Official news
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a Bulgarian delegation led by Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev at the Presidential Palace on 12 November.
The President characterized Azerbaijan-Bulgaria relations as developing successfully in political, economic and other fields. Recalling his visit to Sofia two years ago, he stressed its importance in terms of strengthening the existing cooperation between the two countries.
The Azerbaijani leader also touched on the countries' partnership within international organizations including the European Union, highly valuing Bulgaria's constant support of Azerbaijan within the New Neighbourhood program. President Ilham Aliyev said there were new prospects for development of bilateral economic relations, and expressed confidence that the visit by the Bulgarian Prime Minister to Azerbaijan would serve further expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Stanishev stressed the importance of President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Bulgaria for development of bilateral cooperation. He underlined reciprocal visits by the heads of the two states play great role for the political relations between their countries to develop successfully. The Prime Minister also mentioned the necessity of strengthening bilateral economic relations.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to the reporter of the Polish TVP1 TV Channel Maria Pshelomets.
The President answered questions covering Azerbaijan-Poland relationships, Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, energy cooperation, as well as regional and other issues.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev decreed on formation of Azeryolservis OJSC with 100% of its stock owned by the State.
The Ministry of Transport, a stockholder of Azeryolservis, was empowered to treat structural and organization issues from behalf of the State.
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation headed by the president of the Eurasia Foundation Horton Beebe-Center at the Presidential Palace on 12 November.
The Eurasia Foundation has been operating in Azerbaijan for some 15 years and its key target is to render assistance for improvement of Azerbaijani citizens' welfare in civil and economic fields, Bibi-Center said. He informed President Aliyev of the Eurasia Foundation's future plans for the country.
President Aliyev expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation between the Eurasia Foundation and Azerbaijan. The cooperation contributes to expansion of relations between Azerbaijan and the United States, assists development of civil society and improvement of NGOs' activities in Azerbaijan, President Aliyev said.
On 13 November the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, received the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Steven Mann. Highlighting the importance of Trans-Caspian project, Mann said that participation in the project will bring profits to Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received credentials from Ambassadors of Palestinian Autonomy, Cote d'Ivoire, Austria, Ghana, the Netherlands, and Malaysia to Azerbaijan at the Presidential Palace on 13 November.
President Aliyev congratulated them on the appointment and wished them success in their diplomatic activities. He said Azerbaijan is interested in cooperation with these countries and expressed his hope for the activities of the Ambassadors would strengthen and expand the relations between Azerbaijan and the 6 countries.
On 14 November Azerbaijani Presdient Ilham Aliyev instructed the State oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to provide the country's oil and gas complex with advanced equipment in a meeting dedicated to the state of energy sector, as well as preparations for winter.
During the meeting the President committed the relevant state and government bodies to cover fully the demand for energy resources, and pay attention to the gas production. The President also stressed the necessity of measures for increasing the gas reserves at storages to 3bln cu m.
According to the President, the production of hydrocarbons reserves in the Caspian brings huge revenues to the country. Over the subsequent years the national oil and gas sector will bring tremendous revenues, promoting the investments, significant infrastructure changes, as well as strengthening of energy potential.
Attending the gathering were Rovnag Abdullayev, the President of SOCAR, Etibar Pirverdiyev, the President of Azerenerji, Alikhan Malikov, head of Azeriqaz, Yashar Hasanov, the head of Azeristiliktehcizat, Baba Rzayev, the head of Bakielektriksebeke, and Natik Aliyev, the Ministry for Industry and Energy.
On 14 November the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued an order to mark the 90th jubilee of scientist-constructor, former Chairman of the USSR Commission for Cosmic Flights, Hero of Social Labor, honored members of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Lieutenant-General Kerim Kerimov.
The Defense Ministry, Ministry of Social Protection and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences are in charge of devising plan on measures. The Cabinet of Ministers should resolve issues arising from the order.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received at the Presidential Palace on 16 November the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Khidir Saparliyev.
Khidir Saparliyev conveyed to the Azerbaijani leader greetings from his Turkmen counterpart Gurbangulu Berdymuhammedov. He let him know that he had arrived in Azerbaijan on the instruction of the Turkmen President to participate in the 9th Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Congress of Turkic Sates and Communities.
President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that there was good potential for enhancement of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. He asked Mr. Saparliyev to convey his greetings to the Turkmen leader.
The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baku. During the meeting the sides highlighted the the successful development of the friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey in all directions.
The sides expressed their confidence that the bilateral relations between the two countries will successfully develop in the future.
The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Orkhon-Yenisey prize, which was first instituted on 17 November at the 11th meeting of friendship, fraternity and cooperation among Turkic countries and communities taking place in Baku.
At the end of the meeting, the heads of Turkic countries stroke hammer upon sward as a symbol of unity of Turkic countries.
Orkhon-Yenisey prize symbolizes ancient history of the Turkic world.
The meeting will be continued on 18 and 19 November.
