Official News
on February 12, Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev awarded and conferred a group of intellectual people of the country with orders and honorary titles respectively, Trend reports. He congratulated them and emphasized that they were well-known for their great services in the social, political, and cultural life of the country.
The Head of the Azerbaijan State presented the "Independence" Order to People Poet, Gabil Imamverdiyev, "The Flag of Azerbaijan" to the State Public Prosecutor, Zakir Garalov, "Shohrat" ("Fame") Orders to the Adviser for Economic and Political Issues, Vaheed Ahundov, Chairman of the Painters Union, Head of Davachi District Executive Power, Sunduz Babayev, Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions, Sattar Mehbaliyev.
The President also conferred writer Movlud Suleymanli with the Honorary Title of "People Writer", Tofig Aghababayev, Nazim Balakishiyev, Khanlar Ahmadov , Arif Husseynov, Aghali Ibrahimov, Salhab Mammadov, and Mirnadir Zeynalov with the "Title of People Painter".
Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev received John Sununu, the former Governor of the American State of New-Hampshire, former Chief of the Presidential Administration of the present U. S. President George W. Bush in the Presidential Palace in Baku today, on February 12.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged opinions concerning bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and USA , as well as viewed other issues of mutual interest.
Industrial production is created in the country because of the implementation of the State Program on Socio-Economic Development of Regions in 2004-2008, which replaces import and has also created 520,000 new jobs in the country over 3 years. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made this statement on February 13 th at a conference dedicated to the implementation of the program.
He noted that the program envisages the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan , including the oil and gas sector. "Sometimes, some tasks of the program are fulfilled properly, while it is the lesser part of general work, I'd like to see them gone," the head of state said adding that he was holding meetings with relevant bodies.
President Aliyev noted the economic growth of Azerbaijan made up 26% in 2005 and 35% - in 2006. This year the figure is forecast to be the same. The public budget expenditure increases. In 2003 the figure was 1.4bln manats, in 2007 it was 6.5bln manats and even more. "In a few months we will consider the budget further, because new income is under consideration," the head of state stressed. made up 26% in 2005 and 35% - in 2006. This year the figure is forecast to be the same. The public budget expenditure increases. In 2003 the figure was 1.4bln manats, in 2007 it was 6.5bln manats and even more. "In a few months we will consider the budget further, because new income is under consideration," the head of state stressed.
According to the President migration from rural areas to the capital has decreased and the number of poor dropped from 49% to 20%. "Our policy and economic reforms go in a social direction," the Azerbaijani President stated.
He attributed the opening of the railway route Baku-Tbilisi-Kars as a victory for Azerbaijan , Georgia and Turkey . "With the consideration of energy corridors we are becoming a transit country. This fact testifies the increase of the strategic significance of Azerbaijan . We are developing the private sector. Over the last three years the share of private sector in GDP rose from 73% to 81%," the head of state noted.
Present Aliyev said that in 2005-2007 the GDP doubled, while the amount of domestic investments also increased compared to foreign investment. In 2007 domestic investments are expected to comprise 1.5bln manats.
The President noted the problems existing in the country. "In some cases social justice is violated. There are also too many unfair decisions and illegal interference into business," President Aliyev stressed. Azerbaijan is in the first phase of development of its oil and gas potential.
On February 13, Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, signed an order on perpetuation of the memory of People's Artiste Leyla Aghalar gizi Badirbayli.
According to the Presidential order, the Baku City Executive Power was commissioned to install a memorable desk on the building where the People's Artiste lived: 84a, Shamsi Badalbayli St. Baku City.
Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev, on behalf of the Azerbaijan people congratulated Kurbankuli Berdimuhammadov with his election of the President of Turkmenistan, Trend reports.
In his letter the Azerbaijan President said that Mr. Berdimuhammedov's election as the new Turkmenistan President had been the respect and trust of the Turkmen people into him. The Azerbaijan President emphasized that the bonds of friendship and mutual support have tied Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan since ancient times. "I am confident that our countries will put forward initiatives of mutual interest for the sake of the prosperity of our nations and states, peace in the region, stability and progress," said the letter.
During his visit to Germany the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, made a statement on importance and benefit of attracting the European Union (EU) to the resolution of conflicts in South Caucasus , Trend reports. , Trend reports.
Addressing a joint news conference after a meeting with the German Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel, President Aliyev noted that the EU has voiced its position on conflicts existing in South Caucasus and it was positive.
