Official chronicle
On 27 August the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received the delegation led by Vice Minister for Commerce, Industry and Energy of South Korea Mr. Lee Jae-Hun.
President Aliyev said a new and active phase of cooperation had begun after mutual visits of the heads of state and as a result, the Azeri-Korean bilateral relations received strong impetus. There is mutual interest for larger cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, energy and other fields, the President stressed. He expressed confidence that the current visit of the Korean delegation would make much contribution towards the expansion of further development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Korea in all-fields, including economy. Lee Jae-Hun conveyed to the Azerbaijani President the greetings of his Korean counterpart, noting that his President hoped for bilateral expansion in various other fields. He especially noted the resoluteness of the Azerbaijan President to lead his country to further economic accomplishments.
Mr. Lee Jae-Hun handed over to President Ilham Aliyev a letter from his President. In turn, the President of Azerbaijan expressed his gratitude for the conveyed greetings and requested that his greetings be returned to the president of Korea.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev decreed 29 August on implementation of extra measures for socio-economic development of Neftchala and Hajigabul regions, as well as acceleration of construction and building works in the regions.
The relevant ministries and departments are assigned to take measures for implementation of the Presidential Decree.
The Decree inures on the day of promulgation.
Foreign policy
Georgia intends to attract Azerbaijan's attention to its tourism opportunities, the Foreign Minister of Georgia, Gela Bejuashvili, briefed the media in Batumi on the eve of a meeting with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov.
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, is on a working visit to Batumi from 26-27 August.
"This visit presents opportunities to the Azerbaijani side to become familiarized with opportunities in tourism and investment in the Black Sea region of Georgia," Bejuashvili said, adding that on 26 August Mammadyarov got familiarized with the remarkable sight of Ajaria.
Georgia intends to increase the number of tourists from neighbouring countries. Residents of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Armenia visit Ajaria with enjoyment. The Tourism Department states that it needs to increase the tourism flow from Azerbaijan.
According to him, during his visit the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan met with representatives of the Azerbaijani community.
The Georgian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers discussed the regional and energy security in Batumi, Georgia on 27 August.
The Ministers, Elmar Mammadyarov and Gela Bezhuashvili, stressed the strategic character of the relationships between the two countries, according to the Georgian Foreign Ministry.
The parties also viewed the positive dynamics of the bilateral relationships and the prospect for intensification of regional co-operation, also within the framework of GUAM and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The Ministers noted close and counterpart relationships between the two ministries.
By the end of next week, Americans will come to the Russian-leased Azerbaijani Gabala Radar Station to, as experts say, stay there. The Russian military may in the near future leave the station which observes the sky up to the middle of the Indian Ocean. The Commander of the Cosmic Troops of Russia, general-colonel Vladimir Popovkin does not exclude such a development of events and his statement was accepted in Baku, Nizavisimaya Gazeta ("Independent Newspaper") reported on 28 August.
Washington will not cease its plans to establish a missile defense system in Europe, but does not abandon the idea to jointly use the Azerbaijani Gabala Radar Station with Russia. For this reason, by the end of the current week experts from USA, Russia and Azerbaijan will come together in Baku to discuss the capacity of the station and joint cooperation of the US and Russian military in observing air space from Azerbaijan up to South Africa and the Indian Ocean. The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan informed of the upcoming meeting and the news was also confirmed by the US Embassy in Azerbaijan. Thus, the Americans will have the opportunity to come and work in the cosmic space of Russia where the Near East and Iran which is of special interest to the USA are observed as in hand, Newsru reports.
So, the invitation of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to use the Gabala Radar Station jointly will become concrete in the near future. According to the minister, expert groups who are expected to arrive in Baku include representatives from Foreign Ministries and Defense Ministries, as well as academy of sciences of the three countries. For the first time the doors of the station will be opened to US experts during the meeting. In addition to meeting in Azerbaijan, one more event will take place in Moscow.
"The composition of the American group that will attend the Baku event is currently being defined," said the Head of Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, Jonathan Henick. According to him, plans on the European project remain unchanged. As regards to the initiative of the Russian President, Henick said that with his proposal, Russia factually shows that it recognizes threats from the Iranian side. According to the US diplomat, during upcoming talks the USA and Russia will consider several proposals, new ways and possibilities to use Gabala Radar Station jointly.