The Turks living in Iraq, Cyprus, Balkans and Romania have similar problems, which have only one way out - cooperation and mutual support. That will help Turkic countries to become stronger, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the 11th meeting of friendship, fraternity and cooperation amongst Turkic countries ad communities in Baku on 17 November.
According to Erdogan, cooperation, stability and development, as well as common history, culture and religion, open wide opportunities to Turkic countries.
"If we do not develop, we will be separated one from another. Proper governing, legality, regional and international cooperation will give an impetus to cooperation. Our human sources and natural wealth is enough to resolve all problems. We just should strengthen all relations," Erdogan said. The Prime Minister urged Turkic states to re-write their common history and to define common future.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, condemned the hypocritical policy of the Armenian lobby and the countries supporting it against Azerbaijan and Turkey. "The international community does not necessarily criticize the occupant policy of Armenia," President Aliyev said during the 11th conference of friendship, fraternity and cooperation of the Turkic nations and societies in Baku on 17 November.
The President of Azerbaijan stated that the Turkic countries should put forward their realities against the false Armenian claims. " Azerbaijan will be forced to use other means to release its occupied territories. I have no doubts that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity will be re-established and this day is not far," the President said. The State Head considers that the diasporas of Azerbaijan and Turkey should strengthen fighting against the false claims of the Armenian lobby.
he Prime Minister of Turkey, Rajab Tayyub Erdogan, accused the foreign countries and international organizations of non-settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Nagorno-Karabakh is wound for all of us," the Prime Minister said during the 11th conference of friendship, fraternity and cooperation of the Turkic nations and societies in Baku on 17 November.
The 11th conference of friendship, fraternity and cooperation of the Turkic nations and societies began in Baku on 17 November. The Congress brings together nearly 550 delegates from 30 countries, including the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Turkey, Rajab Tayyub Erdogan and high-ranking governmental representatives of the Turkic-speaking states.
The Congress is aimed at strengthening friendly, fraternal and co-operation relations amongst the Turkic countries and communities, ensuring information exchange amongst them, propagating richness of the Turkic culture, developing bilateral economic co-operation and seeking joint ways of resolving the general problems of the Turkic peoples.
The President of Azerbaijan said that combining their opportunities, the Turkic countries should become stronger.
The Prime Minister of Turkey said that it is open injustice that more than one million Azerbaijanis have become refugees and internally displaced persons in their own country. However, the international community does not give any reaction to it. "We always follow how the world countries play a game with us," the Prime Minister added.
Erdogan said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the USA, France and Russia always pursues diverting policy in settling Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
" Turkey will always be at Azerbaijan in releasing occupied lands," the Prime Minister said.
A ceremony to open the Turkish-Greek gas pipeline was held in Edirne, Turkey, in the border with Georgia. Attending the ceremony were Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish Prime Minister Rejep Tayyib Erdogan, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanis and rge US Energy Minister, Samuel Bodman, Trend Correspondent reports.
Bodman said that this project plays a role of bridge, enabling to export Azerbaijani gas to Europe. "Further, the gas pipeline will be extended to Italy," he said.
The Turkish Prime Minister appraised Alliyev's participation in the event and said that the gas pipeline will bring closer Turkey and Greece.
The Azerbaijani President said that the gas pipeline will serve as guarantee peace and stability in the region.
Later the participants in the event pushed the button and took photo for memory. The Azerbaijani President together with the Greek Prime Minister and US Energy Minister left for Greece to get familiar gas distributing station.
It is planned to export 3.6bln cu m of 'blu fuel' will be exported to Greece via this pipeline and 8.6bln to Italy. At the initial stage the demand of the gas pipeline will be cleared through the Shah Deniz gas, which will produce 700,000 cu m of gas a day.
Subsequently, the gas pipeline is expected to export gas to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan
Parliament
A statement by the Azerbaijani parliament concerning the recognition of the Kurdistan Workers Party as a terrorist organization has been developed, Fazail Agamali, the chairman of the Ana Vatan Party, said. Ana Vatan party was founded to develop statements to recognize the Kurdistan Workers Party as a terrorist organization.
According to Agamali, the commission planned to hold meeting on 12 November. However, the meeting was postponed due to the meeting of MPs with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev.
"The meeting of the commission is to be held on 13 November," the MP said.
Agamali added that the project of the statement was developed by experts.
"The acceptance of the statement by the Parliament means that the government officially recognizes the Kurdistan Workers Party as a terrorist organization. Azerbaijan will take urgent measures if the Party uses Azerbaijan as a transit country," Agamali said.
Foreign policy
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CE) Terry Davis is ready to pay a visit to Azerbaijan by invitation. "In case Azerbaijan invites me, I will do that with pleasure," Davis said at a press conference in Strasburg on 12 November.
