Official chronicle
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) on Aug.3.
Azerbaijani President visited memorial of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Nakhchivan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev participated in inauguration of new Chess center in Nakhchivan on August 3. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev opened Badamly mineral water plant in Nakhchivan.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva has today inaugurated the newly-reconstructed Heydar Aliyev palace in Nakhchivan.
After cutting the ribbon symbolizing the official opening of the palace, the President toured the facility.
On August 3, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev inaugurated a Maternity Center in Nakhchivan.
The President cut the ribbon symbolizing official opening of the center. He got acquainted with the center's facilities.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has today opened Badamly mineral water plant in Nakhchivan.
The President pushed the button symbolizing the official opening of the plant which covers a total area of 2.1 hectares.
The plant produces mineral water from Badamly village in Shahbuz, Nakhchivan, 1,274 kilometers above sea level. The facility also manufactures bottled natural spring water.
A special equipment of French company Sidel Group, one of the world leaders in packaging liquid foods, was installed in the plant to bottle the water.
The President and his spouse toured the plant and tasted its products.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev participated in the ceremony dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on Aug. 4. President Aliyev made a speech during the ceremony, AzerTaj state news agency reported.
President Aliyev presented state awards, diplomas of Azerbaijani President and issued honorary ranks to those who have contributed to social and economic development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
After official part of the ceremony, concert with participation of artists took place.
Nakhchivan and its population had a great service and contribution in Azerbaijan's re-gaining its independence, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated in the ceremony dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan on August 4, AzTV state television reported.
"Nakhchivan's power means Azerbaijan's power. Nakhchivan is located on a strategic territory. Nakhchivan assumes great political and strategic importance," the State Head said.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the visit to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic attended the opening of the new building of Shahbuz Central District Hospital.
The Head of State cut the tape to mark the opening, got familiarized with the hospital and wished the hospital team successes.
Nakhchivan military capability is at a very high level, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at celebrative event to mark the 85th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on Tuesday. The President noted that in his visit, he was convinced that "for the protection of Nakhchyvan everything was done, and Nakhchivan able to fully defend themselves against any attacks, as well as perform any military task".
President Ilham Aliyev said that Armenia in various international organizations are always trying to blame Azerbaijan is that it blocks Armenia. "But in reality it is not. For many years Nakhchivan is living in embargo, which continues today. But despite this, Nakhchivan lives, Nakhchivan develops, there is done a great creative work in Nakhchivan, and the successful development Nakhchyvan shows the power of our country," Aliyev said.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's visit to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic completed on August 5.
Head of State and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva were accompanied to Nakhchivan International Airport by the Chairman of Parliament of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Vasif Talibov and other officials.
On August 5, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received BP Chief Executive for Exploration and Development Andy Inglis and his accompanying delegation, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
Satisfaction with successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and BP during many years was expressed at the meeting. The sides stressed there are good opportunities for expanding the cooperation in the future.
Andy Inglis said the fact that Rashid Javanshir replaced Bill Schrader as head of BP Azerbaijan is a good example of Azerbaijan nationals' involvement in BP's activities.
The Head of State stressed Bill Shrader's contribution to cooperation between Azerbaijan and BP and wished him every success in his future career. President Ilham Aliyev described appointment of Azerbaijan national as President of BP-Azerbaijan as the manifestation of effective cooperation between Azerbaijan and BP.
On August 3, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to award a number of people medals for their contribution to the socio-economic development of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.
On August 3, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order awarding Teymur Rzayev an honorary diploma of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for his contribution to the economic development of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic
On August 3, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev signed an order providing Sakhavet Kengerli with personal scholarship for his work in the field of journalism.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree increasing the state duty on issuance of special permissions (licenses) for activities that require a special permission, AzerTaj state news agency reported.
Within one month, the Cabinet of Ministers is in charge of determining and confirming the additional conditions required for the issuance of special permissions.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on State's participation in the management of banking and non-banking credit organizations, in the authorized capitals of which there are shares owned by the State.
Upon the order, the right to attend the meetings of the board of banks and non-bank organizations, in the authorized capitals of which there are shares owned by the State, was given the right to Ministry of Finance and State Property Committee.
At the proposal of the Ministry of Finance, State Property Committee can confirm the charter of the credit organization and determine the amount of authorized capital.
Ministry of Finance is in charge of taking appropriate measures in relation to the effective management of banks and non-banking organizations, in the authorized capitals of which there are shares owned by the State, and annually reporting to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated trainer of Garabag football club Gurban Gurbanov with the move into play-off round after defeating Honka of Finland at the match of Europa League third qualifying round second-leg matches, Trend said with reference to Association of Football Federeations of Azerbaijan.
