...

Political review of the last week

Politics Materials 9 February 2007 12:00 (UTC +04:00)

Official news

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, said in his interview with the Figaro Newspaper that the military operations against Iran would be a catastrophe for the whole region.

According to him, it needs to minimize the threat of the military conflict in the region that sustains many crises. Any possibility of the military operations is of concern for us, the Leader of Azerbaijan said, adding that it would be a great mistake and catastrophe for the region.

Answering the question if Azerbaijan allows the flight of airplanes over its territory in case the USA begins military operations against Iran, Aliyev replied that Baku can not do anything that may bring harm to the relation with the neighbors. We have very good relations with Iran settled by nearly 30 mln Azerbaijanis, he said.

In addition, the President of Azerbaijan expressed his doubt about the effectiveness of the international sanctions against Tehran. The U.N. Security Council has the right to resolve how it considers, but I do not consider that the sanctions will be effective, he said, saying that such measures yield negative results more that positive results.

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, who begun his visit to Paris on January 29, said in his interview with the Figaro Newspaper that Azerbaijan sees itself as a significant supplier of the energy resources for Europe. According to him, Baku, by beginning its pipeline projects, did not foresee the demands of Europe. These demands became clear when our system was launched. This year we will be able to export one million barrels of oil in a day with the help of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the President said. In addition, Aliyev said that the gas pipe Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum is ready and large-scale field Shah Deniz, which possesses 1,000 bln cu.m. of gas, has begun to be exploited. In November we reached an agreement with the European Union on the strategic energy partnership and Azerbaijan became a faithful source of the energy for Europe, Azerbaijani President said, ITAR-TASS reports.

Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan President, started his visit to France. He said during his interview with the French Newspaper Figaro that Azerbaijan will never agree with the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.

France is taking part as a mediator in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict together with Russia and France.

The Azerbaijan leader made Armenia responsible for the lack of progress in the peaceful negations on the issue. According to him, the so-called referendum on the constitution of the self-proclaimed republic organized in Nagorno-Karabakh in December, 2006 was totally illegal. Armenia should realize that we shall never agree with the independence of this territory, вЂ" said the Azerbaijan President. President Aliyev assured that official Baku offered the maximal broad autonomy to the region but as a part of Azerbaijan to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Answering the question concerning the liability of the resolution of the conflict by military force, Mr. Aliyev said that economic capacity and political weight of the country would eventually give Azerbaijan means and instruments to liberate the occupied territories. However we still prefer to achieve our ends peacefully, not by military force, said Azerbaijan President, Trend reports referring to ITAR-TASS.

On January 29th the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, held an official meeting at the French President's Residence, Elysee Palace, Trend reports.

During the one-to-one talks the President of France, Jacques Chirac said that in the past co-operation between Azerbaijan and France has been progressing and the Year of Azerbaijan in France will be organized this year. Our relationships are important and fruitful in political and economic aspects, President Chirac noted.

President Aliyev in turn noted that it was an honor to pay a State visit to France. The Azerbaijani leader paid his first official visit after the election of the President to France.

The heads of states had an exchange of opinions on energy projects, the state of affairs in the South Caucasus and the Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time President Aliyev stressed the significance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum projects. He recalled a memorandum on Mutual Understanding and Strategic Partnership on energy issues between Azerbaijan and the European Union signed during a visit to Brussels in November 2006. The head of state stressed that Azerbaijan will become the first country to deliver oil and gas from the Caspian region to the European market. This is the decision of Azerbaijan, he stated.

Touching on the situation in the region, President Chirac stressed that France would welcome peace and stability in the region where Azerbaijan is located. The Presidents discussed the current state of talks on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

With respect to the last visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region President Aliyev attributed the last meetings useful. The last talks of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia were held in Minsk. Armenia should put an end to its aggressive policy and afterwards the stability should be ensured in the region.

In turn President Chirac stated that France as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair uses its power and opportunities for the rapid establishment of peace in the region, repatriation of refugees and internally displaced people.

On the same day an official reception was held at Elysee Palace on behalf of the French President Jaques Chirac and his wife Bernadet Chirac in honor of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva.

On January 29th a ceremony for awarding the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with the order Commander of Great Cross of Honorable Legion and the President of France, Jacque Chirac, with order of Heydar Aliyev took place in Yelisey Palace, Trend reports. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, presented a carpet woven with Jacque Chirac's portrait to the French President. Subsequently, the President of France, Jacque Chirac, presented a memorable gift to the President of Azerbaijan.

