Weekly political review

Official news

On the 18th of June, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev welcomed his Georgian counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili to the Presidential Palace.

Both presidents expressed their satisfaction with the rapidly developing Azerbaijan-Georgia relations in the fields of economy, energy and transport.

They also stressed the important role GUAM plays in boosting the bilateral cooperation between their countries both within the organization itself and other international organizations.

On the 18th of June, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev received Vice-President of Bulgaria, Angel Marin. The President expressed his satisfaction with successfully developing Azerbaijan-Bulgaria relations, noting that the participation of the Bulgarian delegation in the GUAM summit promotes the expansion of bilateral ties, and proves the increase in international significance of the organization. He added that reciprocal visits of the Azerbaijani and Bulgarian leaders resulted to friendly relations and as a result of this, the two countries serve as a good basis for the further strengthening of bilateral ties. In turn, the Bulgarian Vice-President expressed his satisfaction with his country's participation in the GUAM Baku summit, describing the event as 'evidence' of the organization's increasing role in development of the region.

On the 18th of June 1998, the Nationwide Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, approved the State Program on the Protection of Human Rights. Following the human rights became one of the key directions of the State policy of Azerbaijan. According to the order of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the 18th of June will be marked as the Day of Human Rights in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, stated to the summit of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development- GUAM in Baku on the 19th of June that a new stage of development has begun in GUAM.

He noted that over the shortest period GUAM has become an international organization and the common interests uniting its members give impetus to the consolidation of the organization. President Aliyev noted the importance of the participation of EU member-countries in the future development of the organization. He stressed that the agenda of the gathering includes the issue on the cooperation of the Caspian, Black and Baltic Sea regions. The head of state assured that regional cooperation within GUAM, which has a significant impact on the Eurasian continent, provides great prospects for the resolution of exiting problems.

President Aliyev noted that the organization unifies the political will in the integration into the Euro-Atlantic organizations. He noted the importance of economic development for the countries and the implementation of joint projects. The president voiced his hopes on promptly resolving the issues of exploitation of the Odessa-Brody-Gdansk oil pipeline and the commencement of gas supply by Azerbaijan to the EU countries via the territory of Turkey and Greece by the end of the year.

Referring to the economic growth of Azerbaijan the head of state, stated that it was 25% in 2005, 30% in 2006 and 35% over the first five months of 2007.

Regarding the separatist movements in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova, President Aliyev stated that the GUAM countries support the peaceful resolution of exiting conflicts. The conflicts should be resolved within the framework of the international law, territorial integrity of the countries and through granting higher status of autonomy, he added. Until the GUAM countries are strong and hold powerful military power, the separatist regimes will not step back from their positions," he emphasized.

On 20 June, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev received the Chairman of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), Oleg Dobrodeyev.

Oleg Dobrodeyev said he started his current visit by paying respect to Azerbaijan's nationwide leader, Heydar Aliyev, and his spouse Zarifa Aliyeva at the Alley of Honors.

The VGTRK Chief said that while in Baku, he witnessed Azerbaijan's progress in its economic development. Referring to the role of Russian language in the Azerbaijani people's everyday life, Dobrodeyev appreciated this highest respect shown to his native language.

Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan's rapidly growing economy.

The President said his country places particular emphasis on the development of culture and information technologies.

Dobrodeyev presented President Aliyev videotapes about Heydar Aliyev, which had already been aired by the VGTRK.

On 20 June, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received Lee Baca, Los Angeles County Sheriff.

Expansion of cooperation among law-enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan and various regions of the United States, including California was stressed in the meeting.

On 20 June, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued decrees appointing chairmen of the appeal courts of several districts of Azerbaijan. The Presidential decrees appoint Ramazan Burjayev as chairman to appeal court of Sheky city, Gurbat Askator - Ali Bayramly, Ikram Kerimov - Sumgayt. According to other Presidential, Nasirov Inglab was appointed as chairman to the Military Court on Heinous Crimes.

On 20 June, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued a decree on measures to prevent the pollution of the Caspian Sea. The decree envisages installing 12 clean-up equipments on the Azerbaijani shore of Caspian Sea in Bilgah-Shuvalan zone and Pirallahy island. AZN 3.5 mln will be allocated from the Reserve Fund of the President for this purpose. The decree presents appropriate tasks to the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Ecology and Ministry of Finance.

On 21 June, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received the Georgian delegation led by the Governor of the Kvemo Kartli province, Zurab Melikishvili.

Both Ilham Aliyev and Zurab Melikishvili stressed that Azerbaijan-Georgian relations are successfully developing, and agreed that the bilateral relations between the two countries will deepen as a result of the Georgian delegation's current visit.

Japan's participation in the GUAM summit will expand the possibilities for Azerbaijan-Japan cooperation, said the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on the 18th of June in Baku, while receiving Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mitoji Yabunaka .

The President characterized the current relations between the two countries as actively developing, and expressed confidence in the further enhancement of bilateral cooperation.

Yabunaka thanked the Azeri leader for inviting Japan to join the GUAM summit in Baku. He pointed the high level of Japan-Azerbaijan relationships in all fields.

The first production of armaments will begin in Azerbaijan at the end of 2007, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reported on the 22nd of June.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 7th graduation of the Higher Military School named after Heydar Aliyev he stressed that Azerbaijan was doing the best for the production of its own military products, although the country was still purchasing military equipment from abroad. President Aliyev noted the importance of the establishment of a military-industrial complex in the country.

According to the President, the Azerbaijani army is developing rapidly. Not only in the military potential of the army, but also the training of military men is much stronger. The President added that a lot is still to be done within this field. Expenditures for the army increased by four times during the last four years. The majority of the budget of Azerbaijan goes to military expenditures

Ilahm Aliyev stated that the war had not ended yet and therefore Azerbaijan would continue paying special attention to the fortification of its military forces.

President Aliyev noted that defence expenditures of the Azerbaijani budget were equal to the total Armenian budget. He noted that Azerbaijan would be developing further and subsequently it will be impossible for Armenia to withstand Azerbaijan.

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated on the 22nd of June that Azerbaijan should attack Armenians in all directions. According to him, the attack should be made in political, diplomatic, and economic spheres as well as in the sphere of propaganda.

Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan will put pressure on Armenia unless they release the occupied Azerbaijani lands.

He stressed that Nagorno-Karabakh will never join Armenia and will not gain independence. Aliyev spelled out that the negotiations are misrepresented in Armenia and Azerbaijan will never be satisfied with the agreement envisaging the separation of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan.

The President underlined that the Armenia considers that by prolonging the period, they will achieve something. "I think that this wish serves as a career for some politicians. I do not believe that Armenia itself supports prolonging the settlement of the conflict," he emphazised .

The negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement have been ongoing for already thirteen years. "The talks can not continue for another thirteen years. We need to clarify the talks within a short period," stated President of Azerbaijan.

On 22 June, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates Daniel Yergin and his accompanying delegation. The Head of State recalled his meeting with Yergin in Davos earlier this year. The President said economic, political, and other fields in Azerbaijan have rapidly developed over recent years, noting this visit will provide an opportunity to learn more about Azerbaijan. Yergin said it is his first trip to Azerbaijan. According to him, the role of Azerbaijan is increasing in the world. He also shared his impressions on his visiting Sangachal terminal, the starting point of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on supplements in the decree on application of the Law on State Secret dating from the 5th of November, 2004.

