Official News
В"For all-around development of Azerbaijan, formation and strengthening of civil society in Azerbaijan should become stronger interethnic dialogue. Azerbaijan is a multinational country. We, unlike other countries, the neighboring country are not the mono-state. Representatives of various nations and religions in Azerbaijan live as one family. It is very important factor for development of our country, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated to an iftar banquet organized on 20 October on the occasion of sacred Ramadan holiday.
Our country wins first place on economic development, today, there is no country, which could compete to Azerbaijan from the point of view of economic growth
We say with pride, as it, really, the big achievement. However, it does not give us the basis to be satisfied with the reached successes. In our country, still there are many problems, and we use the best efforts for their solution. Sure, our successful economic policy will strengthen economy of Azerbaijan, and it will find the reflection in a daily life of each person living in Azerbaijan, the President stressed.
On 20 October the Presidents of the United States, Moldova and Mongolia George W. Bush, Vladimir Voronin and Nambarin Enkhbayar congratulated Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Independence Day of Azerbaijan.
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, Ch-chairman of the Joint Forum for Economical Co-Operation Famiono Kruchanelli, Trend reports.
Italy is one of the key economical partners of Azerbaijan, Aliyev said. According to the President, the co-operation between Azerbaijan and Italy has properly developed in the sphere of oil industry and it needs to expand into non-oil sector.
Kruchanelli mentioned the high level of the economical relations between Azerbaijan and Italy. According to him, Azerbaijan assumes a strategic importance for Italy from the point of view of energy. Expressing the interest of Italian companies in co-operation with Azerbaijan, the Italian Deputy Minister pointed out their contribution to the development of the bilateral relations.
The Azerbaijani President's Executive Apparat announced that Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, telephoned the Turkish Prime Minister, Rejep Tayyib Erdogan, on 20 October, Trend reports.
Enquiring about his state of health, President Aliyev wished the Turkish Prime Minister a quick and complete recovery and success in his future activities relating to the welfare of the friendly and fraternal people of Turkey.
Mr. Erdogan thanked the Azerbaijani President for his kindness and noted the successful development of the bilateral relationships within different areas.
Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev has accepted Julio Franc, Mexico`s health Minister today, Trend reports.
The Head of the Azerbaijani State expressed his confidence that the current visit of the Mexican Health Minister to Azerbaijan will make a big contribution to development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Mr. Franc expressed his satisfaction with his first visit to Azerbaijan, and confidence that cooperation between the two countries will further develop even more intense both bilaterally and internationally.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to Belarus on 17-18 October.
Mutual trust and full mutual understanding predestine successful development in relations between Belarus and Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani President has said during the extended-format meeting with Byelorussian President Alexander Lukashenka being held in Minsk.
Mr. Aliyev expressed his satisfaction with how cooperation in trade and economic sphere is developing between the two countries. The Azerbaijani leader is sure that today, there are very good prerequisites for stirring up this cooperation in all directions. According to him, the both parties have a wish for this. There are certain prerequisites: active contacts at a level of different ministries, offices, and enterprises.
The Azerbaijani President pointed out that his official visit to Belarus and the CIS summit have concurred with each other. However, from a point of view of importance of these events, my visit to your country is actually prevailed. Therefore, when it was known that the summit had been postponed, postponement of my official visit to Belarus was out of the question, Mr. Aliyev said. He also added that the Azerbaijani leadership with a great interest observe events happening in Byelorussia, and is very happy with the fact how Belarus is developing.
The Byelorussian President expressed his gratitude to his Azerbaijani counterpart for his official visit to Minsk, despite of the fact that the CIS summit has been postponed to a later date. We highly appreciate it and are doing our best to your being. We are glad that you came to our country, Mr. Lukashenka said addressing the Azerbaijani President.
Azerbaijan is interested in developing its thorough cooperation with Belarus Aliyev stressed.
Two Presidents signed an intergovernmental agreement on international combined cargo conveyances, memorandum on cooperation in the field of transport, agreements on coordination in the sphere of physical training and sport, education, small-scale entrepreneurship, and agriculture.
In addition, agreements on cooperation were signed between the Emergency Ministries of the both countries, between the Byelorussian National TV and Broadcasting Company and Azerbaijan TV and Broadcasting.