Baku took into account the statement of Vladimr Popovkin, the colonel-general and commander of the Space Troops of the Russian Federation. Popovkin stated that the commander was planning to leave Radar Station, located out of the Russian Federation not to make defensive capacity depend on politicians of other countries. In turn, Khazar Ibrahim, the head of the Azerbaijani press-service of the Foreign Ministry, said that Russia did not appeal to Baku to leave the Gabala Radar Station and separate statements are not an official position of the Russian Federation.
However, Azerbaijani experts draw quite another conclusion in local newspapers. According to experts, the statement of the commander of the Space Troops of the Russian Federation meant that Moscow did not want to extend the lease of the Gabala Radar Station, and propose the joint use of the station to the Americans.
Alexander Rar, the head of the program of CIS and Russian-German Council on Foreign Policy, stated that admitting Americans to Gabala Radar Station "Putin wants to save his pro-west policy to persuade the West to create a security system". Putin oriented his government on the EU before and seriously began to quarrel with the USA in the last few years. Now, continues Rar, we see attempts to allow the Russian Radar Station to demonstrate that Russia is ready to deepen cooperation and even sacrifice their own strategic relations with Iran, for the first time announcing it the strategic enemy, to the west and first of all to America.
It cannot stay without attention that Azerbaijan like Georgia is confidently stepping towards NATO, the German politician said. Due to the fact that Russian strategists understood that they would lose Gabala Radar Station in the next five years. Ideas arise, including defining events to trigger invitation of Americans for joint use of Gabala Radar Station to hide defeat, entrance of Azerbaijan to NATO.
The statement of the Space Troop's commander, colonel-general, Vladimr Popovkin, testifies that at present Russia is at a serious cross-roads. Important decisions are to be undertaken towards the West by the end of presidential term of Putin, the expert said. Postponing cooperation with Russia the West initially has to isolate them to return to world powers. If the issue is about similar development of events then Russian defence structures will be withdrawn from unstable CIS countries.
Abdullah Gul's victory in the recent presidential elections in Turkey will promote Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, Zakir Hashimov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Turkey, said on 29 August.
"Gul is a close friend of Azerbaijan," the Ambassador said.
Gul, a member of the Justice and Development Party of Turkey, and also former Foreign Minister, was elected the 11th President of Turkey. He is the third youngest President in the history of Turkey. The 57-year old Gul will head the country.
Gul gained 339 votes from MPs during the polls on 28 August.
In accordance with the Constitution of Turkey, 276 votes are required for election of the President in the third round.
Gashimov represented Azerbaijan in an oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected President of Turkey .
The Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan, Huseyn Avni Garsioglu, said on 30 August that Abdulla Gul's election as the President of Turkey is a chance in the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey and integration into the European Union.
"He well knows the foreign policy and foreign countries. Such man's election as a State Head is a success for all Turkic-speaking countries," the Ambassador said. According to Garsioglu, the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey will always be at a high level. Touching upon the effect of the new President on Turkish-Armenian relations, the Ambassador called Armenian as a country that does not recognize international relations and said that the relations will remain as they were in their previous state.
Political movements
The statement to boycott the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan is the next game, Sabir Rustamkhanli, the chairman of the opposition Civil Solidarity Party (CSP) of Azerbaijan, has stated to the Trend Agency.
A range of opposition parties, including Azadlyg bloc stated that should no changes occur in the Azerbaijani election rules they would boycott the approaching presidential elections. CSP took part in all the elections in Azerbaijan and the party was against any such boycott, Rustamkhanli said. "Despite part of the opposition boycotting the elections; the other part took part in the process. Boycotting is used as a tool against the Government and never gives positive results," Rustamkhanli added.
Azadlyg's leaders believe the bloc is the Government's main rival and should they refuse to participate in the elections, then the results of the elections will not be approved internationally.
CSP was founded under the chairmanship of one of the leaders of the National Liberation Movement, Sabir Rustamkhanli, in 1992. The party took part in the parliamentary elections in 1995, 2000, 2005, presidential elections in 2003 and municipal elections in 1999 and 2004.
MP Rustamkhanli, the popular poet was the Press and Information Minister in 1991-1995, and candidate for presidency in 2003.
Communist Party of Azerbaijan (CPA) may support the candidate from the Authorities at the upcoming presidential elections 2008, Rustam Shahsuvarov, one of the leaders of CPA, said to the Trend Agency. The issue concerning the presidential elections will be discussed during the Plenum of the party scheduled for 22 September. The issue on nomination its own candidate or to support other candidate will be defined during meeting of CPA in November.
"CPA may join any alliance, but communists will never support opposition," Shahsuvarov added.