The new decree provides the insertion of a new item in the Law. Item 3.6 states that interdepartmental control over the protection of State Secrets in the systems, information networks and communications of state and other facilities shall be implemented by Special State Protection Service within the framework of its authorities.

Item 3.5 of the Law on State Secrets states that the authorities of relative executive bodies provided by Item 32.1 shall be undertaken by the National Security Ministry of the Azerbaijan Republic.

Parliament

In case the proposal on the joint use of the Azerbaijani Gabala Radar Station by Russia and the United States is implemented, a document on the use should be ratified, the head of the Administration of Azerbaijani Parliament, Safa Mirzayev, stated on 21 June to journalists.

According to Mirzayev, this is just an idea and a proposal has neither a precise plan nor documentation.

"If in future the idea is implemented the need in reconsideration of the document on use of the radar station will arise. A trilateral or multilateral agreement should be signed between the countries and ratified in accordance with national procedures," Mirzayev said.

Azerbaijani Parliamentary Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova stated that within the framework of the Azerbaijani Parliament's spring session fourteen meetings were convened. Some 130 bills and regulations were passed during these sessions.

Fifty-five international contracts and conventions were ratified during the Parliament's spring session.

Thirty-six laws and decisions were adopted during two special sessions of the Parliament.

Muradova noted that the Azerbaijani Parliament passed Administrative codes of practice, a Code of ethical conduct of State figures of the country, and many other significant issues during this session.

Recommendation regarding economics and social issues were also passed. The permanent Parliamentary Commission held 114 meetings, considered 279 bills, eighteen regulations, as well as discussed changes and a range of legislations.

In 2007, the Azerbaijani Parliament received 2,639 appeals and complaints from citizens, some of them were submitted to the corresponding structures, and the rest were considered by the Parliamentary Commission and Departments.

There is no necessity in holding fruitless discussions on Nagorno-Karabakh at the Parliament, the Vice Speaker of Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), Bahar Muradova, said on 21 June.

She noted that the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia are holding negotiations and several points of the negotiations are kept secret. For this purpose, in her opinion, the issues subject to discussions at the Parliament should be defined. "Milli Majlis supports the position of the President the core of which is that Azerbaijan will not agree with the loss of its territories. I do not see any necessity in the meetings for speaking about that. Daily discussions on the matter can be held in Armenia, as in Armenia they understand the falseness of their position and know that early or late they will have to vacate the occupied territories. Azerbaijan's position is flatly unambiguous. We have to keep away from fruitless discussions at the Parliament," the Vice-Speaker said.

Musa Guliyev, the Deputy Chairman of the permanent Commission of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), stated on 21 June that the issue on increasing pensions in Azerbaijan will be discussed during the autumn session of the Parliament.

Over the past years, the Azerbaijani Parliament passed many laws on social security, Guliyev said.

There is no necessity to introduce changes and supplements in laws at each session of the Parliament.

"The President issued a decree granting a subsidiary fee to families that lost someone to war, and an increase of minimum pensions by AZM 50.

Beginning from 2007, the living wage in Azerbaijan is determined at AZM 64.

This sum will be increased during the autumn session of the Parliament. The minimum sum of social aid is AZM 35," Guliyev added.

MP Fazail Agamali stated during the Press and Society meeting, held on 21 June that amendment in Laws on Functioning of Journalists would be passed at the autumn session of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament).

The Parliament should introduce amendments in a range of legislations to exclude items concerning the arrest of journalists as an offense to their honor and dignity from the Criminal Code.

The citizen liability of journalists in the Civil Code should be increased.

The MP considers that the offense to the honor and dignity of the media must be suspended.

Seven journalist are under arrest in Azerbaijan.

Foreign policy

The United States welcomes the interests of the member-countries of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM ( Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) in further cooperation with the European Union, according to the press-release on the results of the Meeting between GUAM and the United States held in Baku, which was publicized on the 18th of June.

The United States supports GUAM as a regional organization and supports its active part in the international stage. The United States encourages territorial integrity of the GUAM countries within the framework of the internationally recognized borders, the document states.

The sides recognized the importance of the 'Virtual Law Enforcement Centre' project, its potential and implementation, and voiced its readiness in the efforts for cooperation in combating international terrorism, extension of the Europe-Asia-TransCaspian transport corridor, improvement of energy security via diversification of energy supplies, development infrastructure for operations with natural gas and transportation of oil.

GUAM and the United States call upon the strengthening of political dialogue and cooperation. The decision to hold the next GUAM-US meeting will be held in Washington in autumn.

The member countries of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM ( Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) are still weak investors and it is too early to speak on joint implementation of large projects requiring considerable funds.

"Given that GUAM countries are weak investors there is still a need to attract foreign investors. It is too early to speak on implementation of such projects as establishment of peacekeeping forces of GUAM and Euro-Asian oil and gas transport corridor," the Director of the ' Sofia' Ukrainian Centre of Social Researches, Andrei Yermolayev said.

The second summit of GUAM was held in Baku on 18-19 June under the slogan of ' GUAM: Uniting Continents'. The GUAM countries discussed establishment of GUAM common peacekeeping forces and a transport corridor.

On 19 June during a phone call, Yermolayev said that the meeting of the Presidents of the GUAM countries during the 2nd summit of the organization in Baku was a geopolitical intrigue. According to the politician the role of the European Union was increasing. European countries are concerned with high energy dependence from Russia and therefore are interested in new routes and ways of access to Caspian and Central Asia energy resources.

"That is one of the reasons for the rapid increase in interest of GUAM. Earlier GUAM was regarded as a dependent organization and intended for the North-Atlantic sector. However, now the European Union is interested in GUAM, primarily as an economic partner. So, GUAM became a project very attractive in terms of investing," the politician said. "It is very important to find a common fundament for the development of GUAM and the Black Sea Economic Union, where the interests of such large countries as Russia and Turkey are represented.

The Chairman of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, Kote Gabashvily , considers the Baku Summit of Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM, as being 'productive', which took place on the 19th of June in Baku.

As an alternative to CIS, the four post-Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, established this format in 1999, during the summit of the head of state of the European Union member-countries in Strasbourg. In 1999 Uzbekistan joined the organization, however left after four years. GUAM was established as an economic alliance of countries - acting as potential participants in the energy resource transportation projects.

Gabashvily stated on the 19th of June that by passing a great deal of resolutions portrays the importance of the organization. More than ten documents regarding various spheres were adopted during the GUAM summit in Baku.

The Chairman of the Georgian Parliamentary Committee considers GUAM to be confirmed as a serious and significant organization. "During the summit, the Presidents of the GUAM countries made serious statements regarding the establishment of peacekeeping forces, revival of the " Great Silk Way" and other problems," he emphasized.

Gabashvily particularly stressed that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, related GUAM as being a serious European organization. "It needs to pay particular attention to the creation of peacekeeping forces within GUAM, which is actively required by the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Establishing peacekeeping forces will positively affect the political process within the conflict zones," he stated.

Gabashvily believes that the peacekeeping contingent of GUAM will highly assist in regulating the conflicts within the territories of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

The Baku summit of GUAM has confirmed its prospect, despite the forecasts of a rapid 'political death' of GUAM. "The current summit of GUAM has confirmed that the organization has a principle prospect. Perhaps, this is the major result," said Vladimir Fesenko , the Chairman of the Ukrainian Center of Applied Political Researches ' Penta '.