A number of important bilateral documents have been signed as results of negotiations being held between Byelorussian President Alexander Lukashenka and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Minsk on October 17. The Presidents signed the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and Azerbaijan Republic on Social and Economic Cooperation considered for 2015.
President Aliyev visited the Minsk Tractor Plant, the Minsk Automobile Plant, BelAZ and the National Library. The Azerbaijani President laid a wreath at the Monument to Victory
On 16 October, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev received the U.S. Ambassador, Peter Alger, at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Ambassador commented on the successful development of the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the USA since the President's visit to the USA in April 2006.
Recalling his successful visit to the USA, Aliyev underlined that the bilateral relations between the two countries became more active recently. The President voiced hopes for the future development of bilateral relations.
The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree to recall Mehdiyev Agshin from the position of permanent representative of Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe.
In accordance with another presidential decree, Mehdiyev was appointed the permanent representative of Azerbaijan at UN.
On October 16, Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on awarding personal presidential grants.
In accordance with the document, these grants will be given to Adilya Heydarova and Zarifa Teymur gizi Salakhova. The order points out that a decision on awarding Mrs Heydarova and Mrs. Salakhova with personal presidential grants was made for their immense services of the above-mentioned women in the social and cultural life of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has approved a Bill of Azerbaijan republic On Ratification of the Agreement between Azerbaijan Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan on Assistance and Creating Conditions for Carrying Oil from Kazakhstan via the Caspian sea and the Territory of Azerbaijan to International Markets by means of the Pipeline System Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Trend reports referring to a message spread in the official press.
The corresponding agreement was signed in Astana (Kazakhstan) in June, 2006, and envisages piping of 25 m. of Kazakhstan's oil to international markets by installing the system Aktau-Baku.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has issued an order on awarding the employees of Azerenerji OJSC with the Order Taraggi (Progress) and the Honorary Title Honored Engineer of Azerbaijan republic for their services in Azerbaijan's energy development.
Power engineering specialists Shakhmammad Aslanov, Gulagha Bashirov, Salekh Mammadov were awarded with the Honorary Title Honored Engineer of Azerbaijan Republic.
By his other order, the Azerbaijan President awarded eight other employees of Azerenerji OJSC with the Order Taraggi (Progress).
On October 19, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on the State program aimed at obtaining education by the Azerbaijani youth abroad, Trend reports.
The document points out that in order for the Azerbaijan youth to obtain education in prestigious educational institutions abroad and to ensure the educational transfer back into the strong development factor to Azerbaijan, the Economic Development, Education Ministry, and other corresponding bodies are commissioned to jointly prepare a State Program and submit it to the President of the country within the next three months.
Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict
On 17 October 2006, the Armenian Armed Forces, located 1km north-east of Sarichali Village of the occupied Azerbaijani region, Agdam, opened fire at the Azerbaijan National Army using guns and machines guns from 23:20 to 23:35 hours, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend.
The Azerbaijan National Army returned their fire and no causalities were reported.
On October 20, the Defense Ministers of Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev and Armenia Serj Sarkisyan met on the border of the two countries, the Assistant of the Head of the Executive Power of Gazakh district of Azerbaijan Tahir Musayev told Trend.
He stressed that the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Defense Ministers began at noon and lasted for nearly one hour. The meeting was held in the neutral zone of Ijevan-Gazakh border. The details of the meeting aren't available yet, Musayev stressed. Look for the updates.
On 31 October Vienna will host a meeting of an expert commission of the Organization of Environmental Security Initiatives (ENVSEC), initiate by UN, OSCE, NATO, UN Environmental Program, the European Commission and the Environmental Center. The meeting will focus on the ecological situation in the South Caucasus.
An OSCE-led team of international and local experts called for more co-operation to prevent and manage fires in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, such statement was made following the end of a 10-day mission to assess the environmental impact of fires in the region, Trend reports with reference to the OSCE Baku Office. "The fires have covered extensive areas and inflicted significant damage," said Bernard Snoy, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, who headed the Environmental Assessment Mission.