Awarding the high order of France to Ilham Aliyev, Jacque Chirac said: in 2004, I sent the order of Honourable Legion to your father, for whom I had profound respect and great feelings of friendship. I felt great emotion at sending this award to you. But now, you have arrived in our country on the first state visit. Therefore, I want with great satisfaction to award the higher order of France to you - Commander of Great Cross of Honorable Legion. As you know, this order was founded by Napoleon and all French people adhere to the signs and medal of their country.

Awarding Heydar Aliyev order to the French President, Ilham Aliyev said: Dear Mr. President today is very important to me. It is a great honor to receive the high order of France. You noted that three years ago when I was on an official visit to France, I succeeded in receiving the order which had been awarded to the President, Heydar Aliyev. Your personal friendship played a special role in the development of French-Azerbaijani relations. Due to your joint activities, French-Azerbaijani relations developed and reached the highest level. We very successfully co-operate in all areas, including political, economical and cultural spheres.

Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan President, said during his speech with public at the French capital after the meeting with the Paris Mayor, Bertrand Delanier that the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan resulted in the occupation of 20% of Azerbaijan territory and expel of over 1 mln people from their homes and lands. We consider that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored, said the Azerbaijan President, Trend reports referring to ANS TV Channel.

The Head of the Azerbaijan State said that one country occupying the territory of another one in 21st Century could not be justified. He also said that being a Chair of OSCE Minsk Group, France is taking active part in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and expressed hope that all the conflicts available in South Caucasus would be resolved soon and peace would be restored in the region.

The Azerbaijani President also touched upon the issue on regional projects and noted that large-scale energy projects played an important role in the issue on ensuring the energy security of both Azerbaijan and Europe as a whole. According to the calculations made by the World Bank (WB), Azerbaijan will gain $140 bln. in return from the implementation of oil and gas projects. Mr. Aliyev also said that carrying out political reforms and developing democracy were among the key aims of the country along with its economic success.

On January 31, on the final day of the visit to France, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, left for Lill city to hold meeting in the chamber of trade and industry. The President of Azerbaijan said that after this visit, the relations between France and Azerbaijan will transfer to a new stage, adding that the good political relations create favorable conditions for the economical co-operation, Trend reports with reference to ANS.

Aliyev invited the business people of this region to Azerbaijan to develop their business and said that presently good conditions have been created in the country. The State Head of Azerbaijan underlined that one of the important factors attracting the investments in Azerbaijan is that there is political stability in the country.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan is still developing and that the economical growth over the recent period equals 35%. It creates conditions for implementing new projects. He said that presently Azerbaijan intends to increase number of the infrastructure projects and from this point of view, the French companies may co-operate with Azerbaijan.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan also co-operates with France within the European Union and has already made its contribution in the energy security of Europe.

Azer Gasimov, the Press-Secretary of the Azerbaijan President, said that the joint declaration signed between the Azerbaijan and French Presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Jacques Chiraque indicates the fact about the intention of the latter to pay an official visit to Baku in the first half of 2007.

Relations between Azerbaijan and France are developing very successfully in all directions вЂ" political, economic, humanitarian, and cultural. A great importance was attached to the visit of the Azerbaijan President to France. Every year France receives not more than three state visits. Last year, the Country received two state visits. President Aliyev has paid a state visit to France and it speaks once more about the importance the French party attached to the visit.

The countries are successfully holding a political dialogue with each other. The Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was discussed during the visit as well. As it was indicated in the joint declaration, France supports the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and that is extremely important, said Mr. Gasimov.

The negotiations on economic issues held within the visit brought their positive results as well. Particularly, the Azerbaijan party concluded an agreement on buying 6 Airbuses. French companies showed a great interest to the visit. Practical steps are expected to be taken in the issue on development of economic relations between the two countries, in the non-oil sector in particular.

On February 1, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has received the U. N. Resident-Coordinator, Marco Borsotti due to his completing the tenure in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The Azerbaijani President highly appreciated Mr. Borsotti's activities in the country. And noted that in 2006, U. N. projects implemented in the fields of education, healthcare and other humanitarian projects in the country were a success. He expressed confidence that this cooperation would be further developed.

Mr. Borsotti expressed his satisfaction with his activity in Azerbaijan.

On February 1, Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev has received Izzatullah Zarghami, the Chairman of the Iranian TV and Radio Company.

President Aliyev described Azerbaijani-Iranian relations as successfully developing in different fields. He noted that this visit would give an impetus to the development of cooperation in the field of TV and radio between the two countries.

Mr. Zarghami conveyed greetings from Iranian President Muhammad Ahmadinejad to the Azerbaijani leader. He expressed confidence that the two countries' cooperation in the field of TV and radio would expand like in other fields of cooperation between the two countries.