As an alternative to CIS the four post-Soviet republics Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, established this format in 1997. In 2006 the first summit in Kiev adopted a decision to announce GUAM as an international organization and renamed it as the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM. During the Summit held in Baku on the 19th of June the chairmanship of GUAM was transferred from the Ukraine to Azerbaijan.

It is important that GUAM functions currently, Fesenko noted. He was commenting on the results of the Baku summit. "The most predicted rapid political death, or the so-called 'political hovering' for the organization. GUAM goes ahead, though some people regarded it as an artificial establishment. The Baku summit also testifies for it. GAUM has a definite prospect, he said. The organization is full of potential." It depends on the level of coordinating and balancing of the political and economic interests. GUAM has existed in a political platform for a period of time. And the failure to realize the organization's potential is linked with the absence of economic aspects. Following the implementation of economic initiatives, the attention towards the organization and its potential will boost," Fesenko assured.

Regarding the decision of the member-countries on the implementation of the Odessa-Brody-Gdansk oil pipeline, Fesenko stated that along with the amount of investments, it requires interests not only by Poland, but from other European countries, which are currently oscillating. "Moreover, it is necessary to take into consideration the interests of countries on the other sides of the Caspian Sea. It is not a secret that lately Russia has begun actively functioning in Central Asia and attracting Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and other countries from Central Asia to cooperate with the implementation of full-size energy projects. In this case it is a necessary search for balance between political and economic interests," the political expert stressed. He noted that if GUAM were to carry out a counter-Russian project, it might evolve a number of problems. Therefore, it is necessary to release definite political tension around these projects in order to reject projects directed against Russia, However in order to expand a circle of potential participants, the expenses must be aimed towards other European countries.

According to Fesenko , there are concrete initiatives and agreements within the framework of GUAM, but still too many problems arise for their full implementation. In this respect the political expert mentioned the political crisis in the Ukraine as, "irritability and jealousy" by Russia. "Particularly, an initiative on the possible establishment of a peacekeeping contingent within GUAM will be considered, by Russia as a potential direction against Russia's impact in the post-Soviet area. Hence, it is necessary to seek a balance in the relationships between GUAM and CIS," Fesenko noted. In addition, the level of implementation of the GUAM initiative in regional security will affect the future of the organization, he added.

The support of the USA and European Union may be a guarantee of economic activity and effectiveness of economic relations within GUAM, said the outstanding Georgian economic expert, Giorgi Khukhashvily.

The Business Council of GUAM, which took place in Baku recently, sent an appeal to the Presidents, Parliaments and Governments of their countries on behalf of the entrepreneurship community of the GUAM participating countries. The appeal calls to intensively assist in implementing an agreement on the creation of free trade zones between GUAM member-countries, create favourable legal and economic conditions for the realization of business-projects, improve and harmonize national legislations, unify border and customs control, strengthen control to prevent access of falsified products to the internal market, ensure single tariffs for transport communications and apply a single system of indirect taxes for the export and import of commodities (works, services). The proposals also include establishing a working group under the GUAM Business Council to study future movements and realization of programs of multimodal transportation of cargos From-Door-To-Door. There are plans to hold the first meeting of the working group in Kiev in September.

"This appeal is a good tool to establish economic relations within GUAM and should be welcomed," Khukhashvily considers. According to him, such types of integration may provide an opportunity to regulate economic relations between GUAM participating countries.

"The principles specified in the appeal should lead to full economic integration of GUAM countries. They are standard requirements which should be fulfilled by GUAM countries. Implementing the requirements is key to the establishment of close economic relations," the Georgian expert considers.

Khukhashvily thinks that there are more prospects to achieve an economic approach of member-countries within GUAM than in the CIS. "It is linked to the fact that Russia cannot really influence GUAM through political or economic tools of pressure," he said.

Azerbaijan has intentions to liven up the activities of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM ( Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova). Azerbaijan's chairmanship in 2007-2008 was approved during the 2nd summit of the Presidents of GUAM countries held in Baku. Proposals that Azerbaijan intends to implement during its chairmanship were reflected in a document. The proposals will cover cooperation in the settlement of lingering conflicts in GUAM areas, cooperation in law enforcement and security fields; interaction of international organizations, cooperation with other countries and international organizations, cooperation in economy and assistance to GUAM business circles, cooperation in transport, communications and IT, development of GUAM transport corridors, cooperation in energy security including use of alternative energy sources, cooperation in prevention of emergency situations, assistance to cooperation within the framework of GUAM Parliamentary Assembly, cooperation in humanitarian fields and tourism, as well as completion of the institutionalization of GUAM.

Azerbaijan has also to develop and hold a number of events on the Anniversary of GUAM.

The President of the Ukraine, Victor Yushenka, stated on the 19th of June in Baku at the summit of the "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM" that GUAM should be the foundation for the stability in the region.

He expressed his deep satisfaction with the interest of the international community in the activities of GUAM and said that the organization actively acquired new friends. Yushenka highlighted the importance of holding negotiations in the format of GUAM-Poland, GUAM-Japan and GUAM-USA.

Making a speech at the summit, the President of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvily, emphasized that over the past several years, GUAM has transformed into an international organization. He stressed that GUAM was able to achieve a number of successes, including the establishment of free trade zones which as a result has increased the trade turnover between the countries. Regarding the settlement of the conflict in South Osetia, the President of Georgia said that this is related to the 2004 agreements to integrate with the Government of Georgia. In addition, he said that an individual response will be made to all provocations. Saakashvily assessed the situation in South Osetia as a vast progress. He stressed that Georgia is the most uncorrupted country in Europe.

Later, the Prime Minister of Moldova, Vasily Tarlev, suggested establishing trade houses in GUAM countries which will increase the amount of the trade turnover. These houses may be established in Baku, Tbilisi, Kiev and Kishniev. In addition, Tarlev proposed to conduct culture and youth festivals within the GUAM countries.

Giving a speech at the summit, the President of Poland, Lekh Kachinsky, highlighted the importance of applying Odessa-Borda-Gdansk project. He stressed that the oil consuming the pipeline exists in the GUAM countries. "It is very important in relation to blackmail. I hope that blackmail will not be a consistency," Kachinsky said speaking of the importance of diversifying energy resources.

Kachinsky highlighted the significance of the existence of GUAM for cultural development. He stressed Poland will be a loyal partner of GUAM in this relation.

On the 18th of June 2007 in Baku, The Republic of Azerbaijan, the first Meeting between the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM and Japan took place at the level of the GUAM Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Mitoji Yabunaka, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The meeting was held in the framework of the Second Summit of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM in Baku on the 18th to the 19th of June 2007.

As an alternative to CIS the four post-Soviet republics Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, established this format in 1999, during the summit of the head of state of the European Union member-countries in Strasbourg. In 1999 Uzbekistan joined the organization, but left after four years. GUAM was established as an economic alliance of countries - potential participants of energy resource transportation projects.

During the meeting, both sides touched upon the main topics of GUAM - Japan political dialogue, including initiatives in strengthening democracy, increasing security and stability, peaceful resolution of conflicts on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions, developing civil society, as well as deepening mutual support within major international organizations

GUAM expressed its deep interest in investments of Japan in priority areas of cooperation, including energy, transport, in particular the corridor between Europe - Asia through GUAM, and ecology. GUAM and Japan confirmed their intention to work towards business promotion and further improvement of the investment environments.