Armenia is interested in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Future Defense and Security of the Defense & Security Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Vahid Erdem, briefed the media in Baku on October 16, Trend reports.
According to him, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been discussed with the senior officials of Azerbaijan. The key aspects of this process are to withdraw the Armenian Armed Forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories, return the refugees and internally displaced persons to their native lands and ensuring their security through involving international peacemakers, Erdem said. Armenia would otherwise isolate itself from the West by not participating in the large-scale railway projects connecting Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan to the Central Asian Countries and China, as well as various large energy projects.
We want Armenia, as other South Caucasian countries, to integrate into the West. Turkey closed the borders with Armenia after occupation of the Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. The only solution for Turkey is the release of the Azerbaijani territories. It will be a significant step for Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, Erdem emphasized.
Our ultimate aim is to unveil Armenia`s occupation policy, stated Professor Rafael Husseynov, a member of the Azerbaijani Parliament and member of the Azerbaijani delegation of PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe) in reply to questions concerning the Armenian occupation policy which was sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Trend reports.
The Azerbaijani MP pointed out that the Council of Europe has different documents. We prepare not only questions addressed to the Committee of Ministers, but also recommendations aimed at resolutions and proposals on the basis of which reports are prepared. Questions sent to the Committee of Ministers form one of these documents, pointed out Mr. Husseynov.
He also stated that all questions sent are published and distributed widely amongst the members of the organization. As soon as the questions are discussed, the answer is published. We do our best to repeatedly expose the Armenians, stated the MP.
According to Mr. Husseynov, representatives from 46 countries of the organization participate in the Committee of Ministers. During these meetings, Azerbaijan plans to introduce to the agenda the fact that Armenia is an aggressor. On the contrary, Armenians do their best to prove that they are not. Our aim is to expose Armenia with facts. All questions are accepted through a consensus. If only one country votes con, a decision cannot be taken. Therefore, Armenia cannot be driven out of the organization. However, our issues concerning Armenia's occupation policy toward Azerbaijan significantly thwarts Armenia's position in this organization, he stated.
He also pointed out that Azerbaijan possess a negative image of Armenia as a target in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The Adoption of the law by the French Parliament to penalize those who deny the so-called Armenian genocide was a direct influence of the Armenian lobby. Together with the Armenian lobby, other forces are also carrying out their political interests against Turkey in France, Politician Rasim Musabeyov told Trend.
He stressed that the decision of the French Parliament, as a developed European Country, is absurd. Why don't Armenians adopt this law in their own country instead of France? I consider that it is the activity of not only the Armenian lobbyists, but also other forces that do not wish Turkey to join the European Union. This decision by the French Parliament is intentional, Musabeyov stressed.
He stressed that the French consider their decision as worthy, but in reality it is not. Musabeyov thinks that instead of raising the democratic standards in Turkey, France is making anti-democratic decisions. Why aren't such steps taken to punish those who insult the Prophet and yet the so-called Armenian genocide is recognized? This is a very ridiculous situation, He stated.
Foreign Policy
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has accepted Julio Frenk, Mexican Health Minister today (on October 19), the Press-Centre of the Azerbaijani Foreign Office told Trend.
Mr. Frenk told that he has been nominated for the post of the General Director of WHO (World Health Organization) from the Mexican Government. Therefore, his visit to Azerbaijan is being held within the pre-election campaign. Speaking about his negotiations with the Azerbaijani health Minister, Mr. Frenk pointed out that he hopes on Azerbaijan's support in this issue.
The Mexican Health Minister told that Azerbaijan attaches a big importance to its cooperation with WHO, and reminded about the existence of the unsettled Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He pointed out that international organization should pay more attention to this issue settlement. He also underlined that Baku attaches importance to its cooperation with Mexico, and just in this connection the Azerbaijani Embassy is expected to be opened in Mexico soon. He called upon the Mexican party to do the same.
A delegation of the Venice Committee of the Council of Europe is expected to arrive in Baku at the beginning of November to discuss the Azerbaijani bill On Freedom of Gatherings, Alain Chablais, Secretary of the Constitutional Cooperation Department of the Venice Commission of OSCE exclusively told Trend today.
