Heydar Aliyev and Mustafa Kamal Ataturk. Aliyev delivered a speech, noting that Azerbaijan and Turkey carry out joint activity in realization of large regional projects.
On July 12, the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev who is on visit in Turkey to participate in the opening ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline met with the USA deputy energy minister Churner Halbert, USA deputy state secretary on energy issues Steven Mann, American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza. During the meeting, Halbert delivered the greeting of USA president George Bush to Aliyev, Trend reports with reference to Public TV.
The meetings focused on the regional questions including realization of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Halbert noted that USA attaches a great interest to the pipeline. The project will increase the role of Azerbaijan in energy security and ensure the cooperation in realization of global projects. Aliyev noted that the realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project will be a new stage in the energy sector, mentioning the role of the USA in realization of the project.
On the same day, Aliyev met with Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili who arrived in Turkey to participate in the opening ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was awarded a prize of Ecovitrin magazine of Turkey in the category Politician of the Year on 12 July, Ibrahim Nabioglu, the Azerbaijani General Consul in Istanbul, told Trend.
The ceremony was held at one of the prestigious hotels of Istanbul Grand Javahir with participation of outstanding politicians and public figures of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Foreign policy
The Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade received on July 14 the Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan Akiko Yamanaka.
Rasizade mentioned the wide-range development of Azerbaijani-Japanese relations. The prime minister pointed out the active participation of Japanese companies in global energy projects in the region including construction project and exploitation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Trend reports quoting the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan. He expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government for making humanitarian aid to Azerbaijan.
Yamanaka voiced her hope for the future expansion of bilateral cooperation, as well as realization of projects in the sphere of ecology, education and development of small and medium entrepreneurship.
Azerbaijans stability and development is stability and development of entire Caucasus, Trend quotes Akino Yamanaka, deputy Foreign Minister of Japan, who was speaking July 14 in Baku at the briefing on the totals of bilateral meetings with Azerbaijans governmental officials.
Japan, she said, pays much attention to development of bilateral relations with Azerbaijan. Diplomat highly appraised democratization processes in Azerbaijan and transition to market economy. Normal development of Azerbaijans economy, she said, requires parallel progressing both oil and non-oil sectors. We are ready to help Azerbaijan and provide technical assistance to the government in personnel training.
Issues of regional an international nature, as well as economic cooperation development, Ms Yamanaka discussed with Prime Minister Artur Rasizadeh, Vice-premier Abid Sharifov, Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov and chief of Presidents Administration Novruz Mamedov.
Yamanaka said Japan is ready to develop economic cooperation and implement new projects in Azerbaijan. В"In order to identify new economic opportunities, in the closest time an economic conference will take place with participation of the two countries businessmenВ", Ms Yamanaka said.
Speaking of the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Japanese official stated Japans hope for its peaceful ending and settlement.
The reports of the AGO monitoring group on South Caucasus reflects critical and positive aspects regarding Azerbaijan, Samad Seyidov, the head of Azerbaijani delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), exclusively told Trend.
He noted that the critical aspects of the report linked with Azerbaijan have been delivered to the Committee of Ministers. According to Seyidov, the sides hold constructive bilateral talks. Mainly the elections and human rights are considered. Of course, every criticism should make the state worried, he told.
However, I dont see any key aspects for a great concern, Seyidov told.
Seyidov noted that AGO group was made a change on base of rotation principle. But the activity of the group will continue. There is no problem here, Seyidov expressed.
According to Seyidov AGO group will again visit Azerbaijan, but the date of the visit isnt clear yet. The date will be defined by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is a bold step in the development of the Caspian resources. The commissioning of the BTC is remarkable event for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and the world market, says a letter sent by the U.S. President George Bush addressed to the solemn opening ceremony of the BTC. The letter was read out by the U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary, Klay Cell.
The key objective of the project and its significance is exit to the world energy market.
We appreciate the project. It will play a considerable role in the international cooperation. The people of the United States believes that that project will be carried out successfully, the letter by the US leader underlined.
Mutual relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey in all spheres, first of all economic and energy cooperation, regional problems, security, settlement of Armenian-Azeri conflict and so problems have been in the center of attention a the meeting between Azeri and Turkish Foreign Ministers Elmar Mamedyarov and Abudullah Gul..
He said the two countries ministers also discussed a number of issues regarding interaction within organization of Islamic conference, GUAM and so.
The meeting was held within Azeri FMs visit to Turkey for participation at the ceremony of commissioning Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
The head of the AGO Monitoring Group of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was replaced. The Swedish ambassador Gper Styorgan became the head of the monitoring group, Agshin Mehdiyev, the ambassador of Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe (CE), exclusively told Trend. The previous head of AGO group Roland Verneger will leave Strasburg one of these days.
