Official News
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accepted Ishig Koshaner, Commander-in-Chief of Turkey's Gendarmerie in the Presidential Palace today, on December 5, a source in the Azerbaijan Presidential Administration told Trend.
During the meeting, the head of the Azerbaijani State stressed that friendly and brother relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey in al; spheres were successfully developing. He also pointed out that our countries are rendering economic, political, and military support to each other
The President particularly marked the big event in the history of the two countries happened in this year putting the main export oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi Ceyhan (BTC) into commission. He said that this event was a great importance to both Azerbaijani and Turkish nations, as well as achievement of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Within her visit to the USA, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Head of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Working Group, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Good-Will Ambassador of UNESCO, Mehriban Aliyeva invited the First Lady of the USA Laura Bush to visit Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to Azertaj.
During the meeting, the first ladies of the two countries highlighted the role of the education, health and culture in strengthening relations between Azerbaijan and the USA. Aliyeva informed the U.S. First Lady of the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Azerbaijan. Bush showed a special interest in the education project. They both stressed that the investments allocated for the education was very valuable from the point of view of the future of the two countries and mentioned the importance of continuing the efforts in this sphere.
During the visit, Aliyev met with the U.S. Senator Key Bali Hatginson, Congressmen Shil Skull Gibbs, U.S. Deputy Secretary State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Huz and Deputy State Secretary for Democracy and Global Matters Paul Dobryanski. The meetings focused on the co-operation of the two countries in developing the education, health, ensuring security, as well as interaction of the two countries in fighting against bird flu.
Dobryanski attached a great importance to the conduct of the bilateral discussions regarding democracy and human rights. According to him, Azerbaijan could play a role of bridging the gap between the West and the Islamic world. Commenting on the high level of religious and ethnic tolerance in Azerbaijan, Aliyeva, as a Good-Will Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, expressed her willingness in this respect.
Within the visit, US-Azerbaijani Trade Chamber held a reception in honor of Mehriban Aliyeva, which was attended by the high-ranking officials of the White House and State Department. During the reception, the Azerbaijan's First Lady was awarded Trade Chamber's prize 2006 Good-Will Ambassador.
This concluded Azerbaijan's First Lady Aliyeva's official visit to the USA.
Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, attended the opening of 90MW module power grid in Khachmaz, North Azerbaijan, to become familiar with the implementation of the state program on the development of regions, Trend reports citing the Public Television.
This comes as the third module power grid is put into exploitation over the past year after Astara and Shaki Districts. At present the module power grids of new type are being constructed in Baku. The total capacity of these stations comprises 450 MW.
The Khachmaz station will also cover the energy demand of Guba, Davachi and Gusar Regions.
One of the major directions of the Government is to strengthen the industrial potential. It is therefore necessary to generate energy, President Aliyev stated at a meeting with the people of the Khachmaz District. Large oil and gas projects are being implemented in the Country and they actually define the durable development strategy of Azerbaijan. At the same time, the non-oil sector is also in the process of development. The President particularly noted the upgrade of the agricultural section.
The President noted that major problems are concentrated in the regions of Azerbaijan and the development of regions means the development of Azerbaijan as a whole. The Azerbaijani leader announced that minimum salaries would be increased next year and poverty will be eliminated completely.
The President also visited the regional and carpet museum, the culture and rest park and met with prominent figureheads in Khachmaz. The Head of State also became familiar with the new administrative building of Khachmaz Bureau of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, stated at a ceremony on the opening of a new administrative building of Khachmaz Bureau of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, that the opposition should use a more civilized method to voice their disagreements. However, this is not the action they favor and instead prefer to cause public disorder, which leads to them jeopardizing their policy.
The Head of State noted that the Government supports the political dialogue. Irrespective of one's political feelings, it is our duty to preserve Azerbaijan's interests.
The President voiced his disappointment that the opposition uses the policy which contradicts the country's interests. Nevertheless, the political developments in the country continue in a positive direction, the Head of State stated.
Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, received the Chief of the Turkish company Alarko, Ishag Alaton.
The Head of State commented on the favorable conditions established for foreign investors in Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani President noted the successful development of bilateral relationships in all aspects and voiced his hope for further development of the Azerbaijani-Turkish relationships.
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the President of the World Taekwondo Federation, Changbona Chuna.
Mentioning the development reached in Azerbaijan over the past years, the guest properly highlighted the great successes of the country with regards to sport. He expressed his satisfaction with the level of the President attention to the sport, especially Taekwondo. The Azerbaijani President attached a great importance to the visit of the President of the World Taekwondo Federation from the point of view of development of the international relations of Azerbaijan in the sphere of sport.
