Official News
On November 24, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the Director General of the Islamic States Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr. Abdulaziz bin Osman al Tuveydjri.
The ISESCO Head expressed his gratitude to the President for giving consent to hold the next meeting of the education ministers of the Islamic countries in Baku. He congratulated the President on conferring the Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation the rank of Good-Will Ambassador of ISESCO.
The President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to the ISESCO Director General for assessing Mehriban Aliyeva's activities. The President attached a great importance to the conduct of the next meeting of the education ministers of the Islamic countries in Baku. According to the President, conducting such events in the capital of Azerbaijan plays a great role in developing the co-operation between Azerbaijan and Islamic countries.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, forwarded a congratulatory letter to the President of the International Club of Joy and Quick-wit, President of the AMIK TV Company, Alexander Maslyakov on the occasion of the 45th Jubilee of the KVN television programme. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, presented the letter to the KVN presenter at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow.
The letter stated that KVN has found a special place amongst the successful projects headed by Maslyakov and having been the long-term announcer of this program with 45 years, he became the true KVN man. In addition, the Ambassador stressed that the national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, paid great attention to KVN and the present President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has continued this tradition.
On November 23, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the delegation headed by the Chairman of the Bulgarian Popular Assembly, Georgi Pirinski. During the meeting, the sides mentioned the successful development of the relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, Trend reports.
The President Ilham Aliyev said that the repeated meetings between him and Bulgarian President Georgi Pirvanov, provided significant stimuli for the expansion of the bilateral relations. Aliyev touched up on the importance of the co-operation between the parliaments of the two countries and voiced his confidence that the present visit will play an important role in the future development of these relations.
Georgi Pirinski said that they arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation. He said that he had bilateral meetings within the visit. The guest touched upon the mutual visit of the Azerbaijani and Bulgarian Presidents and said that these visits play a great role in the expansion of the relations between the two countries. He voiced his confidence that the relations, including parliamentary relations, will develop in the future.
On November 23, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne E. Derse. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the development of the bilateral co-operation.
President Ilham Aliyev has saluted participants of the 28th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).
The role of regional organizations in ensuring peace, security and stability in contemporary world is getting increasingly important, he said in a message addressed to the participants of the event on November 21.
In this context, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, through expansion of interparliamentary ties, creates favorable conditions for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the countries of the region, and take an active part in settling common problems. In this context, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, through expansion of interparliamentary ties, creates favorable conditions for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the countries of the region, and take an active part in settling common problems.
On November 22, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received in Baku the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. The meeting was attended by the co-chairs of the Minsk Group from France - Bernar Face and Russia - Yuri Merzlyakov, as well as personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andzey Kasprzyk.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the present situation and the prospects of the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In addition, the co-chairs were received by the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, stated at a meeting with participants of the 4th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Japanese intergovernmental commission, ongoing in Baku on 22 November 2006, that Azerbaijan is interested in the development of co-operation with the Japanese companies in the implementation of different projects carried out in economy, Trend reports.
The head of state noted the successful development of bilateral co-operation after his official visit to Japan.
Head of the Japanese delegation, Vice President of Itochu Corporation, Yokoto Akira, noted that the good level of bilateral relationships and hoped that the results of current gathering will contribute the development of the cooperation.
The two-day official visit of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) began on November 20, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Embassy in UAE.
In the airport of Abu Dhabi, the Azerbaijani Leader was met by the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Crown Prince of the Abu Dhabi Emirate Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The talks of the two leaders began in the Presidential Palace, which will continue in a wider composition and with signing of 11 bilateral documents. It is planned to sign agreements in the economical, commercial and technical spheres, on support and mutual protection of the investments, on avoidance of the double taxation, in the spheres of defense, education and health. It is expected to sign memorandum of understanding between the Olympic Committees, as well as 4 other documents in the sphere of justice.
According to the program, on November 20, the Azerbaijani President will receive a number of senior officials of the UAE Government in a special residence, and it is planned to hold an economical forum between UAE and Azerbaijan during the evening.
On November 21, the Azerbaijani President will leave for Dubai Emirate to get familiar with the activities of the open trade zone Jabal Ali and participate in the presentation of the large-scale projects realized in Dubai. Mr. President will meet with the emir of Dubai and the UAE Vice President Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktun.
