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Weekly political review

Politics Materials 14 August 2007 12:03 (UTC +04:00)

Official Chronicle

On 6 August the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued a Decree to create a special scholarship fund to ensure the creativeness of writers, artists and composers of both young and old generations. The Funds is created from the State budget and the Decree and will take effect on the day of promulgation. The document envisages issuing special scholarship in amount of AZN 300 to the representatives of the creative labor. The scholarship will be presented to 50 painters, 50 writers and 30 composers According to the decree, within one year, the young representatives of the creative labor will receive AZN 200 scholarship each month. Their number includes 20 writers, 20 painters and 10 composers.

Currently Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly resolving most of strategically important issues, particularly energy and transport issues, humanitarian relations and economic co-operation, said the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in his interview with Kazinform. "It will be my second official visit to Kazakhstan," Aliyev said in his interview published by Kazakhstan's State agency on 6 August. "In addition, I have made a working visit to Kazakhstan, as well as participated in events of the international organizations in the Country. The fact that I will make second official visit to Astana in a short period testifies the importance of bilateral Azerbaijani-Kazakh relations which may be characterized as fast, reliable and fraternal," the President said. According to the President, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan face many plans to transport energy resources of Caspian Sea. Recently a large grain terminal was opened in Baku and currently work is being carried out to put a new vegetable reservoir in Aktau. "All these projects result from the bilateral co-operation. It needs to note that they are made possible only through active political integration. Azerbaijan has good bilateral relations with Kazakhstan which define the implementation of large economic projects," Aliyev said. According to the State Head of Azerbaijan, the documents signed up to now between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan open broad prospects for co-operation. Currently several Inter-Governmental agreements are being devised for being signed in Astana. "I think that these agreements will further assist Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in integration into the international community. I would like to mention that currently the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are transferring to a new stage. The territories of Azerbaijan are always open for transporting Kazakh energy resources to Europe," Aliyev stressed.

"There are a lot of Azerbaijanis residing in Kazakhstan. They are satisfied with living conditions in the country, they live in peace and agreement, work for welfare of the country," the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev said in the interview of 'KazInform'. According to the President, Kazakhstan demonstrates well achievements regarding living conditions of the Azerbaijanis, thanks to the policy of the President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and tolerance of multinational population. "I wish to note that you may be proud of your country where all nations live as one family," Ilham Aliyev said. The President noted that strong Diaspora organizations assist to uphold national interests of the country. "We have completed structuring of all Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations and held World meeting of Azerbaijanis two times. There are about 50mln Azerbaijanis residing in world, and strong Azerbaijani Government should support all our compatriots," I.Aliyev said. About 5 or 6 years before the Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations practically were at their initial stage and the former President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, ordered to establish the State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Residing Abroad. I.Aliyev noted that such organizations in all countries have been structured. "Recently, we have opened about 30 embassies in different countries. The total number of Azerbaijani Diaspora in world is 50, and all these embassies and Diaspora organizations have been functioning jointly," I.Aliyev added.