Last week Terry Davis visited Armenia and Georgia and negotiated with the administrations of both countries. Davis said it was the first time he was visiting Armenia as Secretary General, and the visit was initiated by the Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian. To Georgia he was invited by the President Mikheil Saakashvili. "He asked me to take part in the conference dedicated to coming-to-be of East Europe. During the visit I met with the Georgian President and MPs. The visit fell at the same time with the events in Georgia (opposition demonstration - editor). And that was just by chance."
Stable and independent Georgia is of interest for Azerbaijan, said the Israeli Haifa University's Expert for Middle Asia and South Caucasus, Avino Idan.
"The structure peculiarities of South Caucasus in combination with the current geo-political geo-economic factors present conditions, under which Azerbaijan and Georgia transforms into very important factor of survival for each other," the expert said in his interview with Trend.
According to him, the general vectors of interdependency in dyad of Azerbaijan and Georgia are, on the one hand, determined by the pro-western orientation of Georgia, its geo-political situation and transportation of energy resources which is very significant for Azerbaijan, and on the other hand, consideration of the energy security of Georgia and other dividends from transit of Azerbaijani oil via Georgia's territory.
" Georgia has strategic importance in implementing geo-political projects in South Caucasus. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, which is being constructed, ensure Georgia's energy security from Russia, which is still only gas supplier to Georgia," Idan said. According to him, Georgia will receive 800mln cu.m of gas per year through this pipeline. In addition, the USA promises Georgia to assist in increasing Azerbaijani gas supplies, considering that Georgia refused to sell its gas pipeline to Russia.
Touching upon the latest events in Georgia, the conflict occurred between the Authorities and opposition and as a result the presidential elections were scheduled for 5 January in Georgia, the expert said that it was the integration of domestic and out political factors. "One the one hand the political and economic reforms by Saakashvili, privatization and foreign investments, fight against corruption, reduction the number of Georgian policemen created a serious basis of opposition for the Georgian President. From the other hand we should not forget the geopolitical factor, Georgia is in the centre of geopolitical clashes between the United States and Russia," he said.
According to him, Georgia remains the near abroad for Moscow, part of its hegemony, the personality of Saakashvili and pro-east, pro-American course of his regime irritates Russia, including the factor that Georgia forms the borderland of the NATO, actively taking part in the Partnership for Peace program. Georgia is the key regional country for Turkey and the United States.
Georgian President Mikhael Saakashvili has recently announced emergency situation in the country for 15 days and some restriction have been injected in the activities of the media. In accordance with the appropriate legislation, during the emergency situation the Georgian citizens are not allowed to hold manifestations and demonstrations and strike
According to the Israeli political scientist, the Georgian President had serious basis charging Russian special services in connection with the recent events in Georgia. However, the Georgian leadership should submit real facts about interference of Russian to internal affairs of the independent Georgia.
The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, will attend the 15th meeting of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers on 29-30 November in Madrid at the invitation of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. The press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Karapetyan, reported to Armenpress that it is not excluded that the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, will take place within the ministerial meeting. However, yet concrete proposals have not been received from the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Currently the Co-chairs take steps to organize separate meetings of the sides to suggest new formulations for uncoordinated issues.
Azerbaijan needs to move in the direction of the European Union (EU) and Bulgaria is prepared to support this objective, Sergey Stanishev, the Bulgarian Premier, said in a meeting at the Baku Slavic University on 13 November.
"Bulgaria, as a member of the EU, will insist the position that the EU should allocate more funds to Azerbaijan, Georgia and other countries, with a wish for closer cooperation with the organization," Stanishev.
The EU is not a large market, and not a political bloc, but a group of countries, which hold the same interests in many issues.
" Azerbaijan, as a young developing country located in a difficult region, maintains good neighborhood relations with all countries of the region and defends its national interests and Europe is interested in closer cooperation with a country like Azerbaijan," he said.
Bulgaria is also prepared to develop relations with Azerbaijan on a bilateral basis. "Though our relations were always good, but not active enough and now we are all for activating them," the Bulgarian Premier said.
Azerbaijan's Consulate General in Istanbul strengthened the co-operation with the universities to keep Azerbaijani students studying in Turkey from being attracted in the radical religious flows. "Enlightenment works have been strengthened amongst the Azerbaijani students in Turkey," the Consul General of Azerbaijan to Istanbul, Sayyad Aran, reported to Trend on 14 November.
According to him, efforts were made to involve Azerbaijani students in the radical religious flows, but they have been prevented.
Last week Azerbaijan's Ministry of National Security detained armed gang of vahabists in Azerbaijan who made an effort to commit terror acts against the foreign embassies. Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations stated that there are dangers for involvement of the Azerbaijani students abroad in radical religious flows.
According to Aran, there are not nay dangers in Turkey. Regardless, special projects began to be realized to strengthen the enlightenment works.
Azerbaijan and Switzerland signed an agreement on technical assistance for the improvement of the trade and investment atmosphere by ensuring intellectual copyrights. The agreement was signed by Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, and Monika Bruzi, a member of the board of the Swiss Economic Secretariat.