Taking note of the mutual interest in the spheres of energy and ecology, and the well-developed energy saving technology of Japan, the Japanese proposed in organizing a workshop within Tokyo promoting energy saving technology for officials and researchers of the GUAM countries in 2007. The GUAM countries expressed their appreciation and their cooperation to attend the workshop.

On June 18th, 2007 in Baku, The Republic of Azerbaijan, in the framework of the Second Summit of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM, the Council of the Heads of State held a meeting with Lech Aleksander Kaczynski, the President of the Republic of Poland.

"Poland fully endorses the guiding principles of GUAM as elaborated in its statutory documents: dedication to democratic values and laws, mutually beneficial economic cooperation and striving for peaceful resolutions of the protracted conflicts in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova," he stated. " Poland affirms its attachment to the principle of preserving the territorial integrity of these states within their internationally recognized borders in the final process of settling of the conflicts," he added.

The Baku declaration was signed after the second summit of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM ( Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) held in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on the 19th of June. The document was signed by the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Ukraine, Ilham Aliyev, Mikhail Saakashvili , and Victor Yushenko , as well as the Prime Minister of Moldova, Vasili Tarlev . The content of the document has not yet been publicized.

Other documents were signed within the framework of the summit and the document on the transfer of chairmanship in GUAM for 2007-2008 from Ukraine to Azerbaijan is amongst them

Foreign Ministers signed agreements on the strategic development of branch cooperation within GUAM.

The results of the summit will be released by the Presidents at a press-conference to be held immediately after the summit.

The United States is prepared to support GUAM in the implementation of regional projects, according to a letter sent by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, to participants in the GUAM Summit which began in Baku on the 19th of June.

The United States and GUAM cooperate in the sphere of trade, transport and law-enforcement. The letter states that The United State plans to continue its cooperation and support with the current secretariat of GUAM to its contributing in the development of the regional cooperation, Rice writes.

The US Secretary of State voiced her gratitude to the Government of the Ukraine, which made great achievements during its chairmanship at GUAM. She also voiced her hope in the continuation of these achievements during Azerbaijan's chairmanship.

The Youth Forum of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has the intentions to register the cases of Islam-phobia and to organize special conferences for the prevention of such cases. The decision was reflected in the recently adopted in Kazan , Tatarstan (Russian Federation) announcement on the results of 'OIC-Russia: Dialogue of Youth' international conference, the Secretary General of the OIC Youth Forum, Elshad Iskandarov , reported on the 19th of June at a press-conference in Baku.

According to Iskandarov , the Kazan forum was the first conference of its kind to be between the OIC and Russian youth organizations. The purpose of the event was to inform individuals of the problems of Muslim minorities and revealing the opportunities for assistance from the OIC. The conference was attended by the representatives of youth organizations of Dagestan, Bashkortostan, and other Russian regions.

Within the framework of the conference, the representatives of the Forum are planed to hold meetings with the President of The Tatarstan Republic, Mintimer Shaymiyev , as well as with the members of the Government.

Regarding the cooperation between the OIC and European youth organizations, Secretary General noted, "We can cooperate in the fields that are of mutual interest, in particular the creation of a comfortable religious freedom."

The Youth Forum has plans to form a mobile group, which will visit crisis regions and render assistance in settlement of problematic situations.

Marat Tazhin, the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, states the necessity of considering the viewpoint of countries which could host the pipelines to be built via the Caspian Sea grounds. "The definition of a route for the construction of sub-sea pipelines should be carried out through the agreement with countries which will host these pipelines, Tazhin stressed in a meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral countries held in Tehran on 20 June, Trend reports citing Interfax.

Tazhin said that Kazakhstan is prepared to detail its consideration of proposals by Iranian and Russian sides on the necessity of holding an ecological examination of such projects by all Caspian littoral countries. With respect to the delimitation of the Caspian Sea ground the Minister stressed that the principles indicated in the agreement between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia, who share the northern part of the Caspian Sea through concluding bilateral agreements, might be a good basis for further development of talks in this direction.

"We hope that other Caspian countries will also follow our example, which would finally enable a resolution to the issue on the distribution of the Caspian Sea ground with respect to sovereign rights of exploitation of natural wealth," Tazhin noted. At the same time, the Kazakh Foreign Minister thinks it necessary to ensure the right of intercontinental Caspian littoral countries on free transit by all transport means and access to other seas. "The future convention on the Caspian legal status will reflect a right of the intercontinental Caspian countries on free transit by all transport means and access to other seas and the universal ocean, specified in some universal international agreements," the Minister stressed.

He also reminded that during the previous meeting of the foreign ministers in Moscow on April 2004, Kazakhstan came out with an initiative on establishment of five-lateral mechanisms for control over arms in the Caspian Sea, establishment of a stable balance of arms and definition of their qualitative and quantity limits. "These measures should become another means for ensuring the region's security. We hope this initiative will shortly become official," Tazhin emphasized.

He also added that it is necessary to put forward for discussion an issue on delimitation of the water area of the Caspian Sea and the definition of width and regime of appropriate zones, principles of military activities in the sea, transit of inner-continental countries, conditions of construction of sub-sea pipelines, as well as a problem of fair distribution of quotas for production of biological resources of the Caspian at the forthcoming meeting of the heads of Caspian littoral countries.

"We are prepared to discuss proposals from partners on negotiations and will put every effort forward in achieving an agreement on all aspects of Caspian diplomacy," Tazhin added.

The peacekeeping forces of GUAM will be comprised of three companies, mine platoons, investigation platoons, communications platoons, mine-engineer platoons, military police platoons, and material and technical provision and other divisions, said the Defense Minister of Ukraine, Anatoly Gritsenko, at the meeting of the CIS Defense Ministers in Moscow, Rosbalt-Ukraine reports with reference to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

According to Gritsenko, the peacekeeping forces of GUAM will be established to implement the tasks under the patronage of the United Nations according to the decision of the UN Security Council, under the patronage of the OSCE and other regional organizations in accordance with UN Regulations. In addition, the peacekeeping forces of GUAM may join the peacekeeping forces created under general control of the UN Security Council.

The military departments of Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova have already prepared proposals regarding creation of joint divisions to fulfill peaceful and humanitarian tasks. "It deals with the contrition of four countries in strengthening the security in the region," Gritsenko said. The peacekeeping forces of GUAM will be comprised of three companies, mine platoons, investigation platoon, communications platoon, mine-engineer platoon, military police platoon, material and technical provision and other divisions. The divisions will comprise of 530 peoples. In addition, each country will be represented at the level of one company.

Peaking of the legislation base of creation and functioning of the peacekeeping forces of GUAM, Gritsenko said that the concluding issue on the establishment of peacekeeping forces will be confirmed at the level of Chiefs of the Headquarter Generals of the four countries. Later, the decision will be made at the level of the Defense Ministers of Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova in the form of proposals approved by the GUAM State Heads. Thereafter, according to the Ukrainian legislation, the agreement will be ratified by the High Rada.

The decision on the direction of the contingent to the concrete conflict zones will be made at the meeting of the Council of National Security and Defense of Ukraine, and later, the project of relevant law will be sent for the consideration of the Parliament.

Russia and Azerbaijan signed an Inter-Governmental Protocol on the status of authorized representatives for implementing the Agreement on the principles and conditions of using the Gabala Radar Station. The document was signed on the 19th of June in Moscow by the Defense Minister of Russia, Anatoly Serdyukov and Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, Safar Abiyev. The contents of the agreements have not been revealed.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that the Caspian Sea provides its littoral states with an exclusive opportunity in line with the interests of regional nations, IRNA reports.