Seven documents were signed in Astana on 7 August after the negotiations between Azerbaijani and Kazakh Presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Nursultan Nazarbayev. The main document that was signed by the Presidents is the Joint Declaration. The protocol on changes in the Agreement between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on transmission of persons sentenced to imprisonment to their countries for further service of their sentences. The third document is an intergovernmental Agreement on production and scientific-technical cooperation between the enterprises of defence industries. The Memorandum on Understanding regarding control over securities market was signed between Kazakhstan Agency on Adjustment and Control of Financial Market and Financial Organizations and the State Securities Committee at the Azerbaijani President's Administration. The Statute on strategic cooperation in oil and gas field was signed between KazMunayGaz JSC and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). They also signed the Memorandum on joint cooperation on Trans-Caspian project. The last document is the Agreement on cooperation between official TV and radio companies of both countries. The documents were signed as a result of the talks between President Nazarbayev and President Aliyev, who is in Astana on two day official visit. The sides held tete-a-tete talks and the talks with participation of governmental delegations. Important issues regarding bilateral co-operation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan were discussed on 8 August in Astana at the meetings of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Masimov and Chairman of the Senate, Kasimjomart Tokayev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, Latif Gandilov, informed by telephone from Astana. The talks took place within the official visit of Azerbaijan President to Kazakhstan. In addition, on 8 August the President of Azerbaijan laid a wreath before the monument of heroes and planted a tree in Avenue of Presidents. At the end of the day, the President will visit the Embassy of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are to increase turnover between two countries from $ 200mln to $1bln. "Despite the turnover between our countries has increased almost by two times and makes up $200mln, this figure does not respond to the potential which possess both countries. We aim at increase of turnover between our countries by $1bln on the first stage," The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, said during the joint press-conference with the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev. The President of Azerbaijan has been in Kazakhstan from 7 August to 8 August with an official visit. The heads of the countries held negotiations tete-a-tete with participation of delegation. Seven bilateral documents have been signed. Both presidents noted that there have never been differences between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan neither in policy nor in economy spheres. "General history, culture and establishment of independent state connect us with each other, I.Aliyev noted. Three of the seven documents signed during the meeting in Astana, envisages development of cooperation in oil sphere, particularly, transporting of Kazakhstan goods, oil, gas and grains to the world market via Kazakhstan corridor. " Azerbaijan is very interest as a transporting territory due to which we have agreed on participation in the project of Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan, as well as on gas projects and railway transmitting via Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Black Sea., Nursultan Nazarbayev said. N.Nazarbayev noted that both countries were ready to cooperate in all directions, to establish joint enterprises and development of trade. I.Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan was ready to render its territory for unhindered transporting of cargo from Kazakhstan. "Concerning transport and energy projects, which link us, Azerbaijanis ready to render free way for transporting of energy resources and cargo," I.Aliyev said.

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is sure that the only way to peacefully settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the return of refugees to their native land. "The only way out of the situation is the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the refugees' returning to their native land. There cannot be any other alternatives," said Ilham Aliyev, in his interview with Kazakhstan's Express K newspaper. The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations. "Currently from the point of view of the conflict settlement, we proceed from four UN Resolutions which require immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. Similar resolutions have also been passed by the Council of Europe. The only way out is the withdrawal of the Armenia's occupant forces from seven districts around Nagorno-Karabakh and returning the refugees (more than 700,000), including refugees from Armenia (250,000), to their native land. In future, we are prepared to provide high autonomy status to Nagorno-Karabakh," the President said. According to the President, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh demand independence, but it will never take place. "The Azeri people and the State will never agree to this. The international community will never recognize it. Recently they held 'presidential elections' in the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and it was condemned by everyone. The USA, France, Russia, European Union, Turkey and many countries will never recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state, we have tried to explain this to the Armenian side, which has unfortunately only taken an unconstructive position," Aliyev said. According to the State Head, Azerbaijan is still adhering to the peaceful process and considers that the negotiations process is not completed. "Insincerity by the opposition and its efforts to tell untruths to the mediators and prolong time will not yield any results. As time passes, their position is weakening, but our position is becoming stronger. Perhaps individual politicians are not interested in the return of the Azerbaijani land. Maybe they are taking an unconstructive position for the sake of their political ambitions. But this is not of interest to the Armenian people. If the Armenian people understand this and put an end to Armenia's occupation policy, relations between Baku and Yerevan may normalize and the Armenian people may achieve more from co-operating with us than overseas," Aliyev concluded.

Important issues regarding bilateral co-operation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan were discussed on 8 August in Astana at the meetings of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Masimov and Chairman of the Senate, Kasimjomart Tokayev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, Latif Gandilov, informed by telephone from Astana. The talks took place within the official visit of Azerbaijan President to Kazakhstan. In addition, on 8 August the President of Azerbaijan laid a wreath before the monument of heroes and planted a tree in Avenue of Presidents. At the end of the day, the President will visit the Embassy of Azerbaijan.