He pointed out that during the forthcoming visit, the above-mentioned bill that was adopted in 1998 will be discussed. The delegation is expected to negotiate with the Azerbaijani Government jointly with OSCE. In this connection the delegation will bring concrete proposals on improving the bill. These proposals appointed during the last plenary session of the Venice Committee will be submitted to the Azerbaijani Government.
Andreas Herkel and Tony Lloyd, Co-Rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe) are also expected to come to Baku together with the Venice Committee's delegation.
Notably, during the forthcoming visit to Azerbaijan, the Co-Rapporteurs are expected to hold meetings with Azerbaijani officials, as well as representative of the civil society, and media. The key aim of the visit is to inform PACE about the existing situation in Azerbaijan.
The Co-Rapporteurs are expected to prepare a report to be submitted to PACE.
An arrival of new Turkish Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Huseyn Avni Karslioglu in Baku is expected to take place in November, a source in the Turkish Foreign Office told Trend today.
The new Turkish Ambassador has been appointed by the Turkish President on October 16, as well as other 29 diplomats. Mr. Karslioglu was born in 1956. He worked as a Turkish representative to UN, an employee of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Turkish Consul General to Batumi (Georgia). His last post was the Chief of the Department for Caucasus and Central Asia of the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Notably, he is son-in-law of Khilmi Ozkek, Chief of the Turkish General Staff.
Turkish existing Ambassador to Azerbaijan Turan Moranli, who has worked in Azerbaijan since November, 2004, is expected to complete his mission in Baku in the beginning of November, 2006.
Turkey supports Azerbaijan in all international organizations and does its best to strengthen relations between Azerbaijan and NATO, the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Future Defense & Security of the Defense and Security Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Vahid Erdem, briefed the media in Baku on 16 October, Trend reports.
Speaking on the results of the meeting with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, Erdem stressed that they discussed regional issues, interaction with neighbors and energy issues. Azerbaijan assumes a great importance for the West from the point of view of ensuring the energy security, Erdem stated, adding that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline opens opportunities to transport a large volume of the energy fuel to the West through Turkey. In addition, a great volume of the Azerbaijani natural gas will be exported to the West through Turkey.
Furthermore, Erdem mentioned the importance of the construction of rail link through Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, which will connect the West with Central Asia and China. According to Erdem, the meeting focused on these and other important matters.
Development of Relations with Europe and Euro-Atlantic Organizations meet Azerbaijan`s National Interests, Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister stated during his meeting with delegations of the Subcommittee of the NATO Defence and Security Committee in Baku today.
According to the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Office, issues on integration to Euro-Atlantic organizations are the priority of Azerbaijan`s foreign policy. The Foreign Minister informed his guests of the development in the social and economic life of Azerbaijan, extending to the geography on projects implemented in South Caucasus and their importance to the countries of the region. At the same time, he pointed out that there are lingering conflicts in the region that are a source of constant threat to the whole region. He also pointed out that the only way to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is on the basis of norms and principles of the international law and the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic.
Vakhid Erdem, Head of the NATO Subcommittee stated that the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, as well as ensuring that security in the region is of a great importance to both Azerbaijan and NATO. He highly appreciated Azerbaijan`s integration to Europe and its importance from the point of view of mutual co-operation.
Azerbaijan undertook the chairmanship at GUAM, Akif Nasirov the spokesman for Azerbaijani Parliament informed Trend on the results of 3rd session held in Kishinev.
The visit of the Speaker of the Polish Senate Bogdan Borusevich to Azerbaijan is being prepared, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Vilayet Guliyev exclusively told Trend. He added that the visit would take place on 8 on November.
The Ambassador stated that the aim of the visit is to participate in the first Polish National Exhibition due from 8-10 November in Baku. In addition, the exhibition will be attended by 50 Polish companies specializing in the foodstuff industry, trade, construction, production of plastic cards, documentary stamps, glasses, machines and equipments, helicopters, furniture, oil, gas and water services, etc.
Within the visit, the Polish delegation will hold meetings with the senior officials of Azerbaijan, particularly President Ilham Aliyev, Parliament Chairman Oktay Asadov, Economic Development Minister Heydar Babayev as well as other dignitaries.
