Official news
On April 30, The President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has signed an order on the appointment of Arzu Yusuf Oghlu Rahimov the Chief of State Migration Service of Azerbaijan Republic.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, said on 30 April while receiving the President of Dagestan, Muhu Aliyev that presently there is a great necessity to develop direct co-operation with the regions of Russia with regards to economy, security and humanitarian sphere.
Ilham Aliyev particularly stated that his country has fraternal relations with Dagestan, a country possessing long traditions. According to him, Azerbaijan and Dagestan demonstrate a common position on all issues of co-operation. "At present during their independency, Azerbaijan and Russia are linked through friendly and good-neighborly relations. And Dagestan, as part of Russia, takes a special place in these relations," said Ilham Aliyev, voicing his wish for the future co-operation with Dagestan.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, said on 1 May in Baku, while receiving Prosecutor General of Georgia, Zurab Adeishvily, that it is important to develop the co-operation of the law-enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
The State Head of Azerbaijan expressed his satisfaction with the successful development of the co-operation between the two countries. In general, the development of the co-operation between the prosecutor's offices of Azerbaijan and Georgia serves the development of the bilateral co-operation between the two countries.
Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev, stated in Baku today that relations between Azerbaijan and Belasrus are at a new level of serious partnership.
During the joint press-conference with the Byelorussian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, Mr. Aliyev noted that the countries negotiated on the fuel and energy direction adding that the parties had similar approaches to this issue. " Azerbaijan is turning into a large-scale hydrocarbons exporter. Therefore, cooperation in the diversification of hydrocarbons supplies has already represented a more efficient use and development of our natural resources," said Mr. Aliyev.
He noted that there was political consent in the issue of cooperation, between the two countries in the energy sector. Today specialists should determine the commercial aspect of possible projects, and if it turns out that it will be of mutually beneficial, economically, then the two countries will begin working in this direction.
The Head of the Azerbaijani State mentioned Byelorussian companies' interests toward Azerbaijani oil fields. He said that Azerbaijan welcomed it and consultations concerning these companies' participation in different oil projects in Azerbaijan had been already started.
He said that the first signs of taking action, which had been scheduled at a presidential level during the official visit of the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, to Belarus in autumn, 2007, had already seen
For his part, the Byelorussian President, Alexander Lukashenko spoke positively about Baku and the President of Azerbaijan. "The Azerbaijani President is a man, who will never give up and say anything behind one's back. I am very happy that this person inherits the best qualities of my friend Heydar Aliyev," stated the President of Belarus.
He said that there were no topics in the field of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belarus. " Azerbaijan has found a good and strong support, as well as good and faithful friends for itself in the centre of Europe. We could find the same in South Caucasus. There is no abusive politics in our bilateral relations. We have everything we need to move ahead," said Mr. Lukashenko.
On May 2, The President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, has issued Decree on foundation of the Yanardagh Historical-Cultural and Natural Reserve to preserve a unique nature around the Village of Mammadli in the Absheron Peninsula, as well as develop tourism on this territory.
Relevant Executive Bodies have been assigned to take measures resulting from this mentioned document signed by the President on May 4, Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev, has received the Mayor of the German City of Ludwigshafen, Eva Lohse at the Presidential Palace in Baku.
The Head of the Azerbaijani State marked the successful development of bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and Germany. President Ilham Aliyev also noted that he had visited Germany twice in the past two and a half years.
Recollecting his recent visit to Germany, which was paid in February, 2007, the Azerbaijani President said his meeting with the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, and that one with German businessmen were very important for further development of cooperation between the two countries.
The Azerbaijani President expressed a confidence that cooperation between the two twin cities - Sumgait of Azerbaijan and Ludwigshafen of Germany would make a solid contribution to the development of bilateral relations between both countries.
The German City Mayor, Eva Lohse said that she attached a great importance to cooperation with the Azerbaijani City of Sumgait
Parliament Parliament
On 1 May the Azerbaijan Parliament put forward for discussion a draft law on Amnesty. The bill was discussed at the initiative of MP Mehriban Aliyeva, the President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The document envisages release of 1,500 convicted and cut in punishment term of other 7,500 prisoners.
The amnesty will be referred to those who do not present serious danger for the society, women convicted for not very heinous crime, disabled people, men under the age of 60, people under the age of 18 at the time of the crime, participants of the fight for the independency and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, relatives of people who died and became missing people in the fight, people who were expelled from Armenia as a result of ethnical cleansing, terror and genocide policy in 1943-1953 and 1998, people who became internally displaced persons as a result of occupation of the Azerbaijani lands by Armenia in 1988-1993 and people who became disabled after the 20 January tragedy and Khojaly genocide, etc.