Azerbaijan is implementing the EU's neighborhood policy and hopes that over the subsequent five years Azerbaijan will become closer to all EU criteria as a result of this policy.
The President also noted co-operation between Azerbaijan and the EU in the energy sector. He reminded of a memorandum on strategic partnership in the energy sector signed between Azerbaijan and the EU in November 2006. The head of state voiced his confidence in further strengthening this co-operation.
The President reminded that Azerbaijan possesses huge natural reserves of oil and gas. Oil and gas pipelines have been constructed for delivery of these resources. The Azerbaijani President voiced his hope that the projects will bring co-operation between Azerbaijan and the EU to a new level.
The meeting also focused on bilateral relationships between Azerbaijan and Germany . President Aliyev stated that political relationships are being consolidated and joint projects are being implemented in the economic sphere. The two leaders discussed the co-operation for consolidation of democracy and human rights in Azerbaijan .
The Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Artur Rasizade, met with the newly elected President of Turkmenistan, Gurbangulu Berdimuhammadov, on February 14, 2007 in Ashgabat. The meeting took place within the participation of the Azerbaijan Prime Minister on the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected President of Turkmenistan. The meeting was held face-to-face. The sides discussed the prospects of the co-operation.
Rasizade met with the heads of the governmental delegations of other countries, who participated in the inauguration ceremony, especially with the Prime Minister of Russia, Mikhail Fradkov, Prime Minister of Turkey, Rajab Teyyub Erdogan, President of Tajikistan, Imomali Rahmanov. The Azerbaijan delegation returned to Baku on February 14, 2007.
Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of congratulation to Valdas Adamkus, the Lithuanian President on the occasion of the Lithuanian National Holdiday - The Independence Day, Trend reports.
In his letter, the Azerbaijan President expresses his satisfaction with the existing level of bilateral relations between the two countries. The Head of the Azerbaijan State expresses his confidence that all efforts will be taken to further develop bilateral, regional, and international cooperation between the two countries.
Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev met the Mayor of Berlin City and has been interviewed by German leading TV Channel "Deutsche Welle". Then, the Azerbaijan leader met Michael Zukkoff , the President of the Zukkoff Foundation.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged opinions concerning projects implemented in Azerbaijan , as well as those ones where the German Foundation participated.
The Azerbaijan President also met chiefs of German largest companies, who enter the Eastern and Central Society of Germany. During the meeting, issues on cooperation in oil, gas, construction, cement, steel, energy, metallurgy, shipbuilding, banking, and other spheres were discussed.
Later Mr. Aliyev met with Franc Walter Steinmeier, German Federal Foreign Minister. The parties discussed the issues which were of mutual interest. The Head of the Azerbaijan State met the head of German Bundestag.
The Energy resources of Azerbaijan were on the focus of attention during the business-forum held in Germany with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. The forum was also attended by the Minister of Economy and New Technologies of Germany, Mikhail Glas.
Making a speech at the forum, Glas said that Germany is interested in developing the economic relations with Azerbaijan . He highlighted that the oil resources of Azerbaijan are on the focus of attention of the European countries, adding that Azerbaijan plays a significant role in ensuring energy security of Europe , Trend reports quoting ANS TV.
Making a speech before the business people of Germany , the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, highlighted the economical growth and successful energy policy of Azerbaijan . He said that 50 mln tons of oil is planned to be produced next year. The State Head underlined that Azerbaijan covers its internal demands and delivers oil and gas to Europe . " Azerbaijan is interested in close co-operation with the foreign companies. However, the primary goal is to achieve the development of non-oil sector of Azerbaijan . Favorable investment conditions have been created in Azerbaijan . Approximately $30 bln of foreign investments have been put into Azerbaijan over the recent 10 years," Aliyev said.
Aliyev presented to the attention of the forum participants that presently 81% of GDP falls on to the share of the private sector and the State pays proper attention to the social sphere and tries to improve the conditions of the poor layer of population. Upon completion of the business-forum, Aliyev left for Azerbaijan .
Parliament Parliament
The Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan Parliament) founded the Orders of "Glory" and "Friendship" of Azerbaijan Republic during its today meeting.
Ali Husseynov, the Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Legal Policy and State Building of the Milli Majlis, said that this legislative initiative was put forward by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. The President submitted a draft on the foundation of the Orders of "Glory" and "Friendship" of Azerbaijan Republic to the Parliament of the Country.
