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Weekly political digest (24.08- 29.08.2009)

Analysis Materials 2 September 2009 12:15 (UTC +04:00)

Official chronicle
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism has made a presentation "The Culture and Cultural Masterpieces; Azerbaijan is a unique message for future generations" jointly with the Presidential Library. This book recounts the activity of Azerbaijan's First Lady, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP Mehriban Aliyeva. The book has been published in Russian. This publication is a translation of a book published and issued about eight months ago. It contains several supplemented material.

"In this book we tried to reflect a variety of different projects and ideas implemented with the direct participation of Mehriban Aliyeva," Minister of Culture and Tourism, Abulfaz Garayev, said at the presentation at the M.F. Akhundov Library on August 25.

He said that the First Lady's activities are so broad and diverse that they cover all stratum of the population, including children and old people.
Now the ministry is working on the English edition of the book. The date for the presentation was set for Mehriban Aliyeva's birthday - August 26.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has taken part in a ceremony for laying the foundation for a gymnastics complex in Baku on August 26. Azerbaijan's first lady Mehriban Aliyeva also took part in the ceremony.

The President of Azerbaijan got familiarized with the gymnastics complex's project. The complex will be situated on an area of 3.5 hectares. All conditions needed for training gymnasts and organizing competitions on a national and international level will be provided.
Mehriban Aliyeva laid a bush sleeve under the foundation. The President of Azerbaijan took part in laying the concrete.
President Ilham Aliyev congratulated participants of the ceremony, gave instructions and recommendations on the construction of the complex and wished success to the builders.

Azerbaijani First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Good-Will Ambassador and Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Mehriban Aliyeva, is celebrating her birthday on Aug. 26.
Mehriban Aliyeva is committed to the use of all available opportunities to enhance the efficiency of such humanitarian programs, the purpose of which is benefit to the Azerbaijani people.

To be ambassador for such authoritative international organizations is a very honorable and responsible mission. Both UNESCO and ISESCO are non-political institutions, as is written in their charter. And at the same time, this is an international arena in which Mehriban Aliyeva represents her country. This is an opportunity to introduce modern Azerbaijan and its people with the most profound historical and cultural roots, and to inform the world about the achievements of national art, music, and literature.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Moldovan counterpart Vladimir Voronin with national holiday of Independence Day on August 26.
In his congratulatory letter, Azerbaijani President expressed confidence that friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between Azerbaijan and Moldova will also develop and strengthen in future for the welfare of both peoples and countries.
Azerbaijani President wished Moldovan counterpart sound health, success and friendly Moldovan people - solidarity and prosperity.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received Israeli new ambassador Michael Lavon-Lotem's credentials on August 26.
Satisfaction with bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Israel was expressed at the meeting. The parties exchanged views concerning development of relations in economy, trade, health, tourism, agriculture and other spheres. The parties stressed good prospects of cooperation in these spheres.
On Aug. 26, Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev received the representative of the European Commission, Alan Waddams in connection with the end of diplomatic activities.
At the meeting, the parties noted the successful development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Commission and the positive result of the Prague summit to strengthen relations. Both sides expressed confidence that the ties will develop in the future.
Head of State noted Alan Waddams's contribution in the expansion of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Commission and wished him success in his future activity.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev awarded Sheikh Ul Islam Alahshukur Pashazadeh the "Sharaf" Order ("Glory") for his significant services to ensure freedom of conscience in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation headed by president of German RWE Company, Jurgen Grosmann, on August 27.
The sides exchanged views on current cooperation between Azerbaijan and German RWE at the meeting. The sides discussed prospects of cooperation with RWE Company to transport Azerbaijani hydrocarbon resources to Europe.
Ex-Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, vice- chancellor, Joschka Fischer, participated in the meeting.
On Aug.27, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the implementation of measures to accelerate socio-economic development of the Gusar region, Azerbaijan.
Under the decree, about 6.5 million manat was allocated from the reserve fund of the Azerbaijani president to restore the Samur-Khazar road connecting 27 villages with a population of about 16,000 people, as provided by the 2009 public budget.
The Azerbaijani Finance Ministry is tasked to ensure the provision of these funds and the Cabinet of Ministers to resolve issues arising from the order.
On August 27, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the U.S. delegation headed by special envoy for Eurasian energy Richard Morningstar.
They discussed US-Azerbaijan energy cooperation, Europe's energy security and regional affairs.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree to apply the law on "Physical Culture and Sports".
Under the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers were tasked to develop and submit the proposals to the President to bring the existing legislation into conformity with the law on "Physical Culture and Sports", to bring the normative legal acts of the Cabinet of Ministers and the relevant central executive powers into conformity with this law and to inform the President about it, as well as to develop and submit to the President a bill describing responsibilities for violating the law on "Physical Culture and Sports".