The Year of Russia in Azerbaijan has passed successfully and brought our nations together, Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's President has stated meeting Russian Prime, Minister Mikhail Fradkov in Baku today, Trend reports.
According to the Head of the Azerbaijani State, the past year has allowed both parties to evaluate the development of the co-operation more clearly. Mr. Aliyev marked the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries, and said that the commercial intercourse between the two countries was rapidly increasing and had virtually doubled.
The Azerbaijani President stressed that the Russian Year in Azerbaijan was coming to its end, but it is continued in other ways and added that in the future the positive Azerbaijani-Russian co-operation would further develop.
The Year of Russia in Azerbaijan has passed successfully and brought our nations together, Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's President has stated meeting Russian Prime, Minister Mikhail Fradkov in Baku today, Trend reports.
According to the Head of the Azerbaijani State, the past year has allowed both parties to evaluate the development of the co-operation more clearly. Mr. Aliyev marked the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries, and said that the commercial intercourse between the two countries was rapidly increasing and had virtually doubled.
The Azerbaijani President stressed that the Russian Year in Azerbaijan was coming to its end, but it is continued in other ways and added that in the future the positive Azerbaijani-Russian co-operation would further develop.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on holding 110-year jubilee of prominent Azerbaijani state figure and scientist Aziz Aliyev.
The document being signed by the President points out that January 1, 2007 is the date when the prominent state figure could mark his 110-year jubilee.
Due to it, the Health Ministry, Education Ministry, Foreign Ministry of the Country have been commissioned to prepare a plan of arrangements to be held within the forthcoming jubilee, and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Country to solve al issues arisen from the above-mentioned Presidential order.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to establish the professional holiday for the employees of the Emergency Ministry, Trend reports. According to the document, Azerbaijan will mark December 16 of each year as the professional holiday for the employees of the Emergency Ministry.
By another order, President Ilham Aliyev founded the Shahdagh National Park. The document says that taking into consideration the expanding network of particular protected natural territories of Azerbaijan, and protecting the biological diversity, objective use of natural resources, ecotourism development, as well as obligations on Agreement on Credit of Development (a rural environment project) (signed between Azerbaijan Republic and the International development Association) on the basis of the natural reserves of Ismayilli and Pirgulu (21,014 ha) and the state forest resources covered territories of Ismayilli, Guba, Gusar, Gabala, Oghuz, and Shamakhy Districts (81,797 ha) of the country, including non-used summer pastures locates on highlands of these Regions (13,084 ha), the Shahdagh National park with the total area of 115,895 ha is to be established.
Armenian Azerbaijani Conflict
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that on December 4, 2006, the Armenian Armed Forces located in the occupied Azerbaijani Village Bash Garvand of Agdam District, opened fire at the Azerbaijan National Army from 22:00 for 15-20 minutes, Trend reports.
The Azerbaijan National Army retaliated and no injuries were reported.
During the visit of a delegation of Azerbaijani MPs to Aghdam, units of Armenian Forces repeatedly broke the cease fire regime from several directions. Trend Regional Correspondent reports that units of Armenian Forces subjected opposite positions of Azerbaijani Army to a gun fire, from the positions located on the occupied Azerbaijani villages of Aghdam District of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani village of Abdulrahman of Fuzuli District of Azerbaijan.
The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs expressed its serious concern over the so-called constitutional referendum scheduled on 10 December, 2006, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
In its statement the Council emphasized that holding the so-called referendum violates the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as relevant standards and principles of the international law, and, thus, shall have no legal effect and its results shall be considered to be null and void. The Ministers stressed that the so-called referendum interferes with the ongoing peace process, is designed to impose a fait accompli situation in the region and will mislead the international community.
The GUAM Council stated that such an act is contrary to the universally recognized
standards and values of democracy, rule of law and human rights. Any constitutional document
envisaging a self-rule for the population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region can only be elaborated through a legal, democratic and peaceful process with the full, equal and direct participation of the entire population of the region consisting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities.
The GUAM Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs calls on the OSCE participating States
and other international organizations to condemn such an illegal act and to support the ongoing
efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution of the conflict on the basis of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.
The European Union Calls Azerbaijan and Armenia to seize the opportunity to make progress without delay in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said a statement by Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs on behalf of the European Union, which was read out at the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Brussels.
The EU expressed its satisfaction at the recent approval of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. We hope that their implementation will add stability to the region and strengthen the ties between the EU and the three states of South Caucasus, the statement read.