On February 1, Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev has received Izzatullah Zarghami, the Chairman of the Iranian TV and Radio Company, Trend reports

President Aliyev described Azerbaijani-Iranian relations as successfully developing in diferent fields. He noted that this visit would give an impetus to the development of cooperation in the field of TV and radio between the two countries.

Mr. Zarghami conveyed greetings from Iranian President Muhammad Ahmadinejad to the Azerbaijani leader. He expressed confidence that the two countries' cooperation in the field of TV and radio would expand like in other fields of cooperation between the two countries

According to the diplomat, during negotiations, attention will be paid to the economical co-operation of the two countries. During the visit, the President of Azerbaijan will be accompanied by a big delegation of the business people. During the visit, there are plans to hold a business forum in Berlin with the participation of business people of the two countries. Ilham Aliyev is expected to make a speech at the forum. The interest towards Azerbaijan is increasing in Germany due to Azerbaijan transforming into an economical leader of the region. Germany seeks for alternative energy sources, and the rich energy resources of Azerbaijan are of great interest to Germany, Agayev said.

According to Agayev, bilateral documents are not expected to be signed during the visit because recently, a legal agreement base between the two countries has been satisfactorily enriched by the signing of a number of bilateral agreements.

On February 2, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has met representatives of youth organizations operating in the country and young prodigies on the occasion of the Youth Day, Trend reports referring to National AzTV.

The Head of the Azerbaijani State congratulated the youth on their holiday. He noted that the All-Nation Leader, Heydar Aliyev, paid a particular attention to the youth.

The President also noted that the state constantly paid attention to solve social problems our youth faced, and stressed that measures taken on the social mortgage would keep on in the future.

Mr. Aliyev said that he was happy with the patriotism of the Azerbaijani youth. Our strength is measured not only by political and economic criteria. Our strength should be measured by our army. The strong army means that we can liberate our native lands at any time convenient to us, concluded the Azerbaijani President.

Parliament

The Chairman of Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), Oktay Asadov, stated at the first meeting of Parliament on February 1st that the Government of Azerbaijan will present a report on the social-economical results of 2006 at the 5th meeting of the spring session of Parliament.

He stressed that the Commissioner on Human Rights (Ombudsman), Elmira Suleymanova and the Department for Work with the Municipalities of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice will also present their reports. According to Asadov, the spring session of Parliament intends to focus on 28 draft laws. In addition, the President of Azerbaijan Republic, Supreme Court, Prosecutor's Office of Republic and Higher Assembly of Nakchivan Autonomous Republic also have the right to present draft laws to Parliament with legislative initiatives. The agenda of the spring session of Parliament includes a special item and projects sent with legislative initiatives will be discussed, Asadov said.

The spring session of Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) commenced on February 1st, Trend reports. Opening the meeting of the legislative body of Azerbaijan, the Speaker of Parliament, Oktay Asadov, stated that the Parliament successfully completed 2006. He stressed that he supports social-economical and other reforms happening in Azerbaijan and that significant steps have been taken to create a legislative base for these processes.

Milli Majlis fully supports the reforms held by the President of Azerbaijan. In 2006 the Parliament held 19 meetings and confirmed 94 laws, Asadov said.

Discussions began after Asadov's speech. Firstly a Member of Parliament expressed their attitude to the decision of the Tariff Council of Azerbaijan on increasing prices for energy carriers and communal services. It was stated that the decision should be assessed positively. The legislators of Azerbaijan consider that this decision will foster social-economical development of the country. In addition, the members of Parliament stressed that the President of Azerbaijan had issued a number of orders to prevent an adverse impact of the decision in the interests of the poorer layers of the public.

Nagorno-Karabakh

After four days of meetings, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Yuri Merzylakov вЂ" Russian Federation; Ambassador Bernard Fassier вЂ" France; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza вЂ" United States) are encouraged by the constructive approach of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they seek to finalize a set of basic principles for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports referring to the statement received from the US Embassy in Azerbaijan.

The Co-Chairs appreciate the efforts of all the interlocutors they met during the week. It is the responsibility of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the assistance of the Co-Chairs, to find a lasting, peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The presidents are defending their national interests vigorously, and they are doing so in a way that allows the peace process to continue moving forward.

The Co-Chairs urge all parties to sustain momentum in the negotiations and to prepare their public for the necessary compromises. At the same time, the Co-Chairs urge continued pursuit of confidence-building measures and maintenance of the ceasefire to increase the level of trust and understanding between the sides.

The Russian Co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, Yuri Merzylakov, exclusively informed Trend that OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (USA, France and Russia) will hold the next consultations regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in the second half of February.