Mehdiyev noted that on July 12, the report of the mission of AGO group as result of the visit to South Caucasus was heard. The group stayed in Azerbaijan on June 13-14 to inspect Azerbaijans fulfilling the obligations undertaken before CE. During the visit, the mission held meetings with the representatives of political parties, law-protectors and officials of the country.
According to Mehdiyev, the position of Azerbaijan has been reflected in the report. Besides, he noted that the report of AGO group has been prepared positively.
The projects of two agreements on cooperation development are being prepared between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, a government source told Trend.
The agreements deal with the development of cooperation in the sphere of tourism and customs. The documents imply to regulate the legal questions in these spheres. The projects are under agreement phase and will be signed in the near future.
Several documents have been signed between Azerbaijan and Pakistan regarding investment support, trade-economic cooperation, taxation, etc.
Ogtay Asadov, chairman of Milli Medjlis of Azerbaijan, is making official visit to Romania in fall 2006, Trend reports with reference to diplomatic sources.
During the visit, it is planned to discuss prospects of mutual cooperation between legislative authorities of Azerbaijan and Romania. Delegation of Azeri-Romanian interparliamentary friendship group made the visit to Bucharest in June 2006.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is going to make a visit to Moscow at the invitation of president of Russia Vladimir Putin, Trend reports quoting Novruz Mamedov, chief of PR department, Administration of the President of Azerbaijan.
Answering the question on Putins invitation to CIS states leaders to come and watch the races for prize of Russian President, Mamedov said В"this is scheduledВ". He also said the related information will be disseminated in short.
Earlier, in his interview to Trend, temporary charge daffairs of Russia in Azerbaijan Petr Burdikin sated his confidence in passing such an invitation to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Meeting in such an informal situation create all oppo6unities for heads of states to discuss the issues of mutual interest, diplomat said.
The similar informal forum of the CIS countries within horse races was first time held in Russia on July 2-3, 2004. That time, most leaders of CIS countries, apart from Turkmenistan and Byelorussia, came to Moscow .
The new Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov will arrive in Baku in the near week, Petr Burdikin, charges daffairs of Russia in Azerbaijan, told Trend.
The diplomat didnt exclude that the new ambassador will arrive on July 10. According to Burdikin, the new ambassador last week participated at the session of ambassadors before the Russian president and other events linked with this session.
The post of the head of the Russian diplomatic representation in Azerbaijan has been remaining vacant since September 2004 after departure of Nikolay Ryabov.
Vasili Istratov was born in on December 30, 1954, he is historian by specialty and has kept the position of deputy director of Northern American department of Russian Foreign Ministry since 1996.
Peter Semneby, a special representative of the European Union (EU) on South Caucasus countries, will visit Baku on 21 July, 2006.
Semneby told Trend that the key objective of his visit is to meet political leaders of Azerbaijan. The talks in Baku will center on issues of cooperation with Azerbaijan within the framework of European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).
An Action Plan of Azerbaijan under the ENP is on EUs focus, Semneby stressed. As the talks on the ENP come to an end, the political aspects on ENP Action Plan will be discussed.
Semneby noted that he would like to cooperate with his Azerbaijani counterparts in all three issues, which were on the focus and during the last visit Baku.
In his exclusive interview with Trend with Romanian President Traian BГЈsescu noted that as Head of the Romanian state, he is satisfied with the very good level of the political relations, that was reconfirmed both by the last official visit to Romania of president Ilham Aliyev as well as on each and every meeting we had during the last year and a half. We come with a new proposal meant to confer dynamism and substance to the bilateral economic relations, building on the excellent basis offered by the political dimension. If we are going to make a profound study of the current and future status of the bilateral Romanian-Azeri relations, it would result that this sector of the economic relations needs to be consolidated. At the same time, I attach a particular importance to the quality of the interpersonal relations between our peoples, to the openness that exists on both sides regarding the consolidation of the relations between our citizens.
The interest Romania has regarding the evolutions in its East represents the natural attitude of a member state preoccupied to support the objective of the Euro-Atlantic community: to expand the area of stability, security and prosperity beyond the frontiers of EU and of NATO. The importance of the cooperation between Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova is critical in fields such as the improvement of the security climate, the hydrocarbons transportation and transit towards the rest of Europe, having as main projects TRACECA and INOGATE.
There is no necessity in work of CE monitoring groups in Azerbaijan, reportedly said Ali Hasanov, chief of public policy department, Presidents Administration.