The Chairman of the Commission said that "Glory" Order would be presented to those who had particular great services before the Azerbaijan people and state. This order follows after the Order of "Azerbaijan Flag" on its importance. "The order of "Friendship" will be presented to those who have particular services in the issue on establishing friendship relations between foreign states and peoples," said Mr. Husseynov.
On February 16, 2007 Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani Parliament] confirmed the Agreement "On social-economical co-operation between Azerbaijan and Belarus till 2015" . The Chairman of Parliament Permanent Commission on Economic Policy, Ziyad Samadzade, Permanent Commission on Social Policy, Hadi Rajabli and Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Commission on International and Inter-parliamentary Relations, Gultakin Hajiyeva, informed the terms and importance of the document. They said that this Agreement will foster the development of the social-economical relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus .
The Agreement "On international combined cargo transportations between Azerbaijan and Belarus " was discussed and confirmed.
Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan and special representative of the Azerbaijan President for Nagorno-Karabakh, Araz Azimov, said in his interview with BBC that the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow was a step back, Trend reports.
He said that due to the severe position of the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanyan, it is impossible to forecast the future process of the negotiations. "During the negotiations that we have been conducting for already two years, Oskanyan expressed his position in several questions that takes us back. We ignored these statements. They include returning of the Azerbaijanis to Nagorno-Karabakh and use of the roads passing through Lachin district. I want to say to the Armenian side that if the negotiations do not continue as being over the recent two years, probably there will be no need to continue them and await any results. If Armenia wants to obtain results in appointing the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, it should understand that the absence of the most part of the population of this region makes it impossible to appoint the status," Azimov said.
The Deputy Minister said that two communities had lived in the region. After the Azerbaijani community was expelled from these territories it was impossible to appoint the future destiny of Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to the position of Armenia in the question of Lachin, Azimov said that categorically Armenia does not want to use this way together with Azerbaijan .
He said that presently the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group prepare the next meeting of the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan and Armenia .
The divisions of the Armenia Armed Forces broke the ceasefire regime on the frontline. On February 12 at 03:00, the divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces, located in occupied Leletepe village of Jabrail district of Azerbaijan, fired at the opposite position of the Azerbaijan Armed Forces, with submachine guns. The enemy was fired against and there is no lost.
Commenting the official Moscow demand to EU not to interfere in the resolution of "frozen conflicts" on the territory of FSU and abandon the expansion of its sphere of influence on these territories Peter Semneby, the EU Special Envoy, exclusively informed Trend that Russia and all other interested parties should jointly help creating necessary conditions to resolve the "frozen conflicts" peacefully.
He said that EU was interested in the resolution of conflicts available on the territories of FSU and may make an important contribution to the resolution of the conflicts. "That may be a contribution in the form of new integral parts, including financial ones", said Mr. Semneby.
Mr. Semneby said that the countries were interested in the cooperation with EU, and that it was just the conflict parties which were responsible for the resolution of the conflicts.
Touching the expansion of EU sphere of influence on the territory of FSU , he said that the matter concerned the stable neighborhood of mutual interest by adding that it would be interest both to EU and Russia .
Commenting the decision to visit the occupied Azerbaijani territories, which was recently made by the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe) Subcommittee for Nagorno-Karabakh, Samad Seyyidov, an Azerbaijan MP, the Head o the Azerbaijan Parliamentary Delegation to PACE, informed journalists today that representatives of the Armenian Delegation to PACE may visit Nagorno-Karabakh only with consent of Azerbaijan .
He said that the forthcoming visit of the PACE officials was discussed during the last sitting of the Organization Subcommittee for Nagorno-Karabakh. All the parties unanimously agreed with this initiative. Mr. Seyyidov said that neither details nor date of the forthcoming visit had been determined yet.
Elmar Mammadyarov , Azerbaijan Foreign Minister, informed journalists today that the next meeting between the Azerbaijan and Armenian Foreign Ministers is expected to be held in the beginning of March, 2007, Trend reports.
According to him, he has held negotiations with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen, who put forward their proposals on the date and the place of the meeting to be held.
Commenting the last meeting between the Heads of the Foreign Offices of the two countries held in Moscow , Mr. Mammadyarov said that the parties had great hopes on this meeting, but unfortunately, it did not justified itself. "Troubles emerge when the details are discussed," he said.