"We do not support any candidate from opposition. All democratic opposition parties and opposition leaders hold anti state activities since 1992. We will never be in one line with them," he said.
The party based on communist ideology was founded in 1903. Mashadi Azizbayov, Nariman Narimanov and many others were leaders of the party.
Hafiz Hajyev, the Chairman of the Modern Musavat Party, will nominate his candidature for the post of President during the forthcoming presidential elections 2008, Hajyev said to Trend Agency.
Hajyev nominated his candidature for the President post in 2003 and was the eighth candidate due to the number of votes. He received a total of 8,267 votes (0,341%) from the 2,421,061votes. The party made his decision to nominate his candidature once more.
"I did not lose courage during the 2003 presidential elections. I called for my supporters to vote for Ilham Aliyev at the end of elections. Should there be a second round of elections during the approaching presidential elections, I will withdraw my candidature in favor of the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev," Hajyev said. Hajyev added that he would not support any candidates from the opposition as in 2003. The policy of opposition parties failed.
Hajyev had been the president of the State Concern of Azerbalig from 1992 to 1993. Earlier he was represented in the National Front Party of Azerbaijan, and later in the Musavat Party. In 2000 he founded the Modern Musavat Party. The party received state registration in 2002. The party considers itself to be the constructive opposition of the authorities.
The Popular Front of Unified Azerbaijan Party supports the initiative on construction an atomic energy station, which will provide energy demand of Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani Government should direct incomes for energy security in the country from developing economy and exports.
The party demand to take certain steps to implement drafts on construction atomic energy station supplied with upgrade equipments.
MP Gudrat Hasahguliyev, the candidate for the President post in 2003, is the head of the party.
The Popular Front of Unified Azerbaijan Party (PFAUP) has proposed to form a government from representatives of parties and party blocs within the Parliamentary elections, it is stated in the draft of additions and supplements in the Constitution developed by (PFUAP).
In compliance with the current bill, a government can form a political party within the presidential elections. PFUAP believes that the MP composition of Parliament should be increased from 125 MPs to 150 MPs.
The Party proposes to hold mixed parliamentary elections in 2010 and from 2015 to use a weighted voting system. In compliance with the new system, the government should be responsible for the President and Parliament. Statements by opposition MPs should be taken into consideration in the election process by the deputy chairman of the Parliament and deputy commissions, as well as members of the Accounting Chamber. The Party believes that the number of MPs which consists of 10 members should be decreased. The Parliament should appoint and dismiss the prime minister and members of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Should the new elected President consider that the Cabinet of Ministers is not functioning satisfactorily, he may submit a statement for their resignation to Parliament.
The Chairman of the Civil Solidarity Party (CSP), Sabir Rustamkhanly, is backing the reduction of the election period, he reported to Trend on 27 August.
The Deputy Chairman and the Executive Secretary of the governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Ali Ahmadov, suggested reducing the election campaign in Azerbaijan from four months to two months, in line with international practice.
In accordance with Article 8.1 of the Election Code, elections are announced 120 days before the voting day. Article 75.2 says that election campaign begins 60 days before the voting and ends 24 hours before the voting.
In Rustamkhanly's opinion, four months is too much for an election process. Elections in Azerbaijan are held once or twice a year, and it would be inexpedient to spend half of a year for elections. A more favourable term is required for preparation for elections.
The election campaign is an important process for the candidates in whom they have great opportunities, they get access to the press and they are provided with the right of immunity of a candidate. All this enables the candidates to inform the electorate of their plans, the Rustamkhanly said. "The election campaign is one of democratization. From this standpoint the election campaign changes the general atmosphere in a country," he said.
Sabir Rustamkhanly, the Chairman of the opposition Civil Solidarity Party (CSP), is an MP. In 2003, he ran for presidency.
Discussions on the establishment of a new group uniting opposition MPs, represented in the Azerbaijani Parliament, are being held, MP Fazil Gazanfaroglu, the chairman of the Great Establishment Party, said.
"A union of opposition MPs is relevant," Gazanfaroglu noted.
Establishment of opposition groups of MPs did not give positive results after the parliamentary elections, held in Azerbaijan in 2005. As a result there were two MP groups in parliament consisting of opposition MPs from Mukhalifat and Musavat parties. Due to differences among representatives of Mukhalifat MPs functioning the groups were suspended. The establishment of a new group in parliament is relevant, opposition MPs said.
There are MPs wishing to nominate their candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. "This may hinder the uniting of opposition MPs. They should leave their political ambitions and unite," Gazanfaroglu added.