The European Union commends the efforts of the co-chairs of the Minsk group to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The EU is encouraged by the active talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a settlement to the conflict. We call on both parties to seize the opportunity to make progress without delay. We welcome the successful implementation of the OSCE-led environmental assessment mission in October to assess the fire-affected areas and meet officials on both sides of the Line of Contact.
We hope 2007 will go down in history as the year of breakthrough of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Rafet Akgunay, stated while giving a speech at the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Trend reports. He stressed that In light of the recent briefing by the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group in Vienna, Turkey is heartened by the continuing enhanced dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are pleased to record expression of optimism, albeit with a dose of caution, that the prospect of a political resolution in the history of this conflict has never been so close. We hope 2007 will go down in history as the year of breakthrough, said Akgunay.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict holds Armenia and Azerbaijan in a state of no peace-no war, R. Nicholas Burns, the U.S. Secretary of State Assistant for Political Affairs, Head of the U.S. Delegation at the OSCE Ministerial Meeting, stated, Trend reports.
Similarly, the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict prevents the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons, he added. Regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh, we thank Russia and France, our Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We have developed with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia a reasoned approach which promises to lead to a negotiated settlement. Our organization should now call on the leaders to turn these ideas into an agreement, Burns said.
Although some progress had been made, in particular on Nagorno-Karabakh, it would be unwise to expect a solution in Brussels, said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht on December 4 in Brussels at the two-day meeting of the Council of the OSCE Foreign Ministers.
Foreign ministers from the 56 OSCE participating States will focus on tackling protracted "frozen" conflicts and further improving OSCE efficiency. Minister De Gucht said Belgium had worked to redress the balance between the three dimensions of security - politico-military, economic-environmental and human. He also noted progress had been made on small arms and light weapons.
The meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers in Brussels within the meeting of the Council of the OSCE Foreign Ministers will not take place, the Head of the Press and Information Policy Department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Tahir Tagizade, informed Trend.
He said that the meeting was cancelled due to the full working schedules of the Ministers.
It should be mentioned that the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenia Vardan Oskanyan participated at the meeting of the Council of OSCE Foreign Ministers on December 4-5 in Brussels. Within the visit, a number of meetings, including the next round of the consultations with Armenian Foreign Minister and co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, were planned.
The sincerity of Armenian negotiators is questioned by such clear provocations as a declared intention of Armenian separatists to hold a so-called "constitutional referendum" in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, stated at the 14th meeting of the Council of OSCE Foreign Ministers, Trend reports.
We view the UN General Assembly resolution-sponsored OSCE-led Environmental Assessment Mission to the fire-affected territories of Azerbaijan as a good example of rapid and effective practical reaction to an urgent and complex problem faced by a participating State.
We request the Chairman-in-Office to submit the Mission's Report to the UN General Assembly and its Member-States, and call on the organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to launch a joint process of preparation for a long-term Environmental Operation in the fire-affected lands as it is envisaged by the UNGA resolution, Mammadyarov said.
To my deep regret, I still cannot extend the same level of enthusiasm to the whole process of settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Despite increased activity demonstrated throughout this year by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the parties involved we have not yet achieved the irreversible solution, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said.
In addition, he stressed that there is no alternative to finding solution in the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. At the appropriate stage of the settlement process it will be possible to discuss this issue by the whole population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Proceeding from the standards of democracy, rule of law and human rights, we believe that process of definition of a status shall take place on an equal basis, with direct and full participation of entire population of the region, which are both Armenian and Azerbaijani communities, he stated.
Unfortunately, the sincerity of Armenian negotiators is questioned by such clear provocations as a declared intention of Armenian separatists to hold a so-called "constitutional referendum" in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. This is yet another unconstructive step taken by Armenian side in its attempt to consolidate and camouflage the results of its illegal activities. Azerbaijan shall never accept such illegal acts of the Armenian side, which are based on notorious practice of fait accompli and fully contradict the ongoing efforts to bring durable peace and stability to the region, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister considers.
Elmar Mammadyraov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, stated during his interview for the local daily Zerkalo that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs intend to visit Madrid to inform the next Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, the Spanish Foreign Minister, on the situation regarding the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. He was commenting on the meeting with the Minsk Group co-chairs in Brussels.
During the discussions they sounded a proposal on the organization of a next meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers, though the format of talks is still to be defined. With respect to reasons of non-conduct of talks with the Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian in Brussels, the Minister said that earlier he had meeting with his Armenian counterpart in Minsk. The Armenians have asked for a break in talks to fully comprehend the situation before deciding the direction in which the talks should continue. As far as I understood there has been no response and no meeting.