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree making amendments and additions to the Law on Mass Media Outlets and Charter on the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
On August 29, the Prime Minister of Turkey Rajap Tayyip Erdogan phoned Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
During the telephone conversation, President of Azerbaijan and Turkish Prime Minister discussed the development of bilateral relations in various fields and issues of further strengthening cooperation.
The conversation also focused on the process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the situation in the region and other issues of mutual interest.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving the documents signed between Azerbaijan and Syria on July 8, 2009 in Baku.
The Presidential decree approved the Memorandum of agreement on establishing a commission on economic, scientific and cultural cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Syria, and other documents.
Within a month, the Cabinet of Ministers is in charge of submitting proposals to the President on the composition of the commission from the Azerbaijani side, and the Foreign Ministry must notify the Arab Republic of Syria on the implementation of internal procedures in connection with the entrance of these documents into force.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on expiration of the decree on the rules of the preparation of tests for test exams for admission to the civil service in state agencies.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree making amendments and additions to the Law on Territorial Arrangement and Administrative-Territorial Division.

Within two months, the Cabinet of Ministers is in charge of submit to the President proposals on bringing existing legislation into conformity with the Law, and also harmonizing the law with the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan and relevant agencies of executive power.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving the Agreement of Cooperation of the CIS countries in the field working with youth, signed by the Republic of Azerbaijan on 25 November 2005 in Moscow at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Governments, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
The Cabinet of Ministers is in charge of taking necessary measures for implementation of the agreement, and the Foreign Ministry is in charge of notifying the CIS Executive Committee about the implementation of internal procedures in connection with the entrance of the agreement into force.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving the documents signed between Azerbaijan and Latvia on Aug. 10, 2009 in Baku.

The decree approves the agreements between the governments of Azerbaijan and Latvia on cooperation in the field of youth, sport and tourism, as well as the exchange of information in the legal protection of industrial property between the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Patents of Azerbaijan and Patent Office of Latvia.

The Cabinet of Ministers is in charge of taking necessary measures for execution of the documents specified in the decree, and the Foreign Ministry is in charge of notifying the Republic of Latvia about the implementation of internal procedures in connection with the entrance of these documents into force.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving the "2009-2010 schedule of cooperation between the Security Council of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Bureau of National Security of the Republic of Poland, which was signed on July 2, 2009 in Baku, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
The Presidential Administration is in charge of executing the document specified in the decree.
On August 28, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to the People's Artist of Russia Andrei Konchalovsky in connection with the death of his father - a classic of Russian literature, an outstanding poet and a great public figure, Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov.
"All the life and work of Sergei Vladimirovich Mikhalkov, his unique works are imbued with a genuine citizenship and patriotism. In the whole former Soviet Union, including Azerbaijan, many generations have grown and evolved in his work, singing the praises of the high ideals of morality, spirituality and humanity. I sincerely share the pain of your loss and grieve with you. Please convey my condolences to all relatives and friends of Sergey Vladimirovich," the letter by the Head of State says.

The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Sultan of Malaysia Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail and the Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev with national holiday - Independence Day.
In his congratulatory letter to Malaysian king, Azerbaijani President expressed confidence that joint efforts for comprehensive development of friendly relations will continue.

In his congratulatory letter to the Kyrgyz President, Azerbaijani President expressed confidence that traditional friendly relations and cooperation between the countries will develop by joint efforts for the welfare of both peoples in future.

Azerbaijani President wished Kyrgyz and Malaysia's heads sound health, success and friendly peoples of the countries - prosperity and solidarity.
"All occupied territories will be liberated sequentially, our compatriots will return to these areas. The entire infrastructure will be rebuilt there, and in the next stage, the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh will be defined. We have always said that Nagorno-Karabakh, of course, should have the status, but we do not see this status outside the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan state will never agree with it," said the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, attending an Iftar party on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan hosted by Head of the Caucasian Muslims' Board Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade at his residence on Friday.