Hasanov said Azerbaijan became a full member of the CE and met all the requirements it stated. В"Therefore, we think Azerbaijan does not need such groups. But in case some institution with the CE wants to help Azerbaijan build democratic society, we will not refuse such assistance. Nevertheless, sending some CE officials with their opinion and further decision in the CE based on these opinions concerns usВ", said Hasanov.
Speaking on international organizations opinion that journalists in Azerbaijan are oppressed, Hasanov said he does not agree. Such cases as murder of Elmar Huseynov are not habitual in Azerbaijan. Just the contrary, this is an exception. В"Azeri government condemned this murder and is doing its best to investigate this crime and arrest the murdererВ", he added.
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
Azerbaijan is ready to keep on talking for peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports quoting Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
He said in the event of necessity Azeri officials, in particular Mamedyarov himself, might meet in any place and discuss peaceful settlement. В"But the meeting should not pass with no use. There should be some result, we shall feel our advancementВ", minister said.
Commenting co-chairmen statements now initiatives are for the parties, Mamedyarov said co-chairmen are appointed to offer the parties some proposals and coordinate their positions. He also said unless there was a necessity in co-chairmen, official Baku would have conversed with Armenians independently and solved this matter long ago.
В"I am optimistic in this matter. Earlier or later, this problem will be solved. But we want it to be solved faster, as there are many refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan who are willing to get home. I believe we will solve the problem, peacefully or notВ", concluded Mamedyarov.
The position of Azerbaijan in the international arena is strengthening, and today Azerbaijan has its place in international relations, PM Samad Seyidov, the head of Azerbaijani ldelegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), told in his interview with journalists, Trend reprts.
He noted that today, the important event the opening ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC) and support to the project by super states is the indicator of strengthening of Azerbaijans position. The great ceremony of BTC which is in the focus of the countries around the world shows that Azerbaijan is developing not only from economical standpoint, but also its position is strengthening in international policy, Seyidov told.
Touching on the fires committed by Armenians in Azerbaijans occupied territories, Seyidov stressed that Azerbaijani delegation has submitted to the Council of Europe (CE) important documents connected with this issue. We have presented video-audio cassettes, maps, documents confirmed by CE and materials about the official meetings with the heads of PACE organizations, Seyidov added. However, CE is not a fire fighting organization. This organization forms an opinion in the world. Already there is an opinion among 46 countries. But separatist forces dont attach importance to any law and continue their criminal actions. Armenia and its separatist forces dont pay attention to the conclusions made by the international organizations. For instance, the resolutions adopted by the United Nations, the Council of Europe one year ago, as well as several documents adopted by the European Union on Nagorno-Karabakh still remain unimplemented. We are sure that these crimes will come to the end whenever. The world publ
ic supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, but the criminal regime of Armenia doesnt pay attention to this and continues its aggressive policy. The world public already understands this, and it serves in favour of Azerbaijan, Seyidov emphasized.
Besides, Seyidov ruled out that discussions will be held at the next session of PACE on Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan has been functioning in PACE for already 6 years as an active member. I dont remember any session where discussions and negotiations were not held related with Nagorno-Karabakh. At the next session, we will again present to the attention of the European deputies the fair voice of Azerbaijan in relation with Nagorno-Karabakh. Our deputies are very active in this process, told Seyidov.
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov doesnt approve the self-removal of co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group from the process of talks on regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Mammadyarov pointed out that co-chairs should continue their activity, Trend reports with reference to ATV. Almost all moments have been agreed, and several aspects have remained which dont allow the sides to reach a common denominator. At the moments, the sides exchange views on this issue. The minister considers expedient the active participation of co-chairs in the negotiations process.
According to minister, he has met in Turkey with the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza who is expected to pay a visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia in early August and bring new ideas on settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, because new co-chairs usually proposes new ideas.
In September the Council of Europe (CE) Committee of Ministers will consider an appeal by the Azerbaijani parliamentary representative to the PACE (PACE), Prof Rafael Huseynov, concerning Armenias belligerent policy against Azerbaijan.
Appeal 498, that Huseynov sent to the CE Committee of Ministers on the belligerent Armenias policy, has been placed on the CEs website.
Huseynov confirmed that after the discussions of his appeal, in September the Committee of Ministers will prepare an answer.
In most cases diplomatic answers are given to question sent to the Committee of Ministers, because the resolutions are taken on the base of consensus. The key objective of the question addressed to the Committee of Ministers, is to put forward an idea unmasking the belligerent Armenias policy. There are serious charges on Armenia, MP underlined.