Head of the state wished success to Garabag club in the coming matches.
Garabag defeated Honka with the score of 1-0 in the first-leg match in Finland and 2-1 in home match.
On August 8, the Head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated to President of Singapore Sellapan Rama Nathan on the national holiday.
In his congratulatory letter, the President expressed hope for further development of relations between the countries towards friendship and cooperation for the benefit of both peoples.
Parliament
The Azerbaijani parliament is designing a new construction bill, Trend reports
Officials of the relevant agencies are involved in the development of Construction Code, which will be discussed at the autumn session of the Azerbaijani Parliament. The international experience in this sphere is also used in designing the bill, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy, Ziyad Samadzade said.
"Construction is an important sector of the economy and activities should be based on legal documents and laws. Investment activity is constantly rising in our economy. Interest towards is also speeding up. This necessitates creating a special legal base," Samadzade said.
The Article will stipulate construction and improvement of cities, settlements and other facilities, development of social, industry, engineering, transport infrastructures of these territory, beneficial nature utilization, protection of historical and cultural monuments, regulating relationships appeared as a result of environmental protection, Samadzade added.
Samadzade emphasized a need to preserve rights of producers. The code puts a special emphasis on this issue, Samadzade added.
Members of Azerbaijani Parliament will submit new documents to the Council of Europe.
"During next session, the members of the Azerbaijani delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will provide new documents to the MPs," a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, MP Ganira Pashayeva told website of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party on August 5.
Pashayeva said that the Azerbaijani MPs periodically prepare various documents, reflecting the true facts about Azerbaijan, and present them to the European parliamentarians. "These documents reflect the facts of annexation of Armenia against Azerbaijan, as well as evidence of Armenia's destruction of monuments of our history and culture. In addition, these documents deal with the issues relating to more than one million refugees," Pashayeva said.
Such documents will be prepared in the future as well, they will also be distributed during the next sessions of the PACE, Pashayeva said.
Political movements
Chairman of Azerbaijani pro-opposition Civil Solidarity Party considers that social-political organizations must take common position concerning Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
"Such a grave problem, as Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, must lead political parties and NGOs to general opinion. Those social-political organizations that do not understand it, must leave political scene," Chairman of Civil Solidarity Party, MP Sabir Rustamkhanli told Trend on August 4 at the scientific-theoretical conference on The role and tasks of political parties and NGOs in solving Nagorno Karabakh problem.
MP said that number of forums and conferences held in Azerbaiajn concerning Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be expanded. During similar meeting, political parties and NGOs must come to common opinion concerning formation of common position. One can not be fervent towards meetings organized by certain political parties and organizations due to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Such meetings must be supported," Rustamkhanli said.
Chairman of the party said that Azerbaijani political parties differ in their views on the Madrid principles. "Nagorno-Karabakh problem is not monopoly of any political party. Each party must submit its position and force concerning this issue," he said.
Azerbaijani pro-opposition Modern Musavat party postponed making changes in political program of the party.
"The meeting of political council on making changes in program of the party must be held late July. The meeting was postponed upon request of regional organizations till September," chairman of the party, Khafiz Hajiyev, told Trend on August 6.
He said that regional organizations welcome envisaged changes in political program. "These changes include preservation of stability in the country, implementation of radical actions in combat with corruption and rendering public support for President's position in solving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Hajiyev said.
Chairman of the party said that beginning from September-October, they intend to strengthen political activity. "We plan to conduct mass actions demanding strengthening combat against corruption in Baku. Other political parties are expected to join mass actions," he said.
"We have cooperated with some parties in previous elections. However the result was unsatisfactory. So, we decided to participate in municipal elections without joining other parties," Deputy Head of the Adalat party, Mutallim Rahimli, told Trend on Aug.6.
The Azerbaijani Parliament adopted a law on unification of municipalities. Under the law, number of municipalities decreased from 2,757 to 1,766.
Azerbaijan will hold the municipal elections in December 2009 and the parliamentary elections in autumn of 2010.
The party's political council tasked all regional agencies to determine candidate to municipal elections. This process should be completed by mid September. The parliament will take a decision to approve the list of the candidates in municipal elections by late September, Rahimli said.
Foreign policy
Such international organization as the Council of Europe and its representatives must demonstrate objectivity towards countries, member of the Azerbaijani delegation in the CE Parliamentary Assembly, MP Ganira Pashayeva told New Azerbaijan ruling Party's official website on Aug.3.