The amnesty acts have been realized in Azerbaijan since 1995. Seven amnesty acts have been made over the reported period and 32 orders have been issued on pardon. These acts have been referred to 77.000 people.
The draft law on Amnesty was put forward for discussion due to the 84th anniversary of ex-President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev.
On 1 May Milli Majlis, of the Azerbaijani Parliament, made amendments to the Code of Administrative Breaks. The Chairman of the Parliament's Permanent Commission on Legal Policy and State Establishment, Ali Huseynov, said during the meeting that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, sent a project fore-seeing two amendments to the Code of Administrative Breaks, saying that they were amendments to the Tax Code.
Therefore, the conception of the tax declaration will be added to item 227 of the Code of Administrative Breaks. Legalizing declaration to avoid taxation will be considered as violation of the rules to present such documents.
The second amendment for-sees breaking money accounts with the population. Huseynov said that these issues show their reflection on the Tax Code.
Azerbaijan will join the International Convention on Fighting against Doping in Sport, which was adopted at the 33rd session of the General Conference of UNESCO. This issue was discussed on 1 May at the meeting of Azerbaijan Parliament's Permanent Commission on Social Policy.
The Chairman of the Commission, Hady Rajably, said that it is important for Azerbaijan to join the Convention because all types of sports are rapidly developing within the Country. According to the Deputy Minister of Youth Ismaylov said that tight control on this issue is practised in Azerbaijan resulting in a special Anti-Doping Commission being created at the Ministry of Youth. It was decided to present the issue to the discussions at the Parliament of Azerbaijan.
Shamsaddin Hajiyev, the chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Commission on Science, He noted that the project had been re-developed. It was discussed on television and with NGOs. "The draft law was discussed in the Commission four times. All constructive proposals made during the discussions were included in the draft law. The most serious proposals were made by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Taxes, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Development and the State Commission on Students Admission," Hajiyev said.
According to Hajiyev, several items in the draft law have remained unchanged. "I consider the draft law to be quite difficult. All innovations and current processes in the education field must be taken into consideration. I should indicate that the national peculiarities of education in Azerbaijan have been reflected in the draft law. The law will provide for further improvement of education and integration into international society," the chairman said.
Hajiyev noted that the administrative board of the Parliamentary Commission intends to achieve the adoption of Draft Law on Education within the spring session of parliament. "Very progressive viewpoints have been reflected in the draft law. The most important point is that it will be impossible to action anything that is not included in the draft law," the MP stressed.
The draft law focuses on the improvement of the scientific research.
Aydin Mirzazadeh, a member of the Political Council of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), a member of the Azerbaijani governmental delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), stated on 2 May in Baku that the developed countries of the world did not have the laws enabling voters to recall MPs. For this purpose the appliance of the law is not possible in Azerbaijan as well.
The MP reported that voters had the right to recall MPs during the Soviet Union. In his opinion, the procedure does not correspond to the principles of democracy. Mirzazadeh noted that MPs are elected for a 5-year period, not for ever. "In case an MP does not justify the hopes of the electors, his re-election to the parliament is impossible. The law is a rather democratic one," he said.
MP Zahid Oruj, the deputy chairman of the Ana Veten party, believes the procedure cannot be supported by the Azerbaijan legislation, as its positive results are doubtful. According to Oruj, no country worldwide applies such a law.
MP Panah Huseyn believes the appliance of the law in Azerbaijan is impossible, as it can be used for personal interest.
The permanent parliamentary commission on social policy of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijan Parliament], announced on 4 May that the law on youth policy will be an addition to the establishment of the Youth Fund.
The key objective of the Fund is to strengthen the co-operation of youth, the consolidation of peace, mutual understanding and co-operation, as well as the use of necessary means for stimulating the youth activities with regards to science, education, culture and other humanitarian fields. The Fund's capital will be directed at training young specialists and exposing talented and creative young people.
Foreign policy
The Press Secretary of the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan, Feyzullahy, stated that from 30 April, Iran has provided free single visas for the citizens of Nakchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. Earlier the Iranian side had presented a note to the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry reflecting Iran's readiness to cancel the visa system for citizens of Nakchivan.
In order to demonstrate its readiness, the Iranians applied the new system without receiving a response from Azerbaijani, Feyzullahy stressed. According to him, the new rules are applied only for the citizens of Nakchivan. Prior to the application of the new rules, a visa to Iran cost €35.