The official visit of the Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues. On the second day of the visit, 21 November, Aliyev visited the grave of the ex-President of the UAE, Sheikh Zaid Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, at the Zaid Masque, Trend reports. The mosque was built in 2007 initiated personally by Sheikh Zaid. Aliyev signed the book for honored guests.
Thereafter, the State Head of Azerbaijan familiarized himself with the activities of the open trade zone Jebel Ali in Dubai and participated in the presentation of large-scale projects in Dubai. In addition, Aliyev met with the Emir of Dubai and Vice President of UAE, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
MP Mehriban Aliyeva, the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, has been conferred a title of Goodwill Ambassador of Islamic Education, Science and Culture Organization (ISESCO), for services in proximity of civilizations, Trend reports.
Mehriban Aliyeva is the first woman who was conferred with such high title, stated Dr. Abdulaziz bin Osman al Tuweijari, while presenting a diploma on ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
So far, ISESCO, unites over 50 Islamic countries, has conferred only three outstanding state and public figures with title of Goodwill Ambassador.
The ISESCO General Director appraised Mrs. Aliyeva's services as the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the implementation of programs directed at the development of education, culture, improvement of living standards of people in the need of special care. Dr. Tuweijari voiced his confidence for further successful development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and ISESCO.
It is an honor for me to be conferred a title of Goodwill Ambassador of the world influential organization ISESCO, the First Lady said at the ceremony. She attached great importance to the role of ISESCO in the modern Islamic world, which is a guarantee of a dialogue between the nations and respectively the guarantee of peace and security.
By the order of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, Deputies Justice Ministers, Toghrul Musayev and Vilayyat Zakhirov have been awarded with the Honorary Title of State Counsellor of Justice of the Second Rank, Trend reports. By the very Presidential order, Nazim Alakbarov, Deputy Justice Minister and Chief of the Penitentiary Service was awarded by the Military Rank of Mayor-General of Justice, and Azer Jaffarov, Chief of the Central Department for Organization and Control of the Justice Ministry, was awarded with the Honorary Title of State Counsellor of Justice of the Third Rank.
For his services in the field of health care, Rafail Mekhtiyev, Chief of the Central Medical department of the Justice Ministry was awarded with the Title of Honoured Physician.
For their many years of service in the judicial bodies and exemplary fulfillment of judge's duties, as well as for their great services in the development of Azerbaijan's legislation, Judges of the Azerbaijan Supreme Court, Abusat Aghazadeh, Gourban Hashimov, Magsoud Magsoudov, as well as Judge of the Azerbaijan Court of Appeal, Baba Mirzoyev, Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, Rahim Suleymanov, and Chief of the Central Legislative Department of the Justice Ministry, Dilara Rahimova were awarded with the Title of Honored Lawyer.
According to the order of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the Judge of the Azerbaijani Court on Heinous Crimes, Mansur Ibayev, was awarded an Honor order for his valuable activities in the court of Azerbaijan.
On November 22, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to raise the wages of the employees of the social service sector and culture. The document points out that according to the aim of strengthening the social protection of the employees working in the enterprises of social welfare financed from the State Budget, their monthly salaries will increase by 25%, starting from December 1, 2006, Trend reports referring to the National TV Channel - AzTV
By the order of Mr. President, the head of the Azerbaijani State has increased the monthly salary of the employees in the cultural sector by 25%, financed from the State Budget.
Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict
On November 21, the Armenian Armed Forces located in the occupied Bash Garvand Village of the Azerbaijani region, Agdam, opened fire at the Azerbaijan National Army from 00:10 until the early hours, Trend Regional Correspondent reports.
The Azerbaijan National Army retaliated and no causalities were reported.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that on 23 November, 2006, the Armenian Armed Forces located in Bash Garvand Village of the occupied Azerbaijan region, Agdam, opened fire at the Azerbaijan National Army from 03:30 hours for 04:20 minutes, Trend reports.
The Azerbaijani Defense ministry announced that on November 24, 2006, the Armenian Armed Forces located in Bash Garvand Village of the occupied Azerbaijan region, Agdam, opened fire at the Azerbaijan National Army from 11:15 for 30 minutes, Trend reports.
In addition, the Armenian Forces located in the territory of Gulchuluk farm also fired at the Azerbaijani positions in Chiragly village of Agdam District.
В"The action of the OSCE Minsk Group has been directed towards applying pressure on Azerbaijan, and have, in particular, made every effort to transfer the Azerbaijani territories to Armenia, the Head of the Executive Power of Khojali District, Deputy of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Elman Mammadov, stated, Trend reports.