The position of State remains unchanged - this issue can be resolved only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, said Ilham Aliyev.
"People in Nagorno-Karabakh can live with a high status of autonomy within Azerbaijani state. Today these principles are taken as a basis. The negotiations are conducted on the basis of these principles, and any agreement can only be based on these principles. We have always said and say today that the issue can be resolved only gradually. Proposals that are now the topic of negotiations envisage step-by-step solution," said the President.
The progress achieved in the negotiation process is the result of purposeful policy, Azerbaijani President said. "I can say that our efforts are already yielding first results in the negotiation process," said President Ilham Aliyev.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has received First Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey Feridun Sinirlioglu.
Sinirlioglu conveyed Turkish President Abdullah Gul`s and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s greetings to the Azerbaijani leader.
The Turkish First Deputy FM said he had eye-witnessed big development in Azerbaijan since his last visit herein 2001.
They exchanged views on the Azerbaijan-Turkey relations, joint international cooperation and regional issues.
President Ilham Aliyev asked Sinirlioglu to deliver his greetings to the Turkish President and Prime Minister.

Elections
Chairman of the Azerbaijani Election Commission, Natig Mammadov, expects Azerbaijani voter turnover to remain activity in the municipal elections to be held by late 2009.

"I am not agreed with statements that Azerbaijani people are less interested in municipal elections than in other elections. Since Azerbaijan gained independence, Azerbaijani voters determined their positions towards elections step-by-step. Azerbaijan maintains voters' activity in significant issues. It pleases that relations between elections and voters reached high level," Mammadov told Trend on Aug.26.
The voters' activity was reflected in the official statistics. The activity in the municipal elections is different in each municipality. In some of the municipalities the voters take an active part in the municipal elections, in its activities and management, Mammadov added.
The Azerbaijani municipal election is scheduled for mid December of 2009. In 1999, the voters' activity in the municipal elections was 52.6 percent and 46.34 percent in 2004.

Regarding the list of voters Mammadov said that this process will be launched 35 days before the Election Day.
The Central Elections Commission registered 4.804 million people in its permanent list of voters.
The Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) may reject the appeal from the Azerbaijani opposition group, The Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic.

The CEC is not responsible for commenting on the law. That is the Azerbaijani Constitutional Court and legislative bodies' duty, the CEC Secretary, Natig Mammadov, told Trend on Aug.28.
The Azerbaijani opposition group, The Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic, which unites six opposition parties, will appeal to the Central Election Commission (CEC) for a report on some Election Code articles.

The Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic was established on the eve of the referendum held on March 18. The Popular Front of Azerbaijan, the Citizen and Development Party, the Liberal Party, the Democratic Party, the Musavat and Umid parties, as well as a number of public organizations, are represented in the Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic.

The CEC can comment on the issue when it receives the appeal from the opposition, Mammadov added.
The number of people in Azerbaijan who wish to participate in the municipal elections, which powers have not been completed, has increased.
"22 municipalities have applied to the Central Election Committee to ensure their participation in the upcoming municipal elections, even though their terms are not yet over.The commission is looking at these applications," Secretary of the Central Election Committee, Natiq Mammadov, told Trend on August 28.
The repeat and additional municipal elections held in Azerbaijan in 2006 covered 81 municipalities. Their terms will be over by 2011.
"Each municipality chairman has the right to give up his authority. If a person does this and has no other obligations in this regard, his powers must be passed to other person, since the authority in the municipalities must continue to work", Mammadov said.
The Secretary of the Central Election Committee is organizing the participation in the upcoming municipal elections, hoping for more campaigning opportunities and a wider audience.

The Central Election Commission can use web-cameras on the day of municipal elections.

"Increase of web cameras' number is connected with the financial and technical opportunities. If they coincide, there will be no problem to increase number of web cameras," secretary of the Central Election Commission, Natiq Mammadov, told Trend on August 29.