"Co-reporter on Azerbaijan, Andreas Herkel's, criticisms towards our country does not reflect real situation," Pashayeva said.
Azerbaijan was more free country five years ago, Andreas Herkel told media earlier. Herkel has been appointed co-reporter on Azerbaijan since 2004.
Azerbaijan advances successfully in development of democracy and work in this sphere must be approved, Pashayeva said.
The Azerbaijani foreign ministry applied to the Turkish foreign ministry to assist Azerbaijani citizens via the Turkish embassy in Nigeria. Azerbaijani citizens, being on the Turkish vessel Duden, were attacked by armed pirates in Nigerian waters.
"As Azerbaijan does not have its embassy in Nigeria, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry applied to the Turkish foreign ministry to assist Azerbaijani citizens", press-service of the foreign ministry told Trend on August 5.
Duden vessel was attached by armed pirates while routing to Port Harcourt transporting rice from Thailand. As a result of attack, cook Ertan Engin and one of crew members, Nigerian citizen were injured.
But crew members managed to escape from pirates.
He said that four Azerbaijani citizens, including Mirzoyev Ilgar, Dadashev Ilham, Abilov Tural and Akhmadov Tahir were on the board, deputy head of the Azerbaijani State Maritime Administration, Namik Agamaliyev, told Trend earlier.
Azerbaijani citizens, being on the Turkish vessel Duden, were not injured, Agamaliyev said.
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov had a telephone conversation with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
"OSCE will make every possible effort for prompt solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Greece Dora Bakoyannis said during telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministry told Trend .
Bakoyannis and Mammadyarov discussed recent negotiations process and next meetings on the conflict solution. "Mammadyarov said that the problem can be solved only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," the same source said.
During telephone conversation were also discussed the relations between Azerbaijan and OSCE and processes in the region.
Visiting Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir today has met with the Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Industry Yaver Jamalov.
The Minister gave the Pakistani Admiral detailed information about political and economic situation in the country. He also raised awareness of the visitor on activities of the ministry.
Jamalov said the defense industry has also developed in Azerbaijan as much as other fields have due to the economic progress in the country.
Touching upon Azerbaijani-Pakistani cooperation, the Minister described it "fraternal and friendship." He stated bilateral relations have developed in all spheres, including defense industry.
Jamalov noted Ministry representatives participated in the 5th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar held last year in Karachi, and met Pakistani Premier, minister of defense and other top officials to discuss cooperation between the two countries. He added the ministry`s expert group visited Pakistan in January this year.
Noman Bashir praised current level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in various areas, including defense industry.
Human rights
Azerbaijan's Heydar Aliyev Foundation has organized a camp for children with diabetes deprived from parents' care in southern Lankaran city located 270 outside Baku.
The summer camp for children suffering from diabetes was organized as a part of a campaign held under the motto "Diabetes is not a disease, buta way of life", Association of Psychologist Head Elmira Mirzayeva said.
At the first stage, 30 children from various parts of the country have been invited to the camp. They are primarily children with diabetes and those deprived of both parents' care.
She said the camp aims to make these children do not feel lonely. Five teachers, four doctors and three psychiatrists with higher education undertake upbringing and education of children.
Along with the rest, the children will visit historic sites and museums in Lankaran.
The camp will be open till August 15.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
On August 2, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops in nameless heights of Tovuz region and Jafarli village of Gazakh region at 07.10 to 07.45 and 09.00 to 09.10 from nameless heights of Berd region and positions in Azatamut village of Ijevan region of Armenia, press-service of the Azerbaijani ministry of defense said.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
On August 3, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops in the Kokhanebi and Agbulag villages the Tovuz region at 18.30-19.35. The shots were fired from heights of Armenia's Berd region and Chinarli village.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
No incident took place at the monitoring, held on contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Armed Forces, near the Borsunlu village of the Azerbaijani Goranboy region on Aug. 4, upon mandate of OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend .
Chairman-in-Office Anji Kaspershik and his field assistant Irji Aber held the monitoring from Azerbaijan.
Politicians and MPs of Azerbaijan made different suggestions on the ways of solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The chairman of opposition Unified Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev, said that fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through peaceful talks does not exist.
"No fact of occupation in the world found a fair solution in a peaceful manner. Azerbaijan must itself liberate seven regions around Nagorno-Karabakh, and then resume the negotiations. And politicians should prepare nation for this," Hasanguliyev said at the scientific-theoretical conference on "The role and tasks of political parties and NGOs in solving the Karabakh conflict".
The MP said that the opposition parties, which undertook obligations before the Council of Europe to resolve the conflict peacefully, should abandon their signature.