Mammadyarov announced that only a few items now remained to be discussed to co-ordinate the positions and in this context we understand the responsibility specified for a negotiator who is responsible for promoting the talks with the purpose of liberating the areas and reputation of the refugees. He also commented on the existence of the two hypotheses in the talks. These are the terms of referendum on the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh of which Armenia insists to be 5 years, but we agree a conduct of referendum after 15 years. The second is linked with the return of Lachin District of Azerbaijan.
Mr. Mammadyarov approached the statement, in a positive manner, made by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, who called the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian, on behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group chairs, to co-ordinate basic principles of the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In the current stage of negotiations, it is necessary to achieve more international community attention. The attention that we have drawn over the past two years is obvious. For the first time the NATO Summit in Riga determined exactly the position of the member-states which should be taken as a basis for the resolution of the conflict in the South Caucasus and Moldova.
Novruz Mammadov, the head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Azerbaijani President's Administration, exclusively informed Trend that Spain, as a newly-appointed OSCE Chairman-in-Office, will be particularly sensitive to the issue of separatism.
He noted that Azerbaijan and Spain have favorable relations with Azerbaijan having established its Embassy in Spain.
Mammadov also added that Azerbaijan has taken into consideration the fact that from January 2007 Spain will undertake the chairmanship of the OSCE and will take relevant steps in this connection. It is linked with bilateral relationships, co-operation with the European Union, especially the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, he noted.
The State official added that Spain itself suffers from this problem. In general, many European countries are concerned with separatism. Europe and particularly, Spain, is very sensitive to the issue of separatism and in this regard, we understand each other easily, Mammadov stressed.
Agshin Mehdyev, the Azerbaijani Special Representative at the UN, informed Trend exclusively that the discussion of the resolution by the GUAM [a regional organization among Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova] at the UN General Assembly, originally scheduled for 6 December was postponed through the decision of GUAM. He was commenting on the media reports on the postponement of discussions.
He noted that over the past few weeks GUAM member-countries held consultations on different levels and as a result, adopted a unilateral agreement on the postponement of the consideration of the issue. The resolution acts as a target to be better prepared for the discussions and achieve the results that the GUAM countries have counted upon whilst putting forward this initiative, Mehdiyev stressed.
It is necessary to regard the issue calmly. The situation around GUAM's proposal can be bravely attributed as a great success of these countries. I am unwilling to go into detail, but those who are involved in politics, or linked with the situation would easily understand what I mean. The resolution on the postponement is linked with technical issues and should be considered in this platform, the diplomat emphasized.
Mr. Mehdiyev said that this resolution was a result of consultations within the framework of GUAM: As to the positions of definite countries I can definitely say that many countries regard the initiative with understanding and have voiced their willingness to work over the text of the resolution. On the other hand, there are such countries, be it very few, which will never accept the initiative and will do all it possibly can to prevent any progress in the issue. First of all it refers to the Armenians. I do not doubt that everything is well thought and will be successfully implemented irrespective whether it suits the Armenians or not, the Azerbaijani Special Representative at UN emphasized.
To keep the issue on frozen conflicts on the territory of GUAM member-states is first of all in the interests of GUAM countries. At the existing level of the negotiations on settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Armenian party in a certain way is looking for any reasons to avoid the non-constructive position. Therefore, there is no reason for anxiety concerning the postponement of the date of the discussions scheduled for December 6, 2006, said Novruz Mamadov, Chief of the External Relations Department of the Azerbaijan Presidential Administration.
According to him, the issue remains open, and the postponement will give a possibility to prepare for a new introduction of the issue to the agenda of the UN General Assembly.
GUAM member-states will have a possibility to present till September, 2007, he said.
The so-called referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh scheduled for December 10, 2006 prejudices the negotiations on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in this region, and once again proves that the position of the Armenian party is insincere, said Novruz Mammadov, Chief of the External Relations Department of the Azerbaijan President Administration, Trend reports.
According to Mr. Mammadov, it is a proof of the fact that Armenians are playing a multisided game.
Irrespective of the games they play, they can not win and gain dividends. Already some countries and international organizations have expressed their opinion towards this issue. The international community will never acknowledge this show as a serious legal act, said Mr. Mammadov.
Foreign Policy
In January 2007, Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan will visit France, due to the invitation from Jacques Chirac, the French President, said Novruz Mammadov, Chief of the External Affairs Department of the Azerbaijan Presidential Administration, Trend reports.