Web-cameras have been installed at the 500 polling stations (10 percent of polling stations) at the presidential elections held in Azerbaijan on October 15, 2008 and during the referendum on March 18, 2009.
The municipal elections are expected to be held in mid. of December, 2009.
Secretary of the Central Election Commission expressed hope that the issue to increase web-cameras' number will be solved. "However, the use of web-cameras at 10 percent of polling stations to determine the results of elections is also a serious factor," Mammadov said.
Foreign policy
Baku supports the establishment of the Caspian Economic Cooperation Organization regarding its task to define the sea's legal status.
"If this initiative envisages a much closer cooperation between the Caspian states, Azerbaijan does not oppose its implementation. If an idea is put forward to establish economic cooperation, in the first place, the legal status of the Caspian Sea should be determined - only after that can one think about the process of creating such an economic organization," Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration International Relations Department, Novruz Mammadov, told Trend on Aug. 24.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently made the proposal to establish the Caspian Economic Cooperation Organization.
One of the main areas of Azerbaijani foreign policy is close cooperation with all littoral states. Azerbaijan would like to cooperate more closely both with the Caspian states, and with all the countries of Central Asia," Mammadov said.
On defining the sea's legal status, certain steps have been already taken and it is necessary to continue and resolve the issue of the Caspian Sea's division among countries, he said.
"Azerbaijan has already reached an agreement on the Caspian with Russia and Kazakhstan, while there are still problems with Iran and Turkmenistan on this issue," Mammadov said. "The negotiations with them continue; there is no total agreement with these countries yet, but I think sooner or later we will achieve that."
The parties need to find a common position, he believes.
On dividing the bottom of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia have no claims on one another's. There are both bilateral and trilateral agreements between these countries on the issue. The parties have also agreed to determine the coordinates of the dividing line. The issue is yet to be agreed with just two countries - Turkmenistan and Iran - due to which the status of the Caspian Sea has not yet been defined, despite many years of discussions.
Azerbaijan was the first the Caspian Sea country to begin to set the limits of the world's largest lake and define the limits of control over it. First, the Republic of Azerbaijan announced the accessibility of its sector of the Caspian Sea, fixing this on Sept. 20 in 1994 by signing an international contract ("The Contract of the Century") with Western companies on a PSA model - production sharing agreement. This has also been reflected in the Basic Law of Azerbaijan, dated 1995.

Azerbaijan and Israel have chosen the correct direction for the development of their relations, new Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Michael Lavon-Lotem, told Trend on August 26. Michael Lavon-Lotem has presented his credentials at an appointment with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on August 26.
"I satisfied with direction that both countries and both leaders took to develop relations," Lavon-Lotem said. "There is much that we can and we should do and after Israeli President Shimon Peres's official visit to Azerbaijan, I saw this will and desire.I see much more such decisions and much more other areas of cooperation following the meeting of our two presidents".
It would be unwise to make restrictions in the development of potential of the two countries' relations, and this direction will lead both countries to big changes, the ambassador said.

"I can not say that in the couple of month new projects are on the ground, but I see the beginning of it. I see that how companies that were here with Peres came again" the ambassador said.
The ambassador believes regarding importance of the two nations' relations, the Jewish community in Azerbaijan remains an important social factor in the development of the two countries' relations.

"We can cooperate with the Jewish community in term of the commercial and economic relations," the ambassador said. "Using their [Jewish community] knowledge in the country, Israel can approach to Azerbaijan."
As to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Lavon-Lotem said the Israeli president openly supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
he Azerbaijani and Kazakh governments are working on a package of bilateral cooperation agreements to be signed during the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's official visit to Baku. Nazarbayev's visit is scheduled for September 30 - October 1, Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Serik Primbetov, told media on August 28.

The documents will cover vehicle transportation, agriculture, solutions for the consequences of disasters and accidents and shipping, as well as other issues, Primbetov said.
At present, the program and agenda for the visit are being worked on.
The next meeting of the inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation is planned to be held before the president's visit.
Political movements
The Union for Democracy, in which a group of Azerbaijani opposition parties is represented, has started determining a list of candidates for nomination in parliamentary elections.
"During joint discussions the names of candidates for nomination in the parliamentary elections in 19 election districts were determined by the heads of parties represented in the union," Chairman of Great Azerbaijan Party, represented in the Union for Democracy, Elshad Musayev, told Trend on August 24.
Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled for autumn 2010

Musayev said that several parties represented in the Union consider it reasonable to start preparations for parliamentary elections now. Parliamentary elections will be held in 2010. "We have already launched preparations for municipal elections to be held in 2009. But several parties think that there it is not necessary to participate in the municipal elections with numerous candidates. Therefore, we think it reasonable to launch preparations for the parliamentary elections," the Chairman of the Party said.

Municipal elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled for December 2009 and parliamentary elections for autumn 2010. Municipal elections have been held twice, in 1999 and 2004.
The Azerbaijani Parliament adopted the 'Unification of several municipalities' law in May.
The number of municipalities in Azerbaijan was reduced from 2,757 to 1,766.
Musayev said that the Union for Democracy is likely to support non-party candidates at municipal elections.
"There are many famous non-party figures in Azerbaijan. If the necessity arises, we can support them as candidates," he said.
Opposition party the Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP) has formed a commission for the municipal elections.
"A meeting of the party has decided to form the Municipal Commission. The seven-member commission aims to intensify the party's activity concerning the municipal elections," ANIP Press Secretary Ali Orujov told Trend on Aug. 25.
Azerbaijan will hold the municipal elections in mid-December in 2009.