Ahmadinejad made these remarks in a meeting with foreign ministers of the littoral states of the Caspian Sea.

He said that the countries enjoy common cultures, history, interests and foes; therefore, they should resolve initial issues in favour of regional welfare.

Pointing to the fact that certain powers are to turn the issue of the Caspian Sea into a challenge among regional countries to serve their own interests, he called on the nations to pursue constructive cooperation and hinder intervention of other countries in this respect.

"Certain bullying powers are after oil and energy resources of the Caspian Sea, however, the environment and security of the sea have major impacts on the life of the littoral states."

Calling for ground preparations in establishing sustainable security in the Caspian Sea, the president said the governments around the sea should cooperate to prevent smuggling and organized crime and develop transportation networks for trade.

Warsaw has the intentions to receive dividends for the locating of elements of the US Anti-Missile Defence System within the Poland territory (AMD) and for this reason the country is "alarmed with the proposal on joint exploitation of the Azerbaijani Gabala Radar Station by Russia and the United States", the head of the General Staff of Russian Armed Forces, General Yuri Baluyevski, stated.

According to RBK, Baluyevski stated to journalists that Poland feared it would lose profits on the location of the US AMD within its territory, for fear that the United States would agree on Russia's proposal on the Gabala Radar Station. "I call all things by their names and believe that for this reason, the Poland Government ought to accelerate in the signing of an agreement with the United States, regarding the location of AMD in its territory," General stressed.

Baluyevski stated that the United States does not have any intentions to discontinue the negotiations with Poland and the Czech Republic on the location of AMD elements within their territories, whilst joint exploitation of the Gabala Radar Station in Azerbaijan will be considered as a supplement to the US AMD within Eastern Europe. According to Baluyevski, the Administration of George Bush hastens to make irreversible decisions on AMD in order to make the future Administration face the issues. "It seems to me the issue on the location of AMD in Europe has already been resolved and therefore Russia's proposal on the joint exploitation of the Gabala Radar Station will not achieve implementation," Baluyevski stated.

According to the General, the Russian Defence Ministry observes the trends of integration of two AMD systems controlled by the United States: global AMD and Europe AMD. In the current situation Russia has to make its choice on how to act further. The United States proposes Russia to attend consultations. "How can we consult when we have not yet received a response to any of our questions?" said Baluyevski. Moreover, according to Baluyevski, the United States proposes consultations only on bilateral basis ( Russia-United States, Russia - NATO). Other sides, including EU countries, are ruled out from the supposed dialogue.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Daniel Fried, informed during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, that although Washington was committed to the system, which will have components in Poland and the Czech Republic, an alternative proposal from the Russian President Vladimir Putin was worth pursuing, Reuters reports.

"We find President Putin's proposal intriguing and very interesting," Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried noted. He stated that Washington had formally asked Moscow to hold discussions to explore these details in depth.

Fried stated "the point is (that with Putin's proposal) the Russians have acknowledged that there may be a need for a certain system and that Iran or that region is a source for potential problems."

He emphasized that the focus should be on "not just the one radar, but that it should be considered as being part of a system, combining these issues to a way in which will enhance everyone's security."

He stated that the United States has been puzzled and concerned by the recent Russian actions and statements -- including the opposition to missile defence and to a supervised independence plan for Kosovo. "We are experiencing a complex period in our relations."

He lamented a "steady deterioration of democratic practices" within Russia, but stressed the need to avoid a "rhetorical race to the bottom." He said there were many areas of cooperation, including North Korea, Iran and counterterrorism.

AzerbaijanII Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated on Thursday that his country would not allow any third country to use it to attack Iran fficial IRNA news agency reported.

"According to Azerbaijan's rules, no third country can use our country to attack another country," Mammadyarov told a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki.

Commenting on the Russian Preisdent Vladimir Putin's proposal of Moscow and Washington jointly using the Gabala radar base in Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov stated that the cooperation in this regard, from both countries, will aid in the stability of the region.

For his part, Mottaki stated that Tehran was following the Gabala radar issue in both Baku and Moscow "carefully and with sensitivity," as it would be an issue concerning Iran's security.

Mottaki stated that the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov , clarified to him, on Wednesday, that Russia did not consider Iran as a threat and believes Iran should not be used to justify Washington's plans to deploy a missile shield system in Eastern Europe.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Lavrov stressed that if the United States had any suspicion of such a threat, it would eliminate the use of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan, as proposed by Putin during the G8 summit earlier this month.

Lavrov also said that he had outlined Russia's proposals on the Gabala radar and its position on the missile shield to Iran's President Mahmoud   Ahmadinejad and Mottaki

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated in Tehran on the 22nd of June, that Iran is prepared to have growing ties and cooperation with Azerbaijan as there are extensive potentials available.

Ahmadinejad told Azeri foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov that Iran does not consider there to be any limit for sharing its valuable experience with the republic of Azerbaijan.

He stressed that regional states should expand mutual cooperation in line with the interests of their nations.

"Progress and strength of any country in the region would benefit itself and other regional nations," he added.

Mammadyarov stated on his behalf that Baku would like to use Iran's precious experience in the different fields, including energy, culture and power plant construction as well as widening the north-south corridor

The United States welcomes the readiness of Azerbaijan to discuss with Washington the recent proposal of the Russian President regarding the joint use of the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US, in response to the plans of the US establishing a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

"We can only welcome Azerbaijan's readiness to comprehensively discuss the proposal with the USA," stated the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matthew Bryza, in his interview with Russian service of Voice of America.

On the 7th of June, as a result of the meeting with US President George Bush, within the G-8 summit in Heiligendamm , Germany, Putin highlighted his proposal to jointly use the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US. The station is part of the Russian system which tracks the movement of ballistic missiles. In response to the plans of the US to establish a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, the Russian President highlighted the key advantage of such an approach: the system will be in maximum proximity to the object being tracked and observed.

Bryza quoted the recent statement of the US President's Advisor for National Security, Steven Heddle, that the US administration was surprised of the proposal from the Russian President. "We would never discuss the proposal without initial consultations with Baku. Generally we assess this proposal as a positive signal that Russia truely wishes to co-operate with the USA in regards to the missile-defense system. It needs to believe that we all understand the real threat of the Iranian missile attack towards Europe and possibly to Russia. If the threats of attack are real, it is important to co-operate in order to avoid it," Bryza said.

He stressed that he made consultations with his Azerbaijani colleagues in regards to the proposal from the Russian President. "I believed that like us, they have also been surprised of the initiative from the Russian president. Azerbaijan and Russia itself should attentively discuss how the Russian President's proposal is strong-willed in practice," Bryza stressed.

As an independent country, the Republic of Azerbaijan will never let anyone ruin relationships between the two countries, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, stated at the meeting with the Speaker of Iranian Parliament, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, in Teheran, Trend quotes IRNA.

The Minister voiced his satisfaction with the growing ties between the two countries and called for more efforts to further broaden mutual ties. He described the relations between the two sides as excellent and underlined that there was no political dispute between the two countries.

The Azerbaijani Foreign minister invited the Speaker to pay an official visit to Baku and give a brief report on the one-day meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian Sea littoral states. "We have prepared a draft resolution for the summit of the Caspian Sea littoral states, he stated.

For his part, Haddad Adel called the relationships between the two sides friendly and brotherly and said both countries shared deeply rooted historical, religious and cultural commonalties.