He stated that all the occupied Azerbaijani territories have been captured and transferred to Armenia by Russia and the former Soviet Government. The first Armenian state was created in the territory of France, the second one in the historical territory of Azerbaijan, and now they want to establish the third Armenian state in the occupied Azerbaijani territories with the support from France. America also wants to demonstrate itself as the supporter of justice. If America does recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, why does it annually allocate finances to the unrecognized state, Mammadov argued.
Mustafa Bash, the head of the Turkish delegation at the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (BSEC), stated during talks with journalists in Baku that the absence of Armenia in a BSEC meeting in Baku is an internal issue, Trend reports.
Turkey has voiced its position on the issue and in respect to Azerbaijan and the European Union. The EU sets a condition for Turkey on the rehabilitation of relationships with Armenia. However, we urge that the territorial integrity of all countries should be ensured and the territory of foreign countries should not be occupied, the Turkish delegate stated.
Novruz Mammadov, the head of the Foreign Relationships Department of the President's Executive Apparat, stated during talks with journalists on 22 November 2006 that the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will give his approval to meet with the Armenian President should there be a tangible focus for discussions, Trend reports.
Mr. Mammadov expects that a meeting of the co-chairs with the Azerbaijani President will confirm the steps to be taken to achieve successful negotiations. The efforts by the co-chairs will enable progress to be achieved within the negotiations, he stated.
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Russian Ambassador, Yuriy Merzlyakov, stated in Baku on 22 November that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have further proposals on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which at present is being discussed confidentially, Trend reports.
Speaking on the results of the visit to Yerevan and talks held with the Armenian leaders, the mediator said that the Armenian side confirmed its willingness to participate in the talks. We hope the same applies in Baku by the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, he added. The diplomat also noted that the U.S. Ambassador, Matthew Bryza, intends to meet with the leader of the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkadiy Gukasian in Los Angeles, and therefore, was unable to visit the region with the Minsk Group mission. Nevertheless, he voiced his hope that all 3 co-chairs would be present at the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Minsk on 28 November 2006.
The French Ambassador Fassie announced that negotiations are continuing intensively. We have met with the Foreign Ministers three times over the last few weeks. We are trying to build a wall in the hope of establishing a base for future agreements on the resolution of the conflict. We add a brick each time a positive step is taken, he stated.
MP Asef Hajiyev, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), stated that the conflict existing in the Black Sea region has had a negative impact on the establishment of co-operation between the countries and the development of economy, Trend reports.
He noted that the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is not only a problem for Azerbaijan. It is a threat for the whole region and even the world. This territory is out of control, where terrorism, human trafficking, and drug trafficking is in progress. Hajiyev added that the world is fighting against terrorism and that Karabakh is such a territory we must fight against.
The Azerbaijani MP is also sure that BSEC member states will offer their opinion in this respect
Azerbaijan possesses enough financial opportunities, forces and military potential to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, despite this, Azerbaijan has decided to resolve the situation through negotiations, and we consider that it is a promising situation, the Director General of the Turkish Marmara Fund, Akan Suver, stated on 23 November at a briefing in the General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (BSEC PA) whilst acting as an observer, Trend reports.
Azerbaijan has proved to the world that the Nagorno-Karabakh is not a territory of Armenia, but is Azerbaijani territory. At present, the international organizations and the world have publicly acknowledged this fact, he said.
In addition, Suver noted that the NGOs, especially the Marmara Fund, have participated for the first time at the meeting of the BSEC PA as observers. As a result of the observation, he appropriately mentioned the speeches of the Israeli and Georgian delegates who attracted the participants' attention to their own problems. Such events should be an opportunity for Azerbaijan and Turkey to raise issues linked with Nagorno-Karabakh and other problems, Suver emphasized.
During the autumn session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the report, regarding Azerbaijan in the Security and Defense Committee, included counteraction from the Armenian side, the Vice Speaker of Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani Parliament], Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Ziyafet Askerov, briefed the media, Trend reports.