The issue regarding the establishment of a new group will be continued in September. MPs want to establish a new group before the autumn session of parliament.
Discussions on the establishment of a new opposition group will start in September after the return of MPs from summer vacations, MP Panah Huseyn said. The Musavat party supports the establishment of a new opposition group.
"Musavat will not suspend its political activity as the establishment of a new group is unknown. The Musavat party may become a member of the new union as a group or individually. Some MPs from Musavat will not be represented in the new union," Gazanfaroglu said.
Twelve MPs represent the opposition in parliament.
The opposition leader who loses democratic elections should step down, Sardar Jalaloglu, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA) stated.
Presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October 2008. Political leaders are holding negotiations to determine a single candidate from the opposition. Some opposition parties proposed to boycott the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
The DPA will not demonstrate its position until the election situation is revealed.
"Our goal is to determine one candidate from the opposition. The DPA is ready to withdraw their own candidature to choose one candidate from the opposition. If other political parties follow a similar policy one candidate can be chosen. The opposition cannot nominate one candidate if parties follow their own political interests," Jalaloglu said.
Azadlyg bloc's calls to boycott the presidential elections of 2008 seem to be blackmail, the co-chairman of the left-wing opposition Social Democratic Party, Araz Alizadeh, reported in Baku on 28 August. According to Alizadeh, the right-wing opposition never keeps its word.
Disagreements regarding participation in the upcoming presidential elections have arisen among the opposition. The parties represented in the Azadlyg bloc, Azerbaijan's leading political union, which are the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Citizens & Development Party and the National Unity Movement, refuse to participate in the elections unless election legislation is changed and election committees are formed on a parity basis with participation of authorities and the opposition. The leader of the Open Society Party, former Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament, Rasul Guliyev, who emigrated to the United Sates, sticks to the same position.
The Musavat, the National Independence Party, the Social Democratic Party and other parties take another viewpoint. They believe participation in the elections is necessary.
Alizadeh mentioned the events of 2000, when 23 parties signed an agreement to boycott the elections if changes were not made to the Election Code and in the composition of election committees. Right-wing opposition broke the agreement and took part in the elections, he noted.
Alizadeh said that he did not consider Azadlyg bloc's calls to boycott presidential elections to be sincere. In his opinion, Azadlyg will take part in the approaching elections.
"The Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party have decided to participate in all elections, including the presidential elections of 2008," he said
Left-wing opposition Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party was founded in 1991. Another co-chairman of the party, Azerbaijan's ex-president Ayaz Mutallibov emigrated to Moscow.
'Our Azerbaijan' political bloc is suggesting establishing an opposition Democratic Elections Forum, a source at the bloc reported on 29 August.
An extended opposition union will enable democratic presidential elections, the Chairman of the bloc, Vugar Beyturan, said. In his opinion, a separated opposition will not be able to make authorities change the principle of forming election committees.
We suggest a consultative assembly, bloc Azadlyg, the Union for Democracy, and YeS to unite with the 'Our Azerbaijan' and the 'Way of Azerbaijan' political movement into the Democratic Election Forum," Beyturan said.
According to the Chairman, a split of the opposition is also promoted by disagreements regarding nominating a unified candidate from the opposition. "We should put aside such issues and establish a union involving all opposition forces," Beyturan said.
The 'Our Azerbaijan' bloc, which is an ally with the 'Way of Azerbaijan' political movement, unites eight opposition parties.
The idea of a unified candidate from the opposition party for the forthcoming presidential elections, will not be favored by the left wing, Tahib Abbasli, the chairman of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), said on 30 August.
The issue of a unified candidate from the opposition is realized through tradition, but the intentions of the opposition party are mere words. Abbasli thinks that this idea can do more harm rather good. The proposal for a unified candidate is an excellent idea, but the good intentions of the Azerbaijani opposition are not realized. "Opposition leaders are unwilling to yield others and each of them is taking care of their own interests. This situation makes it impossible to nominate a unified opposition candidate," said Abbasli.
According to the opposition leader, opposition can be successful in elections without following tradition. In comparison to the current President, the opposition has been separated from the people.
IDP is an opposition party with a religious strategy.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Supporters of military settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh should hold solidarity rally in Azadlyg avenue and to make statement protesting OSCE's functioning, Ilyas Ismaylov, the chairman of the Azerbaijani opposition Adalat Party, said to the Trend Agency. Only in that case world see unity of position of Azerbaijani people and the President.