He said hat presently the co-chairs are holding negotiations between themselves with regards to the future process of the negotiations. Touching upon the issue that during the recent visit to the region, the Co-chairs met with only Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh, Merzylakov justified it through the lack of time and that after the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan they had to leave.

Armenians themselves gave a favorable opportunity at the Council of Europe to unmask Armenia, and we will use this chance, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), MP Rafael Huseynov, briefed the media, Trend reports.

He stressed that Azerbaijani deputies were not provided with time to make a speech at the PACE winter session during discussions over the obligations of Armenia undertaken before the Council of Europe, as a result of Armenian provocation. Clearly the Armenians instigated certain officials in the PACE Secretariat so that discussions over the obligations of Armenia; which was first one on the agenda, were transferred to the end. Armenians mainly made speeches during discussions over the obligations of Armenia. Azerbaijani and Turkish deputies were transferred to the end of the list, Huseynov said. According to him, the PACE Head promised to clarify this question. Huseynov added that it will be clear that at the instigation of Armenians, officials distorted the list.

Commenting the statement made by Bernard Fassier, the OSCE French Co-Chairman to press concerning the fact that EU should cooperate with the countries within the EU Neighbourhood Action Plan and not to be occupied with the resolution of the conflict, Peter Semneby, the EU Special Representative to South Caucasus, has exclusively informed Trend that EU has intensions to maintain efforts taken by OSCE Minsk Group in the issue on the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Mr. Semneby said that he had already said that and restated it once more that OSCE Minsk Group, engaged in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is what is currently available. EU has supported and keeps on supporting their efforts in this respect.

The head of Armenia says and presents to the world the things, which it can not directly say, via the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group support Armenia in several aspects, the Head of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh and Head of the Executive Power of Shusha City of Azerbaijan, Nizami Bahramov, informed Trend, expressing his attitude towards the recent statement of the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Bahmanov considers that the meeting with the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh during the recent visit of the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to the region took place on the initiative of the Russian co-chair. The Co-chairs stated that the Presidents of the two countries protect their own interests. The position and national interests of Azerbaijan are clear вЂ" we have no intentions of ignoring the international norms. It turns out that Armenia is protecting its own interests, means that it has not given up its occupant policy. Because it is clear all over the world that the divisions of the Armenian armed forces have occupied the territories of Azerbaijan and the occupant country wants to connect Nagorno-Karabakh with its territory. We cannot agree with the pretensions of Armenia, Bahmanov said.

He added that the authorized representatives of the international organizations met with the Azerbaijani community. The Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh wishes to actively participate in defining the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, answerd Trend Correspondent to Moscow, during the today annual press-conference with mass media representatives that Russia military presence in Armenia is not aimed against Azerbaijan, Trend Correspondent to Moscow reports. According to him, the Russian military bases in Armenia are those which have been left from the Soviet Union. The Russian President said that Russian soldiers have not left those FSU countries, where authorities did not object it. Mr. Putin gave Tajikistan as an example, and noted that Russia had brought the corresponding legal base in accordance with the corresponding requirements.

The Russian military bases in Armenia are not aimed against any country located in the region, including the interests of Azerbaijan, said Mr. Putin, and emphasized that the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was a matter of these two countries.

According to him, Russia does its best to help both the Azerbaijan and Armenian parties in finding an appropriate resolution of the issue, but that ought to be a consensus of mutual advantage. According to him, Russia cannot impose their decisions to anybody. If we attempt to do it, then we should certainly harm our relations either with the Armenian or Azerbaijani parties, said the Russian President and called up the both parties not to shift off this issue on Russia.

Though the Council of Europe (CE) does not participate in talks on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the organization attentively observes the dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers and Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Jean-Louis Loran, the CE Director General on Political Issues, who is currently visiting Azerbaijan, stated on February 2nd.

Mr. Loran voiced his hope that talks will end with a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He noted that while entering CE, Azerbaijan and Armenia undertook an obligation with respect to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Over the past five years, I have stated that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict does not belong to my authorities, said the Head of the UN Baku Office, Marco Borsoti, who completed his term in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

According to him, all actions of the UNO in resolving this question depend on the decisions of the Security Council and General Assembly. If we are charged to work in this sphere, the direction of the work will be defined by the Secretary General of the organization, but at presently such a decision has not been made and it would be inaccurate to interfere in the conflict's settlement because another organization, OSCE, has been involved in the settlement, Borsoti said.