Portraying his gratitude towards the invitation extended to him by his Azerbaijani counterpart to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, he stated "I hope my visit to Baku will lead to further expansion of relations mainly in parliamentary affairs."

As to the regional policy, the Speaker noted, "In our opinion, if the Islamic and regional countries manage to resolve their own problems, no room will remain for foreign countries to interfere in our affairs."

Nagorno-Karabakh

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that on the 18th of June the Armenian Armed Forces located northwest of the village of Kayan in the district of Ijevan, Armenia, fired at Azerbaijani positions located in the village of Bala Jafarli on the district of Gazakh, Azerbaijan, from 00:10 to 00:15.

Azerbaijan returned fire. No injuries were reported.

Last month the Armenian Armed Forces repeatedly violated the ceasefire regime in the district of Gazakh.

'frozen conflicts' on the territory of the South Caucasus, especially the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, may be resolved through re-establishing trust between the conflicting sides. Azerbaijan and Armenia need to re-build warm and trusting relations thus, seeking mutual solutions, said the President of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems of Russia, Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov .

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. 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) are holding peaceful negotiations.     

Ivashov considers that pressure upon the two countries should be eliminated, however it is a necessity that the countries select a positive path on the discussion, avoiding accusations. "I participated in the talks to resolve this problem within the Council of State and Governmental Heads, Defense Ministers, yet it was tough to predict successes amongst the presidents. There is and there will be no third party to resolve the conflict. Azerbaijan and Armenia should settle the conflict themselves in a civilized manner," the expert considers.

According to the politician, a lot of time is used to, approach their positions, and connect people, politicians, military and business people and ordinary citizens, to a conference.

Resolving the problem through political and military pressure and through the attracting of third party's is unthinkable, because such problems are not resolved by these means.

The politician thinks that presently the heads of both sides need to begin the process from a fresh page, putting the mutual accusations aside. "The security threats for any of the sides will never lead to the conflict solution, if the threats arise from the conflicting sides themselves. The external threats for both countries may delay the settlement of the problem," Ivashov said.

In addition, Ivashov thinks the Russian President's proposal in June for the joint use of the Russian-leased Azerbaijan Gabala Radar Station with the US will not affect the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to him, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved as soon as possible, but resolving it through principles or approaches from other spheres is very difficult. Ivashov considers that presently this conflict may be resolved gradually through establishing stability in the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, development of commercial and economic, military and technical and even military co-operation, etc.

In the evening of the 18th of June, Armenian Armed Forces, again, committed arsons in the Azerbaijani occupied Fizuli district.

The representative of Fizuly Executive Power, Hijran Aliyev, said that the arsons continued until the early hours of the morning. Measures are being taken to prevent the spread of arsons. The arsons were also committed by the Armenian side last year.

The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Moldova made a statement regarding the conflicts existing within the GUAM countries. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, said on the 19th of June in Baku, that the conflicts should be settled on the base of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova.

According to him, if these illegal territories were not recognized during the economic crises of the GUAM countries, then presently recognizing these territories shall not be considered during the strengthening of the countries. He defined the role of GUAM in relation to conflict settlements through the political weight of the organization and economic development.

The President of the Ukraine, Victor Yushenka, claims there is one formula for resolving conflicts and recognizing territorial integrity. He highlighted the importance of communication. "A political component is very important so that nobody can implement the idea of exclusive models of conflict settlement," he said.

In addition, Yushenka mentioned the significance of involving GUAM peacekeeping forces, which will be created from a joint decision.

The Prime Minister of Moldova, Vasilie Tarlev, "they are artificially created conflicts which are supported outside." He stressed that the separatism is one of the sources of financed terrorism and GUAM has an opportunity to influence it.

The President of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvily, said that the GUAM countries have political, economic and military potential. "It does not need to play with borders and deceive people," he said. Regarding the conflict in South Osetia, the President said that this issue will be settled in the near future. There are no current problems between individuals living amongst eachother.

GUAM countries should establish cooperation in the military field and form a peacekeeping contingent, the Chairman of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO), Akif Nagi, said.

Despite discussions of the initiative on establishing a single peacekeeping force of GUAM countries, the decision has not yet been made.

"There are separatist forces within the territories of GUAM countries. It is high time to attract GUAM peacekeeping forces for the settlement of these conflicts. Other international organizations place military contingents in the territories of conflict and use them in their own interests. GUAM peacekeeping forces will be more reliable," the Chairman said.

According to Nagi, peacekeeping forces should be located only on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border after liberation of the occupied territories.

The Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, Mikhail Margelov, considers it to be impossible to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without the participation of Russia and Armenia.

"It is impossible to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without the involvement of Armenia and Russia in the talks. In addition, it is impossible to resolve the problem of Pridnestrov and South Osetia without the participation of the mediators in person of Russia and UNO," he stressed.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. 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) are holding peaceful negotiations.     

The issue of 'frozen conflicts' within the former Soviet countries was discussed on the 19th of June in Baku at the summit of "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM".

Margelov stated on the 20th of June via telephone from Moscow that it will be unsuccessful to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict only within GUAM and if such efforts are made the situation may become more complicated and result in open opposition.

Regarding the attitude of Moscow towards the realization of transport and oil projects within GUAM, Margelov stressed that it presents no sickliness towards Russia because a large part of the projects are forwarded towards the oil and gas of Azerbaijan and these resources go outside Russia.

According to him, the Middle Asian countries have already supported the idea to construct a Caspian pipeline. Therefore, the oil and gas projects of GUAM present no threats for Azerbaijan. "I do not know if Azerbaijan will have enough oil and gas to fill up all these ambitious and expensive pipelines, yet it would be a joyful possibility, and I don't doubt it impossible." Margelov said.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and also Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Refugees and IDPs, Ali Hasanov, said on 20 June that over the past 15 years, the international humanitarian organizations have provided assistance totaling $700 mln to the refugees and internally displaced persons of Azerbaijan.

Worldwide Day of Refugees, commemorated on 20 June, addresses this real problem shared by forty-five countries worldwide. There are 10 million refugees and 24.5 million IDPs in the world. On them, 21 million are under the patronage of the UN High Commissioner for Work with Refugees.

"Unfortunately, separate countries prevent the solution of this problems. Possibly this problem is created artificially," Hasanov said.

Though NATO is not involved in the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the alliance thinks that peaceful negotiations are the only solution to the problem," NATO Secretary General's Special Representative in the South Caucasus Robert Simmons stated at a press conference in Yerevan. He said, work of the OSCE MG is productive and constructive, and NATO is ready to provide assistance if the conflicting parties ask. "But we do not approve of the militant rhetoric of Azerbaijan, which has became more frequent recently," Simmons stressed.

In turn the Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian noted that Armenian is prepared to continue talks with Azerbaijan on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh, RIA-Novosti agency reports.

The last meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan was held in St Petersburg on 9 June during a CIS informal summit of heads of state.

Robert Kocharian, Special Representative to the NATO Secretary General, paid a 3-day visit to Armenia on 20 June.

During the visit Simmons had a meeting with the Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosian, Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, Defence Minister Mikhael Arutunian, and Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian.

Matthew Bryza, the US Assistant Secretary of State, an OSCE Minks Group co-chair, stated during an interview for the Russian Service of the Voice of America (VOA) that the sides in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh are close to an agreement and the peaceable talks can be restored in autumn. Bryza was commenting on the results, regarding the last round of talks between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in St. Petersburg on the 9th to the 10th of June.