Azerbaijan is an active partner of NATO. 26 NATO member-countries and 20 partners-countries have signed productive agreements with Azerbaijan and successfully develop the interaction, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Ray Eno exclusively told Trend Special correspondent in Moscow.
We highly assess the level of the co-operation between Azerbaijan and NATO. In addition, we welcome the intentions of Azerbaijan, as an active and valuable participant of the Euro-Atlantic partnership, to develop and deepen the relations with NATO on a bilateral beneficially base, the General said.
With regards to the statement of the Chairman of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly that the fact of occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia prevents the integration of the South Caucasus to the structures of the Euro-Atlantic security, the General stressed that it is a political issue and his competence, as a Chairman of NATO Military Committee, doesn't include to comment on it.
In addition, the Chairman of the Military Committee stressed that he held productive talks with the Chief of the General Headquarter of Russian Armed Forces, General Baluveski, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister A.Grushko. According to him, Russia is an important strategic partner of NATO, particularly in fight with international terrorism, and so on.
Touching up on the issue linked with Georgia, that was discussed during the meeting held in Russia, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee emphasized that presently NATO has begun intensive dialogue with Georgia, but strengthening the dialogue with Georgia doesn't guarantee that Georgia will become the member of NATO in the near future.
The meeting of the Heads of the Information Departments of the Russian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministries has focused on bilateral co-operation, Tahir Tagizade, Head of the Press & Information Policy Department of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry informed Trend.
The opening of the meeting was attended by the Azerbaijan Deputy Foreign Minister, Vagif Sadigov. Tagizade discussed with his Russian colleague, Mikhail Kaminin, the problems encountered in the information departments, as well as their main priorities. He viewed the meeting as constructive.
At the time of the meeting, it was decided to hold the next round of the talks in Moscow. It was noted that the first meeting of the Information Departments of the Russian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministries was held in Baku last year. The date of the next meeting will be confirmed during the second part of today's (20 October) discussions.
Tagizade added that the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry holds such consultations only with Russia.
The visit of the Head of the Information & Press Department of Russian Foreign Ministry, Mikhail Kaminin, to Azerbaijan will conclude on October 21.
Political Life
A conclusion concerning the law On Freedom of Gatherings in Azerbaijan was made during 68th plenary session of the Venice Committee of the Council of Europe, Tatiana Myshelova, Head of the External Relations of the Venice Committee exclusively told trend today.
She pointed out that the Azerbaijani Government appealed to the Venice Committee of the Council of Europe to express its opinion on the law On Freedom of Gatherings adopted in Azerbaijan in 1998, which practically has not justified itself during the last elections in the country.
On October 14, 2006, the Venice Committee adopted a conclusion which later was sent to the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration. The full text of the conclusion will be promulgated the next week.
The conclusion greets main principles of the law On Freedom of Gathering in Azerbaijan, as well as the mechanism on warning about an intention to hold an action.
According to Mrs. Myshelova, the Venice Committee also touched upon some shortcomings such as extended authorities of the powers and cases on mechanical prohibition to holding actions including the Baku City centre.
The Venice Committee expressed its readiness to continue rendering its assistance to the Azerbaijani authorities to improve this part of the legislation, as well as participate in further consultations together with the Azerbaijani Government in Baku.
The Baku Office of the U.S. Institute of Republicans completed the first round of the trainings for the political parties of Azerbaijan, the Director of the Institute for political programs Fariz Ismaylov told Trend.
He stressed that the trainings brought together nearly 70 representatives from 6 parties (New Azerbaijan Party, Democratic Reforms Party, Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Musavat Party, Azerbaijan National Independence Party, Ana Veten Party). The training aims to increase the organizational knowledge and leadership capacity of the representatives of the Azerbaijani political parties.
Ismayilov stressed that the second stage of trainings will begin that will raise the skills of the representatives of the political parties in marketing, fundraising and communications.
The capacity and financial opportunities of the Armenian lobby played its role in French parliament's adopting the law penalizing the denial of so-called Armenian genocide, the Head of the Political Innovations and Technologies Center, politician Mubariz Ahmedoglu told Trend.