Touching upon the statement concerning the possible impetus in the negotiations on the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after Armenian holds its parliamentary elections, which was recently made by Matthew Bryza, the OSCE Minsk Co-Chairman, the Azerbaijan Foreign Minister said that he was glad that such a statement had been said by adding that he actually hoped for it.
Touching upon the differences and controversies between the Minsk Group American and Russian Co-Chairmen concerning all key details, the Azerbaijan Minister said that both during the meeting held in Moscow and during the last visit to the region, the OSCE Co-Chairmen, put forward the one position, and only after the next meting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, one may speak more concrete concerning this issue.
He said that both Moscow and Washington show their interest in the immediate ending of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "They put forward new proposals to achieve a certain progress. They render assistance to approach the positions of the two parties. They realize how immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict is important for the whole region," said Mr. Mammadyarov.
Bulent Gurdjam, the Chief of "Belgium-Azerbaijani House", has told Trend that he has put forward an initiative to found the Azerbaijan Glorification Fund, and has already prepared the logo and the Charter of the future organization.
He noted that he had already told Ali Ahmadov, the Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) and Ali Hassanov, the Chief of the Social and Political Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration about this initiative. Despite this being a non-governmental organization, the Azerbaijani President is to create a corresponding commission. Mr. Gurdjam considers that if the organization is founded, it may represent Azerbaijan in different countries, publish books about our country in foreign languages, as well as bring the whole truth about Azerbaijan to the international community. The Fund may also organize and carry out promotional works, spread information about the country in those countries where the Azerbaijani President is to visit.
Moreover, Mr. Gurdjam also noted that the office of the Azerbaijan Glorification Fund should be opened in Brussels .
Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross have met Azerbaijan lower Sergeant, Samir Mammadov in Yerevan today again, a source in the Press-Service of the ICRC Baku informed Trend.
A next letter written by his close relatives was delivered to the Azerbaijan soldier during this meeting. Samir Mammadov passed his military service in a Military Unit in Gazakh District of Azerbaijan bordering with Armenia . He was captured by Armenians from the distance of 15 km from his Military Unit on the territory where the Gazakh District of Azerbaijan borders with Idjevan District of Armenia on December 23, 2006. Neither arm nor ammunition was with him. Azerbaijan soldier has been kept in Yerevan . The last letter written by the Azerbaijan soldier to his family was sent on February 6. No details about the meeting with Azerbaijan prisoner of war have been reported yet.
During the monitoring of the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline on February 14th, the Field Assistants of the OSCE Special Envoy first visited the Executive Power of the Khojavand District, located in the Beylagan District. The monitoring is being carried out in the village of Ashagi Veysarli , situated at the border of Fizuli and Khojavand Districts.
A Trend Regional Correspondent has been informed by the Khojavand Executive Power that at 10:00 a monitoring group met with the head of Executive Power, Eyvaz Huseynov, to ask about the facts of armistice breaches by Armenian armed divisions. In turn Huseynov told that in the past Armenian divisions frequently violate the ceasefire. Along with the Azerbaijani Armed Forces they also fire at civilians.
At 10:40 the field assistant began monitoring. The monitoring is currently in progress. No incidents have been reported during the monitoring exercise.
By signing a petition, millions of Azerbaijani citizens ensure that the World acknowledges the Khodjali Genocide. The book "Khodjali Genocide: Million of Signatures - One Demand", published recently calls different Parliaments and Governments worldwide to recognize the Khodjali Tragedy.
Along with those Armenians who were guilty of the Khodjali Genocide, certain Russian Generals and MPs should also be accounted for the tragedy, the book writes
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Ambassadors Y Merzlyakov (Russian Federation), B Fassier (France) and Deputy Assistant Secretary M Bryza (USA), met in Paris on February 14th and 15th, in the presence of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, Ambassador A Kasprzyk.
The Co-Chairs expressed hope that the sides will maintain momentum that has developed in negotiations in recent months and that the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet again in the near future, to overcome the remaining differences on the basic principles of a future settlement agreement.
They called on the parties to not to take action anywhere else, including in the United Nations General Assembly, which could undermine positive developments of recent months.
The Head of the Press and Information Policy Department of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Tahir Tagizade, informed Trend that the initiative on the frozen conflicts made in the UNO is the joint initiative of the GUAM ( Georgia , Ukraine , Azerbaijan and Moldova ) countries, which want to jointly address the challenges and threats facing them. He commented on the recent statement of the OSCE Minsk Group calling on the conflict sides to avoid the actions, including U.N. General Assembly.