Bryza noted that a deal of great work had been done lately by the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia and praised the Presidents of both countries who helped in promoting the dialogue. "I attended the meeting in St. Petersburg. The co-chairs were disappointed with the absence of a significant progress, but the process continues and we hope that the presidents will meet within several months," he stressed.

The diplomat does not consider the forthcoming elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan, United States and Russia to affect the activity of the Nagorno-Karabakh talks. "Prior to the recent parliamentary elections in Armenia we considered a pause in the negotiations for a while due to the election campaigns. However, it did not occur. Now we are awaiting the presidential elections in Armenia. Indeed, every pre-election campaign narrows the field of political maneuver, yet still there are no grounds to think the forthcoming presidential elections in Armenia will put an end to the process," he noted .

According to Bryza, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have been conducting talks on the principles of the conflict resolution. "These principles will help to finally determine the status of Nagorno-Karabakh through the national referendum, which will be accompanied by other significant events - re-dislocation of Armenian armed troops around Nagorno-Karabakh, establishment of a corridor between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, as well as placement of international peacekeeping forces within the region. We hope the process will be resumed by autumn." the US diplomat emphasized.

With respect to the proposals on the participation of the Karabakh side in the talks Bryza said that for the current time talks are being held between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the past Nagorno-Karabakh participated as a side during the talks and perhaps will participate within the future. At present the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan should find a way to give a new breath to the process, which has yielded fruits.

Regarding the European Union's role in negotiations, Bryza noted the existence of informal coordination of actions. "All OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have firm positive relations with the EU Special Representative on South Caucasus, Peter Semneby . The Minsk Group holds talks and supports close relations between the EU and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries - the Unites States, France and Russia. France represents

The unofficial position of EU countries and the current coordination between the EU and Minks Group is unofficial, yet genuine," Bryza concluded.

Political movements

MP Igbal Agazadeh, the Chairman of the opposition Umid Party, has stated that the latest negotiations, held amongst some opposition parties, are unprincipled.

The struggle of the Azerbaijani opposition parties, who are co-operating for the creation of a new union, is considered extraordinary.

"The problems existing in Azerbaijan are considered to have a national Character. Therefore, the unification surrounding the national problems is abstract. The political unions should have concrete aims," Agazadeh noted.

The chairman added that they are ready to co-operate with different parties on many issues, except one.

"We refuse to hold discussions relating to the participation at the Presidential elections by a single candidate from the opposition parties. The Umid party intends to nominate its own candidate at the elections," MP stated.

Umid was founded in 1993. In 2002 the Azerbaijani Citizen Union Party united with Umid. Being the chairman of the Citizen Union Party, Agazadeh was elected the chairman of Umid. Agazadeh is the MP of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

Hajiaga Nuri, the chairman of the Azerbaijani Islam Party, stated that several candidates will be nominated for post of chairman of the Islam Party, during a meeting of the party.

According to Nuri, the next and 6th convention of the party may be held in the summer.

Nuri will not nominate his candidature before the convention.

"During the latest convention of the party some three or four candidates were nominated for the post of chairman of the party. There will be more candidates for the forthcoming elections, but the exact number of candidates remains unknown. The struggle for the post of chairman will be among several candidates," Nuri added.

During the convention the participation of the Islam Party in the forthcoming Presidential elections will be decided. In the case of the party deciding to attend the elections, the Union of Pro-Azerbaijan forces, in which the Islam Party is represented, the party will be restored as an election bloc.

The religious opposition Islam Party was founded in August 1991. In 1992 the party was registered by the Juridical ministry of Azerbaijan. In 1995 the state registration of the party was suspended. The Union of Pro-Azerbaijani forces unites three opposition parties - the Islam Party, the Birlik Party and the Population Renaissance Party.

Akif Shahbazov, the chairman of the Open Society Party (OSP) of Azerbaijan, has stated that his party has refused to participate in the process of establishing a new consultative structure.

The heads of the Azerbaijani Musavat, the Tereggi, the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA), the Azerbaijan National Independent Party (ANIP) and Eldar Namazov, the independent political scientist held a series of meetings for the establishment of a new opposition alliance. The OSP attended the first meeting.

Shahbazov noted that at present the OSP is preparing to hold the next National Forum of all social political forces due to which the OSP does not attend negotiations held by opposition parties.

"We prefer not participate in the establishment of small opposition blocs, but we are intending to organize a National Forum, where joint discussions are being held. We consider that new unions of opposition will not change the current social-political situation. Therefore the OSP attaches its potential to hold a joint forum with the participation of all political parties," the chairman said.

Shahbazov stressed that due to the second Forum appeals have already been sent to 20 political parties and non-Governmental organizations. A concrete date the Forum will be scheduled after discussions.

Ali Aliyev, the Co-Chairman of the Azadlyg bloc and head of the Citizen and Development Party (CDP) of Azerbaijan has stated that there is a division within the Musavat Party of Azerbaijan of supporters of different courses.

Commenting on proposals regarding the return of the Musavat to how it was previously represented, Aliyev noted that at present there is no common ground between this structure and Musavat.

There are differences between Azadlyg and Musavat in their methods of struggle against Authority, the joining of the political organization with the bloc will not be implemented.

"There is an ideological struggle between adherent supporters striving against Authority and those who will accommodate Authority. We hope that in this struggle the adherent supporters will win," Aliyev noted.

According to Aliyev, there are parties of the opposition, who secretly receive the support of the Authority. Their relations with the Government and methods of struggle will be revealed by the Presidential elections.

"By the presidential elections there will be a split in the camp of opposition parties. The ways of parties, supporting Authority, and opposition parties will separate," the co-chairman explained.

At present the Azadlyg bloc unites three opposition parties - the Population Front of Azerbaijan, the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan and the Citizen and Development Party of Azerbaijan.

Etibar Mammadov, the leader of the Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP), stated on the 19th of June that it was high time for Azerbaijan to give preferences on a military alternative regarding the regulation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The activities of the co-chairmen of the Minsk group of OSCE will not provide results.

"The key obligation of the Azerbaijani Government is to liberate the occupied territories by Armenians and to restore the State sovereignty. The opposition of the country should not hinder the Government in this direction," Mammadov noted.

The leadership of the ANIP will create corresponding decisions once the decision to organize a meeting of the heads of opposition parties with President Ilham Aliyev to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem has been determined.

ANIP was founded in 1992 and was the first party which was registration in Azerbaijan..

The Azerbaijani Democratic Party (ADP) charged the Musavat Party in forming a monopoly for the opposition camp.

Nuraddin Mammadli, the Chairman of the ADP noted that the New Azerbaijan newspaper, which is the printing body of the Musavat, holds a biased position towards them.

Supporters of the Musavat Party contend that the ADP intends to solve its financial problems by taking a new political course towards the ruling party.

Mammadli noted that his party made the decision to solve its problems with its headquarters before passing its decision on establishing a dialogue with the ruling party.

"As to leasing the headquarters, the ADP had some technical problems. Two months after resolving the problem, the Supreme Council of the Party made the decision to establish a dialogue with the authority party. Our party preferred to establish civil relations between the Government and the opposition instead of employing useless aggressive methods of struggle between them. The Musavat Party negatively regards this initiative taken by the ADP. Musavat intends to create a monopolistic forum among the opposition parties," Mammadli said.

