Official chronicle
Feb. 14
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has today received footballers and coaches of Inter Baku which won the Commonwealth Cup.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory message to President of Serbia Boris Tadic as his country is celebrating its Statehood Day. President Ilham Aliyev wished the Serbian counterpart robust health, successes in his activities and the friendly people of Serbia - welfare and prosperity.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree approving the agreement on material-technical support to the activities of the embassy of the Palestinian Administration in Azerbaijan, which was signed between the Foreign Ministry of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Foreign Ministry of the Palestinian Administration on Jan. 31, 2011. The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan was instructed to ensure the implementation of the agreement and notify the Palestinian Administration of the implementation of the internal procedures for the entry into force of the agreement.
Feb. 15
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to "Mir" Intergovernmental TV & Radio Company. The President answered to the questions concerning Azerbaijan's fast-growing economy and foreign policy, Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, cooperation in the CIS space and other issues.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on preparing new generation identity cards for the citizens of the Azerbaijani Republic, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to prepare and submit to the President of Azerbaijan the descriptions, specifications and sample of identity cards, containing an electronic carrier (chip), within three months.
Also it was instructed to insert in the electronic carrier (chip) the data on the place of residence and marital status of a citizen, as well as his/her fingerprints and other biometric indicators.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on the indexation of the insurance part of the labor pensions, AzerTAj state news agency reported.
The State Social Protection Fund was instructed to increase the insurance part of all types of the labor pensions as of Jan. 1, 2011 in accordance with the consumer prices index, carry out indexation of the amount of pension capital accumulated in the insurance part of individual accounts in the individual account system and the Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to resolve the issue arising from the decree.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has congratulated the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite on country's national holiday. Azerbaijani President wished the friendly people of Lithuania peace and prosperity.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree declaring 2011 the Tourism Year in Azerbaijan. The Cabinet of Ministers has been instructed to prepare an action plan on the Tourism Year and submit to the President of Azerbaijan within one month
The Azerbaijani president signed several decrees to confirm intergovernmental agreements.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to approve the "Regulation on the form and rules of single information registry checks in the area of entrepreneurship" on Feb. 15.
Feb. 16
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving a series of intergovernmental agreements and laws.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree awarding Azerbaijani Paralympic sportsmen the Tereggi medal.
Feb. 17
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received the Iranian delegation led by Minister of Information and Communications Technology Reza Taghipour Anvari.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev accepted credentials of newly-appointed ambassador of Georgia Teymuraz Sharashenidze.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla .
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev has received today newly appointed U.S extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza . Ambassador Bryza passed near the honor guard. The diplomat presented his credentials to President Aliyev. Then, President Aliyev spoke to the ambassador. The President congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and wished him success in his work.
Feb. 18
Paris hosted a ceremonial event marking the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan's restoring its independence and a presentation of the book titled "Azerbaijan" on Feb. 17. Azerbaijan 's First Lady, President of the Hedyar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva honored the event, which was jointly organized by the Foundation and Azerbaijan's embassy in France.
France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand extended his greetings over the anniversary of Azerbaijan's independence.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order releasing Kerimov Tahir from the post of head of Dashkesen district executive power. Upon another Presidential order, Kerimov Tahir was appointed head of Salyan district executive power.
Parliament
Feb. 14
Candidatures of the representatives of non-party MPs, which will be sent to the Central Election Commission, were approved. For this purpose, chaired by the deputy chairman of the Parliament Valeh Alesgerov , a meeting was conducted with the representatives of non-party MPs, the head of Parliament's press service Akif Tevekkuloglu told Trend.
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) submitted to the Parliament its candidates for membership of the Central Election Commission, NAP Deputy Executive Secretary, MP Mubariz Gurbanli told Trend. According to him, the ruling party has not made any changes to the list of candidates and re-submited nominations of those who formerly represented the NAP in the CEC. Earlier the NAP was represented at the CEC by the CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov, deputy chairman Shaitdin Aliyev, members Fuad Javadov, Gabil Orujov, Ramiz Ibrahimov and Valida Kazimova.
According to the Azerbaijani law, the CEC is formed every five years, after the parliamentary elections. Six of the 18 CEC members are representatives of the parliamentary majority, six - the minority, the other six - non-party MPs.
Feb. 15
The Committee on Social Policy of the Azerbaijani Parliament started discussing the new bill "Social Service" at a meeting.
The bill defines the legal, economic and organizational foundations of social services rendered by the state to people living in difficult circumstances. It will also regulate relations in this area, chairman of the committee Hadi Rajabli said.
He said that while preparing the bill, the practice of creating the legislative basis in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey was taken into account.
Political movements
Feb. 18
The Azerbaijani ruling New Azerbaijan Party ( NAP ) and Romanian ruling Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation. "Memorandum was signed by NAP Deputy Chairman, Executive Secretary, MP Ali Ahmadov and PDL`s first deputy chairman Adriean Videanu, NAP website reported.
Foreign policy
Feb. 14
Azerbaijani ambassador to Mexico Ilgar Mukhtarov handed over the credentials on his appointment to this country to the Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom Caballeros, the Embassy said.