Vasiliy Istratov, Russia's Ambassador to Azerbaijan has been called to come to the Azerbaijan Foreign Office due to the fact of distortion of the Azerbaijani history in the known Russian Encyclopedia. Particularly, Nagorno-Karabakh was indicated in this publication as "independent Armenian state", Trend reports referring to the National AzTV Channel.
There was a half-an-hour talk with Mr. Istratov in the Foreign Ofice of the State, where a note of protest were presented to the Russian diplomat. Mr. Istratov said that he had been wel-informed about the matter by adding that he would verify this piece of information.
Araz Azimov, the Deputy Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, confirmed the information about the publication, after which a note of protest were presented to the Russian Ambassador. "The repetition of such facts is very unpleasant to us, therefore we would like to express our discontent to the Russian party due to the mentioned fact," added Mr. Azimov.
On 30 April the US Department of State Report has publicized an annual report on terrorism, which also deals with the situation in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's anti-terrorism co-operation with the United States included granting blanket over flight clearance, engaging in information sharing and law-enforcement co-operation, the report writes.
Azerbaijan has supported the peace-keeping operation in Iraq since August 2003 with an infantry company of approximately 150 soldiers stationed at the Haditha Dam. A platoon of Azerbaijani soldiers has been working with the Turkish peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan since November 2002 and there are plans to double this number. Azerbaijan has taken measures against the financing of terrorists and has revealed the funds linked with terrorism.
In April, the Azerbaijani Serious Crimes court sentenced a group of six men called Al-Muvahhidun Jamaat to prison their jail sentence terms ranging from ten to fifteen years. According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security, the members of the group planned to travel to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey for military training. The group was accused of planning bomb attacks on the U.S., Israeli and Russian embassies, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) building and the National Bank of Azerbaijan.
Also in April, during a trial involving a group called al-Qaida Caucasus (not related to the group of the same name sentenced in 2005), 16 group members were sentenced to life imprisonment. Most of them were activists of various radical religious organizations that had undergone training at a camp in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge.
Azerbaijan extradited to Russia a terrorist suspect accused of bombing in Dagestan in 2002. The suspect was originally arrested in Azerbaijan and, in April, was sentenced by an Azerbaijani court to seven years imprisonment where he was subsequently extradited to Russia.
Dmitri Treinin, deputy director of the Carnegie Moscow Center and a senior associate of the Carnegie Endowment, stated that Georgia and Azerbaijan should not be grouped together on the membership at NATO.
In an interview with Trend in Washington, Treinin commented on the prospects of members of Georgia and Azerbaijan at NATO and Russia's possible reply. As in all other cases, this is in essence a matter between the alliance and the countries concerned. People talk about Georgia's membership as something that has to be discussed at this stage. Azerbaijan, at least for the time being, is not discussed in the same way.
According to the politician, both the elites and the public in Georgia support the idea of NATO membership. However, there is a question over making a country that does not fully control its own territory, a member and the implications of its admission. Does the membership mean that NATO needs to protect Georgian interests in Abkhazia and South Ossetia? If things go wrong what will be the obligation of the NATO countries towards Georgia? There are many questions and I have not seen a credible response to those questions. Russia does not have a veto over this issue and Russia should not think that the existence of the frozen conflicts will prevent Georgia seeking membership or necessarily prevent NATO countries from extending membership invitation to Georgia.
Azerbaijan is in a different situation and has been playing its cards more judiciously. On the surface, Azerbaijan has excellent relationship with both the US and Russia. Russia does not formally oppose Azerbaijan being a transit country for Caspian oil and gas. The Russian authorities do not enjoy this and they are not happy with it, however this is something that they can live with. In the past they were very critical of any suggestions that Azerbaijan may host the American forces or join NATO. Azeri leadership has a much more subtle approach on the NATO membership issue. The NATO membership is not as much an identity issue in Azerbaijan as it is in Georgia. In Georgia it is just an obsession, the privileged live with the notion that Georgia should be a NATO member. This is seen as a step to complete Georgia's Europeanism, in Azerbaijan this is not the case, he said.
The Governments of Azerbaijan and Belarus signed ten co-operation agreements on 2 May in Baku. The sides signed an agreement of co-operation with regards to National Academies of Sciences of Azerbaijan and Belarus in 2007-2010; agreement between the National Banks of the two countries; between Committees on Securities; Committees on State Property; Agencies for Standardization, Metrology and Patent; agreement with regards to veterinary; quarantine and protection of plants; mutual protection of confidential information; agreement on labor activities; social protection of Belarusian citizens who temporarily live in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan citizens who temporarily live in Belarus.
In addition, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Belarus signed an agreement on Friendship and Co-operation.
Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, has discussed issues connected with the implementation of the NATO Plan for Individual Partnership with Azerbaijan in Brussels today, say the Press-Service of the Foreign Office of the Country.
The meeting was held with the participation of an Azerbaijan representative delegated to the NATO Council. The Azerbaijani Minister told about Azerbaijan implementing the aforementioned Programme, as well as the achievements Azerbaijan could reach. Touching upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during his speech, Mr. Mammadyarov said that the issue could be resolved only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. In addition, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister replied to the questions NATO Member-States Ambassadors to the NATO Council were interested in.
Khalaf Khalafov, the Deputy Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, has stated today in Baku that the new leadership of Turkmenistan shows interest and wishes to settle the issue connected with the legal status of the Caspian Sea.
Commenting the results of the last meeting of the working group on the legal status of the Caspian held in Ashgabad on April, 23-24, Mr. Khalafov noted that Azerbaijan hoped that it could develop bilateral relations with Turkmenistan not only in the issue connected with the status of the Caspian Sea, but also in other spheres of cooperation. He said that the Azerbaijani and Turkmenistan Foreign Ministers were expected to hold a meeting with each other.
Touching upon the Iranian position to the issue of the legal status of the Caspian, the deputy of the Foreign Minister of the Country said that the meeting in Turkmenistan had been held in five-lateral format. A bilateral meeting between the Azerbaijani and Turkmen party is expected to be held in Baku soon.
Mr. Khalafov also noted that the agreement on holding the next five-lateral meeting in Teheran within the next 3-4 months had been reached during the last Ashgabat meeting. Iran put forward a proposal to hold a meeting of the Foreign Ministries of all the five Caspian countries ( Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Russia, and Kazakhstan) in its capital- Teheran. Moreover, within the forthcoming meeting to be held in Teheran, the parties are expected to view holding of the summit of the Heads of the Caspian Sea States.
Ali Ahmadov, a Member of the Milli Majlis, Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan party (YAP), has said in Baku today that Azerbaijan will treat with respect to any choise to be made by the Turskih people.
The Executive Secretary of the ruling Party noted that both friendly and sister relations united Azerbaijan and Turkey. "We wish political processes in Turkey were developed in a normal way. We shall certainly with respect treat to any choice to be made by the Turkish people. I hope that that political processes will meet both the interests and desires of Turkey and its people," added the Azerbaijani MP. Mr. Ahmadov said that Azerbaijan had already wished Turkey political stability.
The political crisis emerged in Turkey due to the presidential elections is still going on. The ruling Party of Equity and Development nominated Abdullah Gul, the Foreign Minister of the Country to the post of Turkish President, however he could not collect the necessary 367 votes to pas the first tour of the elections. The Constitutional Court of Turkey has canceled the results of the first stage of the election campaign on the basis of the suit initiated by the opposition "Cumhurriyet Khalg" Party. Due to this, the pre-term presidential elections may be held in Turkey.
Dmitri Treinin, deputy director of the Carnegie Moscow Center and a senior associate of the Carnegie Endowment, stated that Georgia and Azerbaijan should not be grouped together on the membership at NATO.
In an interview with Trend in Washington, Treinin commented on the prospects of members of Georgia and Azerbaijan at NATO and Russia's possible reply. As in all other cases, this is in essence a matter between the alliance and the countries concerned. People talk about Georgia's membership as something that has to be discussed at this stage. Azerbaijan, at least for the time being, is not discussed in the same way.
According to the politician, both the elites and the public in Georgia support the idea of NATO membership. However, there is a question over making a country that does not fully control its own territory, a member and the implications of its admission. Does the membership mean that NATO needs to protect Georgian interests in Abkhazia and South Ossetia? If things go wrong what will be the obligation of the NATO countries towards Georgia? There are many questions and I have not seen a credible response to those questions. Russia does not have a veto over this issue and Russia should not think that the existence of the frozen conflicts will prevent Georgia seeking membership or necessarily prevent NATO countries from extending membership invitation to Georgia.
Azerbaijan is in a different situation and has been playing its cards more judiciously. On the surface, Azerbaijan has excellent relationship with both the US and Russia. Russia does not formally oppose Azerbaijan being a transit country for Caspian oil and gas. The Russian authorities do not enjoy this and they are not happy with it, however this is something that they can live with. In the past they were very critical of any suggestions that Azerbaijan may host the American forces or join NATO. Azeri leadership has a much more subtle approach on the NATO membership issue. The NATO membership is not as much an identity issue in Azerbaijan as it is in Georgia. In Georgia it is just an obsession, the privileged live with the notion that Georgia should be a NATO member. This is seen as a step to complete Georgia's Europeanism, in Azerbaijan this is not the case, he said.
Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, has stated during today's extended meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev in Baku, that there are some evil-wishers who discommend cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belarus.
He said that Azerbaijan and Belarus would not wish to be uncooperative or harm anybody and added that the two countries had no plans to be unfriendly with anyone. The Byelorussian President noted that he supported other countries' joining different Byelorussian projects.
He said that good, friendly relations had been established between the people of Azerbaijan and Belarus. According to Mr. Lukashenko, no Azerbaijani residing in Belarus will complain about a bad or unfriendly attitude towards himself, just as a Byelorussian living in Azerbaijan will not.
In his turn, Azerbaijan's President, Ilham Aliyev, said that both Azerbaijan and Belarus advanced on the path of close integration with each other by both countries considering further political and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belarus.
The Head of the Azerbaijani State expressed a wish on further cooperation with Belarus.
Samad Seyidov, the head of the Azerbaijan governmental delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Commission on International Relations and Inter-Governmental Bonds, held a joint meeting in Brussels with the Foreign Minister of Georgia, Gela Bejuashvili, and the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanian.
Seyidov reported on 2 May that the most important problems of South Caucasus, including Nagorno-Karabakh, had been discussed at the meeting.
"The meeting was attended by the representatives of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia only. The purpose of the international forum was the organization of joint discussions of the processes that take place in the region," the chairman of the Commission stated.
Not having the right to release the details of the meeting due to internal terms of the Brussels forum, the head of the delegation noted nevertheless that separate discussion of the processes taking place in the South Caucasus are of great importance.
The spokesman to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ragif Abbasov, reported on 1 May, that the Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Azad Rahimov, was on his visit to Saudi Arabia. The issues of extension of cooperation in youth policy and sports will be discussed during the visit.
According to Abbasov, the Minister is expected to meet with the director of the Department at the Saudi Arabia Kingdom, prince Bin Feysal Bin Abdulaziz, and consider the cooperation between the countries and participation of Azerbaijani sportsmen in the competitions held in Saudi Arabia and vice versa. The Minister is taking part in the sitting of the Ministers of Youth of Islamic countries held on 1-2 May in the country.
The issues of cooperation between Islamic countries in youth policy and sports will be discussed at the summit.
The United Nations Organization has the right to discuss any issues that are put on the agenda, if it considers it to be necessary," the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrei Vasilevsky, briefed the media in Baku, commenting on the delay of the discussions in the UN regarding the 'frozen conflicts' on the territory of GUAM countries. This is the decision of the members of the organization," he said.
According to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, considering the resolution is not a goal. "The task is to create such an atmosphere that the countries related to these and other conflicts or problems feel that the majority does not support them and that they are not correct and should reconsider their positions. It must be understood how it needs to come to a position that satisfies, not only one, but all parties," the Diplomat said.
The initiative to discuss the 'frozen conflicts' on the territories of the' Organization for Democracy
Nagorno-Karabakh
large-scale fight has occurred between Azerbaijani and Armenian youth at the end of today's festive event being held in Moscow-based Russian University of Friendship of People. Even during the arrangement, organized in the Russian University, Armenians provoked young Azerbaijani people to fight several times. After seeing how Armenians danced raising the flag of the un-recognized self-proclaimed separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani students forewarned their Armenian university mates not to do it.
In addition, Azerbaijani students then forewarned both officers of the corresponding security agencies of the Russian capital and the directorship of the University about the illegitimacy of the actions taken by Armenians, as well as about a provocative nature of their statements and actions. Armenians, for their part, brutally ignoring the requests and calls made by Azerbaijani students and distributing Anti-Azerbaijan literature among students of the University, faced the decisive protest from Azerbaijanis.
One of the Azerbaijanis who took part in the scuffle tore up the flag of the so-called ' Independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic'. Even after Russian policemen and OMON (emergency plat) arrived at the scene of action and fired preventive shots into the air, Azerbaijanis and Armenians carried on fighting between each other.
As Trend has been told, Aghali Alyshev, 22, who was wounded from a fire-arm in the incident, has been operated on at Hospital 64, within the Russian Capitol. Information regarding his condition has yet to be confirmed.
MP Azay Guliyev, the chairman of the National Forum of NGOs, stated on 1 May during the sitting of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) that the parliament should pass a special law to prevent the co-operation of Azerbaijani NGOs with Armenia.
Guliyev noted that the relations between Azerbaijani NGOs and Armenian organizations were expanding with every passing day. They organize regular bilateral visits. "In a month, a group representing Azerbaijani NGOs will visit Armenia in order to organize special summer camps to extend its co-operation. However, Azerbaijani legislation does not have the corresponding laws to prevent this process," Guliyev added.