The signing was carried out during a visit of the Swiss Government to Baku. During the meeting with the Azerbaijani Minister, Bruzi said the Swiss Government supports Azerbaijan in its entrance to the WTO. The sides discussed the increase of turnover between Azerbaijan and Switzerland and diversification of energy.
A training centre named after Heydar Aliyev was opened in Caucasus University in theTurkish city of Kars, the Azerbaijani Consul General in Kars, Hasan Zeynalov reported to Trend. Thus, the students at the faculty of Azerbaijani literature will have the opportunity to gain more information about Azerbaijan.
"Authoritative scientists from different Baku and Nakhchvan educational institutions will deliver lectures to the students at the University studying in the faculty of Azerbaijani Studies," the Consul said.
The opening ceremony was attended by officials and representatives of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which initiated and assisted in construction of the training centre. The repair work was carried out by HNB Insaat-ixracat, Senaye-Ticaret LTD group of companies.
During his visit in 2002 to Kars, the then President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev received the title of Honorary Doctor of the Caucasus University. The training centre has a stand demonstrating the life and activities of Heydar Aliyev and his books. A library dedicated to the history and literature of Azerbaijan, a reading-hall, and a computer centre will also function in the centre.
It is necessary to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Union - East Europe (EURO-NEST), with the representatives from the parliaments of Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, as well as observers from Russia and Turkey. This idea was sounded during he discussions over a report on EU Neighbourhood Policy at a planetary meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 14 November. The idea was initiated by Charles Tannok, a British MP. Together with the Spanish MP Raymon Obiols, he is the author of the report.
Tannok said that the resolution of 'lingering' conflicts such as the Pre-Dniester, Georgian-Abkhaz, Georgian-Osetin and Nagorno-Karabakh should become a priority for the European Union. So, much influence on the resolution of these conflicts requires additional financial expenses, as well as deep policy.
According to the British MP, the EURO-NEST can be established on the basis of existing parliamentary associations.
Since 2004 the EU Neighbourhood Policy unites 16 countries. Azerbaijan and EU signed an individual action plan in November 2006 .
During discussions on the report on the EU Neighborhood Policy at the plenary meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 14 November, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU Commissar on foreign relations, stated that the Neighborhood Policy is an EU major policy and its successes play a decisive role in ensuring security, stability and prosperity to EU countries and neighboring countries. So, this policy should be more influential and confident, and ensure the security of all countries.
Waldner also stressed the importance of applying this policy in different sectors. The European Neighborhood Policy attaches great importance to economic integration, movement of citizens and energy policy in relation to partners. She also noted that the European Parliament could play a considerable role in the spheres important to the EU, such as political cooperation, human rights and building of the state on the rule of law.
Waldner said that by the end of the year there are plans to establish an Investment Fund of the EU Neighborhood Policy. The Fund will contribute in the implementation of big projects in the energy and transport sectors. At the same time she noted the importance of simplifying the visa regime between these countries with respect to consolidating relations among them.
Waldner stressed the significance of the relevance of political parameters of partner countries under the European Neighborhood Policy and touching upon the neighborhood of countries, located in the east of the EU, she noted the importance of attaching special importance to the resolution of 'lingering conflicts' existing in their territory. "The conflicts put obstacles for our partners in conduct of reforms and sometimes pose threats for our security. Therefore, the Neighborhood Policy should play a positive role in the establishment of an adequate atmosphere in the resolution of 'lingering conflicts', in the South Caucasus," she said.
Waldner said that to achieve more efficient results in 2008 the EU will develop an action plan. 'In April 2008 we will present a report on every country. The reports will analyze the work and the improvement of the situation with the implementation of an action plan of partner countries," she stressed.
The Azerbaijani Parliament will not make a separate decision to recognize that the Kurdistan Worker Party, which committed terrorist acts in Turkey, as a terrorist organization, MP Siyavush Novruzov, the deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party and member of the commission established in Parliament to develop the project of statements to recognize the Kurdistan Worker Party as a terrorist organization said.
According to Novruzov, the Azerbaijani and Turkish Presidents signed joint statements during the recent visit of the Turkish President to Azerbaijan. The statement reflects issues, which concerns the recognition of the Kurdistan Worker Party as a terrorist organization. "The document will be ratified in the Milli Majlis", (Azerbaijani Parliament).
According to the MP, the document will be submitted to Parliament for ratification in the near future. The document will express a common position of the Azerbaijani Government and Parliament on the issue.
The MP Fazil Agamali did not approve the information. The member of the MP group of the Azerbaijani Musavat opposition party and MP Panah Huseyn said that they were not informed that Parliament postponed the development of the document concerning the recognition of the Kurdistan Worker Party as a terrorist organization.
The MP Jala Aliyeva said that the document was developed by experts and the Milli Majlis would pass the document.