The Press Secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Karapetyan, informed www.regnum.ru that presently consultations are being held on specifying the date and place of the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to him, the consultations are being held on the meeting at the end of February or beginning of March. The first meeting in 2007 was held between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the end of January in Moscow. After the meeting of the Foreign Ministers, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group visited region and met with the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, Trend reports.

The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan makes clear the situation with the Armenian company Amistad-tour, which organizes tourist tours to Nagorno-Karabakh said the Chief of the Press and Information Policy Department of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry, Tahir Tagizade, to Trend, commenting on the information on the activities of the Armenian company, which, within international tourism exhibition in Madrid, spread booklets regarding organizing tourist tours to occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Company Amistad-tour published the map of Nagorno-Karabakh as an dependent state in its advertisement booklets.

According to him, the Ministry takes relevant measures in this respect through the assistance of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Spain. The Chief of the Head Tourism Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan, Aydin Ismiyev, said that this question is also on the focus of attention of the Ministry. Azerbaijan and Armenia have been represented in Madrid exhibition for the first time.

Foreign Policy

The next meeting of the Committee of National Co-ordinators of Organization for Democracy and economic Development вЂ" GUAM will take place on between March 15th and 16th in Kiev, the Administrative Director of the Information Office of the Organization, Georgia Nazarov, exclusively informed Trend.

According to him, the meeting of the national co-ordinators will be dedicated to the meeting of experts in Kiev.

Representatives of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldavia will discuss the questions linked with the future activities of the Organization. Azerbaijan will be represented at the meeting by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov.

Gultakin Hajiyeva, a Member of the Milli Majlis and Member of the Azerbaijan parliamentary delegation to PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe) informed journalists that no concrete decision concerning the possible visit of the Azerbaijan and Armenian parliamentary delegations to PACE to Nagorno-Karabakh has been taken, Trend reports.

She said that a proposal on the possible visit of the both delegations to PACE jointly with PACE representatives to Nagorno-Karabakh had been put forward during the last meeting of the PACE Subcommittee for Nagorno-Karabakh.

The objective of the Subcommittee is to establish whether Resolution 1416 on the Nagorno-Karabakh fulfils or not. The Resolution was adopted by PACE in January, 2005. If a necessity arises, Lord Russell Johnston, the Chairman of the PACE Subcommittee, will visit the region. The date of this visit has not been determined yet, said the Azerbaijani MP.

Kemal Arslan, the Chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry of the Turkish Province of Igdir, said during the meting with representatives of Azerbaijan leading media sources that all shortcomings in the issue on cooperation between the Turkish province and Azerbaijan have been eliminated, Trend Special Correspondent to Igdir reports.

According to him, favorable and interesting conditions for establishing mutual-advantageous cooperation of entrepreneurs of Igdir, Nakhchivan, and the whole Azerbaijan have been created. Last shortcomings and difficulties for Turkish businessmen due to the visas have been eliminated as well. The recently-taken decision on reducing the visa cost for Turkish entrepreneurs from $50 down to $15 is expected to be put into force in the immediate future. Mr. Arslan emphasized Igdir entrepreneur's interest in reinforcing business relations with both the Nakhchivan enclave of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan as a whole. He also marked the wish to see Azerbaijan businessmen in Igdir. We are going to render thorough assistance to the Azerbaijan party in this issue, he said. According to Mr. Arslan, the spheres that may involve the Azerbaijan party are cattle farming, reprocessing of agricultural goods, and tourism.

Mr. Arslan said that trade relations between Igdir and Azerbaijan was commenced in 1993, when the commodity turnover was $13mln, in 1996-1998, this figures equaled $76mln. The last year figure equals $57mln.

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan, Andreas Herkel exclusively informed Trend that the PACE co-rapporteurs, Andreas Herkel and Tony Lloyd, will visit Azerbaijan after discussing the present report at the spring session of the PACE. According to him, the co-rapporteurs do not plan to visit the region unless report is discussed by PACE in April or July. In addition, he said that the Government of Azerbaijan has undertaken a number of obligations before the Council of Europe and part of these obligations have not been fulfilled yet.

The Administrative Director of the Information Office of Organization for Democracy and economic Development вЂ" GUAM, Georgi Nazarov, exclusively informed Trend that the Secretariat of the Organization is expected to be opened in August or at the beginning of fall. According to him, the Secretariat is a new body in Organization for Democracy and economic Development вЂ" GUAM and is created according to the decision of the heads of GUAM participating countries.

Nazarov said that a new configuration вЂ" Council of Permanent Representatives вЂ" will be created and accredited under the Secretariat. Each participating country will send its representative to the Secretariat. According to the decision of the state heads, the permanent headquarter of the Secretariat will be located in Kiev. Nazarov said that the Government of Ukraine has allocated finances from its state budget for the creation of the Secretariat, adding that a building for the Secretariat has already been selected and presently capital construction is being carried out. The work is expected to be completed at the beginning of fall.