The MP stressed the Armenian government is interested in this type of co-operation. Therefore, Armenia displays the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as an inter-governmental problem, not as a conflict between the nations. Guliyev regards the co-operation with the NGOs operating in Nagorno-Karabakh as a permissible fact, as the Armenians residing there are the citizens of Azerbaijan.
"The condition of Agaly Alishev, who received a gunshot wound during a serious fight between Azerbaijani and Armenian youths at the end of a festive event on 1 May which was held in the Moscow-based Russian University of Friendship of People, is said to be stable,"
Agaly Alishev, who is in Moscow City Clinical Hospital No. 64, exclusively informed Trend Special Correspondent in Moscow that on 1 May, a fight occurred between Azerbaijani and Armenian youth at the conclusion of a festive event which was held in the Moscow-based Russian University of Friendship of People. As a result, several Azerbaijanis received gunshot and knife wounds. Aghali Alishev, 22, who was wounded in the incident was operated on at Hospital 64, within the Russian Capital.
Alishev said that the Armenians had provoked the young Azerbaijanis to fight several times. Witnessing the Armenians dancing and raising the flag of the un-recognized self-proclaimed separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijani students warned them to stop. The Armenians ignored the requests and they began to distribute Anti-Azerbaijan literature amongst students of the University regardless of the protests from the Azerbaijanis.
According to Alishev, three Azerbaijanis were wounded in the fight. One of them received a knife wound in his neck, the second on his arm and the third youth received a wound to his leg as a result of shoot from an air rifle.
According to the information provided by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Moscow, the facts of the incident are being clarified together with the Moscow's law-enforcement. Obruchevsky Interior Department of Moscow is expected to file a criminal case
Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) protests against the conduct of a holiday event Azerbaijan by the Society of the Azerbaijanis in Nijne-Novgorod city of Russia on 7 May. The statement by the KLO says that conducting a holiday event on the eve of occupation of Shusha city of Azerbaijan is inadmissible. Those who call themselves as sons of Azerbaijan should know that 8 May is Occupation Day of Shusha. On 6 May actions will be held in Azerbaijan and all over the world with regards to the 15th anniversary of occupation of Shusha.
Vagif Sharifov, the plenipotentiary of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry in the Azerbaijani Embassy to Russia, reported on 4 May that Russian law enforcement bodies had instituted criminal proceedings regarding the gunshot wounding of an Azerbaijanian, Aghali Alishev.
On 1 May, following a celebration party in the Friendship of Peoples University in Russia, a large-scale brawl took place between the Azerbaijani and Armenian youth. As a result of the brawl 4 Azerbaijanians were wounded with guns and knifes. Aghali Alishev, 22, was most seriously wounded by a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was rushed to the resuscitation department of Hospital 64 in Moscow and where he was operated on.
Sharifov noted that the proceedings were organised by the Obruchevsky Interior Unit of Moscow in compliance with Article 213.1 (hooligan attack with appliance of weapon). He stressed that the case is under the personal control of the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloghlu.
Aleksey Sergeyevich Polakov, the deputy inquiry head of the Obruchevsky Unit who is in charge of the investigation on the case, said that the court process in this connection had begun. "We will interrogate the witnesses and will receive a medical certificate on this occasion. The gun that was used to shoot Alishev has been sent for examination," the investigator said.
Alishev said that he was provided with an attorney, the chairman of the "Inter-Advocate" Bar of Moscow, Namik Azimov. Alishev added that he felt fine. He also expressed his surprise at the fact that most of the personnel in the hospital taking care of him were Armenians.
Armenia broke the agreement on confidentiality of the negotiations process on the peaceful settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated on 4 May in the opening of a special settlement for internally displaced persons in the Ramani settlement of Sabunchu district of Baku that the senior officials of Armenia have distorted the information on the negotiations process. According to the President, it may be as a result from the internal situation of Armenia it being on the eve of their parliamentary elections. Aliyev did not specify which items the Armenian side had violated the confidentiality process.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus appeared in 1988 due to the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven Districts of the country surrounding it. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) holds peaceful negotiations.
The President of Azerbaijan was asked a question "if indeed the negotiations are going on in favor of Armenia as they said, why did they decide to terminate the negotiations on the eve of the elections".
According to the State Head of Azerbaijan, there is a common agreement on returning seven occupied districts of Azerbaijan gradually, after which it is intended to return the Azerbaijanis wholly to their native land. It is the principal position of Azerbaijan. Aliyev stressed that these proposals have been accepted by Armenia and mediators of the negotiations. The President stated that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh may be discussed only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. In addition, Azerbaijan does not protest against the initiative of Armenia to place peacekeepers in the territory.