The relations between Azerbaijan and France are good, said the Chief Adviser of the French Institute of International Relations, politician, Dominic Moizi. " Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's visit testifies that the solidity of the relations between Azerbaijan and France," he said. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited France from 19-20 to France.
The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia should themselves reach an agreement reflecting the key principles of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, the Director of the European Program of the International Crisis Group, Sabina Frazer, reported to Trend. "The Presidents have been speaking of this document for already 3-4 years, but currently it is necessary for them to sign or reach an agreement on it," she said. The current talks - ' Prague process' - began in April 2004 through appointing Steven Man to the post of Co-chair when a series of the meetings of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia commenced in Prague. Unlike Azerbaijan, the Armenian side protests against the settlement of the conflict within the Prague process envisaging gradual settlement of the conflict. Touching upon the coming elections in both countries, Frazer said that the conflict should be resolved by the elections. "The Presidents should prove to their peoples that it is better to resolve the conflict peacefully without military operations," she said. The International Crisis Group's recent report regarding Nagorno-Karabakh says that Armenia and Azerbaijan strengthen their military possibilities and none of the sides considers that it is high time to make a compromise. "Strengthened arms of both countries present threats and create an expression that the war may outbreak in 5-10 years," Frazer said. According to her, the report calls on to begin discussions. "Our goal is to present the review of the current conflict situation to the communities of both countries," the Director of the European Program said. "Our report contains moments dissatisfying both Armenian and Azerbaijani side," she said. According to Frazer, the representatives of the International Crisis Group will visit Azerbaijan at the beginning of 2008.
Turkey supports the idea to establish the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic speaking language countries conference, Haluk Ipak, the co-chairman of the Inter parliamentary Friendship Group of Turkey and Azerbaijan, said.
"All Turkic speaking language countries should try to implement the idea. The issue will be discussed at the meetings and we hope we can reach a common agreement among all country-participants," Ipak said.
The Congress of World Azerbaijanis is planning to discuss the issue concerning establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic speaking language countries during the 9th meeting of Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation of Turkic Speaking Languages," MP Sabir Rustamkhanli, the deputy chairman of the World Congress of Azerbaijanis, said to Trend news agency.
"The issue was discussed in Cyprus in 1992. Then the issue was not settled as there was not unity among Turkic language speaking countries. Today the situation is different and we hope to discuss the issue again," Rustamkhanli said.
The Prime Minister of Turkey, Rajab Tayyib Erdogan, proposed to establish the Permanent Secretariat of Turkish nations.
The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mehmet Ali Talet asked Turkic states for support. "Unfortunately, the world community treats the problem of Cyprian Turks the same way as the Nagorno-Karabakh problem," the President said at the 11th meeting of the Turkic countries in Baku on 17 November.
Political movements
The ruling New Azerbaijan Party considers fruitful and important the results of the discussions held in Baku by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (CE) and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). "The number of proposals on upgrade of election legislation and formation of election commissions coincides. Therefore, we cannot take into consideration all proposals concerning formation of election commissions," MP Ali Ahmadov, the executive secretary of the party, said in the interview with journalists on 12 November.
A round table dedicated to reforming of the Election Code began in Baku on 7 November. It was organized by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (CE) and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). The round table involved the representatives of Azerbaijani Government, the governing and opposition parties, as well as the representatives of OSCE, CE and IFES. The key issue for discussion is re-formation of election committees.
Opposition Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA), Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), Liberal Party of Azerbaijan (LPA), and Musavat are not in attendance. They avoided participation in protest against expanded format of the event and its being organized by IFES. The Parties urge only they four should participate in the discussions and election committees should include only them and the governing party.
"New Azerbaijan does not want Azerbaijan to become an area of political test. The formation of election commissions as well as the elections is the internal affairs of country. As population decide the course of each election," the MP said.
There have been attempts to change the current format of election commissions since 1998 by some internal political parties and international organizations. "Every time they propose new proposals to change the existed format of election commissions. Such a situation cause serious obstacles to establish the Azerbaijani election legislation," Ahmadov said.
The New Azerbaijan party was founded by Heydar Aliyev ex-President of Azerbaijan in 1992.
The Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA) will submit proposals to inject changes and supplements to the Constitution of the country due to the referendum, which will be held simultaneously with the presidential election in 2008, Sardar Jalaloglu, the chairman of DPA, said.
DPA submitted a set of proposals concerning changes and supplements to the Constitution on Constitution Day on 12 November. The party considers it necessary to decrease the powers of the President and increase the powers of the Parliament.
The proposals developed by the party offers amendment to the second issue of the Constitutional Azerbaijani Government that accepts political, ideological diversity and multi-party system. No ideology can be accepted as ruling and compulsory.
This amendment was included in the third issue: 'Everybody has right to hold unarmed assembles, rallies, demonstrations and pickets without preliminary sanctions from state bodies'.
The amendment is expected to be added to the fifth issue which envisages the increase of the number of MPs in the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) to exceed 125, some 62 MPs on majority and 188 by proportional system.