A regional conference, which object is to get acquainted its participants with local administrative offices of Germany started its work in Köln on January 22, 2007. Trend has been informed in the Press-Service of the Milli Majlis, an Azerbaijan MP, Tahir Rzayev is participating at the event.

The arrangement organized for representatives of Azerbaijan and Georgia by the German Technical Cooperation Society is focused at discussing the development of the regional infrastructure, legislation in this field, economic and strategic policy carried out in the regions, planning lands, and many other topics. Within the present visit, participants of the arrangement are to visit German cities, exchange opinions with leaders of the state offices and municipalities of the country. The visit will last till February 2.

The Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan, Afshar Suleymani, said that the decision of Iran on simplification of the visit regime with Azerbaijan will be announced in the near future, Trend reports. He said that after a special agreement was signed between Azerbaijan and Iran, which envisages the simplification of the visa regime for those who pass through the border in Nakchivan, the Cabinet of Ministers of Iran considered the details of the document.

The Governments of Azerbaijan and Georgia set up arrangements for the Azerbaijani President's forthcoming visit to Georgia.

During the visit, scheduled for February 7th 2007 the Azerbaijani President together with the Turkish Prime Minister, Rejep Tayyub Erdogan and the Georgian President Mikhael Saakashvili are expected to attend the opening of Tbilisi airport.

There are also plans to sign an agreement on the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway route.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, stated on January 29th at a national seminar on the application of the Convention of the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction in Azerbaijan Republic that a national bill will be created on the banning of chemical weapons.

According to the Deputy Minister, Azerbaijan has joined the Convention and from the first day of its application has undertaken to make full efforts to fulfill obligations while applying the document. He said that Azerbaijan does not retreat from any of these obligations. Presently the State faces plans to bring national legislation into conformity with international legislation and co-ordinate the activities of State bodies in this respect. Azimov underlined. He stressed that once chemical weapons have been used outside of the South Caucasus region, they may be used again.

The diplomat said that Azerbaijan, with its opportunities, is not liable to use its chemical industry to create a center of danger in the region, he said. The representative of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Sergey Kiselev, stated at the seminar that the European Union wants to be sure that Azerbaijan will not use its chemical industry for creating chemical weapons. He positively assessed the activities of Azerbaijan in applying the Convention. According to him, over this period, Azerbaijan has presented a list of chemical enterprises and a number of meetings have been held between the experts of Azerbaijan and representatives of the Convention. He mentioned the necessity of continuing these contacts.

Organized with the support of the European Union, the seminar brings together representatives of the State bodies of Azerbaijan. The seminar will last till February 1st.

The agenda for the conference on the Khojali tragedy, which will take place on February 25th in the Hague, has been prepared, Trend reports referring to the Municipality of Igdir Province of Turkey which is one of the organizers of the conference.

The conference will begin with protocol negotiations after which slides of the tragedy will be viewed. The outstanding Turkish Professor, Enver Konukchu, will preside at the first part of the conference. Speeches will be made by the Turkish diplomat, Ambassador; Bilal Shimshir, org-general; Nejati Ozgen, Director of the History Institute of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences; Yagub Mahmudov, candidate of historical sciences; Kerim Shukurov and historian-researcher; Yalchin Sarikaya. The second part of the conference will be chaired by Yagub Mahmudov and speeches will be made by the Turkish Professors; Enver Konukchu and Metin Ozturk, Deputy of the Azerbaijani Parliament; Hevva Mammadova and historian-scientists; Aslanturk Akyildiz and Sefa Yoryukel.

Reports will be dedicated to topics such as Foreign policy of Armenia, occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and Khojali genocide, Regain of independence of Azerbaijan and Armenians, Turkish approach to Khojali genocide and Armenian vandalism and Khojali genocide.

The conference will be attended by the Consular General of Azerbaijan in Kars, Hasan Zeynalov.

Gianni Buquicchio, the Secretary of the Council of Europe Venice Commission, exclusively informed Trend that a new meeting with authorities with respect to the Electoral Code is envisaged in Baku in March 2007.

With regards to the Law on Freedom of Assembly, VC expressed its readiness to examine the amendments prepared by the authorities with a view to improving the text. This should hopefully take place in the first half of 2007, and training and awareness on raising activities on the revised law could subsequently be organized in Baku, in co-operation with the OSCE Office, he advised.