Issues such as the interaction of the South Caucasus countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia) with NATO, social, political and economical situation in these countries and other topics were presented to the discussions at the NATO 52nd autumn session. The key issue for us was the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. We amended the report twice, and the 3rd report differed somewhat from the previous reports. Therefore, we agreed to present the report to the discussion. However, we expressed our proposals and remarks regarding the report. The report reflected a number of issues linked with Azerbaijan, especially counteraction from the Armenian side and the exact figures of the occupied Azerbaijani territories and refugees and internally displaced persons, Askerov stated.
According to Askerov, the Armenians were angry when Azerbaijan submitted the documents confirming that the Armenians arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh 150 years ago and to confirm this fact we also presented photographs of monuments erected in Nagorno-Karabakh
Foreign Policy
The visit of the Georgian Justice Minister to Azerbaijan was postponed, the Head of the International Juridical Relations Department of Azerbaijani Justice Ministry, Zafar Gafarli informed Trend.
He said that the Georgian Justice Minister Gii Gaftaradze visit to Azerbaijan was postponed due to the issue that the Azerbaijani Justice Minister in on a visit to the United Arab Emirates. The visit is on the agenda and will take place in the nearest future, Gafarli said.
Within the visit, the Georgian Justice Minister will meet with his Azerbaijani colleague Fikrat Mammadov and discuss the question of expansion of the relations.
Iran is a big country and there are certain forces which are not interested in the good and friendly relations with Azerbaijan. Surely, some steps might be taken in this connection, Novruz Mammadov, Chief of the External Affairs Department of the Azerbaijan Presidential Administration, told journalists commenting messages spread by some media sources on holding pickets in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran, during which, some slogans against our country were sounded, Trend reports.
The most important for us is the fact that relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are at a high level and continuing to develop further. If there are some problems in the bilateral relations needed to be discussed and resolved, then we shall appeal to the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran and take corresponding steps as well, said Mr. Mammadov.
Actions being held in front of our Embassy in Tehran are protests not aimed at the Azerbaijani State Ali Hassanov, Chief of the Social and Political Department of the Azerbaijan Presidential Administration, told journalists,
A number of people have held an action in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran as a sign of the protest against the abusive articles about Prophet Muhammad in Newspaper Sanat that were published in Baku. Expressing his attitude to the above-mentioned, Mr. Hassanov said that the action held is not aimed at the Azerbaijani State. In order to protect their religion, their spiritual origin, the people should base upon something. Those people could not protest in front of the Embassies of other countries, settled in Tehran, could they? This paper is published in Azerbaijan; therefore, they expressed their protest in front of our Embassy. Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are built on the basis of friendship. The media sources of the both countries from time to time write these or those articles against the opposing party. However, state policy is not built on mass media. Media just brings the state policy to the attention of the society, said Mr. Hassanov.
Eldar Salimov, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), exclusively informed Trend that that the results of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) will publicized soon. He was commenting on President's Aliyev's visit to the UAE on 20-21 November 2006.
The results of the visit have been positive. A number of agreements were signed covering many objectives. It testifies that a larger specter of directions has been defined on a legal basis and should be developed, the diplomat stated.
During the talks, special attention was paid to trade and economic co-operation. The experience Dubai has in the economic development was very interesting and the program includes visits to free economic zones of Jebel Ali, meetings with representatives of the Emirates, the top businessmen of Dubai, business forum of Abu-Dhabi. Salimov said that contacts between some companies have been confirmed.
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Nogaideli, will visit Azerbaijan on 30 November, the Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Zurab Gumberidze, exclusively informed Trend. The visit is aimed at conducting negotiations for the development of bilateral negotiations, the Ambassador said.
Within his visit, the Georgian Prime Minister will meet with his Azerbaijani colleague, Artur Rasizade. The Georgian Prime Minister is also expected to be received by the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev.
The visit to Azerbaijan of the U.S. Deputy State Secretary Assistant, Barry Lowenkron, scheduled to take place on 27-28 November is to be cancelled, the Head of the Press Service of the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, Jonathan Henik, informed Trend.
According to Henik, Barry Lowenkron is responsible for democracy, human rights and labor, and these subjects were to be discussed during meetings with the senior officials of the Azerbaijani Government. However, this will now not be possible and it is considered that the visit will take place at another time, Henik stated.
On 27-28 November, the Summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States will take place in Minsk, which is expected to be attended by the President and Prime Minister of Azerbaijan.
The chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Georgi Pirinski, arrived in Azerbaijan on November 22, 2006.
He participated in a fall session of the General Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PA BSEC).