He stressed that the strongest Armenian lobby in Europe is in France. Armenians have opportunities to intervene in the social-political life of this country. According to Ahmadoglu, 11 large companies of the French-Armenians function in Armenia, and the amount of the investments allocated by these companies total $200-250 bln.
The politician underlined that France is on the eve of elections. Many deputies voting for the above-mentioned law hope for the financial support of the Armenian lobby in the pre-election campaign.
In addition, Ahmadoglu stressed that in the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, France, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, shouldn't forget that it represents whole Europe in the composition of the OSCE mission. Therefore, France shouldn't act from its personal principles.
Elections will be held for nearly 30 vacancies in the Assembly of Musavat Party, the Deputy Chairman of Musavat Party Arif Hajili told Trend.
He stressed that approximately 30 places in the Assembly remain vacant. According to Hajili, elections will be held and new members will be elected at the next meeting of the Assembly. After fixing the date of the meeting of the Assembly, the process of nominating the membership in the Assembly will begin. The candidates for the membership in the assembly should appeal to the Chairman of the party.
A Central Executive Apparat has been created in the Musavat Party. The head of the Apparat and department chiefs will be appointed by the Chairman of the Party.
Hajili emphasized that as yet the Executive Power of Baku City has not responded with regards to the meeting-rally planned by the Musavat Party for 28 October.
The Democratic Reforms Party (DRP) has been invited to the first Azerbaijan-U.S. Youth Forum, to be held in Los Angeles on 21 October 2006.
DRP informed Trend that Eldar Jahangirov and Mardan Efendiyev will represent the Party at the Forum.
The Party expects the Forum to bridge the gap regarding co-operation of the youth of the United States and Azerbaijan, which is currently on its way to Euro-Atlantic integration.
State Building
A delegation headed by the Chairman of the Sub-committee on Future Security and Defense Opportunities of the Defense & Security Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO, Vahid Erdem, met on 16 October with the Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Commission on International Relationships and Inter-parliamentary Bond of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani parliament] as well as the head of the Azerbaijani delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), MP Samed SРµyidov, Trend reports.
Seyidov stressed that Azerbaijan is actively integrating into Europe and the Euro-Atlantic area. During his visit to Germany and at the opening of the Autumn session of Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev re-iterated the fact. Our integration into Europe is one of the major steps taken with regards to our foreign policy, our relationship with NATO is also developing and we are very keen to pursue it, Seyidov stressed.
The Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Commission noted that NATO is developing a report on South Caucasus countries and it contains some inaccurate data. The occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia, which resulted in the replacement of 1 million Azerbaijanis from their native land, as well as the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh was always part of Azerbaijan, was depicted wrongly in the document. These facts were included in the resolution issued by the UN Security Council, documents of the Council of Europe and OSCE. We hope that after the visit, serious changes will be injected into the document.
The head of the delegation noted that the key objective of the visit is to collect detailed information on the facts. We will work on the document to ensure that the details are precise, he stated.
Ziyafat Asgarov, the first Vice-Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament), head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PANATO(Parliamentary Assembly of North-Atlantic Organization) has met a delegation of the Subcommittee of the NATO Defense and Security Committee headed by Vahid Erdem today, Trend reports referring to the press service of the Azerbaijani Parliament.
Mr. Asgarov pointed out that Azerbaijan pays particular attention to its relations with PANATO. The country takes an active part with NATO in a number of areas, including the struggle against terrorism. Having pointed out that Azerbaijan is rapidly developing both socially and economically, large-scale projects are being implemented in the country, Mr. Asgarov stressed that these projects are at the centre of the attention of Europe. However, unfortunately, we have serious problems that impede our development. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of them. OSCE Minsk Group is strictly engaged in settling this conflict, but, unfortunately, there has been no breakthrough in negotiations. The Armenians are ignoring the decisions and resolutions of the international organizations taken in connection with the settlement of the conflict. And we think that NATO should make its presence felt, Mr. Asgarov told.
Mr. Erdem underlined that NATO shows great interest in South Caucasus. It is very important to our organization to develop relations with the countries of South Caucasus, particularly with Azerbaijan. The World is shaken with serious problems terrorism, energy crises, etc. Therefore, our joint co-operation is of a great need to us, he told.