According to Tagizade, the initiative is a real reaction to the real challenges facing the states. " Azerbaijan does not intend to change the format of the negotiations. But it needs to note that the UNO is not a new forum to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is enough to remember 4 Resolutions of the U.N. Security Council. Therefore, within the broad international discussions over the principles of the international law and level of the priority of these principles in connection with each other, we consider more significant the constructive efforts to address concrete aspects of the situation in the region, including Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he said.
"We consider it necessary to continue active work with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to explain to them what constructive contributions are made by the discussions over this question in the UNO to the negotiation process and its development," Tagizade said.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a formal invitation to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to send observers to Armenia , RA MFA Acting Spokesman Vladimir Karapetian said.
He informed that February 15 at the sitting of the OSCE Permanent Council the RA ambassador to the organization officially declared that the parliamentary election in Armenia will be held on May 12.
Foreign Policy
Jonathan Henick, Public Relations Department Head at the US Embassy in Baku informed Trend that Peter W. Rodman, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, arrived in Azerbaijan as the head of a US delegation that includes Michael Coulter, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs and James MacDougall, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Eurasia. The delegation will have meetings with appropriate officials, including those at the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs
Representatives from the Pentagon will hold talks at the Defense Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. They will also hold meetings at the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).
Assistant Secretary Rodman is the principal advisor to the US Secretary of Defense on the formation and co-ordination of international security strategies and policy, with responsibility for Europe Africa . In addition to discussing our security partnership and military co-operation, Mr. Rodman's meetings will cover ongoing counter-terrorism co-operation, coalition efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and regional security.
. Commenting the results of the 43rd Conference on Security, recently held in Munich, Vafa Guluzadeh, a political expert, said that Russia do not want NATO to expand, however it cannot impede breaking it off.
Mr. Guluzadeh said that it had been East European countries who rushed to NATO and this process keeps on going. On the other hand, former Soviet Union Republics , particularly the three Baltic Republics have rushed to NATO. Georgia and Azerbaijan also want to join NATO. Armenia wants to join NATO as well, but still at the level of its opposition.
"The matter is that Mr. Putin may stop it. Let Mr. Putin make his country interesting and then all these countries will begin rushing to him. Let him make this country economically-interesting, culturally-interesting", said the political expert.
According to him, today the countries should enter that security system that could guarantee security from Russia . First of all, these are Russian neighbors. The political analyst said that if Russia did not lay claims to their independence, geopolitical situation with these countries, if it did not want to return its former colonies, then there would be no troubles with Russia .
Expressing his opinion on this issue, another political analyst, Rasim Musabayov informed Trend that today, when NATO keeps moving in the direction of Russian boundaries, the Russian political elite, which has become a little stronger, have reasons for their discontent.
"The matter concerns not only NATO expansion in the direction to the Russian boundaries. The matter is that the countries, located along the perimeter of Russian boundaries, want NATO in order to protect themselves from Russian claims. Here one should not blame only NATO policy, but also its own "Russian - Trend" policy intended for burning out and supporting separatism on the neighboring territories", said the expert.
Georgian people consider Georgia relations with Azerbaijan important for the successful development of its country. According to the last poll conducted by the weekly, "Kviris Palitra", 6.06% out of 468 respondents said that Georgia future success would depend on good relations with Azerbaijan . That was the fourth place in the rating, Trend Correspondent to Tbilisi reports.
The rating was compiled as the results of the maximal positive and negative indicators. According to 62% of the respondents, Georgia successes depend on its good relations with USA . The second place is for Ukraine with the rating indicator of 6.89%. Russia takes the fourth place with 6.0%.
However, it should be noted that as a result of the poll, 26% respondents considered that Georgia should be friends with Russia . It was the second place after USA . However, Russia got a lot of negative points from the respondents; therefore it took only the fourth place. The Georgians highly appreciate the friendship with Turkey and Baltic states , which took the fifth and sixth places respectively. Armenia took the last place in the rating.
After the meeting between an American delegation headed by Peter V. Rodman, the Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary for International Security Issues and Azerbaijan Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, Ann Derse, the U. S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, informed journalists that the decision on the increase of the level of cooperation between the two countries was taken during the last visit of the Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliyev to USA, Trend reports.
He marked the recent visit of the U.S. Energy Minister, Samuel Bodman to Azerbaijan as a result of the above-mentioned agreement between the two countries. Notably, during the visit of the American top official, economic cooperation between the two countries was expanded. The American Ambassador said that the present visit of the Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary to Azerbaijan was also intended for the reinforcement of bilateral relations between the two countries in military and defense spheres.