The Bulgarian Speaker was accompanied by a delegation comprised of representatives from all fractions of the Bulgarian Parliament and the government. The had meetings with the Azerbaijani Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and President Ilham Aliyev. On November 24, the chairman of the National Assembly will visit the Baku Slavic University to get familiar with the activities of the Culture Centre of Bulgaria, meet with the students and teachers of the University.
In his exclusive interview with Trend Ivan Palchev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Azerbaijan on the threshold of the visit of the Bulgarian Speaker to Azerbaijan said that
Bulgaria position toward the Nagorno-Karabakh issue remains unchanged. The most important in this position is that Bulgaria adheres the thesis that Nagorno-Karabakh will always be a part of Azerbaijan, and , as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have repeatedly stated this territory may obtain the highest autonomy, but only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. And I think the conflicting parties themselves are gradually trending to this position.
The Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie Ishik Koshaner will arrive to Azerbaijan at the beginning of December, Trend reports with reference to the Head Department of the Internal Troops of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry.
Koshaner had to arrive to Azerbaijan on November 14, but the 2-day visit was postponed due to the problems with his health. Koshaner will hold a number of meetings during the visit.
A document on co-operation and juridical assistance will be signed in the near future between Azerbaijan and Algeria, the Head of the International Juridical Relations Department of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice, Zaver Gafarli, informed Trend.
The documents on co-operation and juridical assistance between Azerbaijan and Algeria are already prepared. Both sides have read and agreed on the documents. The state representatives of Azerbaijan visited Algeria and representatives of Algeria to Azerbaijan to discuss the documents and they will be signed in the near future, Gafarli stated.
According to him, as yet it is unknown whether the documents will be signed in Baku or Algeria.
After United Arab Emirates, Algeria will be the second Arabic country to sign a document of juridical co-operation with Azerbaijan. Such document was signed between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates on 20 November 2006 in Abu Dhabi.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Eyyub Yagubov held a meeting in Turkey with the Vice President of Iran Parviz Davudi, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Turkey Zakir Hashimov exclusively informed Trend.
The meeting took place within the participation of the Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister and Iranian Vice President in the work of the World Economic Forum.
Foreign Minister of the Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov on 24 November met with the newly appointed ambassador of Kuwait to Azerbaijan Fahd Saad Al-Mey.
Noting that he is pleased with his appointment in Azerbaijan, the ambassador said he would try to bring closer the two countries and expand bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Kuwait. The diplomat said the embassy of Azerbaijan in Kuwait has been functioning for two years and has done a lot in this direction. He conveyed greetings of the Kuwait foreign minister, emphasizing, his country is keen in development of all-round relations with Azerbaijan.
Political Life
On November 22, a round table was held in Baku dedicated to the 14th anniversary of the New Azerbaijan Party (NAP). The event brings together the NAP Head, Deputy Chairmen, Deputies representing NAP in the Parliament of Azerbaijan, members of the Political Council and other state bodies.
Giving a speech in the round table the NAP Deputy Chairman, Executive Secretary, MP Ali Ahmadov spoke about the history of NAP created in 1992, political situation in the country in that period and Heydar Aliyev's coming to power. According to him, over this period, NAP has worthily served Azerbaijan. NAP has done its best to realize Heydar Aliyev's ideas. At present NAP is the strongest part bringing together 400,000 people, Ahmadov said.
Making a speech at the event, the NAP Deputy Chairman, ex-Speaker of the Parliament, MP Murtuz Aleskerov spoke about the creation of NAP by Heydar Aliyev in Nakchivan Autonomous Republic in 1992, its 14-year activities and present successes of the party. He remembered the difficult political situation in the Country in 1990s, the fight for power, Heydar Aliyev's arrival in Baku on the request of the Azerbaijani intellectual, his election as the Speaker of the Parliament and other processes of that period. Aleskerov underlined the resurrection of that the power once again, Heydar Aliyev created the state and strengthened it. New Azerbaijan Party is the party of 21st Century, Aleskerov said, adding that the party has admirably passed all tests.
Political movements and public organizations of the country have expressed their attitude towards the decision of the National TV and Radio Council of November 24 concerning suspending the broadcast of ANS TV and Radio Company, Trend reports.
Opposition Party of National Independence of Azerbaijan evaluated this as a pressure on the media freedom in the country. The Party also thinks that it will affect Azerbaijan international image. The Party calls the authorities to give up the aggressive attitude towards the media and hold up the pressure on the freedom of word.