"World must see that Azerbaijani people and President stand in unity position," Ismaylov said.
The Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, noted in his statements that if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict not to be resolved through peace then the Azerbaijani Government will settle the conflict through military actions.
Azerbaijani opposition should demonstrate a single position in settling the conflict, Ismaylov said.
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Opposition Adalat Party was founded in 1993. In 1996 the party united with Democratic Party of Azerbaijan. A group of MPs left DPA and restored their own party in 2000. Ilyas Ismaylov has been the chairman of the party from 2001. Ismaylov was a candidate for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan in 2003. Presently, Ismaylov is the MP in the Azerbaijani parliament.
Georgia's 'Madneuli' Company which is part of the Financial-Industrial Group 'Industrial Investors' of Russia commenced talks with the Government of Armenia regarding exploitation of the gold field 'Soyudlyu' which is located in Azerbaijan's occupied district of Kalbajar, the consultant of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, Arif Iskandarov, reported to Trend on 27 August.
According to him, recent discussions on the exploitation of the gold field were held in Anglia. The talks were headed by Georgia's 'Madneuli' Company. Over the recent 40 years, the 'Madneuli' Company has been called as one of the leading elements of the Georgian economy and one of the leaders of the metal mining and processing industry. Some 97.25% of the shares of 'Madneuli' was purchased by the Stanton Equities Corporation of Anglia which is part of Financial-Industrial Group 'Industrial Investors' of Russia. In addition, 'Madneuli' holds talks with gold processing company Ararat which functions in Armenia. The Financial-Industrial Group 'Industrial Investors' also includes Indian companies. Earlier the gold field 'Soyudlyu' was exploited by the Canadian First Dynasti Mines (FDM). Over the recent four years, the company produced nearly 13 tons of gold from the field.
FDM was planning to invest $12mln to gold-mining in Armenia by the end of 2007. However, the Canadian company suspended its activity due to a financial scandal with the Armenian Government. FDM invested $ 22.1mln in gold-mining in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The sum of investment of the Canadian company in geological research work in Armenia and Azerbaijani occupied territories made up $4mln.
The Armenian Government is holding negotiations with the International Corporation of the World Bank and other foreign banks to draw new investments in gold-mining.
Some 73% of gold fields of Soyudlu are in the occupied territory of Kalbajar. Despite, the exploitation of the field was suspended in 1992; the American specialists commenced geologically research work here in 1996.
More than 40 tons of gold were found in the field. A contract of $63.3mln was signed between the Industry and Trade Ministry of Armenia and FDM for mountain minerals mining in September 1997.
FDM assets belong to Sterlite Gold LTD, headed by Markus Randolf. In 1998 FDM purchased 50% of stocks of the Armenian company of Ararat Gold Recovery Company and commenced gold mining. First Dynasti Mines acquired the rest half of the stock and became full owners of the Armenian company in 2002.
Khazar Ibrahim, the Press-Secretary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, has stated that currently the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia holds investigations on the issue.
The visit of Edward O'Hara, PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Rapporteur on the Cultural Heritage in the South Caucasus has been postponed after Azerbaijan protested it, Azerbaijani Parliament reported.
The head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, MP Samad Seidov, explained the official position of Azerbaijan to Mateo Sorinas, the General Secretary of the organization.
All international organizations recognize the territorial sovereignty of Azerbaijan, Seidov noted. An international mission can visit the Azerbaijani occupied territories only on the basis of admission by official Baku.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 as a result of territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenia Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan's land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. 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 the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
Armenian Armed divisions violated cease fire regime in six directions on 31 August and 1 September, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry's press-service reported on 1 September.
Armenian Armed Forces has been intensively violating the cease fire regime for latest three months. Several soldiers of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been killed.
The Armenian Armed divisions fired Yarimca and Chayli villages of Azerbaijan within several hours.
Fire was observed from 22:10 to 22:45.
The Armenian Armed Forces fired the Azerbaijani National Army from the position located on by 3 kilometres on the west from Ahmadli and Shikhlar villages of Agdam region on 1 September.
On 2 September, divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces located 3km southwest of the village of Giziloba in the district of Terter of Azerbaijan, fired at Azerbaijani positions from 9.30pm to 9.45pm and on 3 September from 2km southwest of the village of Garakhanbayli in the district of Fizuli from 12.30am to 1am with machine and sub-machine guns, and those located 4.4km from the village of Merzili in the district of Agdam 4.55am to 5.10am, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.
The National Army of Azerbaijan retaliated and no casualties were reported