Michael Colter, the U.S. Deputy Advisor of the Department of State Deputy, said during the meeting with representatives of the Organization that the U.S. Government may view the budget allotted for ANAMA, Trend reports.
He got acquainted with the activity of the Agency and highly appreciated its work. He said that the activity of the Organization may become a good example for mine clearing in such countries like Afghanistan and Iraq . According to him, USA may view the issue on involving ANAMA to these projects.
Nazim Ismayilov, the Director of ANAMA, provided the guest with the information about the activity of the Organization and told about difficulties it faces. According to him, whilst the Azerbaijani Government increases volumes of financial aid to the Agency, the countries-donors of ANAMA reduce it. He called the representative of the U.S. Deputy Advisor of the Department of State to raise this issue in the official circles. According to Mr. Ismayilov, USA is the key donor of ANAMA, which finances over 80% out of the all expenditures of the Organization.
Ziyafat Asgarov, the First Vice-Speaker of the Azerbaijan Parliament, stated that Azerbaijan fulfills all obligations to NATO in accordance with the schedule.
He said that Azerbaijan kept on carrying out an intensive dialogue with NATO and has intensions to continue this cooperation.
" Azerbaijan obligations to NATO will be estimated within the Individual Partnership Program, which is traditionally carried out every two years," said Mr. Asgarov.
Afshar Suleymani , Iran Ambassador to Azerbaijan , said during the celebrating ceremony of the 29th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran being held in Baku today that relations between Azerbaijan and Iran successfully develop in all spheres.
The Iranian diplomat said that over the past year, the scope of trade and economic relations between the two countries increased by 30%. He marked the development in the fields of culture and sport. According to him, many high-level visits important to the both countries took place in 2006. The visits played an important role in the issue on development of cooperation, signing of numerous of bilateral agreements in such spheres in energy and transport, in particular.
Mr. Suleymani expressed his satisfaction with cooperation between the two countries both within regional and international organizations, particularly the Islamic Conference and ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization).
The Iranian Ambassador said that Iran attached a particular importance to cooperation with Muslim, particularly Muslim neighboring countries; however, at the same time it treats Christian countries with respect.
In his speech, Ziyafat Asgarov , Azerbaijan First Vice-Speaker noted the good potential for bilateral cooperation between the two countries in economic, trade, cultural, and other spheres.
According to him, 70 Azerbaijan-Iranian interstate agreements have been signed up to date. Most of them do work.
The British Embassy in Baku informed Trend that the Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK , Rafael Ibrahimov, spoke of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Khojaly tragedy in a meeting at St Andrews University in Scotland .
The roundtable discussions dedicated to problems of the South Caucasus was organized by the Foreign Relationships Department at the University. In his speech the diplomat particularly spoke about the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh and consequences of Armenian aggression against the people of Azerbaijan .
On the eve of 15 th anniversary of Khojaly tragedy the Ambassador told of Armenians' armed attacks on Azerbaijani civilians, which resulted in the displacement of over 1 million Azerbaijanis, killed many people including women, children and the elderly.
"Community of democratic elections and "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM" is one of the key priorities of the co-operation of Ukraine in Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian region," stated in the National Security Strategy of Ukraine, confirmed by order of the President of Ukraine, Victor Yushenka, a Trend Special Correspondent in Kiev reports.
In addition, the priorities of the co-operation of Ukraine in the Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian region are to expand bilateral and multilateral co-operation with the countries of the region with regards to the formation of a common energy policy, especially in the area of transition of energy carriers.
The document stipulates that Ukraine should remain as an active participant in the process of regulating "frozen conflicts" in the region, especially in Pridnestrov.
The First Deputy Chairman of Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani Parliament] and Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to NATO, Ziyafet Askerov, briefed the media that the question of Azerbaijan's membership to NATO may be discussed, Trend reports. "If we deal with Azerbaijan 's membership to NATO, it will be a bilateral process. Firstly we need to answer the question if NATO stands ready to admit Azerbaijan to its ranks. If NATO stands ready for us, Baku may officially discuss this issue," Askerov added.
Two out of three Georgian citizens of Azerbaijan origin, who were detained by Armenians the day before, have been released on the basis of the collegial request made by the Georgian Frontier Police, a source in the Press-Service of the Frontier Police of the Country informed Trend Correspondent to Tbilisi .