Party Adalat (Justice) considers that the closure of ANS will cause additional troubles to Azerbaijan before international organizations in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. This event will be estimated as smothering the freedom of word.
MP Aydin Mirzazadeh, a member of the Political Council of ruling party Yeni Aarbaycan (New Azerbaijan), said that the above-mentioned decision of the National TV and Radio Council showed the evidence that Azerbaijan was legal and democratic country where laws apply to everybody. In this country, everyone should pay taxes, as well as observe the existing legislation. Nobody should pose to especial position. I regret that recently ANS have pretended to have particular privileges. Serious shortcomings in the activity of the broadcasting company were violating the laws, opening a new radio frequency in the region and broadcasting foreign TV channels without any official permission. The decision of the National TV and Radio Channel shows that every legal and physical person must respect the law, said Mr. Mirzazadeh.
On 20 November, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party, Asim Mollazade met with the Program Director of the U.S. National Democracy Institute for Azerbaijan, Emi Shuls.
The meeting focused on the co-operation between the Democratic Reforms Party and NDI and the social-political situation in Azerbaijan. Mollazade informed Shultz about the establishment of the party.
The meeting was also attended by the NDI Program Manager, Aida Sunduyeva.
MP Asim Molazadeh, Chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party appealed to Ganimat Zaheed, Editor-in-Chief of pro-opposition newspaper Azadlig, who recently announced a hunger-strike. After convincing himself that the health and the life of Mr. Zakheed are under threat, the MP appealed to him with a request to stop the hunger-strike.
Mr. Mollazadeh had announced this request initially during the sitting of the Editors' Council of the Country. The MP also said that it was necessary to demand to stop hunger-strike, not even send requests.
Mr. Molazadeh once more repeated his position toward problems around the media, that he had previously announced during the session of the Milli Majlis, and pointed out that in order to solve these issues, it was necessary to built up the corresponding working group within the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights of the Milli Majlis. He said that representatives of the executive bodies, mass media, as well as journalist, and human rights organizations should participate in the activity of the above-mentioned working group as well.
According to Mr. Molazadeh, problems around the media should be resolved with the participation of all the parties and that the freedom of word and expression were one of the key principles of the democratic society. To solve the issue, we should not undergo the human life to threat. It is inadmissibly to create a problem with the editorial of Azadlig newspaper and the office of Turan news agency, the license problem of ANS TV Channel, and broadcasting of some foreign TV channels, as well as arrests and pursuits of some journalists., said Mr. Molazadeh.
The MP also said that in order to protect the media from such actions, it was necessary to pass a bill On Defamation in the country.
The parliamentary mission of Azerbaijan will visit Pakistan from 29 November-2 December, the Deputy of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Chairman of Azerbaijani Democratic Reforms Party, Asim Mollazade, informed Trend.
The mission will be headed by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for International and Inter- Parliamentary Relations, Samad Seydov. Together with Asim Mollazade, the delegation will include chairmen of the parliamentary commissions Eldar Ibrahimov, Hadi Rajabli, Rabiyat Aslanova and other delegates.
According to Mollazade, the visit aims at fostering the Pakistani-Azerbaijani friendship. The Pakistani President visited Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani President visited Pakistan, and our relations are developing in many aspects, including economy. In this context, we try to promote inter-parliamentary relations. Pakistan refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and supports the position of Azerbaijan within all international organizations, Mollazade underlined, mentioning the necessity of working out and realizing concrete co-operation plans to develop the friendly relations
A joint meeting of the leaders of the opposition parties, human rights activists, as well as leaders of journalist organizations of the country has been held in the headquarters of the Party of People Front of Azerbaijan today, on November 21, Trend reports. The founders of opposition political block Azadlig, Ali Kerimli - the Chairman of the Party of People Front of Azerbaijan, Lala Shovket - the Chairman of the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Aliyev the Chairman of the Party of Citizens and Development, Sardar Jallaloghli - an activist of the democratic party of Azerbaijan, Isa Gambar the Chairman of Musavat Party, Mirmakhmoud Miralioghli - the Chairman of the Classical Party of People Front of Azerbaijan, Sabir Rustamkhanli - Chairman of the Civil Solidarity party, Asim Mollazadeh - Chairman of the Democratic Reforms party, etc., were all present at the meeting.