According to Mr. Mammadov, the visit of the Azerbaijan President to France is expected to last for three days.
The forthcoming visit will differ from the previous one. It will serve as an example that Azerbaijan relations with France is at a highest level, he said.
The Chief of the External Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration remembered the recent visit of the French entrepreneurs to Baku. That is a good example of our relations, he said.
A meeting of the Azerbaijan-French Intergovernmental Commission will be held prior to the forthcoming visit of the Azerbaijan President to France.
The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Jim MacDougall visited Azerbaijan on 6 December as the head of a U.S. delegation to conduct the annual bilateral defense consultations with the appropriate Azerbaijani officials.
The consultations were useful and productive and helped to lay the foundations for further security and military co-operation in the forthcoming year. In addition, Mr. MacDougall had meetings at the Ministries of Defense & Foreign Affairs to discuss military-to-military relations and security co-operation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and in the global war on terror.
Russian President Vladimir Putin received an invitation from official Baku to visit Azerbaijan in the next year, said Vasily Istratov, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
According to the Russian Ambassador, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is likely to visit Russia two times due to different arrangements to be held in the country in the next year. Mr. Aliyev is expected to participate in the non-official summit of CIS countries to be held in Russia, in the summer of 2007.
A number of other visits of top Azerbaijani officials to Russia are expected to be paid the next year as well, particularly, the visit of Azerbaijani Prime-Minister Arthur Rasizadeh. The growth of bilateral relations between the two countries will create favorable conditions for new visits, said the Russian diplomat.
A meeting of the working group for economic and democracy development of GUAM has commenced its work in Baku today. The meeting is held under the chair of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
Representatives of Internal Ministers of GUAM Member-States, as well as international organizations of US are taking part in the work of the meeting. Participants of the event discussed issues on the joint struggle with organized crime, illegal drug trafficking, and terrorism.
Vilayyat Eyvazov, First Assistant of Azerbaijan Interior Minister, took part in the meeting. In his report, Mr. Eyvazov told about activities carried out in 2006.
Participants of the event discussed perspectives of the activity of the virtual centre, as well as organization and practical action plan for 2007.
A meeting of the working group for economic and democracy development of GUAM has commenced its work in Baku today. The meeting is held under the chair of Azerbaijan.
Representatives of Internal Ministers of GUAM Member-States, as well as international organizations of US are taking part in the work of the meeting. Participants of the event discussed issues on the joint struggle with organized crime, illegal drug trafficking, and terrorism.
Vilayyat Eyvazov, First Assistant of Azerbaijan Interior Minister, took part in the meeting. In his report, Mr. Eyvazov told about activities carried out in 2006.
Participants of the event discussed perspectives of the activity of the virtual centre, as well as organization and practical action plan for 2007.
Jonathan Henick, the Head of the Public Relations Department of the U.S. Embassy in Baku, informed Trend that Barry Lowenkron, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, will visit Baku in mid December 2006.
Mr. Henick said that the visit which was originally scheduled for 27-28 November, was delayed to mid-December due to a busy schedule.
Lowenkron is responsible for issues relating to democracy, human rights and labor. He plans to consider these issues in Baku with the Azerbaijani governmental officials.
Choudri Emir Hussein, Chairman of the National Assembly of Pakistan has been invited to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. Within his visit to Pakistan from November 29 to December 3, Eldar Ibrahimov, Head of the Interparliamentary Friendship between the two countries, delivered an invitation to visit Azerbaijan in the name of Ogtay Assadov, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis), a source in the Pakistani Embassy to Azerbaijan informed Trend.
During the meeting with the Pakistani Speaker, both parties discussed urgent issues of bilateral co-operation, as well as perspectives of the development of the interparliamentary relations.
During the visit, the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation met Mushakheed Hussein, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations, Khusrsud Kasuri, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Amman Ulah Khan Chadoun, Pakistan's Oil and Natural Resources Minister, Co-Chairman of the Pakistani-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Joint Commission, Jan Jamali, Acting Chairman of Pakistan's Senate. During the meetings held, opinions were exchanged on the possibility of increasing the level of bilateral relations. The parties emphasized the importance of providing mutual assistance to each other in international organizations.
The Azerbaijani MPs met Choudri Shudjat Hussein, President of Pakistan's ruling party and exchanged opinions on issues of co-operation between the ruling parties of the two countries.
The Azerbaijani MPs took part in a round table discussion of the topic Azerbaijan and Regional Energy Scenarios organized in the Haydi Azim Pakistani University.