Orujov said the party's Political Council will hold a meeting late this week on the next stage to intensify the party's activity concerning the municipal elections. "The party plans to finish preparation work before the beginning of municipal elections," the ANIP official said.
He said that poor interest in the municipal elections from the party's regional organizations will be one of problems. "The regional organizations have definite anxieties concerning the municipal elections. They believe regional administration interferes in the elections more openly than in cities. But despite all difficulties, the party's leadership will encourage the regional organizations to actively participate in the elections," Orujov said.
Azerbaijani Modern Musavat opposition party completed preparation for municipal elections.
"A list of candidates of the party for municipalities has been prepared. It includes 3,200 candidates. Most of them are women and youth. The party expects for the Central Election Commission to make a decision concerning a date of municipal elections," chairman of the party, Hafiz Hajiyev, told Trend , on August 25.

Azerbaijani municipal elections are scheduled for December.
Hajiyev said that several political parties applied to him concerning joint participation in municipal elections. But Modern Musavat opposition party considered more reasonable to participate in elections independently.
Chairman of Modern Musavat opposition party appraised chances of candidates for municipalities. "We expect our candidates to win 15-20 percent of municipalities," Hajiyev said.

The latest report by the "Transparency International" organization does not reflect reality, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) said.
"Unfortunately, when developing its report, the "Transparency International" organization was subjective. The report spread by the organization concerning Azerbaijan is not true. Azerbaijan holds significant events to combat corruption in the executive, legislative and judicial branches," the NAP Deputy Executive Secretary, Mubariz Gurbanli told the party's official website on Aug. 26.

Azerbaijan ranked second in the list of countries with high levels of corruption in the latest "Transparency International's" report.
Gurbanli said expenses of the public budget are under a serious control and carried out transparently. "All of this is the steps taken against corruption in Azerbaijan. The most important is eliminating the reasons of corruption. It is impossible to prevent such cases only via administrative way. It is possible to remove the negative facts when holding reforms. And Azerbaijan is on this way," said the parliamentarian.

He believes when analyzing the situation in Azerbaijan, the "Transparency International" organization held invalid methodological research. "In fact, today all countries are fighting against corruption. We often witness the corruption scandals in the West. At present different programs on corruption are being carried out at the UN level. I believe that the "Transparency International" organization has not held the exact studies on Azerbaijan," said Gurbanli.
Gurbanli said if the corruption situation in Azerbaijan has been so, as the organization reports, our country would not rank among the country's leading countries. "In a country where corruption is entrenched, the development would not be observed, but regression. But, as you know, Azerbaijan is on the path of rapid economic development," said Gurbanli.

The Azerbaijani opposition group, The Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic, which unites six opposition parties, will put a bill on amendments and supplements to the Election Code up for public debate.

The working group has submitted the bill to political party leaders for discussion. The bill will be put up for public debate after summarizing the party chairmen' proposals, Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party represented in the movement, Ali Aliyev, told Trend on Aug. 27.
The Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic is likely to complete the bill on amendments and supplements to the Election Code by late this week.
The working group will organize the bill's proposals at its next meeting. The bill on the amendments and supplements to the Election Code and the bill on the formation of the election commissions will be specified by late this week, a member of the working group and representative of the Musavat party, Gulaga Aslanli, told Trend on Aug. 27.

Members of a new opposition party set up in Azerbaijan will participate in municipal elections independently.
"Our party has not passed state registration in the ministry of justice. So, each member of the party, willing to be elected to municipality, can nominate his candidature," chairman of Aydinlar party, Gulamhuseyn Alibayli, told Trend on August 27.
Alibayli said that at present, candidates for municipalities are being determined in Baku and regions. "We have regional organizations in more than 30 regions. I think that members of our party will nominate their candidatures to municipalities in each of these regions," chairman of the party said.
The founding meeting of the Aydinlar party took place on Dec. 14., 2008. Alibayli was elected chairman.
The Azerbaijani opposition civil movement for Karabakh and Republic, which unites six opposition parties, will appeal to the Central Election Commission (CEC) for the report on some Articles of the Election Code.
The Election Code limits the participation of the political parties in the elections as a bloc. The parities, which have been already joined to the elections and the parties, who are willing to join the election within the blocs face difficulties. The movement will appeal to the CEC for the report on some Articles about the participation in the elections of the Election Code, chairman of the Citizen and Development party represented in the movement, Ali Aliyev, told Trend on Aug.27.