It was also proposed that the Parliament make economic and social program decisions, as well as appoint the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Foreign Minister and Prosecutor General by decree of the President. Parliament may appoint and dismiss 1/3 of Judges of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan and elect life term Judges of Azerbaijani Courts.
The DPA proposes the composition of Cabinet of Ministers should be from political parties, which win during the parliamentary elections.
DPA members noted that if Parliament does not make the decision to include the proposals made by the DPA in the referendum then the party will launch a campaign to collect signatures from the public.
The DPA was founded by Sardar Jalaloglu in 1991.
Members of the political movement Way of Azerbaijan staged a rally in front of the Georgian embassy in Baku as a sign of protest to application of force during dispersing the protest action held Georgian opposition in Tbilisi.
Activists of the movement demonstrated solidarity with the Georgian opposition, and said that Saakashvili is answerable for the happened. The protestors shouted slogans 'Azerbaijani opposition backs the Georgian opposition', 'Saakashvili, respect democratic value"
The petition of the demonstration was read out and presented to the Georgian Embassy.
The Azerbaijani opposition Musavat party calls for join around the candidature of the party's chairman, Isa Gambar, during the upcoming presidential elections. "The results of the latest elections in Azerbaijan revealed that Gambar had most chance to win during the upcoming presidential elections apart the other candidates," Arif Hajili, the chairman of the Executive Administration of the party, said on 14 November.
According to Hajili, if opposition wants to win the elections they should join around the successful candidate. "The candidate nominated candidature and could not collect 1% during the latest presidential and parliamentary elections cause regret," Hajili said.
The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held ion 15 October 2008.
Opposition camp considers desperately going to elections with one candidate. A range of opposition parties' leader including Gambar stated that they would nominate their candidature during the approaching elections. The Azadlig bloc, which unites three opposition parties the Popular Front Party, Liberal and Civil Development Parties, will boycott the presidential elections.
Hajili said that the general electorate conception takes the lead over general candidate conception in Azerbaijan. "During the parliamentary elections 2000 and presidential elections 2003 the electorate voted for a common candidature, Gambar. "If we cannot define one candidature to nominate during the upcoming presidential elections then we will reach unification around one candidate," Hajili said.
Azerbaijani Dalga youth movement held a demonstration in front of the Baku Executive Power. They were protesting against tree felling and replacing them by artificial ones.
The protestors brought watering-pots and began watering decorative trees. Police officers broke the action and prevented the demonstrators from approaching the Executive Power. Ten protesters were detained and delivered to Police Office 9 in Baku Sabail district.
Human rights activist Elchin Behbudov visited the police office and met with its head. Behbudov was informed that the detained demonstrators would be released without fining. Other human rights activist telephoned the protesters, the chairman of Dalga Vafa Jafarova said to Trend.
The youth movement decided to hold a range of ecological arrangements this week.
The opposition leader, founder of Azerbaijan Liberal Party, Lale Shovkat, accuses the international organizations of pressure on freedom of expression. She highlighted this on 14 November at the meeting on protection of ten rights of the arrested editor-in-chief of Azadlyg newspaper, Ganimat Zahid, Trend reports.
According to Shovkat, it is impossible to protect freedom of expression without participation of the international organizations.
She said that the international organizations demonstrate a strange position on the freedom of expression in Azerbaijan. "Earlier they compared Azerbaijan with Baltic countries for the situation with the freedom of expression, but now compare with Uzbekistan. Azerbaijan is a small country and plays the role of filling station in the world map. However, when the topic of Azerbaijan comes to agenda, the international organizations change their character and it is very strange. Those who call themselves as missioners of democracy do not demonstrate adequate reaction," Shovket said.
According to her, the opposition should combine and change the tactics to find a way out for the situation.
The law observers who attended the meeting called editor-in-chief of Azadlyg newspaper 'prisoner of conscience'.
A dialogue between the Government authorities and opposition groups will be intensively developed before the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan in 2008, said Ali Hasanov, the head of the Public-Political Department of the Presidential Administration, during a conference focusing on relations between the Government and press.
According to Hasanov, a dialogue between the government and the opposition is necessary for constructive cooperation. "However, sometimes, some people think we need a table to sit at in order to hold negotiations. There is dialogue in Azerbaijan, but on a very low level. The dialogue will be intensified prior to the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan," Hasanov said.
Discussions concerning changes in the election code have not been completed. The Azerbaijani Government and the Council of Europe Venice Commission continue to work on the proposals of political parties.
The Government will not accept proposals which could make the elections depend upon the will of individual parties and people, Hasanov said.
The chairman of the Azerbaijani National Independent Party (ANIP), Ayaz Rustamov, charged Isa Gambar, the leader of Musavat party, and Sardar Jalaloglu, the leader of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, with violation of opposition unity.
"Independent political leaders should unify the opposition, however, at the last moment they destroy everything," Rustamov said.