Political movements
The meeting of the International Democracy Union (IDU) in Teucreum city of Croatia passed a project of the resolution on South Azerbaijan.
The document has been devised by the Leader of the Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP), Etibar Mammadov. The meeting which commenced on 25 April, focused on the situation in South Azerbaijan on 30 April. The international organization adopted the document prepared by the ANIP Leader in which the document encourages the South Azerbaijanis to fight for their rights and freedom. "The Azerbaijanis have the right to learn and write their history. Iran should provide the status of 'language of minorities' to Azeris. Azerbaijanis residing in Iran should have the right to use Azeri both in oral and written form and their children should be educated in their native language. Iran should grant them the right to create political and cultural organizations and the right to protect their culture and heritage," the document read.
The IDU member countries were charged to raise the problems stipulated in the document before the governments and parliaments of their States. ANIP joined IDU in 1997. Etibar Mammadov was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of IDU in 2003.
The Union for Democracy which brings together three opposition parties does not indent to appeal to other political organizations to expand its ranks," said Ahmed Oruj, the Chairman of Azadlyg Party represented in the Union. According to him, no talks are expected to be held in the near future with any opposition parties regarding this issue.
"Appeals had been received from 14 parties on the eve of the creation of the Union. Several parties stated that they are going to join the Union later. The Union is open for everybody and the wishing parties may join it. But we do not intend to appeal any parties," Oruj said.
In addition, he said that a decision was made to prepare the Regulation and Program of the Union. The Union for Democracy was created by three opposition parties, Azadlyg Party, Azerbaijan National Democracy Party, Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (Classics).
Ali Aliyev, the co-chairman of the Azadlyg bloc and the chairman of the Azerbaijan Citizen and Development Party (CDP), said that the bloc had not any intentions to make changes regarding the principles of formation of election commissions in the package of proposals on changes and amendments in the Azerbaijan Election Code.
The Azadlyg suggests formation of election commissions based on the parties that took part in the latest parliamentary elections and received over 1% of the votes. Thus, the Central Election Commission will consist of 12 members representing 5 parties of Azerbaijan (the ruling New Azerbaijan Party and the oppositional Musavat, Azerbaijan Popular Front, Liberal, and Azerbaijan Democratic parties). However, the Musavat party does not agree with this point of the project. Ali Aliyev stated that the proposals of all the parties would be concerned. Nevertheless, the bloc will not make its decision on the formation of election commission.
The final draft of the package of proposals will be submitted to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and the Azerbaijani parliament for further consideration. The Azadlyg bloc includes the Popular Front Party, the Liberal Party, and the Citizen and Development Party.
According to the information provided by the Commission for Fighting against Corruption of the Council for State Management of Azerbaijan, the Finance Ministry of Azerbaijan has prepared a project on National Accounting Standards.
This will involve the conduct of accounting and submission of financial accounts within the political parties in Azerbaijan. The National Accounting Standards project aims at ensuring financial transparency in the activities of the political organizations of Azerbaijan. This project will be reflected in the amendments and annexes to the law on Political Parties.
The chairman of the Azadlyg party, Ahmad Oruj, reported on 2 May that a preparatory hearing on the suit of the opposition Azadlyg party against the chairman of the Azerbaijan State Committee on State Property Management, Karam Hasanov, was held in the Khatai District Court in Baku presided by the judge Rauf Ahmadov on this date.
First, the sides gave evidence then the decision to proceed on 11 May at 3:00pm was made after this. According to Oruj, he proposed settlement of the conflict through talks. The representative of the State Committee, Namik Ibrahimli, noted that he would express his opinion on the matter outside the court after considering the problem with the administration of the state organization.
The party brought action against the Committee due to them ignoring the appeals of the Azadlyg party, requesting a headquarters. Oruj noted that he was ready to apply for all court instances.
The pro-opposition Azadlyg party was founded in the mid 90's. The party, lead by Oruj, is a member of the newly formed block, " Union for Democracy
Huseyn Turkelli, a member of the Movement for National Awakening of South Azerbaijan, who had resigned, declared on 2 May the end of his political involvement. He reported that he made this decision due to the risk of a split in the Movement. He intends to continue his activities in the human rights protection field.