During the meeting with Pakistani officials, the Azerbaijani MPs repeatedly raised the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issue. Within the visit, the Azerbaijani guests participated in the opening of the Azerbaijani section in the Pakistan Ethnographic Museum of Luk Virsa.
The Azerbaijani delegation to Pakistan included the Chairpersons of the three Permanent Commissions of the Milli Majlis, Eldar Ibrahimov, Khadi Radjabli, and Rabiyat Aslanova, as well as MPs Assim Molazadeh and Isa Khabibeyli.
The Head of Kuwait highly assesses the support provided by Azerbaijan during the occupation of Kuwait. Such opinion was voiced at the time of the meeting of Ali Hasanov, the Vice Prime of Azerbaijan and the Chairman for the State Committee for Work with Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, with high-ranking officials of Kuwait within the visit to Kuwait, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kuwait, Shahin Abdullayev, exclusively informed Trend.
Within the visit made on the invitation of the Chair of the Vagf Society of Kuwait Abdalli Maatuk al-Maatuk, the Azerbaijani Vice Prime met with the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad as-Sabah and the Chairman of the Parliament Jass Al-Kafari. During the meeting, the sides expressed readiness to develop the bilateral co-operation in all of the spheres, the Ambassador said.
During the meeting, debates were organized on the social problems of the Azerbaijani people which became refugees and internally displaced persons in result of the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan.
Hasanov has been in Kuwait since December 4. Within the visit, Hasanov has already met with the Vagf Society and the Head of the Red Crescent Society. The sides discussed the opportunities of increasing the volume of the humanitarian assistances provided by Kuwait to the refugees and internally displaced persons.
The Head of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Samad Seyidov, exclusively informed Trend that the next meeting of the PACE Committee on Honoring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe will take place in Paris on December 13. The meeting will also focus on the questions regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan.
He said that the reports which will take common character, will be included in the agenda of the PACE winter session. The co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee Andreas Herkel and Toni Lloyd will make speeches over Azerbaijan. The representatives of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE will also attend the meeting.
The winter session of the PACE will take place on January 22-26, 2007.
political life
Yeni Azarbaycan(New Azerbaijan) and Yedinaya Rossiya (One Russia) is very considerate and has good links, as well as an inter-party channel of communication, Azerbaijani MP Ali Ahmadov, Executive Secretary of ruling party Yeni Azarbaycan, who is participating in the work of the 7th Congress of the All-Russian Political Party Yedinaya Rossiya, has informed Trend Corresponding to Russia.
We think that such an approach has a very positive influence on interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. These relations are rapidly developing, and I think that the participation of our delegation in the work of the 7th Congress of Yedinaya Rossiya Party is proof that our nation has good relations and co-operation in all aspects, said Mr. Ahmadov
According to him the Yedinaya Rossiya Party is presently the most powerful and leading political force in Russia both in the development of democracy and the implementation of economic reforms in different spheres. Everywhere Yedinaya Rossiya is taking the leading role. He also said that a round table discussion devoted to programmes of the Party to be implemented in the forthcoming years had been held. And that also speaks about the fact that this party is not only the most powerful, but also the most advanced political force which plays a very important role in processes and events happening in modern Russia. And we very pleased about this, summarized the Executive Secretary of ruling party Yeni Azarbaycan.
Another Azerbaijani MP Mikhail Zabelin pointed out that despite its short history, Yedinaya Rossiya had taken a very serious place in the political life of Russia and it was actually the leading political force in the country. I think that our relations with Yedinaya Rossiya Party will help strengthen mutual understanding between our countries, as well as assist us to choose the most favorable ways to develop both parties, said Mr. Zabelin, and emphasized the importance of the experience exchange between the two parties.
MP Asim Molazadeh, Chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party of Azerbaijan has participated in an arrangement organized by the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce within his visit to U.S.A., the press-service of the Party told Trend.
He gave a speech in the Hudson Institute on the topic The Role of GUAM in the Stability, Economic Development, and Democratic Reforms in the Region. Representatives of a number of American research centers and foreign embassies took part in the event as well
Mr. Mollazadeh held meetings in the Pentagon. During the meeting with employees of the Eurasian Command of the US Defense Ministry, relations between US and Azerbaijan, as well as issues on resolving regional conflicts, GUAM, and the regional security issues were discussed.
The aim of the visit is to develop relations between US and Azerbaijan, discuss the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as corresponding American projects for Azerbaijan.