FOREIGN POLICY

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Mahmud Mammadguliyev, met with the delegation of Tajikistan within preparation of Emomali Rahmanov's visit to Azerbaijan, said the Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Khazar Ibrahim. The meeting was aimed at coordinating relevant documents that will be signed during Tajikistan President's upcoming 13-14 August visit to Azerbaijan. Ibrahim said that in addition, the delegation headed by the Chief of Tajikistan Foreign Ministry's Department for CIS Countries, Rustam Dodojanovun, will hold meetings at other ministries and State bodies of Azerbaijan. Projects of nine bilateral documents which will cover various spheres, including economic, finance and cultural spheres. The visit is the Tajikistan President's reciprocation to the visit of Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, to Dushanbe on 15-16 March, a first in the history of Azerbaijan-Tajikistan inter-state relationships.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Grigori Karasin, discussed the issues of the external labor migration with the diplomats of the CIS countries. "Our partners were informed of the recent amendments to the Russian immigration legislation and rules and practice of its realization. Problematic moments were discussed," mentioned by the statement placed on the official website of the Foreign Ministry of Russia. "The representatives of the Embassies assessed the regular conduct of such meetings as a positive form of dialogue between Russia and other CIS countries," the statement says. The meeting was attended by the ambassadors of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, diplomats from the embassies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Armenia and Turkmenistan, as well as first Deputy Interior Minister of Russia, Alexander Chekalin, First Deputy Director of the Federal Migration Service of Russia, Vladimir Kalanda, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor Relations and State Civil Service of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia, Victor Kozbanenko, as well as heads of relevant territorial departments of the Foreign Ministry of Russia.

Siyavush Novruzov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative Group and a member of the permanent commission of the Parliament on Security and Defence, stated on 10 August that the meeting had not been held due to the mandate of the Armenian representatives in the group not yet being defined. According to Novruzov, the mandate of the members of the Armenian delegation in the South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative Group should be approved again. However, Armenia did not approve the mandate of the representatives of the country. Novruzov stressed that the main aim of the South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative Group is to render assistance to integrating countries situated in Europe and the Atlantic region. Armenia is afraid to integrate into such groups, as Yerevan does not wish to carry out the demands of these groups. Due to this reason a contradiction occurred in the Parliament of Armenia. Despite all of this, the functioning of the group will be continued. The South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative Group will hold a meeting in the near future. The terms of the meeting will be defined after Armenia has made a statement regarding its participation in the process. The South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative Group was founded by the initiative of the non-governmental organization of British LINKS. The Group unites Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia and ten MPs from each country. Presently, the Chairman of the Group is Azerbaijani.

Political Movements

The issue of entrance of seven more Azerbaijani opposition parties into the Union for Democracy is discussed, said Mirmahmud Miralioglu, chairman of Azerbaijan Classic Popular Front Party and also co-founder of the Union. Probably the parties appealing form membership will receive positive responses, he said. Miralioglu did not call the appealing parties. He said that the Union is preparing to hold an event on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) will appeal to the European Court on Human Rights with regards to headquarter, said the Deputy Chairman of the Party, Fuad Mustafayev, on 9 August. "Currently we are preparing documents to appeal to the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan. However, we do not expect to see a fair decision from this court instance. The main fact for us is to pass the necessary process for appealing to the European Court," he said.

The spreading of photos in which Azerbaijani Balakan and Zagatala regions are marked as autonomous provinces over the northern region of Azerbaijan is an attempt by foreign forces to destabilize the situation in Azerbaijan, according to the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Permanent Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights, an MP from Balakan region, Rabiyat Aslanova. The MP flatly refuted reports about the functioning of separatist forces in the region. Actions of such a subversive character should be cut short, according to Aslanova. "Any autonomy is impossible. The population of Balakan and Zagatala has never thought of that and never will," the Chairman remarked. Several days ago, photos depicting the coats of arms of the autonomous provinces were spread in the Balakan and Zagatala regions. The photos are distributed to cell phones of the local residents from an unknown internet site.

The Azadlyg political bloc will not participate in the 2008 Presidential elections, said the Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party, Co-Founder of the bloc, Ali Aliyev. According to Aliyev, changing the decision of the bloc in such a situation may be only a matter of coordination. "Firstly, it's needed to make fundamental amendments to the election legislation and the election commissions should be formed on a parity base with participation of the representatives of the opposition and the government. Otherwise Azadlyg bloc will not participate in the upcoming elections," he said. The upcoming Presidential elections will take place on 15 October 2008.