The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe has been co-operating with Azerbaijan for more than 10 years, Mr. Buquicchio added. Azerbaijan has come a long way and I believe that we can achieve more by co-operating in a constructive manner. The Electoral Code and Law on Freedom of Assembly are indeed very important for consolidating democracy in your country.

The Governor of the Turkish Province of Kars, Mehmet Ufuk Erden, briefed representatives of the Azerbaijani media that the opening of the railway line Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku will play a significant role in the development of Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, a Trend Special Correspondent reports.

Opening the railway link will serve in activating commercial-economical relations between the countries. He added that opening a direct air link Kars-Baku may also play an important role in establishing bilateral relations.

Erden also expressed an interest in bilateral investments of Kars. Business people of Kars are working in Azerbaijan and the distribution of investments by Azerbaijani entrepreneurs would be beneficial to Kars, he said.

Among the areas that may be interesting for the Azerbaijani investor, Erden mentioned cattle breeding, industry and tourism. In addition, he stressed that there are no commercial relations between Kars and Armenia.

The Chairman of Kars Municipality of Turkey, Naif Alibeyoglu, briefed representatives of the Azerbaijani media on January 30th that as long as Armenia occupies Azerbaijani lands, we do not intend to start talks with them, a Trend Special Correspondent reports.

According to him, a false impression emerged in Azerbaijan that Kars wishes to open borders with Armenia. He stressed that the inhabitants of Kars and he himself are against the opening of borders with Armenia unless Armenia releases the occupied Azerbaijani lands, recognizes the Turkish borders and gives up the question regarding the so-called Armenian genocide.

We do not see Armenia as an attractive market for Turkey, Alibeyoglu said. Since his election as the Head of Kars Municipality, Alibeyoglu previously made pro-Armenian statements and supported the opening of the borders with Armenia.

The Chairman of Kars Municipality of Turkey, Naif Alibeyoglu, briefed representatives of the Azerbaijani media on January 30th that for Kars, the project of the railway link Baku-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi is more significant than Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, a Trend Special Correspondent reports.

According to him, Turkey sees the future of its commercial and economical relations in the region of Caucasus and Asia which brings together 159 mln people and has the potential of a trade turnover in amount of $250 bln. Kars will gain from the opening of the railway link Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku and it will allow the development of relations in various fields, especially in economy, he said. In addition, Alibeyoglu highlighted the great importance of opening air flights Baku-Kars-Istanbul or Baku-Nakchivan-Kars.

Alibeyoglu supports the development of commercial-economical relations with Azerbaijan and revealed intentions to realize mutual visits of entrepreneurs.

A national roundtable "Armed Forces Welfare and The Democratic Society" will be held in Baku from between February 13th and 14th at the initiative of the OSCE Baku Office.

The event aims to introduce the range of benefits resulting from decentralizing welfare issues, as a first confidence-building step towards democratic control of the armed forces.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Turkey, Zakir Hashimov, arrived in the Kars Province of Turkey to hold meetings with the Governor Mehmet Ufuk Erden, Commander of the 14th mechanical brigade, Erjan Okan and Head of the Municipality, Naif Alibayoglu, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Turkey.

During the meeting, the Ambassador informed them on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and each of three representatives of Turkey confirmed the impossibility of opening Turkish borders with Armenia.

In addition, the erection of a monument dedicated to the friendship between Turkey and Armenia in the center of Kars, on which a decision had been made by the Kars municipality, has been stopped.

Marco Borsotti, the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Azerbaijan stated in talks with journalists on January 31st that along with the energy sector Azerbaijan should develop other alternative sources, Trend reports.

I am not saying Azerbaijan will exhaust energy resources as time goes by, it is dealt with the necessity to develop the non-oil sector, in particular, alternative sources, the UN Resident Co-ordinator noted. The key task of the Azerbaijani Government is to apply this strategy efficiently, invest in human resources, diversify the sector of information technology and develop ICT through the establishment of free economic zones, he added.

The Advisor of the Azerbaijan Embassy in Pakistan, Sabir Rzayev, exclusively informed Trend that the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Muhammad Mian Sumro, will make a visit to Baku. The invitation to visit Azerbaijan has already been delivered to the Head of the legislative body of Pakistan. The date of the visit has not been agreed yet, but it is expected to be realized this year. It is planned to, during the visit, hold discussions over the development of the inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries and exchange of views on regional and international situation and interaction within the international organizations.

On 1 February 2007 the European Court on Human Rights will announce its resolution regarding the claims of the Azerbaijani citizens, Nabat Ramazanova, Emin Zeynalov, Zarifa Ganbarova and Eldar Alizadeh, who represent NGO.