An issue on the complete formation of the Central Election Committee of Azerbaijan (CEC) is expected to be discussed in the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan Parliament) soon, said Safa Mirzoyev, Chief of the Apparatus of the Azerbaijani Parliament exclusively to Trend.
Mr. Mirzoyev said that parties Umud (Hope), Civil Solidarity Party, and Adalat have already nominated their representatives to CEC.
We are going to leave one seat vacant. Maybe Musavat Party will change its opinion and present a representative there, said Mr. Mirzoyev.
The Head of the Apparatus of the Azerbaijan Parliament expressed his attitude toward accusations of some opposition parties of the country concerning the prohibition to hold rallies in the centre of Baku City. Mr. Mirzoyev said that he had some objective reasons. We have explained those reasons to the opposition. At present, several bridges are under construction in different parts of Baku City. If permission on holding rallies in the centre of the Capital is given, then that will trigger serious problems for road traffic. Places considered for holding rallies have been presented to the opposition, said Mr. Mirzoyev.
The people pursuing the interests of the parties in the election commissions may permit subjectivity and impose certain obstacles for the democratic elections, the Chairman of Ana Veten Party, MP Fazail Agamali, informed Trend.
The representatives of the parties holding minority seats in the parliament should be elected to the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC). One representative from each opposition parties Umid, Adalat and Civil Solidarity Party will be appointed to the CEC. One representative from three parties, Great Establishment, Civil Unity and Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, will be appointed to the CEC too. One representative will be appointed from three parties, Social Welfare, Ana Veten and Democratic Reforms Party.
Agamali said that Social Welfare, Ana Veten and Democratic Reforms Party have agreed and elected the person who is not member of any party. There was no difference between us. Generally we consider that the election commissions should not ensure the interests of the parties, but democracy of the elections on base of the Electoral Code, Agamali said.
Ana Veten is a pro-governmental party and is represented in the Parliament by two members.
State Building
The Chairman of the National Council of Television and Radio of Azerbaijan, Nushiravan Maharramli, should appear to Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani Parliament] and make the situation clear regarding the termination of the broadcasting of ANS TV Channel. This proposal was made by MP Panah Huseyn on 5 December at the meeting of the Parliament, Trend reports. According to him, the situation needs to be clarified.
The Chairman of the Parliament, Oktay Asadov, also expressed his feelings towards this issue. Twenty-one Parliament Deputies have appealed to the President in relation with ANS TV, Asadov said. He stressed that the Head of the ANS Group of Companies had appealed to Parliament. We considered this appeal and it was revealed that ANS has wrongly established its work. The list we have is extensive and clear and therefore, it does not need to be exposed politically, Asadov said.
Ishig Koshaner, Commander-in-Chief of Turkey Gendarmerie, and the delegation he is heading are paying an official visit to Azerbaijan. Today, they got acquainted with a military unit and training centre of the Interior Troops of the Azerbaijan Interior Ministry located in Gala, Trend reports.
The Turkish guests observed military trainings of the Azerbaijan soldiers. Later they observed the military equipment.
They also got acquainted with the military education of the Azerbaijani officers at the Gala Military Training Centre. Centre functioned for three years.
On 6 December, the Commander of the Internal Troops of the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan, Zakir Hasanov, received the delegation headed by the Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie, Ishig Koshaner, who is on a visit to Baku, Trend reports.
Hasanov highly assessed the relations between the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan and Gendarmerie of Turkey. He stated that the Gendarmerie has played a significant role of the formation of the Internal Troops. Presently the Internal Troops has its own place in the ranks of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Hasanov said. In his turn, Ishig Koshaner stressed that they are interested in strengthening the relations between the two parties and expressed his gratitude to Hasanov for the warm reception received. The meeting focused mainly on the bilateral relations.
Zakir Hasanov, the Commander of the Interior Troops of Azerbaijan, said in talks with journalists on 6 December 2006 that the improvement of service battle training of the Interior Troops is the result of the work done by officers of the Turkish Gendarmerie Forces within the Interior Troops, Trend reports.
Our relationship with the Turkish Gendarmerie Forces is not at a high level. We are proud that over the past several years the Interior Forces has had an opportunity to utilize the experience and work of the Turkish Gendarmerie. The present service battle activity, high level of training of the Interior Troops is a result of the labor officers of the Turkish Gendarmerie Forces. I express my gratitude personally, and on behalf of the officers, to the Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Gendarmerie Forces, Ishik Koshaner. I hope in future the co-operation will be developed on a higher level, Hasanov stated.