"The reasons why they do not do it are clear. They think if they withdraw signature, West will refuse cooperation," said Hasanguliyev.
Making a speech at the conference, chairman of opposition Adalat Party, MP Ilyas Ismaylov said he did not see anything improper in undertaking such an obligation. "Application of a peaceful path to resolving conflicts is an international principle. But if the conflict is able to be settled through refusal from signature, then I will do it first," said Ismaylov.
Chairman of opposition Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloglu said that the solution of the conflict must be made in a legal plane.
"Resolution of the conflict should be moved from political into legal arena. International mediators do not participate permanently in any of conflicts existing in the world. Mediators deal with only those that delay the conflict, ensuring the interests of their countries," he said.
He stated that the government and opposition should take a unified position on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Chairman of opposition Democratic Reforms Party, MP Asim Mollazade, said that the facts of military crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan must be presented to the attention of the world community. "Unfortunately, the world community is not completely aware of these facts. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should not be used by any parties for their own purposes. This kind of national question should not be used for public campaigns of political parties in the debate with other parties," Mollazade said.
Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora organizations in the USA addressed to the U.S. President Barack Obama with a letter, the letter received from the Azerbaijani-U.S Council said. The letter says that last year's war between Georgia and Russia punctuated the continued threat to peace and security in the South Caucasus arising from unresolved territorial conflicts that have spanned more than two decades since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Recently, several Iranian officials openly threatened Azerbaijan for hosting Israeli President Shimon Peres in Baku, the letter said.
Moreover, four UN Security Council resolutions demanding that Armenian forces withdraw and cease the occupation of Azerbaijani lands since 1993 have achieved little for the displaced one million refugees. All of this adds to the urgency of reaching a sustainable peace based on the fundamentals of international law and human rights, or, as you have stated earlier, "a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict," the letter said.
The South Caucasus, a strategic global juncture, holds great promise for regional and global peace and prosperity. Yet the region's potential has been disrupted and disable by two decades of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia's own development has been paralyzed as a result of its self-imposed isolation from major regional projects. More than one million Armenians have left Armenia due to poor government, poor economics, and poor services. While the Azerbaijani residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other Armenian-occupied regions of Azerbaijan have suffered ethnic cleansing, displacement, and destruction of personal and cultural property, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh continue to live in economic and political uncertainty.
Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijan has been costly in many ways.
Major problem with settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is that Armenia does not make required concessions. It complicates negotiating process, research assistant of international security program, research director and Caspian studies project in the Belfer center, Brenda Shaffer, said in interview with Trend .
She said that bilateral visits of Armenian-Azerbaijani intelligentsia to Nagorno-Karabakh are important. But people fail to solve this problem without support of great powers. I refer countries having their interests in the region to great powers. They must impact on Armenia. But they have not made it yet," Shaffer said.
Expert said that unfortunately, international community preserves irresponsible position towards frozen conflict. Now these great powers try to pretend that they actively participate in this process and want to change current situation. They stress that everything depends on sides of conflict now. But it is not true," Shaffer said.
"Loading all responsibility on sides of conflict, great powers more freeze negotiating process, expert said. For example, Shaffer said that Russia can impact on Armenia in exchange for peace with Azerbaijan. But Shaffer does not see any active actions in this sphere. Meetings of presidents in Russia are being organized to create vision that there is any action."
On August 5, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops in the Kokhanebi village of the Tovuz region at 19.05 to 19.20. The shots were fired from names heights in Armenia's Berd region.
The Armenian soldiers fired at Azerbaijani troops from an area near Geyarkh village of Terter region at 13.00 to 13.10, the Azerbaijani ministry of defense said.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
Former analyst of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization considers that rapprochement between Turkey and Russia can positively affect the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
"I think that Erdogan and Putin will discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict behind closed doors and rapprochement between Turkey and Russia can positively affect the solution of the conflict," former analyst of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization, Mahir Kaynak, told Trend by telephone from Ankara on August 6.
The Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin is on a visit to Turkey today, Turkish CIHAN news agency reported.
Kaynak considers that non-settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an obstacle for Turkey's policy in Caucasus.
Turkey proposed to establish Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform to ensure stability and cooperation in the Caucasus on the backdrop of the Georgia-Russia conflict in Aug. 2008.
"Turkey's balanced policy towards Azerbaijan and Armenia in Caucasus is accepted by both sides with jealousness," Kaynak said. He considers that Turkey's success in its Caucasus policy is possible only after the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the important issues for Turkey. Russia also has priorities and Moscow will not deny its priorities. If Turkey preserves the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the agenda, the proximity between the countries may bring progress in salvation of this conflict, Turkish MP (member of the Turkish Grand national Assembly) Onur Oymen told trend News on telephone conversation on aug.7.
