Official news
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated Muammar al-Gaddafi, Leader of the Libyan Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, with the Great Revolution Day.
In the letter of congratulation the Azerbaijani President voiced his confidence in further strengthening of friendship between Azerbaijan and Libya, as well as development of cooperation within bilateral format and amongst international organizations.
On 1 September, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated Ivan Gasparovich, Slovak President with the national holiday -Constitution Day. In the congratulation letter the President expressed hope for further development and expansion of bilateral relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Slovakia.
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Goran Lenmarker, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly special rappourteur on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. The meeting was touched upon the negotiations directed to regulate the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to raise monthly salaries of health institutions' employees, set by the United Tariff Net and financed through the state budget, by 25% from 1 September in 2008. According to the decree, this step was taken to strengthen social protection of health institutions' employees and to raise state care for them. In accordance with the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers is to solve issues arousing from this decree.
"Significant works have been done for free activity of mass media and equal conditions have been created for the press organizations in Azerbaijan," said the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, while receiving the participants of the 30th Executive Board Meeting of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) held in Baku on "Information for All in Globalizing World".
The President estimated holding the Executive Board Meeting in Baku as an example of attention to the mass media in Azerbaijan. "Sometimes, information regarding Azerbaijan is not truly presented to the international community and therefore, the visits of the foreign press representatives are significant from the point of view of accurately highlighting the processes in the Country," the President said.
Speaking of the significance of the information in the globalizing world, the State Head said that this assumes great importance for the countries that newly gained their independence. The President of Azerbaijan said that much work has been done as a result of realized political and economic reforms. Mentioning importance of professionalism and responsibility in the activity of mass media, the State Head said that periodical events, including trainings, are held to exchange experience.
On 3 September, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, sent a letter of congratulation to Captains Regent of San-Marino Federico Pedini Amati and Rosa Zafferani on the country`s public holiday, San Marino`s Day and Foundation of the Republic. "I am sure that Azerbaijan-San Marino relationship will develop on the basis of friendship and cooperation, and contribute to the welfare of our peoples," said the President in the letter. Azerbaijani Leader extended his best wishes to Captains Regent, and prosperity to the friendly people of San Marino.
Under the decree issued by the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the wages of employees of culture, youth and sports departments have been raised by 25% to further strengthening of social protection. The wages of employees of culture, youth and sports departments, financed from the state budget, have been raised by 25% dating 1 September 2008. Under the decree issued by the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the monthly wages of employees of the social security departments have been raised by 25%. The wages of employees of social security departments have been raised by 25% dating 1 September 2008. The Cabinet of Ministers is in charge with the issues on the decree.
On 3 September the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received the US Vice-President Dick Cheney. Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney arrived in Azerbaijan on 3 September. Vice President and his wife were met by First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yaqub Eyyubov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in airport named after Heydar Aliyev. Cheney's visit to Azerbaijan is expected to complete tomorrow.
On September 3, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a telephone call to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the development of the Azerbaijan-Russia relations at various levels. They stressed the importance of reciprocal visits, including recent official trip by Dmitry Medvedev to Baku, in terms of enhancing the bilateral ties between the two countries. The two Presidents expressed confidence in further strengthening of the bilateral relations. During the phone talk, Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev also discussed several international issues, including regional situation, and Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received delegation led by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Mehdi Safari on 4 September. Mehdi Safari extended greetings of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to head of state of Azerbaijan. It was mentioned during the meeting that Azerbaijan-Iran relation are developing successfully and bilateral relations will be further enhanced. An exchange of views was held on the regional issues during the conversation. President Ilham Aliyev thanked deputy foreign minister for the greetings of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejat and asked to extend his own greetings to his Iranian counterpart.
On 5 September the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received the delegation of Hungarian National Assembly, the country's parliament led by its speaker Katalin Szili. The Head of State noted Azerbaijan-Hungary bilateral relations are successfully developing. He stressed the importance of reciprocal visits for expanding ties. The President said there is an enormous potential for inter-parliamentary cooperation. Azerbaijani leader expressed his confidence that Katalin Szili`s visit would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Mrs. Katalin Szili expressed her satisfaction with her meeting with President Aliyev. She said cooperation between the two countries is being expanded. Szili stressed this meeting would be important for solidifying inter-parliamentary relations.
On 5 September, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received apostolic Nuncio to the country Claudio Gugerotti. President Aliyev and Claudio Gugerotti praised the level of relationships between the two countries, stressing that all conditions have been created in Azerbaijan to enable practicing of all religions, including Catholicism.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued an order increasing the monthly salaries of several government-financed organizations by 25% from 1 September.