Armenian frontier officers detained three Georgian citizens of Azerbaijan origin, who had crossed the Armenian state boundary with the objective to deforest. Two out of them crossed the Armenian border to deforest. The third one was detained on the disputed territory between Armenia and Georgia which has not subjected to delimitation yet. However, the third has been also reported to turn out to be there to deforest.
The Georgian Frontier Police did not say whether the Georgian party had paid a fine for its citizens or not. "All issues were settled on the mutual consent, and two out of the three our citizens have already been freed," said the source in the Frontier Police of the Country.
Political Movements
The Head of the Press Service of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP), Nureddin Ismaylov, informed Trend that ADP members do not accept or trust the order of ADP's Chairman, Rasul Guliyev, to dismiss ADP First Deputy Chairman, Sardar Jalaoglu, from his position.
He said that Guliyev has signed an order dismissing Jalaloglu from his position. However, according to him, this order is unfounded and has no legal force. "Because according to the requirements of ADP regulation, from January 27th all ADP electoral bodies have ceased, due to the fact that congress was held and the authorities of the ADP Chairman and all high bodies were transferred to the Organizational Committee for Preparation to Congress. Therefore, Guliyev's order is contrary to ADP regulations and presently he has no such authority. Simply those who demonstrate themselves as supporting Guliyev want to stay in the political stage and engage in cult of personality. They inaccurately informed Guliyev and he made such an order," Ismaylov said.
He added that the Organizational Committee will decline Guliyev's order and the Chairman of ADP High Assembly, Akif Shahbazov, will consider the accountability of the party.
Guliyev had expressed his distrust of the ADP decision on political talks between ADP High Assembly and power, which had been made on January 27th. Ismaylov said that this decision had been signed by 60 out of 80 members of High Assembly.
The co-founder of Azadlyg Political Block and Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party, Ali Aliyev, said that the bloc will co-operate legitimate bodies of ADP.
At present ADP is represented in the Council of Chairmen by the ADP First Deputy Chairman, Sardar Jalaloglu. However, according to an order of the ADP Chairman, Rasul Guliyev dated February 10th, Jalaloglu was dismissed from his position and the Chairman of the ADP High Assembly, Akif Shahbazov, was appointed as the ADP representative in Azadlyg. But the Head of ADP and Sardar Jalaloglu do not accept this order. Shahbazov said that he will attend the meeting of the Council of Chairmen.
Azadlyg Block brings together 4 parties - Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Liberal Party, Citizen and Development Party and Azerbaijan Democratic Party.
The Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) (Classics), Mirmahmud Miralioglu, informed Trend that APFP is going to participate in all upcoming elections, including presidential elections in 2008. He said that common discussions were held over the forthcoming presidential elections. Miralioglu said that such statements of the political forces should not be accepted as official decision, but only as wish. "Because as long as the presidential elections have not begun officially, the statements of those persons that they will be candidates in the presidential elections are only of agitation character," Miralioglu said.
Highlighting his wish to participate in the presidential elections, Miralioglu said: "in my opinion this question will be positively resolved and the opposite forces will come to a common conclusion. The opposition camp may define single candidate, or one will let other one or a coalition will be created".
"When we put forward a proposal to carry out a dialogue in 2000 and 2001, they gave a hostile reception to our initiative. But, everyone should realize that Azerbaijan needs a political dialogue," Mirmakhmoud Miralioghlu, the Chairman of the Party of Classic Popular Front of Azerbaijan, informed Trend.
Expressing his attitude towards the decision to establish a dialogue with the authorities, which was recently taken by the Democratic Party of the Country, he said that it was neither a new proposal nor new political process. According to Mr. Miralioghlu, the proposal put forward by the Democratic Party is a usual one and will not create new political conditions. The initiative has created an anxiety within the Party itself. "Despite of the fact, any party should normally apprehend such an initiative. I think that the dialogue between the authorities and opposition should be carried out without an interpreter. We are not like Armenia and Azerbaijan . Azerbaijanis are in the both camps. They are citizens of the one country and we all speak one language - Azerbaijani. Therefore, there will be no need in any mediation rendered by international organizations or any foreign forces to establish a dialogue between the political parties of the one nation," said the Chairman of the Party Classic Popular Front.