"Rustamov and Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA) together with ANIP were joined within a single structure titled the Consultative Council. The Council made the decision to develop general proposals concerning the Election Code. Later the DPA and Musavat together with the ANIP and the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan (LPA) developed proposals and boycotted the meeting dedicated to discussions of the election legislation held in Baku on 7,8 and 9 November.
The joint activities of Gambar and Jalaloglu hinder the unification and development of the opposition.
ANIP was founded by Etibar Mammadov in 1992. Mammadov is the deputy chairman of the International Democratic Union.
Political dialogue between the Authorities and the opposition meets the interests of the opposition, MP Panah Huseyn, a member of the MP group of the Musvat party said in an interview with journalists. The opposition camp should talk to the Authorities without conditions.
The OSCE Baku office is holding negotiations in order to achieve talks between the Authorities and the opposition. The ruling New Azerbaijan Party stated it will take part in the forthcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. The opposition parties did not express their position concerning the talks.
Huseyn said that he would hold talks with Authorities' officials without putting forward conditions.
The World Congress of Azerbaijanis' board of directions charge the former chairman, Javad Darahti, with aggravating contradictions within the organization and implementation of his private ambitions.
WCA's former chairman said that the documents of the latest meeting of the organization held on 7 July had not been submitted to the state bodies of Sweden where WCA was registered. Therefore, we declare the latest meeting invalid.
Darahti demanded resignation of the current chairman of the organization, Gulamrza Tabrizi, and to hold the special meeting of WCA's European department consisting of 7 members.
During the meeting of WCA the deputy chairman of the organization, Sabir Rustamkhanli, said that Darahti was the candidate for the chairman post, but could not collect necessary votes. Drahti insisted the election was false. However, later Darahti made excuses and congratulated the new elected chairman.
"We cannot understand Darahti's behaviour when we try to strengthen the organization. Some people want to establish the third WCA," Rustamkhanli said.
Ajdar Tagizadeh of the WCA said that the documents from the latest meeting of the organization were submitted to the state bodies of the Sweden and Tabrizi was recognized as the chairman.
Tabrizi added that he did not worry about the contradictions within the organization and the Congress would continue to protect the native language and rights of world Azerbaijanis residing in Iran
Several candidates may aspire to the position of the chairman of the Azerbaijani opposition Adalat party. "Alternative candidates may participate in the meeting of the party," the chairman of Adalat, a member of the Azerbaijani permanent parliamentary commission on human rights Ilyas Ismayilov said to Trend on 15 November.
Meeting of the Adalat will take place in Baku Entertainment Centre on 24 November. Administration of the party will be re-formed and the chairman will be elected. Current chairman was the only candidat nominated to the position. After he won the parliamentary elections of 2005, Ismayilova left the position.
The meeting may reveal other candidates, Ilyasov said. He agreed to nominate for the position after insistence of the activists of the party.
On 16 November a group Dalga Youth Movement held a demonstration in Old City in Baku, requiring preservation of the ecology and historical monuments in the capital. The young people chained themselves to the iron fences of the Maiden's Tower to draw the attention to this problem.
Construction works were carried out in the Old City until January 2007 which brought threats to the historical and architectural monuments and polluted preserves.
Dalga Youth Movement decided to hold a demonstration to attract attention to these problems. "We should ourselves take care about the cleanness of our city and protect its historical monuments and call on everybody to join this," the young people said. Several minutes later the policemen came to the demonstrators and took the flag of the youth movement.
Some 15 participants of the demonstration were detained and taken to the police department.
The Head of Old City Protection Department, Kamran Imanov, who arrived in screen said that he does not support that the young people inflict damage to the iron fences hold the demonstration in such form. According to him, the internal part of the preserve is clean and the streets are washed with cars and no new buildings will be constructed there.
The creation of a common language of the Turkic states is an illusion and cannot be realized, Anar, the chairman of the Azerbaijani Writers Union, told Trend. One of proposals sounded at the 11th conference of friendship, fraternity and cooperation of the Turkish nation and societies, was the creation of a common language of the Turkic nations to make communication easier among the people. Anar said that there is no need to create a common language for the Turkish nations. "People of Azerbaijan and Turkey understand each other well enough. Nations of Central Asia permanently spoke to other in Russian and contact with them is difficult. "Every Turkish nation should preserve its language by studying the Turkish language for communication. All Turkish nations, excluding Azerbaijan and Turkey, should teach the Turkish language in secondary schools," he said.
NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Armenian armed forces shot at Azerbaijani National Army troops from the village of Gulustan in the region of Goranboy of Azerbaijan from 7.25pm to 7.45pm on 11 November; from the village of Garakhanbeyli in the region of Fizuli of Azerbaijan from 7.50pm to 8.20pm and from 11.45pm to 11.50pm on 11 November and from the villages of Javahirli and Shikhlar in the Azerbaijani region of Aghdam from 6pm to 6.35am on 11-12 November, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reported.
The Azerbaijani army retaliated, and no casualties were reported.