Col.-Gen. Ramil Ussubov, Azerbaijan's Interior Minister has accepted Ishig Koshaner, Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Gendarmerie today, a source in the Azerbaijan Interior Office told Trend.
Mr. Ussubov expressed his satisfaction with the thorough assistance rendered to the Azerbaijani Interior Troops by the Turkish Gendarmerie. He pointed out that mainly owing the Turkish Gendarmerie Azerbaijani Interior Troops; officers had opportunities to obtain education and pass a period of trainee in Turkey. Opening the Military Training of Gala of the Interior Troops of Azerbaijan in Baku is one of the results of this assistance as well. Mr. Ussubov expressed his confidence that these relations would only developed in the future.
Mr. Koshaner expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani Interior Minister for such a warm welcome. He also pointed out that cooperation between Azerbaijani and Turkish Forces, including the Interior Troops of Azerbaijan and Turkey's Gendarmerie had successfully developed for many years. The Commander-in-Chief of the Turkey Gendarmerie said that this cooperation was serving ties between the two countries.
In Tehran, the Defense Minister of Iran Mustafa Mohammed Nadjar and Defense Industry Minister of Azerbaijan Yaver Jamalov discussed the ways of developing the co-operation between the two countries with regards to the defense industry, the Iranian Defense Ministry said, Trend reports with reference to IRNA. The sides confirmed the interests of Tehran and Baku in the future development and expansion of the relations in all of spheres. The Iranian side expressed readiness to present Azerbaijan its experience in the defense industry. Mentioning the importance of keeping and strengthening the peace and stability in the region, the Iranian Defense Minister highlighted the necessity of regulating the regional conflicts through constructive negotiations.
Col.-Gen. Ramil Ussubov, Azerbaijan's Interior Minister has accepted Ishig Koshaner, Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Gendarmerie today, a source in the Azerbaijan Interior Office told Trend.
Mr. Ussubov expressed his satisfaction with the thorough assistance rendered to the Azerbaijani Interior Troops by the Turkish Gendarmerie. He pointed out that mainly owing the Turkish Gendarmerie Azerbaijani Interior Troops; officers had opportunities to obtain education and pass a period of trainee in Turkey. Opening the Military Training of Gala of the Interior Troops of Azerbaijan in Baku is one of the results of this assistance as well. Mr. Ussubov expressed his confidence that these relations would only developed in the future.
Mr. Koshaner expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani Interior Minister for such a warm welcome. He also pointed out that cooperation between Azerbaijani and Turkish Forces, including the Interior Troops of Azerbaijan and Turkey's Gendarmerie had successfully developed for many years. The Commander-in-Chief of the Turkey Gendarmerie said that this cooperation was serving ties between the two countries.
Azerbaijan's Minister of National Security, Eldar Mahmudov, met today with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP (United Nations Development Program) Resident Representative, Marco Borsotti, as the latter recently completed his tenure in Azerbaijan, press service of the Ministry said.
Eldar Mahmudov highly appreciated Marco Borsotti's contribution to development of Azerbaijan-United Nations relations.
Mr. Borsotti said there is a social and political stability in Azerbaijan, describing this as a major guarantee for Azerbaijan's prosperity.
Marco Borsotti stressed the role of Azerbaijan's Ministry of National Security in providing security for diplomatic corps in the country.
The UN Resident Coordinator said despite completion of his tenure, he will remain a friend of Azerbaijan and its people.
В"The agreement signed between the bodies of Azerbaijan and France will help in rendering technical aid, and many other issues, said Kamaladdin Heydarov, Azerbaijan Emergency Minister at the briefing dedicated to the signing ceremony of the agreement between the Azerbaijan Emergency Ministry and the France Regional Planning Ministry, Trend reports.
Mr. Heydarov said that the agreement was of a great importance in the civil defense issues, elimination of fires and other emergency states, as well as the staff training, opinions exchange, education of employees of the corresponding bodies.
According to the Azerbaijani Minister, the Emergency Ministry will sign an agreement on purchasing equipment from France leading producers.
On December 13, the Interior Minister of the Russian Federation, Rashid Nurgaliyev, will arrive to Azerbaijan on an official visit, Trend reports with reference to the Press-Service of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry.
The visit is made on the invitation of the Azerbaijani Interior Minister Ramil Usubov. The Interior Ministers of the two countries will meet within the visit. The meeting will focus on strengthening the co-operation between the force bodies of the two countries and the prospects of the co-operation between the Interior Ministers of the two countries, as well as on the co-operation plan for 2007-2008.