They rely on Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association), Article 6 В§ 1 (right to a fair hearing) and Article 13 (right to an effective remedy).

The Political Adviser of the Azerbaijan Embassy in Italy, Mammad Ahmadzade, exclusively informed Trend that military-political consultations will be held between Azerbaijan and Italy on February 5-6 in Rome. According to him, Azerbaijan delegation headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov, will visit Italy to participate in the consultations. The diplomat said that the consultations will take place at the Foreign Ministry of Italy. In addition, the Azerbaijan delegation will hold meeting in the Parliament of Italy, particularly negotiations with the Head of Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Relations and Defense regarding the co-operation with the European Union and with the representatives of the international organizations. Within the visit, it is planned to participate in the event organized by the Department for Formation of International Opinion. The Advisor said that no documents are planned to be signed within the visit. According to him, the visit is aimed at conducting consultations on qu
estions of mutual interest and questions of international and bilateral character.

Azerbaijan delegation headed by Gudsi Osmanov, Azerbaijan Consul General to Saint-Petersburg, started their visit to the Russian Republic of Karelia on January 29, a source in the Azerbaijan Consul General to the Russian Northern Capital informed Trend. During the visit, Mr. Osmanov is expected to meet the Chairman of the Legislative Council of Karelia, Mr. N. N. Levin, Minister for National and Political Issues of the Republic, Mr. A. A. Manin, Mayor of Petrozavodsk City, Mr. V. N. Maslyakov, Minister of Interior of the Republic, Mr. I. V. Aleshin, Public Prosecutor of Karelia, Mr. O. V. Dupak. During the meeting, bilateral relations in different spheres between Azerbaijan and the Russian Republic, formation and consolidation of the Azerbaijan Diaspora, solving issues with our compatriots living and working there, will be discussed.

Political Movements

The Co-chairman of Azadlyg Block, Ali Aliyev, informed Trend that Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) will not leave, but continue its activities in the Block.

On January 30th the Council of Co-chairmen of the Block held a meeting which focused on the decision made by the ADP High Assembly, the position on erecting a monument of the ex-President of Azerbaijan, Abulfaz Elchibay and the next mass action of the Block. According to Aliyev, it became clear during discussions that no changes have been made to the strategic goals and political course of the ADP and will remain as the Co-founder of Azadlyg. Information spread in the media has made ADP's position clearer. The First Deputy Chairman of ADP, Sardar Jalaloglu, openly stated that no changes have been made to the political course of the ADP. The ADP will participate in all mass actions of Azadlyg Block, Aliyev said.

According to Aliyev, several forces have distorted the decision of the ADP High Assembly. He said that the change of the ADP political course is linked with the initiative of the party to establish a political dialogue between party and power. Taking into consideration the tension in relations between the Government and the opposition, ADP invites the ruling New Azerbaijan Party to political talks and undertakes the mission of mediator for discussing problems between the Government and the opposition. We need to, in the future, transform relations that will be established between ADP and New Azerbaijan Party into relations between Government and opposition in general, Aliyev said.

The Head of the Central Executive Apparat of Musavat Party of Azerbaijan, Arif Hajili, informed Trend that on January 31st that the Party sent a letter to the Executive Power of Baku City.

The letter requests a permit to hold a rally on February 18th from 16:00 to 18:00 from Hazi Aslanov metro station to Ukrainian Square.

After holding an action on January 26th to protest against the decision of the Tariff Council of Azerbaijan on increasing prices for energy carriers and communal services, the opposition Musavat Party scheduled the next rally via this route.

The Government of Azerbaijan has always supported the constructive co-operation with any parties in Azerbaijan, the Head of the Social-Political Department of the Executive Apparat of the Azerbaijani President, Ali Hasanov, exclusively informed Trend, commenting on the decision of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party on replacing radical policy with a constructive path.

Hasanov said that the Government considers the opposition parties as their rivals. We have always paid attention to constructive ideas of our opponents directed towards the development of Azerbaijan. If the Azerbaijan Democratic Party and other parties choose a constructive way, this will be welcomed by us, Hasanov said. Hasanov justified the change of position of the radical party because the fact that radicalism cannot find social support in Azerbaijan. We have been observing this radicalism since 1993. Over this period, most opposition parties held a radical position towards the Government. Therefore, they lost elections. It means that radicalism is not accepted by the Azerbaijani community, he said.

Hasanov spelled out that in all public parties, people reject radical policy and prefer normal relations. Certainly our opposition understands that after 15 years of hostility towards the Government and intentionally slandering initiatives of the Government does not have any prospects in and out Azerbaijan, he under

Latest

Latest