Turkelli accused the leader of the Movement, Mahmoudali Chohraganli, of establishing a dictatorship in the organization and other falsifications. Chokhraganli, in his turn, demanded that Turkelli, who was the director of the organization's official site, to leave the office. Turkelli noted in his statement that he, together with other opponents of Chokhraganli, had stopped the conflict and accusations. He stressed that he had put an end to all disagreements in order to prevent the split of the organization, from which their rivals could benefit. He voiced his hope that the opposing side would take after him.
The Movement of National Awakening of South Azerbaijan was founded in 1995 to defend the rights of Azerbaijanis residing in Iran. Resting on the international law and principles, the organization demands the restoration of the rights of South Azerbaijan (Iranian province) to decide its own fate
Etibar Mammadov, the leader of the opposition Party of National Independence of Azerbaijan, has stated today that he is not satisfied with the activity of the leadership of the Party he led. Mammadov reported that he regretted the Party's not having attained its political activity by adding that no one from the Party's members could be satisfied with this activity. "Everybody complains that the situation is bad, but politicians expect action to be taken. That is not a normal approach to this issue," said Mammadov.
He stressed that the opposition, which did not have any political weight and activity in the country might leave the forthcoming election campaign.
Three or four key opposition centers will be created on the eve of the forthconing presidentail elections in Azerbaijan, said Eldar Namazov, the Chairman of Public Union for Azerbaijan and also the former Head of the Presidential Secretariat of Azerbaijan.
According to him, there may be more candidates. "However, a large number of candidates do result in the opportunity to participate and win in the elections. I think that new coalitions and blocks will be created by the end of the year. At the beginning of next year, negotiations will begin between these centers. Possibly an agreement will be reached by April or May next year," he said. Namazov said that he will also be represented in one of these centers. He added that the election block created for participating in the parliamentary elections can be used in the presidential elections in the same form.
Akif Shahbazov, the chairman of the Open Society Party (OSP), reported on 3 May that the party would sign bilateral agreements with several opposition parties. According to Shahbazov, an all-republic Forum initiated by the OPS will be held on 25 May with the participation of the representatives of all opposition organizations of Azerbaijan. After the forum the party will conclude bilateral agreements on co-operation with the Musavat party, the Liberal Party, the Hope party, and the Azerbaijan Classic Popular Front party. The events are held in compliance with the strategy of Rasul Guliyev, the leader of the party.
Rasul Guliyev, the ex-speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, was the chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) from 2000 to February 2007. The supporters of Guliyev left the ADP and held a congress, where the decision to establishment OSP was made.
The Chairman of Great Establishment Party, Fazil Gazanfaroglu, stated that his party will not join any political group or union.
He stressed that the party did not hold any negotiations for the creation of the organization ' Union for Democracy'. According to Gazanfaroglu, there are not real means in Azerbaijan for creation of coalitions and successful activities of the political parties.
Gazanfaroglu added that on the eve of the forthcoming presidential election, The Great Establishment Party will make bilateral co-operation with several opposition parties. At present, the party has received co-operation proposals from Alliance for Azerbaijan and Open Society Party. Fazil Gazanfaroglu is a member to the Parliament of Azerbaijan.
Ali Karimli, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), has stated that he will nominate himself for the chairmanship again at the regular congress of the party.
According to Karimli, the congress will be held at the end of 2007. "We hold conferences in the regional branches of the APFP in preparation for the nation-wide Azerbaijan Popular Front congress. The issues regarding the Charter of the party will be considered and the elections of the administration will be held during the meeting," Karimli said. He noted that he was the only candidate for the position.
Ali Karimli, the Chairman of the party reported that the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (NFP) is going to cooperate with the party led by the former speaker of the Milli Majlis, Rasul Guliyev.
According to Karimli, they have held negotiations with the Party of Open Society. "We are ready to negotiate with every party that sincerely wants to develop democracy and protection of human rights in Azerbaijan and we are going to negotiate with the party led by Rasul Guliyev. These were negotiations of a different type and we must make the right choices," said Mr. Karimli.
Kerimli noted that the issue of the Party of Open Society's joining the Azadlig block, is not currently under discussion. There may be only bilateral cooperation between these two political parties.
During Guliyev's leadership, the Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) was the member of Azadlig. However, it was excluded from the Azadlyg bloc due to disagreements within the ADP
Ayaz Rustamov, the chairman of the Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP), has reported that the organization has proceeded to negotiate with several Azerbaijani parties on the formation of a new bloc on the threshold of the presidential elections. On 4 May, Rustamov said that pro-opposition parties should expand their cooperation within blocs.
"Due to presidential elections being in Azerbaijan soon, new opposition centers must be formed. The opposition should nominate a unified candidate," Rustamov added. According to the chairman, a new bloc will be created after definite decisions are made during the negotiations.