Ali Orujov, the Press Secretary of the Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP), has stated that the opposition Azerbaijani Citizen and Development Party attempted to gain registration using false documents.

According to Orujov, Ali Aliyev the Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party wants to gain registration by using documents and lists, which he acquired when he was Chairman of the ANIP and has not yet given them back. Orujov hopes that the Yasamal District Court will prove the ACDP's attempts to be false, and the truth clarified by the Azerbaijani Justice Ministry.

As to the 4th item on the Law on Political Parties, a party should have at least 1,000 members in order to register. Orujov considers that the ACDP has only three members. The rest of the members are from the stolen list of the ANIP.

Billur Humbatov, the Deputy Chairman of the ACDP, called the ANIP's Chairman words "nonsense".

According to Humbatov, the ACDP does not need documents from the ANIP, which were stolen from documents belonging to the Chairman of the ACDP. Humbatov noted that some 3,000 people are members of the ACDP.

The ACDP has been holding conventions since the end of 2006, after separating from the ANIP.

The Justice Ministry of Azerbaijan has not yet registered the party, which appealed the lawsuit.

A Coordinating Centre of the opposition is being established in Azerbaijan on the threshold of the elections, the Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA), Nuraddin Mammadli, reported.

The talks on the establishment of a new opposition unity have already begun with participation of several parties. Within the framework of the new organization, opposition parties will consolidate their forces to fight for democratic elections.

The talks are being held with the participation of the directors of the DPA, the Socio-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, the National Independence of Azerbaijan Party, the Musavat, and the Taraggy.

The political bloc of Azadlyg, which includes three Azerbaijani opposition parties, and the Open Society Party have refused membership to the organization.

Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) devised a conception on the ways of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stated ADP Deputy Chairman, Zakir Huseynov.

The initial project of the conception has already been discussed in the ADP High Council. The document describes the proposals of ADP ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the position of the party on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, as well as a review of the reasons for the conflict ..

The conception is planned to be presented to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

Bloc Azadly, uniting three opposition parties, supports settlement of the problem between the authorities and the opposition via talks, the Co-Chairman of the Bloc and Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party, Ali Aliyev, reported.

The initiative on dialogue between the opposition and the authorities should proceed from the authorities' side, Aliyev said. "We support talks with the authorities and consider the decision to be real. Azadlyg does not agree with humiliating proposals and is not the author of such proposals. Participation of special representatives of the authorities in the talks is necessary," he added.

Bloc Azadlyg unites three opposition parties - the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, the Azerbaijani Liberal Party, and the Citizen and Development Party.

The head of the 'Our Azerbaijan' bloc, the Chairman of the Turkish National Party, Vugar Beyturan, has appealed to the Azerbaijani President

He requested that life imprisonment sentences of several convicts be replaced with fifteen years imprisonment. Beyturan noted that the persons that had taken part in the battles for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity are among the convicts. "A humane attitude towards the people will find a resonance in society," the appeal says.

The 'Our Azerbaijan' bloc unites eight opposition parties.

Attorney Alizadeh Rashid Hajili stated that the appeal regarding the Major-General and the chief of the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry, Azi Aslanov's lawsuit against Zardusht Alizadeh , the political scientist and against the Azadlig newspaper was considered at the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.

The article 'Plots against Mirza Sakit' published on the 29th of June 2006 in the Azadlyg newspaper caused Azi Aslanov discontent.

Aslanov opposes that the article humiliates his authority, as well as his honor and dignity. Aslanov filed a lawsuit to the Sabail District Court against Zardusht Alizadeh and the Azadlyg newspaper. Concerning moral damage the plaintiff demanded some AZM 50,000 from each defendant.

The Sabail District Court came to the resolution of transferring AZM 50,000 by the Azadlyg newspaper and Zardusht Alizadeh on the ' Umud yeri ' charity institution account on the 9th of August, 2006. The Appeal Court decreased the sum by AZM 1.000.

Alizadeh appealed to withdraw the lawsuit.

The lawsuit of Alizadeh was withdrawn during the hearing held under the chairmanship of Gunash Khudaverdiyeva at the Court Collegiums on Civil Cases at the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.

The resolution of the Appeal Court is in force.

Haji Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, the chairman of the DEVAMM organization and the imam of the 'Juma' mosgue condemned title in his statement awarding Usame Ben Laden with 'Allah's Sword'.

Usame Ben Laden was awarded this title by the non-governmental Organization of Pakistani ulems.

Ibrahimoglu stated that the 'Juma' mosque and Ichari Shahar's communes protested against such a blasphemy and demanded to cancel this provocative decision.

"Reminding the legal aspect of the issue aside, particularly absence of rights and delegated authority for awarding such a title, we concentrate our attention on provocative core of this decision. This step, as if response for awarding Salman Rushdi with knight title by the Britain Government, is blasphemy decision," Ibrahimoglu stated.

According to chairman, the decision of the Britain Government to award Salman Rushdi with knight title is not right, such an action hindered rapprochement between culture and religion of countries.

Salman Rushdi has not anything similar to knight, and Ben Laden is far from Allah.

"We insist that all protests against this at least thoughtless decision of the British Government should correspond to the divine core of Islam. It is necessary to work with all structures of the West civil society, particularly with Great Britain. The negative role of the incident should be revealed and explained, as well as the provocative essence of this decision should be exposed"

A new political party 'New Time' will be established in the near future. The goals of the new party will be to present new scientific approaches to the solution of concrete problems and define society's intellectual potential, said the head of the Party's Organizational Committee, Musa Agayev.

According to Agayev, 'New Time' is an opposition party. The new party intends to bring together intellectuals and scientists.

A conference had been planned to be held on 30 June. Baku City Executive Power, however, recommended the conference be held in a private building. As looking for a private building will take time, the date of the conference has been indefinitely postponed.

The meeting of the Coordinating Council of opposition political parties and movements of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) was held in Baku on 22 June.

Attending the first meeting the heads of the Social progress parties, the Rebirth of Ukrainian village, the Ukrainian 'Kiev Russia', the Labor Party, the Georgian Caucasuseli Party and the Moldovan 'Party- Motherland'. A range of Azerbaijani opposition parties took part at the meeting.

The issues concerning strengthening of cooperation among parties, the role of parties in extending relations among GUAM countries, as well as unification of efforts for fair resolving of frozen conflicts among GUAM countries were discussed during the meeting.

Ilgar Gasimov, the chairman of the political ' Azerbaijani Way' movement, noted that cooperation of opposition parties of GUAM did not direct against anybody.

Natalya Vetrenko, the chairman of the Ukrainian Social Progress Party, stressed the importance of cooperation of GUAM member-countries. Vetrenko said about necessity of exchanging experience among countries. The weakening of economic relations among the CIS counties is a negative tendency.

Nestan Kirtadzeh, the deputy chairman of the Georgian Laborites Party (workers), considered the cooperation of parties on election issues as one of the essential problems.

The deputy chairman of the Union of parties of the Moldova 'Party-Motherland', Valentin Krilov, paid more attention on discussion of the conflicts among the GUAM countries.

Mamuk Arishdzeh, the chairman of the Georgian Caucasuseli Party, touched upon this issue too. He called not to forget the fact that 20% of Azerbaijani territories were occupied by Armenians. According to Arishdzeh, the Coordinating Council of opposition parties and movements of GUAM member-countries were ready to make efforts in resolving the problem.

As a result of meeting a range of documents on Resolution of meeting, Declaration and appeal to heads of GUAM member-countries were adopted.