Official chronicle
Dec.6.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has awarded Tereggi Medal to teachers of secondary school 1 of Shusha, Abdulazimova Gulshan and Kerimov Bahar for their services in the field of education.
According to another Presidential decree, the teacher of secondary school 1 of Shusha, Sevil Babayev, was conferred honorary title "Honored Teacher" for services in the field of education.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has issued an executive order to confer honorary titles on employees of State Academy of Physical Training and Sports. Honorary titles have been conferred on employees of the Academy for their merits in the qualification of staff in physical training and sports in Azerbaijan.
Dec.9.
The book "Azerbaijani Development Model", published by the official state newspaper "Azerbaijan" was presented in Baku.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Confederation of Switzerland.
The Azerbaijani Embassy in Mexico created a Spanish website dedicated to the life and activities of the Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev.
President Ilham Aliyev ay arrived in Moscow, Russia to attend a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State.
Dec.10.
Transferring the authorities on media issues to the Ombudsman's Office is a reasonable move, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Department head Fuad Alasgarov said at the international conference on effective mechanisms and means of implementing the European Convention on Human Rights.
Freedom of information is included in the human rights system, he said at an international conference on the sixtieth anniversary of the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights. From this point of view, the transfer can be said to be reasonable, he added.
President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Burkina-Faso Blaise Compaore on the country's national holiday - the Republic Day.
Parliament
Dec.7
The Azerbaijani Parliament determined the composition of the parliamentary committees and elected deputy chairmen of the committees.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the secondary school 1 of Shusha.
Funds allocated by the State for the protection of the sea borders of Azerbaijan increased by 20 times, the head of Azerbaijan State Border Service (SBS), Lieutenant-General Elchin Guliyev told reporters. "Azerbaijan completely provides its border security at its expense. We do not need any aid from outside," Guliyev said.
Dec.10.
Azerbaijan needs to adopt a bill on cemeteries, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Culture Committee Deputy Chairman Rafael Huseynov said. Huseynov has proposed the adoption of the law "On memorials, sacred places and burial sites".
Common principles of Law "On ceremonies", which will cover the rules of the organization of wedding and commemoration ceremonies in Azerbaijan, will be ready for the spring session of the Parliament, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture Nizami Jafarov said.
Elections
Dec.7.
The parliamentary election results were not annulled in any election commissions, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov said, adding that this proves their high level of organization
Foreign policy
Dec.6
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Egypt Shahin Abdullayev presented his credentials to Egyptian President.
The President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak received credentials from the Ambassador and conveyed sincere greetings to President Ilham Aliyev
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has today received copies of credentials of Hungarian Ambassador Zsolt Chutora. The ambassador expressed satisfaction with his appointment to Azerbaijan. Noting the great potential for cooperation between the two countries in many spheres, the diplomat expressed readiness to make efforts to deepen ties.
Director of Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Ethan Goldrich arrived in Azerbaijan. During the visit, Goldrich is expected to meet with representatives of the government and civil society.
Heydar Aliyev is a personality who made a great contribution to the development of Turkic world and Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, the founder of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, leader of Northern Cyprus Turks Rauf Denktash said at the international symposium "The Turkic world in the 21st century", which was attended by Azerbaijani MP Ganira Pashayeva, deputy chairman of the Association of the Azerbaijan Council of Veterans of World War II Mubariz Guliyev, chairman of the Council of Young Writers of Turkic states Akbar Goshaly.
Dec.7.
The Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia participated in a charity Christmas fair at the Sheraton Metechi together with the diplomatic corps and local citizens.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Mexico Ilgar Mukhtarov paid a working visit to Uruguay. During the visit, Mukhtarov met with Uruguayan Foreign Ministry Secretary General Nelson Yemil Shaben and Uruguayan Diplomatic Academy Director Alvaro Moerzinger
The final declaration of the symposium organized by the Association of Eurasian Economic Relations (Ankara) and the European University Lefke (Northern Cyprus) provides an appeal to the Turkic world, the international community and international organizations in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Final Declaration of the 12 items was adopted at the end of the symposium, which was attended by delegations from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Northern Cyprus, as well as MPs, social, political figures and scientists representing the Turkic community from Afghanistan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Crimea, East Turkestan and other parts of the world.