MP Mubariz Gurbanli, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, stated that the opposition should refuse ideas regarding the formation of election commissions on a parity bases. There are a lot of opposition parties in Azerbaijan. Only forty-two parties received state registration. How can we divide the composition of election commissions among such a number of parties? The world experience shows that parity bases are defined in compliance with the Parliament composition," Gurbanli noted. The New Azerbaijan party takes the first place due to the number of its MPs in Parliament. The composition of the Azerbaijan Election Commission is six representatives from the ruling party, six from parliamentary parties, and six from independent MPs. International organizations recommend introducing corrections to this principle of formation of election commissions. The negotiations between European organizations and the Azerbaijani Government on this issue are in process.

Nominating a single candidate from the opposition is impossible in practice and such discussions mean repeating previous mistakes, the Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party, a co-founder of Azadlyg bloc, Ali Aliyev, said. He noted that in the case of ideal pre-election conditions, the matter of a single candidate can be resolved theoretically. However, according to Aliyev, theoretically the opposition has opportunities to define a single candidate, but practically this is impossible. "Nomination of a single candidate from the opposition during the presidential elections of 1998 and 2003 was tried as an ideological platform and the results were evident. The idea of nominating a single candidate from the opposition which cannot be implemented in practice could lead to repeating past mistakes," Aliyev said. According to Aliyev, Azadlyg bloc does not wish to participate in discussions on the matter. The bloc considers joint participation of close allies in the elections to be most acceptable. Azadlyg believes it is important to direct opposition forces against the authorities. "Cooperation between opposition parties in holding joint actions on other issues could be possible in the future," the Chairman said.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Mathew Bryza, considers that there is a possibility of achieving an agreement on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the end of this year. However, Bryza was unable to say that the solution would be found in 2007. "There is a possibility by the end of this year. We will witness constructive co-operation, but I cannot forecast that the decision will be made this year. Possibly, a break will be made in the process of peaceful settlement due to the elections to be held in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and in Russia next year, but we will not give up," Bryza said in an interview with the Russian News Times newspaper. Bryza mentioned that a steady progress was achieved at the end of last year during the peaceful negotiations between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Minsk. In May, parliamentary elections were held in Armenia, but we did not suspend the work. We just did not precipitate the negotiations in that period in order to give the Armenian President, Robert Kocharyan, more political space for manoeuvres. We recall that he promised to return to the issue after the elections. But that did not happen. It turned out that in St. Petersburg (Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in St. Petersburg on 9 June 2007 during an informal CIS summit) the presidents did not make any important decision. I cannot say what the reason for that was. Every president has his wishes and his motives," Bryza noted. According to the diplomat, there are three main principles which can affect the negotiations, namely the refusal to use forces, recognition of territorial integrity of the states, and the right for national self-determination of the nations. "I believe in every conflict, it can be in Georgia, Caucasus, Abkhazia, Karabakh, or Moldavia, if the people seek a peaceful solution, a compromise should be made regarding those principles. "That is the task of the leaders. The right for self-determination can result in independence or autonomy. And I, as a mediator and a diplomat, cannot define which status that will be, that is not my task. I can say that today, in accordance with international law, we recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Negotiations are underway and we are searching for a compromise," he said.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov, called the statement of Armenian Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanyan, on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be unjust. Earlier Oskanyan had stated that regardless the fate of Kosovo Nagorno-Karabakh will still seek international recognition of its achieved independency. Azimov said to journalists in Baku on 7 August that the statement of the Armenian Foreign Minister cannot be seriously taken. "Oskanyan made the statement in reply to periodical statements of US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Mathew Bryza, who is saying Kosovo will not become a precedent for the Karabakh conflict. The statement of the Armenian minister has no logic," Azimov added.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov, considers organization of the next meeting of the representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian intelligentsia to be impossible for the time being. According to Azimov, the situation is much tensioned now. He said that Azerbaijani side wants to organize a visit of the head of Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh Community, Nizami Bahramov, to the occupied territories, however, Armenia does not agree. "We do not know what Armenia is afraid of" he said.

Official Baku did not refuse to exchange WOP with Armenian, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Araz Azimov, said in Baku on 7 August. At present the Armenian side has two Azerbaijani captives. One of them is a soldier, Samir Mammadov, another is a civilian. Last week a soldier of Armenian Army, Anbartsum Minakovich Asaturyan got captured by Azerbaijani side. Azimov believes Azerbaijani captives should be returned by all means. He stated that exchange is a normal way of returning of captives.

Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) demands clarification of the statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict made by the US Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Asia, Mathew Bryza, in his interview with Russian Vrema Novostey (News Time) newspaper. The Chairman of the KLO, Akif Nagi, sent a letter to the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Anne Derse, on 7 August requiring clarification of Bryza's statement. The letter notes that that some points in the interview opposed Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, what caused public discontent. "Bryza openly advocates the self-proclaimed regime in Nagorno-Karabakh. He justifies Armenians' separatist actions and tries to represent their terrorist and crime deeds as struggle against colonialism. USA's diplomat tries to smother Armenia's aggressive actions, tries to hush up occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and even speaks on the prospects of independence of the self-proclaimed regime in Nagorno-Karabakh," the letter says. KLO believes that if the statements really were made by Bryza, the Government of the United States should undertake urgent measures and to withdraw him from the position of the OSCE Minsk Groups Co-chairman. "Otherwise, we will take Bryza's words as USA's official position. We also will use our opportunities to stop USA's activities in the OSCE Minsk Group and will not allow Bryza to visit Azerbaijan," the letter says.

If it tunes proof that the statements published in the Vrema Novostey (News Time) newspaper were made by the OSCE Minsk Group's US co-chairman, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State on Europe and Asia, Mathew Bryza, the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh will express its protest in this connection, the head of the public association, Nizami Bahmanov, reported. Bahmanov believes the matter should be seriously investigated. "I do not believe the US representative could make such a statement, for all international organizations and all countries in the world, including the United States, recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. If that was said by the US co-chairman, he will come under fire of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh," Bahmanov noted. According to him, if the co-chairman really made such a statement, so he went beyond his commissions. If an investigation proves that, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and the public should express a protest," Bahmanov urged. "At present the matter is investigated at the state level," he added. In his interview with the Russian Vrema Novostey Mathew Bryza compared the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with the situation in the United States in the 18th century. Moreover, he noted the possibility of independence for Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ingilab Kazimzadeh, the head of the Agdam region Department of the Azerbaijani Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry, has reported that the officials of Agdam region Department of the Ministry exposed bombardment by Armenians during monitoring held in Chiragli village on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Kazimzadeh noted that the aim of the monitoring was to define the size of damage in the Azerbaijani occupied territories as a result of fire caused by Armenians. "Monitoring helped us to define the size of damage caused to atmosphere and growth," Kazimzadeh said. Periodical fire the occupied territories by Armenians hinder to come near to the line of contact of troops. "The facts revealed as a result of monitoring will be submitted to the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry. International organizations will also be informed about the results of monitoring," Kazimzadeh said. Similar monitoring was held from 25 July to 31 July. The material damage caused by the Armenians to environment was appreciated by AZN 40,000.

On 6 and 7 August, the divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces constantly broke the ceasefire agreement near the villages of Shikhlar, Marzili of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, Karmiravan village of Tartar district, villages of Tapgaragoyunlu and Gulustan of Goranbiy district, Garvand village of Fizuli district, Kuropatka village of Khojavend district and Archingildag mountain in Dashkesen district, Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan reported. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces retaliated and no lives were lost. The Armenian Armed Forces fired Azerbaijan on 7 August from 18:50. The press-service of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has reported that the Armenian Armed Forces began firing the 8 posts of the Azerbaijani National Army from dislocated in occupied Chiragli, Ahmaagali and Sarijali villages of Agdam region of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces retaliated and no lives were lost.

Yet the Armenian side has not received any proposals from the OSCE Minsk Group regarding organization of the next meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia. After Moscow meeting on 2 August, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs stated that the Minsk Group is prepared to assist in organizing of the sides in the near months. The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, recently said that the Armenian side is prepared to continue discussions on the base of the principles that are on the table of negotiations.

The Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh completed the organization process, the Chairman of the Community, Nizami Bahmanov, reported. He noted that financial problems and headquarter-related problems of the Community would be resolved in the near future. According to Bahmanov, the Community has been provided with all necessary equipment. "The Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh public association is an organization with international status. The purpose of the association is to foster further negotiations," he added.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that the Armenian Armed Forces broke the ceasefire agreement and fired at the Azerbaijani National Armed Forces from their positions located in the occupied villages of Sarjali, Yusifjanli, Zengishali and Chemenli of Agdam District on 9 August from 03:10 to 04:20 hours. The Azerbaijani National Armed Forces retaliated and no casualties were reported

Jeyran Bayramova, the director of the Karabakh carpet weaving plant, stated on 9 August that Armenians appropriated the designs of Azerbaijani carpets in have been kept in 14 carpet weaving shops, situated in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces. According to Bayramova, Armenians are weaving carpets similar to Karabakh samples of 'Khanlig' and 'Shasha', 'Nalbaki gul', Ag chichaklar' and many others and are selling them in European countries, and exhibiting them as 'Karabakh carpets of Armenia'. Bayramova added that the price for a carpet with the Karabakh design is about €3,000. After being occupied, 24 people are working in the Barda carpet plant. Karabakh carpet shops were established in the 18th Century in private houses. The Karabakh carpet plant uniting 500 people was opened in 1939. Weaving of the Karabakh carpets began in the Agdam, Shusha, Khankandi, Khojali, Jabrail and Lachin regions of Azerbaijan from 1956.

Armenia intends to continue peaceful talks for the smooth settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to establish peace in the region, the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, said in his interview with Armenian newspaper 'Hope'. "The next stage of the talks took place in June in St. Petersburg where the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia, Robert Kocharyan came together," the interview read. The Minister said that although no considerable progress was achieved during the meeting, Armenia will continue its positive involvement in this sensitive and important process, by doing everything in its power to regulate the conflict and assisting in establishing long-term peace in the region.

The divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces broke the ceasefire agreement in the Goranboy and Agdam districts of Azerbaijan. The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has reported that on 10 August the divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces fired at the National Army of Azerbaijan located 3km from south-east part of Tapgaragoyunlu village of Goranboy district using machine and sub-machine guns. In addition, the Armenians also fired at the village located 1.5km north-east of the Sarjali village of Agdam district. National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no fatalities were reported.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed the first-ever donation from the Russian Federation to support WFP's operation in Azerbaijan to provide food assistance to the poorest among the internally displaced people (IDPs). "This US$2 million donation from Russia to Azerbaijan will enable us to continue food assistance to the most vulnerable amongst those displaced by the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh," said Lynne Miller, WFP's Country Director in Azerbaijan in the press release provided by UN Baku Office on 10 August. The Russian donation will help procure wheat flour and vegetable oil for the displaced over the coming four months. Since 2003, when the Russian Federation joined WFP's growing list of generous donors, it has provided US$44 million worth of assistance to WFP efforts around the world.So far this year, Russia has contributed US$11 million to WFP, for operations allocated to Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cuba and Tajikistan. WFP began operations in Azerbaijan in 1994 to help over half a million people displaced by the conflict. Gradually a large number of them moved to urban areas and became self-reliant. WFP has since shifted its attention to assisting those who remained in rural areas and are still unable to meet their basic needs. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has led to the displacement of 800,000 Azerbaijanis in the 1990s. WFP's current two-year operation in Azerbaijan assists 154,000 of them. "The displaced people we are assisting are still unable to afford their basic needs. They still rely on continued humanitarian support," said Miller. WFP's current operation, which extends to mid-2008, has a total cost of US$15.9 million and is currently facing a 38% shortfall in funding. Donors to the current WFP's operation in Azerbaijan includes Azerbaijan (US$ 3 million), the Russian Federation (US$2 million), Japan (US$100,000) and private donors (US$69,000) as well as multilateral donation (US$ 4 million).

On 10 August at 19:55, the subdivisions of the Armenian Armed Forces violated the ceasefire regime at the troop contact line from their positions located in Javahirli village. In addition, on 11 August the Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of the National Army of Azerbaijan from their positions located in south-east part of Shikhlar village of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, according to the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry. Further, on 11 August Armenian divisions fired at the positions of the National Army of Azerbaijan from their positions located in south-east part of Karmiravan and Yarimcha villages of Azerbaijan's Tartar district.

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