The Government of Azerbaijan considers the International Crisis Group's report "Nagorno-Karabakh: risk of war" as a logical response to the international community. "The experts of the Group accurately assess the situation around Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, calling on the international community to influence the process," said the Head of the Foreign Relations Department of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration, Novruz Mammadov, commenting on the report of the Crisis Group.
Azerbaijan and Armenia should stop the armed race and re-establish process of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The international community and leading countries of the world should strengthen their efforts to resolve the problem.
Mammadov said that Azerbaijan will never agree that its territories will law under occupation forever and makes all the best for the peaceful settlement of the conflict. However, the Government of Armenia presents obstacles to it and prolongs the time, deceiving the international community, including the OSCE Minsk Group, he said.
According to him, the president of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan supports the peaceful settlement of the conflict and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country should be re-established within the international norms and principles, otherwise the war will be unavoidable.
"If consider the interests of the international community and leading countries of the region, they should react the situation and take more serious measures to resolve the situation," he said.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
Armenian armed forces shot at Azerbaijani National Army troops from their position near the village of Tapgaragoyunlu and Gulustan in the region of Goranboy of Azerbaijan from 17.20pm to 17.30pm and from 18:20 to 18:40 on 13 November; from the village of Chayli and Chileburt in the region of Terter of Azerbaijan from 21.05pm to 01.20am on 14 November and from the villages of Tagibayli and Javahirli in the Azerbaijani region of Aghdam from 03.35pm to 05.00pm on 13-14 November, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reported.
The Azerbaijani army retaliated and no casualties were reported.
Peter Semneby, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for South Caucasus, said in an exclusive interview with Mediamax that the EU SR's tour of Nagorno-Karabakh should be a source for disputes.He was commenting on reports urging that his long ago scheduled visit to Stepanakert will not be paid due Baku's demands of visiting Nagorno-Karabakh via Azerbaijan, but not Armenia.
"I have no intention to go into details of the ways I am going to tour Nagorno-Karabakh. I want to say that the EU is eager to be of benefit and we want to support the existing efforts for the resolution of the conflict. Any visit by the EU SR should not become a source of disputes. This is the important criterion. Both sides are tempted to use any foreign force as a way to consolidate their claims in this conflict. It is disappointing, because such an approach deprives us from the freedom of acting, and the sides from the tools for moving forward," Semneby said.
He repeated his intention of touring the Nagorno-Karabakh, but avoided to publicize the date and ways.
The Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan should not refer to the conflict in ways that might worsen the situation, and that could potentially endanger the progress achieved so far, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, said after a meeting with the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group, which negotiates with the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan for a possible solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Co-Chairs informed the Minister about current developments on the peace process, which is becoming increasingly complicated due to the upcoming electoral processes in Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2008.
The Chief Analyst of the International Crisis Group, Cler Delesar, reported to Trend that Azerbaijan and Armenia do not prepare their peoples for the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The civil societies in these countries do not prepare people for the conflict settlement. However, not only civil societies, but also governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia do not work in this regard," Delesar said.
The expert stated that this issue should be done by the NGOs. "The NGOs should work with the people so that they meet and talk and understand that they are not enemies," Delesar said. In this case the role of the governments is to give permission the NGOs to do this.
In addition, Delesar stated that in both countries the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh is used to achieve internal political goals.
Statements by leaders of Armenia, urging the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict to have religious roots are absurd, Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, the chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Department, Sheik-ul-Islam of Caucasus, said to a conference Model of Tolerance - Azerbaijan, in Baku on 16 November.
Recently, Serzh Sarkisian, the Armenian Prime Minister, stated that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict roots to the religious factors.
"This nonsense is Armenian's alarm for the West, which realized its helplessness before the strengthening military power of Azerbaijan. Armenians pursue having more support from the West, playing the role of suffered nation," Pashazade said.
Sheik-ul-Islam replied the Armenians with the documents undersigned by Armenian Catholicos Vazgen I, who stated that 'attempts of representing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as an inter-religious are inadmissible and people confirming it are guilty before God.'
"Presently, Bazgen's followers deny their religious leaders' position for the sake of political benefits," Pashazade said. Over many centuries different religions have peacefully existed in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan can be a good example of tolerance for many world countries. Peaceableness and tolerance of Azerbaijan have been recognized by the world, Sheik-ul-Silam said.
On 15 November the Armenian armed forces shot at Azerbaijani National Army troops in the opposite from their positions near Tapgaragoyunlu village of Goranboy District from 09.55pm to 10.00pm, Alakhanli village of Fizuli District of Azerbaijan from 21:50 to 22:00, as ell as on 16 November from Hasangaya village of Terter District of Azerbaijan fro 03:00 to 03:20, Javahirli village of Agdam District from 04:00 to 04:15with guns and machine guns, the Azerbaijan National Defense Ministry reported.
The The Azerbaijani army retaliated and no casualties were reported.