Political life
1525 persons have nominated in connection with the municipal elections scheduled for October 6, 2006, Trend reports with reference to the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC).
1462 out of 1525 persons have received the list of signature. 325 persons have completed the collection of the signatures and submitted them. 161 candidates have been registered.
73 persons are the members of New Azerbaijan Party, 4 Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, 2 Social Welfare Party and 1 other parties.
On October 6, 2006, it will be held repeat, additional and new elections on 604 municipalities of Azerbaijan.
During the municipal elections scheduled for October 6, 2006, it will be used the method of marking the fingers of voters with ink, Mazahir Panahov, the chairman of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC), told Trend.
He noted that there have remained unused inks from the former elections and additional ink will be ordered. Speaking about the observation during the elections, Panahov stressed that yet the international observers havent been invited. Because, it is earlier to invite observers. When it is time, we will appeal to international organizations and election commissions of other countries. Observers will be involved in municipal elections and there is no problem in this sphere, he told.
Panahov pointed out that the candidates in municipal election may be allocated finance from the state budget for conducting propaganda. The candidates were disbursed finance during the last elections. But this issue is resolved by the Finance Ministry. In my opinion, there will be no problems with this process, he added.
Besides, he ruled out that candidates conducting unpaid propaganda in mass media is regulated with other principles. According to Panahov, unpaid propaganda is realized on base of selection. If any party or block have more than 60 candidates, they gain opportunity for unpaid propaganda. We expect the process of nominating candidatures to continue. Then it will be clear what party has how many candidates. Then CEC will consider the unpaid propaganda. The parties meeting the necessary requirements during the municipal elections may receive opportunity for unpaid propaganda. Municipal elections are held locally and therefore, the candidates will hold propaganda campaign within their election district, Panahov emphasized.
The full formation of the composition of the Central Election Commission will be completed until the municipal elections scheduled for October 6, 2006, PM Fazail Agamali told Trend.
He noted that issue of election of the representatives for the vacant places in the election commissions will be presented to the discussion of the first meeting of the fall session of Azerbaijani parliament scheduled for October 1. According to Agamali, this meeting may resolve the issue regarding the full formation of CEC composition.
Agamali stressed that his Party Ana Vatan is also going to send its representatives to CEC. However, this issue should be resolved between parties represented in the parliament.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) is actively getting ready for the repeat municipal elections scheduled for October 6, 2006, PM Mubariz Gurbanli, the deputy executive secretary of NAP, told Trend.
He noted that NAP has defined its candidates for all election districts. The local organizations of NAP have received necessary instruction about the participation in the elections. The party is getting ready for the process of election action of the persons registered as candidates, told Gurbanli, adding that the upcoming municipal elections will be held in fair and transparent manner.
Azer Sariyev, the head of the press-service of Central Election Commission, noted that from NAP, 685 persons have put forward their candidatures for participating in municipal elections. And 73 out of them have been registered. The registration process will be completed on July 27.
On July 13, New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) held a meeting in relation with the municipal elections. The meeting brought together executive secretary of party Ali Ahmadov and the representatives of regional department, Trend reports.
The meeting focused on the peroration to the municipal elections. Ahmadov noted that on August 10, the phase of propaganda will start. The executive secretary gave the representatives of the regional department several recommendations and relevant tasks. He noted that it is important that local departments put forward one candidate on every election district. We are sure that NAP, as being in other elections, will gain the victory in municipal elections, Ahmadov told.
Besides, he expressed his attitude towards the boycott of elections by the opposition and discussed relevant measures. He noted that several parties are not interested in participating in municipal elections.
To say something about the legal processing course is to influence this course, reportedly said chief of public policy department with Presidents Administration Ali Hasanov, commenting on court verdict on leaders of youth organization Yeni Fikir.
OSCE Baku office and US Embassy issued statements in this respect showing their concern with this verdict. Hasanov said the process is not complete yet. В"Prisoners at the bar may submit an appeal and their case can be revised in the next instance. Therefore, it is not fair to share opinion on this caseВ", said Hasanov.
Speaking on government-opposition relations, in particular oppositions statements that government wants to split Mussavat up, Hasanov said the government is not interested in weakening or splitting the party. В"Azerbaijan is a democratic state with political pluralism and democratic principles. In this connection, we would love Mussavt party exist based on actual democracy principles, not turning into a monopoly; we want reasonable-thinking people to rule the party and we want the party to form a reasonable ideas linked to Azerbaijans developmentВ", he concluded.