The Civil movement for Karabakh and the Republic was established on the eve of the referendum held on March 18. The parties, including Popular Front of Azerbaijan, Citizen and Development, Liberal, Democratic, Musavat and Umid, as well as a number of public organizations are represented in the Civil Movement for Karabakh and the republic.

The Azerbaijani municipal elections is scheduled for mid December, 2009.
According to Aliyev, there are tough conditions to join the elections as a bloc. Participation within bloc requires more funds, human potential and waste of time. According to the Articles, members of one party could join to the elections easier, than members of a bloc, in which represented a lot of parties with the same status. The movement will made decision on the participation in the elections following the CEC report on the articles, Aliyev added.
The question of the movement, which unites six parties, participating in the elections will be cleared up in a week.
"Our participation in the elections depends on the Central Election Commission (CEC) simplifying some Election Code articles," Sardar Jalaloglu, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Democratic Party represented in the Civil Movement for Karabakh and the Republic, told Trend on Aug.28.
The parties represented in the movement should submit the relevant papers on each candidate to the CEC. This is the main obstacle in the parties' participation in elections as a bloc, Jalaloglu added.

This requests more funds. If the CEC compromise on some regulations, it will be possible to determine a united list of candidates from the parties represented in the movement and to submit the relevant documents for registration in the CEC, Jalaloglu said.
An Umid party official went to the CEC to solve the problem. "The CEC promised the official that our request would be solved positively. However, we want this decision to be made legal with an official signature. If the promise is implemented, the party will not face difficulties in participating in elections as a bloc," Jalaloglu added.

Several parties in Azerbaijan, who are loyal to the current authorities, are expected to merge.
"Three or four parties, represented in the bloc of the 'Azerbaijani Progress Alliance', have applied to merge. At present, meetings are being held," Chairman of the Tereggi Party (The Progress Party) represented in the bloc, Chingiz Demiroglu, told Trend on August 28.
Tereggi has been operating as a radical opposition party for over 10 years. A decision was made to join loyal opposition and support President Ilham Aliyev as candidate in the presidential elections in summer 2008.
Demiroglu said that the bloc parties have not passed state registration. "A few people are joining the parties. The heads of several parties have expressed their intention to join us," Demiroglu said.

Demiroglu did not want name the parties as meetings still continue. "The meetings must be completed by October. I think that a final decision on merging 3 or 4 parties will be made by early October," Demiroglu said.
The merging of several parties on the eve of municipal elections is very important, he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh

On Aug. 23, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops from the nameless heights and an area outside the Kuropatkino village in the Khojavand region at 07:10-07:40, 11:00-11:05 and 22:20-22:30.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that the Armenian soldiers fired at Azerbaijani troops from the nameless heights of the Goranboy region at 16:15-16:30.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
On Aug. 24, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops from the nameless heights in the Gadabay region at 17:40-18:00, from the nameless heights and an area outside the Kuropatkino village in the Khojavand region at 20:35-20:40, 20:50-20:55 and on Aug. 25, at 05:35-05:45, from the nameless heights and near the Tapgaragoyunlu village in the Goranboy region at 02:30-02:45, an area outside the Gapanli village in the Terter region at 03:05-03:20 and from the positions near the Sarijali village in the Agdam region at 05:14-05:20, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
On Aug. 25, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops from areas outside the Goyarkh village in the Terter region at 14:35-14:50, from nameless heights in the Goranboy region at 15:45-16:05 and from nameless heights in the Khojavand region at 22:30-22:45, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.

The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
On Aug. 27, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops in the Jafarli village of the Gazakh region at 10:00-10:05. The shots were fired from the Azatamut village in Armenia's Ijevan region.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that the Armenian soldiers fired at Azerbaijani troops from an area outside the Marzili village in the Agdam region at 09:00-09:15, from nameless heights in Azerbaijan's Gazakh region 10:05-10:10, from the nameless heights in the Khojavand region at 09:00-09;15 and 13:30-13:40 and from areas outside the Gulustan village in Azerbaijan's Goranboy region at 19:10-19:35.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.

On August 28, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijani troops. The shots were fired from the positions near the village Kuropatkino of Hojavend region at 16.25-16.30, the village Gulustan of Geranboy region at 17.30-17.39, the villages of Kengerli and Yusifjanli of the Agdam region at 11.30-11.45 and on August 29 at 01.40-01.50, the Azerbaijani ministry of defense said.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.

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