On February 15, 2007 the Secretary General of the International European Movement, Henrico Kroner, who is on the visit to Azerbaijan, met with the representatives of the Movement Preparation Committee for Azerbaijan and representatives of the community. During the meeting, the Secretary General spoke about the goals of the European Union and work done in connection with various countries, Trend reports.
According to Kroner, created in 1947, the European Movement is an organization propagating the ideas of the European Union. The Movement fights for the adoption of unified European Constitution. Presently the Movement has representations in 41 European countries.
On February 15, 2007 the Secretary General of the International European Movement, Henrico Kroner, who is on the visit to Azerbaijan, met with the Chairman of Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party, Asim Mollazade. The meeting was also attended by the member of Party Political Council Mardan Efendiyev and Gulnara Mammadzade and representative of the European Movement for Azerbaijan , Habib Guliyev. The meeting focused on the questions such as integration of Azerbaijan to Europe, expansion of the European Movement in Azerbaijan and the role of the European values and organizations in establishing civil society.
Organized by Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party (DRP), a round table took place in Baku on February 16, 2007 on the topic "Civil society and European values". The event brought together the Secretary General of the International European Movement, Henric Kroner, deputies of the Azerbaijan Parliament and heads of NGO. Chairman of DRP, MP Asim Mollazade, said that Azerbaijan expands its relations with the European organizations and countries and positions itself as part of Europe . He said that despite of this, several European countries and organizations demonstrate indifference to the violation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan . Mollazade underlined that there is not any European country like Azerbaijan that sustains hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people.
Kroner informed on the goals of creating International European Movement and its activity directions. He said that this organization has played a decisive role in creating European Union and European Court on Human Rights. Speaking about the European values, he said that the principles of freedom and responsibility are linked with each other.
Deputy Azay Guliyev said that the integration of Azerbaijan into Euro-Atlantic space is one of the key priorities of Azerbaijan , adding that presently the civilization of Europe should know about Khojali genocide committed by the Armenians in Azerbaijan and hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people. The heads of NGOs participating in the event brought to the attention of Kroner that more that 500,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia , more than 520 people were killed in 1988 and the Azerbaijanis has repeatedly sustained genocide from the Armenian side.
The efforts of Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP) to hold meeting in front of the Embassy of Iran in Azerbaijan on February 16, 2007 was unsuccessful. The police did not allow the members of ANIP to approach the Embassy.
Till the beginning of the action, the police took the situation under control in front of the Embassy. The employees of the police stopped a number of ANIP members who wanted to hold an action near the Embassy - in front of Executive Power of Baku City and take out the slogans from them. They were not allowed to read their resolution. 3 ANIP members were detained and delivered to the police department.
ANIP protests against the pressures and repressions put by the Iranian Government against the activists of the National Movement in South Azerbaijan and require ensuring the rights of the Azerbaijanis.
The ruling party - New Azerbaijan (YAP) has stated that the words sounded by the Azerbaijani Ex-Health Minister, Ali Insanov during the judicial sitting in the Azerbaijan Court for Serious Crimes did not correspond with the reality. Notably, the former Health Minister and some other Azerbaijani top officials were arrested for exceeding his commissions, bribe taking, appropriation and embezzlement of state property. The ruling party evaluates it as an attempt of the foreign Minister to put off the grave crimes he committed and attach a political slant, Trend reports quoting a statement of the Press-Service of YAP on February 16.
The statement says that the New Azerbaijan Party every year present a report on its funding to the publicity, particularly by providing the information about sources of this financing and ensuring transparency in this issue. "NAP's funds are formed by the membership and participation fees only. None of the members of the ruling party, including the former Health Minister have taken part in financing the Party in anyway but the membership fees. The words sounded by him in the court are not anything but slander and political blackmail," the statement says.
The Press-Service also says that the words of Mr. Insanov sounded in the court that he had been arrested, being a member of the Board of the New Azerbaijan Party, for his sounding criticism during meetings of the Board do not correspond with the reality as well. Thus, Mr. Insanov had always spoken about the stability, dynamic development, social situation in the country, particularly about the state's care for its refugees and IDPs, etc during the meetings of the Board.
Being arrested for attempting to perform coup d'etat, appropriation and embezzlement of the state property, exceeding his commissions and responsibilities, and other serious crimes, the former member of the Board of YAP sounded a number of accusations addressing to the ruling party during the judicial sitting. Particularly, Mr. Insanov claimed that he had transferred million of USD of financial aid to YAP , and had been arrested just for his lambasting the policy carried out during the meetings of the Board of the ruling party.