Editor-in-Chief of pro-opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat Rauf Arifoghli, Editor-in-Chif of journal Ganun Shakhbaz Khuduoghli, Editor-in-Chief of paper Baki Khabar Aydin Guliyev, Editor-in-Chief of paper Yeni Zaman Shakir Gabiuloghli, human rights activists Murad Sadraddinov, Leyla Yunus, Arzu Abdulayeva, Saida Godjamanli, Novella Jaffaroghli, etc took part in the meeting too.
During the meeting, the participants discussed issues connected with pressures on local media, expelling the party of People's Front of Azerbaijan, as well as the editorial of Azadlig paper, and Turan news agency from their offices. The leaders of political and public organizations of the Azerbaijan opposition made a decision to hold joint massive actions, as well as form the joint opposition structure in the country.
State Building
On November 24, a meeting was held in Baku between the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Oktay Asadov and the Chairman of the Bulgarian Popular Assembly, Grigori Prinski.
The Speaker said that Azerbaijan attaches a great importance to the development of the co-operation with the European countries, including Bulgaria. The documents signed within the visit of the state heads create good conditions for the development of the relations, the Speaker underlined. Speaking about the 28th Plenary Session of the General Assembly the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation held in Baku on 22-23 November, Asadov said that the chairmanship was transferred from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria. The Speaker highlighted the importance of developing the relations and exchanging lawmaking experiences.
Prinski expressed his gratitude for conducting the 28th Session of BSEC PA at a high level. According to him, Bulgaria is interested in developing the relations with Azerbaijan. He said that all opportunities should be studied for all-sided development of the interstate relations.
The Interior Minister of United Arab Emirates, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan on November 19, met Kamaleddin Heydarov, Azerbaijan Minister of Emergency Situations which is currently on a visit to the country, Trend reports with reference to the Emirates News Agency.
The meeting focused on the ties of cooperation and friendship and ways to boost them, as well as exchange of expertise and information on civil defense, rescue operations and contingency plans.
The plan of bilateral co-operation for 2007, between the military departments of Ukraine and Azerbaijan was signed on November 23 in Brest. The document was signed by the Defense Ministers of Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev and Ukraine Anatoly Gritsenko in Brest before the beginning of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member-countries, Trend reports quoting UNIAN. The documents envisage conducting 6 joint events, including official visit of Ukrainian Defense Minister to Baku and visit of the Chief of the Headquarter of Azerbaijani Internal Troops to Kiev. In addition, it is intended to continue the works on creating the International Center to train aviation personnel and specialists to apply aviation to fight with terrorism. Moreover, the Plan implies participating in the planned conferences on preparing international peace loving forces and exchanging experience with regard to the military education.
The Protocol of the Plan regarding the co-operation between the State Border Services of Azerbaijan and Russia in 2007 was signed on 24 November in Baku, Trend reports.
From the Azerbaijani side, the document was signed by the first Deputy Chairman of the State Border Service Arzu Rahimov and from Russia side, Chief of the Regional Border Department of South Region of Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Lisinski.
The document envisages co-operation in improving the situation at the checkpoints, interaction in fight against illegal transit of narcotics and illegal migration.
There are no serious delimitations of borders between Azerbaijan and Russia, Rahimov said at the signing ceremony. According to him, there are two disputable territories between Azerbaijan and Russia, which will be considered by the Intergovernmental Commission for Delimitation of State Borders between Azerbaijan and Russia. An appropriate document will be signed after this, Rahimov stated.
The parliamentary mission of Azerbaijan will visit Pakistan from 29 November-2 December, the Deputy of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Chairman of Azerbaijani Democratic Reforms Party, Asim Mollazade, informed Trend.
The mission will be headed by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for International and Inter- Parliamentary Relations, Samad Seydov. Together with Asim Mollazade, the delegation will include chairmen of the parliamentary commissions Eldar Ibrahimov, Hadi Rajabli, Rabiyat Aslanova and other delegates.
According to Mollazade, the visit aims at fostering the Pakistani-Azerbaijani friendship. The Pakistani President visited Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani President visited Pakistan, and our relations are developing in many aspects, including economy. In this context, we try to promote inter-parliamentary relations. Pakistan refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia and supports the position of Azerbaijan within all international organizations, Mollazade underlined, mentioning the necessity of working out and realizing concrete co-operation plans to develop the friendly relations.