Azerbaijan and Italy signed an agreement on visa-free regime for individuals with diplomatic and service passports. The document was signed today within the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, Senator Alfredo Mantica's visit.
The meeting of the international parliamentary and inter-parliamentary relations committee discussed the bill approving the agreement on strategic partnership and mutual support between Azerbaijan and Turkey. The agreement on strategic cooperation and mutual assistance between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkey" was signed by Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Abdullah Gul of Turkey on Aug.16 in Istanbul.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received Swiss ambassador Alan Guidetti in connection with the completion of his diplomatic mission. Guidetti expressed his satisfaction with the work done. He said he has made efforts to develop and expand relations between the two countries and highlighted the good cooperation with the Ministry in this regard
Azerbaijani Consul General in Adjara Huseyin Najafov met with head of the Adjaran Autonomous Republic Levan Varshalomidze. During the meeting, the sides discussed Azerbaijani-Adjaran relations, the history of these ties and future cooperation.
Dec.8.
The American Jewish Committee is planting trees in memory of the individuals who died in the recent forest fire in northern Israel and the nations that helped to extinguish the fire. Diplomats and representatives from the countries that participated in the fire-fighting operations will be invited to the ceremony. Azerbaijani diplomats will also be invited.
The Russian RIA Novosti international news agency launched the Forum of European and Asian Media Outlets in Kiev today. The forum brings together about 300 leaders of media outlets from throughout the CIS and Baltic states, as well as Georgia. The heads of information structures, newspaper and magazine chief editors, and TV and radio station general directors will attend. The guest list also includes well-known journalists and international experts.
Dec.9.
The Belarusian-Azerbaijani foreign ministries' consultations on consular matters were held in Baku on Dec.9-10.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov discussed the possibility of holding a joint business forum in the first quarter of 2011.
The national holiday - Emperor of Japan's Birthday - was celebrated in Baku. The Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Shusuke Watanabe, welcomed the guests.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Javanshir Akhundov met with Iranian theologian Ayatullah Lutfullah Safi Gulpaygani in the Iranian city of Qum.
A symphonic music concert dedicated to the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev was held at Dun Palot concert hall in Budapest.
Moscow hosted a meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov, Russia Sergei Lavrov and Armenia Edward Nalbaldyan.
Dec.10.
At its plenary session, the Georgian Parliament approved Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to Azerbaijan Teimuraz Sharashenidze.
Political movements
Dec.6.
The opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) considers it necessary to amend the charter of the Musavat Party.
Dec.7.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) approved a plan of action in connection with the Memorial Day of national leader Heydar Aliyev.
Dec.10.
The leadership of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) visited the Alley of Honors today to commemorate national leader Heydar Aliyev.
The Azerbaijani opposition Musavat party is close to collapse, ex-Musavat Assembly Chairman Sulheddin Akbar said at a news conference today. "The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) has left the crisis behind," Akbar said. "If Musavat and PFPA do not unite, Musavat will face difficulties."
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Dec.6.
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis received the Co-Chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group from the United States, France and Russia and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO) on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Andrzej Kasprzyk, and discussed with them the situation in the South Caucasus and in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Robert Bradtke of the United States, Bernard Fassier of France, and Igor Popov of Russia, were issued a mandate to spearhead the negotiations towards a settlement of this conflict.
Minister highlighted to his interlocutors the need to strengthen the role of the OSCE Secretariat, institutions and missions in the entire conflict resolution cycle. The participants of the meeting also discussed the impact that the results of the OSCE Summit of Heads of State or Government on 1-2 December in Astana may have on the resolution of protracted conflicts.
Azerbaijan reserves the right to liberate the occupied territories in accordance with international law, Azerbaijani First Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Ziyafet Askerov said today. "Azerbaijan's economy should be placed on wartime footing, especially our industries," he said.
Dec.10.
Azerbaijani mission to the EU has sent a protest letter to the President of European Parliament Jerzy Buzek in connection with the demonstration of a film, based on false materials, during a meeting of the Armenian delegation with the representatives of European Parliament, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov told Trend on Friday.
According to him, the document has also been sent to the Chairman of Committee on Cooperation with South Caucasus countries. The letter also points to the inadmissibility of such propaganda of the Armenian side.