According to the order of Isa Gambar, the chairman Musavat Party, Novella Jafaroglu, Khanim Khalilova and Murshud Mammadli were appointed the advisors of the chairman, Trend reports quoting the press-service of Musavat.
Gambar appointed Arif Hajili the deputy on organizational issues, and Mehman Javadoglu deputy on information. Yet, the spheres havent been defined where Gabil Huseynli, Maryam Orujlu and Arzu Samadbayli will be deputies.
According to information provided by the party, it is implied to appoint deputies in four spheres. Besides, the positions for public relations and international issues are vacant.
Musavat Party will participate in the municipal elections scheduled for October 2006. The decision on this issue was made at the meeting of the Assembly of party, Trend reports.
During the discussion of the participation in the municipal elections, a majority of the members of Assembly announced that they support to take part in elections. In connection with the municipal elections, no limitations were put for the members of the party, and it was decided that Musavat party will support its members participating in elections.
Until the meeting of the Assembly, the members of Musavat Party have already put forward their candidatures on several districts.
On July 8, first session of Medjlis was held upon the ending the congress of Mussavat party. Trend reports the session elected Medjlis chairman and members of Divan.
There were two candidates chairman of Medjlis, deputy chairman of the party Vurgun Eyyub and Sulheddin Akber. However, by the totals of voting none of them was elected. Thus, the chairman position remained vacant. It was decided to lead the voting at the next session of Medjlis. Then the elections were held in Divan. 12 out of 21 candidates were elected members of Divan, 2 positions remained vacant.
At the session, members of party discussed social and political situation in the country, state of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and process in South Azerbaijan.
MP Igbal Agazadeh, chairman of Umid party, met with Dallas Frohrib, Country Director with International Republican Institute. Trend reports at the meeting the sides discussed the repeat municipal elections, results of exit-polls at 13 May repeat parliamentary elections and partys cooperation with the institute.
Agazadeh informed the guest on the partys participation in municipal elections, saying the party officials had drawn the action plan for preventing possible falsifications at the elections.
In turn, Mr Frohrib, positively appraising Umids decision, said the experience is gained with practice.
The political block Yeni Siyaset (New Policy) will be announced in September, Eldar Namazov, the co-founder of the block and also the head of the working group on the creation of the block, told Trend. He noted that the working group will complete the work this summer. The wide meeting of the block will be held in fall and the report of the working group will be heard. After this Yeni Siyaset will function as Political block.
According to Namazov, the working group consistently assembles and holds discussions.
In the near future, the first session of the Central Council will be held after the final congress of Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP), Trend reports quoting ANIP.
During the session of the Central council, Ayaz Rustamov will appoint the secretary general of ANIP. After the election of the secretary general, he/she will appoint the secretary of ANIP. Besides, during the session, there will be elected the chairman of the Central Council, its deputies and the members of the Political Council of ANIP.
During the session held last month in the ANIP Central council, there were made staff changes and created the post of deputy chairman. Besides, the secretariat on election issues was liquidated and in exchange, a secretariat was created on work with municipalities. This secretariat was founded to establish relations with the representatives of the municipalities who are the members of ANIP. And the authorities of the election secretariat were transferred to the organizational secretariat.
Besides, in the near future, there will be held the annual meeting of the Central discipline commission of the new council. The meeting will elect the chairman of the commission and its deputies.
State building
In Azerbaijan, the OSCE carried out a needs assessment in 2002 and 2003 to identify key areas of concern. As a result, the Police School in Baku now has a renovated teaching area and a new roof and heating system, Trend reports with reference to OSCE release.
The OSCE Office in Baku has also provided more than 2,000 books, computers and other equipment for the school's library and has helped introduce a new curriculum based on the principles of community policing.
A website has also been set up to provide public information on police services, individual rights and advice on police-related topics.
Police provide the key interface between government and society," says Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi, Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. "We hope that in collaboration with the OSCE and with the continued support of the Government, our programme will equip the police service with the tools needed to transform it into a modern service provider."
The OSCE has been working with a handful of OSCE states, such as Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, to introduce community policing standards and values. The central goal is to develop relationships between the police services and the communities they serve based on trust and co-operation, improving both police effectiveness and the public's security.
On July 14, Minister of Emergency Response of Azerbaijan Kamaleddin Heydarov received Lory Bristow, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan. Trend reports the meeting devoted to discussion of cooperation between the countries.
Heydarov stated his satisfaction with relations strengthening between Azerbaijan and Germany, as well as cooperation in many spheres, especially energy.
Mr Bristow said his country tracks Azerbaijans continuing economic development and successful implementation of Azeri-UK joint projects. Further, the Ambassador asked of the Ministrys activities and works performed now.