The diplomat conveyed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's greetings to Guatemalan President and invitation to pay a visit to the country. The meeting discussed prospects for development of relations between the two countries, including energy cooperation, and political relations. Mukhtarov told the Guatemalan President about the history and culture of Azerbaijan, on the country's economic potential.
Feb. 15
Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin met with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama Nuceyfi in Ankara on Thursday, Anadolu News Agency reported. Sahin said that the Turkish parliament was ready to extend support to the Iraqi parliament.
Turkey attached a great interest in security, tranquility and prosperity of Iraqi people, he said. "Turkey always assumed a certain and sincere policy towards Iraq," he said.
Former permanent representative of Greece to the CE, Konstantinos Yerokostopoulos, was appointed the CE Secretary General's Special Representative to Azerbaijan. Yerokostopoulos will take up his office early this March.
Feb. 17
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received the delegation headed by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla , who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministry's press service reported.
The meeting noted the high level of political relations between Azerbaijan and Cuba. Having advanced to the importance of expanding the legal framework governing relations between the two countries, the sides agreed to intensify the work conducted in this regard. For this purpose, the importance of mutual meetings at various levels was mentioned.
Washington supports for anti-corruption initiative of the Azerbaijani authorities, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Matthew Bryza, said at a briefing in Baku. "We are ready to support the intensification of these reforms", the diplomat said.
Azerbaijani ambassador to Italy Vagif Sadikhov handed over his credentials to President Giorgio Napolitano at the Kurinale Palace, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's press-service reported.
During his meeting with Italian President, Sadigov conveyed him the greetings and invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to visit the country.
Feb. 18
The issue of opening the Embassy of Indonesia in Azerbaijan remains on the agenda. The political decision has been made. The procedural issues must be resolved, Azerbaijani ambassador to Indonesia Ibrahim Hajiyev told Trend over phone from Jakarta.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Feb. 14
NATO does not intend to participate in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai said on Monday, RIA Novosti reported.
"NATO does not see its role in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, although we are concerned overthe current relationship between the two countries," he said toa press conference in Moscow. He added that the alliance does not intend to appear in South Ossetia and Abkhazia issues.
Feb. 15
The separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh has confirmed the fact of holding large-scale military exercises in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The exercises will last until Feb.19, ITAR-TASS reported.
On Feb.14, the Armenian armed forces opened fire from positions outside the Berdavan village in the Noenberyan region of Armenia to Azerbaijani troops in the Kemerli village in the Azerbaijani Gazakh region at 17.20- 17.30, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.
Further, the Armenian armed forces opened fire from positions outside the Ashagi Seyidbeyli and Alkhanli village in the Fizuli region at 02:45- 02:50 on Feb.15, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported. The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
| The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's tenth Winter Meeting will not hold a voting to appoint a Special Representative on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The tenth Winter Meeting will take place on Feb.24-25 in Vienna. Around 250 parliamentarians from 55 countries are expected to participate in the annual Vienna meeting.
"The OSCE parliamentarians may address the question of appointing a new representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Nagorno-Karabakh, but they will not vote for candidates," the structure's press service told Trend.
The appointment of the OSCE PA representatives on various issues is the prerogative of the Assembly President, the press service reported. Assembly President Petros Efthymiou is authorized to appoint his special representative in accordance with his own schedule.
Candidates for this position have not yet been officially announced.
Earlier, the Azerbaijani and Armenian diplomatic sources reported that the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will announce name of the new envoy.
Feb. 17
On Feb.16, the Armenian armed forces opened fire from positions outside the Voskeran village in the Noenberyan region of Armenia to Azerbaijani troops in the Ashagi Askepar village in the Azerbaijani Gazakh region at 15.20- 15.25, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.
Further, the Armenian armed forces opened fire from positions outside the Vozashen village in the Ijevan region of Armenia to Azerbaijani troops in the nameless heights in the Azerbaijani Gazakh region at 10:50-10:55 and 02:55- 03:02 Feb.17 , the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan, intend to meet in Sochi on March 5, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza said on Thursday "In my post I will do everything to help co-chairmen in the negotiations. The main goal is to achieve long-term peace through bilateral compromise," the ambassador said.
On Feb.17, the Armenian armed forces opened fire from positions outside the Barekamavan village in the Noenberyan region of Armenia to Azerbaijani troops in the Gaymagli village in the Azerbaijani Gazakh region at 15:20-15:25, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.
Further, the Armenian armed forces opened fire from positions outside the Vozashen village in the Idjevan region of Armenia to Azerbaijani troops in the nameless heights in the Azerbaijani Gazakh region at 19:10-19:15 and 22:30-22:45 on Feb.17, from positions outside the Chileburt village in the Tartar region at 16:00-16:02.
The Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. No causalities were reported.
Feb. 18
Monitoring held on the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces proceeded without incident.
The monitoring was held on the contact line between Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces near the Fizuli-Goradiz highway on Feb. 18 under a mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman, the press-service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.