During his visit to Turkey Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated the serious and active work for the resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish news agency ANADOLU reported.
"Serious work is being done to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and there is serious progress in this direction. Moscow is eager to see rapid resolution of the conflict," Putin added.
Putin said his country is unwilling to see any conflict in the Caucasus. "Conflict in the Caucasus casts shadow on our relations with the countries of the region," he stressed.
The prime minister said that Russia's position on the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remained unchanged. "We cannot do the job of conflict sides, but only assist in the solution to the dispute," he added.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be solved only within Azerbaijani territorial integrity, said Commander of Pakistani Naval Forces, Admiral Noman Bashir, said at the meeting with Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Safar Abiyev on August 7.
"The conflict can be solved only within Azerbaijani territorial integrity. Pakistan will always support Azerbaijan on this issue", Admiral Noman Bashir said.
The Azerbaijani Minister of Defense said that military-political relations of countries will be expanded in future. "Cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan made a great contribution to Azerbaijani defense industry," Abiyev said.
Turkish expert Bulent Aras considers that high level of the Russia-Armenia relations enables Moscow to impact positively on the solution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Russia's recent actions towards the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict give reason to say that Moscow could play a crucial role in this respect, Bülent Aras, Associate Professor of International Relations at the Isik University in Ankara told Trend on the telephone conversation.
During his visit to Turkey Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated the serious and active work for the resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish news agency ANADOLU reported.
"Serious work is being done to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and there is serious progress in this direction. Moscow is eager to see rapid resolution of the conflict," Putin added.
Aras believes that Russia, along with Turkey, is also interested in solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Turkey wants to stabilize the relations with countries of the region, including Armenia. It is impossible to achieve this stabilization without solving the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main object of Russia-Turkey discussion, Aras said
The solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem should not be considered as Russia's deviation from its interests.
Russia will never refuse from its interests in the Caucasus. However, unstable situation in the Caucasus is dangerous for Russia, too. Just for this reason Russia will make effort to achieve stabilization in the region, Aras added.
Head of international relations department of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Novruz Mammadov, considers that the world's leading countries want stability on the South Caucasus due to their own interests.
"Unfortunately, maybe the conflicts in the region appeared due to the interests of these countries. The South Caucasus is on the focus of attention of the world's leading countries due to its geo-strategic position. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's statement on Russia's support to solution of the conflicts on the South Caucasus was expected," Mammadov told official website of ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
During his visit to Turkey Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated the serious and active work for the resolution of the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Serious work is being done to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and there is serious progress in this direction. Moscow is eager to see rapid resolution of the conflict," Putin added.
Putin said his country is unwilling to see any conflict in the Caucasus. "Conflict in the Caucasus casts shadow on our relations with the countries of the region," he stressed.
The prime minister said that Russia's position on the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remained unchanged. "We cannot do the job of conflict sides, but only assist in the solution to the dispute," he added.
Mammadov appraised Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's statement on solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which he made during his visit to Turkey. "This fact showed that Russia is supporter of solutions," Mammadov added.
The sides have special interests on the solution of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan tries to harmonize these interests and solve this conflict in the interests of statehood, Mammadov said.
Major countries are also interested in solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. So, influence on Armenia by these countries increases.
Aydin Mirzazade, deputy chairman of the Parliamentary commission on security and defense, considers that U.S co-chairman of OSCE Matthew Bryza's statement on return of seven regions, which he made in Armenia, is a message to invader Armenia.
"Bryza's statement is very serious. It is significant that Bryza made this statement in Armenia. Currently there are serious progresses in the negotiations process. Recent events show the possibility of step-by-step solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which corresponds to Azerbaijan's interests, Mirzazade said, Trend reported with reference to official website of ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
Armenia should return the occupied seven regions to Azerbaijan, U.S co-chairman of OSCE, Matthew Bryza, stated at the Euroforum conference, during his visit to Armenia.
Mirzazade appraised Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's statement on solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which he made during his visit to Turkey. According to Mirzazade, similar statements give ground to say that the solution of the conflict will be achieved soon.
On August 7, the Armenian armed forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops in the Jafarli village of the Gazakh region at 16:30 to 16:40 and at 19:40 to 19:50 from their positions at the Azatamut village of the Ijevan region. In addition, the Armenian armed forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops at nameless heights of the Gadabay region, the Azerbaijani ministry of defense said on Auig.8.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.