The organizations are Administration and Board of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Administration of Nakhchivan Department of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Innovations Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, State Governance Academy at the President of Azerbaijan Republic, Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency AzerTaj, Azerbaijan National Encyclopedia 'Scientific Center', Ataturk Center in Azerbaijan, Working Group of Inter-Departmental Commission on Protection of State Secret at the President of Azerbaijan Republic, Working Group of State Committee on Captives and Missing People, Standing Working Group of State Drug-Enforcement Commission of Azerbaijan Republic, Administration of National Cosmic Air Agency of the Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan Republic Scientific Methodical Center on Cultural Studies, National Culinary Center, State Film Fund of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Republic, Department for Support and Protection of Water Biological Resources of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic, Administration of Azerbaijan Agrarian Scientific Center of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Republic, Finance Scientific and Educational Center of Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan Republic, Scientific Search and Training Center on Labor and Social Problems of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of Azerbaijan Republic, Information Center under Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan Republic, Centers for Keeping Illegal Immigrants, Training and Educational Center and Policlinics of State Migration Center of Azerbaijan Republic, State Archives and their branches, State region (city) archives, centralized accounting departments of the Executive powers of Azerbaijan Republic.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, issued an order on improvement of material and technical base and capital repair of the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory named after Nasraddin Tusi. For these purposes, the Reserve Fund of the President, provided in the 2008 Public budget, will allocate AZN 5mln.
The President also charged Azerenerji OSC, Azerigaz CSC and Azersu OSC to take necessary complex of measures to supply electricity, gas and water to the Observatory, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies to provide installation of telephones and speed internet, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources to, jointly with Shamakhi Executive Power and National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, preserve landscape.
Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory named after Nasraddin Tusi was established in 1960 on the basis of the sector of "Astrofizika" Institute of Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. Observatory is involved in comprehensive studies of non-stationary processes on the stars, physics of the sun and sun-earth connections, physics and dynamics of the bodies of the Sun system.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today inaugurated the secondary school in Gardilli village during his trip to the Salyan province. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation presented satchels, textbooks and other school supplies to schoolchildren. The President viewed a classroom for first formers and Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s gifts. He praised the Foundation`s work and care for education development in Azerbaijan.
The Head of State praised conditions created in the school. He pledged the government would continue to care for education in the country. President Ilham Aliyev congratulated teaching staff on the beginning of the new school year. President Ilham Aliyev has also attended the inauguration of the Salyan Olympic Sport Complex and the inauguration of the Salyan hospital after being repaired.
Elections
Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections on 15 October 2008. Hafiz Hajiyev, Chairman of the Muasir Musavat party and a presidential contender, has submitted a signature list to the Central Election Commission (CEC), a source from the party reported to Trend .
So far, 20 people applied to the CEC to participate in the upcoming presidential elections. The CEC confirmed candidatures of the chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party Ilham Aliyev, the chairman of the Greens Party Mais Gulaliyev, the chairman of the Azerbaijani Unified Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, the chairman of the Muasir Musavat party Hafiz Hajiyev, the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Fuad Aliyev and the chairman of the Umid Party Igbal Agazade, Yashar Ahmadov (an unemployed person), Alimukhtar Akbarov (a pensioner), Sevinj Guliyeva (a junior nurse at the Sumgayit Central Clinic Hospital), Vugar Seyidov (a doctor) and Gudrat Isagov (a senior scientist of the Physics Institute of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences), a former chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Supreme Assembly Gulamhuseyn Aliyev, the senior advisor of Madaniyyet (Culture) newspaper Teymur Guliyev, the editor-in-chief of Ekspertiza (Examination) newspaper Suleyman Guliyev, chairman of Great Establishment Party, Fazil Gazanfaroglu and, as well as independent candidates Arif Aliyev, Ali Agayev, Aliyar Safarli and Mubariz Allahverdiyev and neutral candidate Fikrat Ahadov.
Candidates have to collect 40,000 signatures within 10 days in order to pass registration in CEC. CEC has officially registered the candidature of the incumbent President Ilham Aliyev.
Muasir Musavat party was founded in 2000. In 2002, the party held the state registration.
The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) has issued a notification for venue and time of election s for Azerbaijani voters, press service of CEC said. The presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on 15 October. CEC has confirmed the nomination of 20 people.
The nomination of candidate from New Azerbaijan Party and current head of state Ilham Aliyev and nomination of Igbal Agazade, chairman of Umid party have been officially registered.
The 5 million of notification will be submitted to election commissions for further distribution among voters.
The Azerbaijani ELS Independent Investigation Centre publicized results of opinion poll held amongst 6,000 people in the first half of August in connection with the presidential elections. A total of 78.3% of people participating in this opinion poll supported Ilham Aliyev, the Centre told Trend news on 2 September.
A total of 0.1% of them supported Igbal Agayev, 0.5% - other candidates, whilst 11.3% of them refused to name of their favorite presidential candidate and 9.8% stated they are still to determine their opinion on the presidential contenders.
Respondents were also asked to name the candidate whom they wanted to see in the upcoming presidential race, as there is still opportunity to nominate candidature. Some 2.8% of respondents mentioned Isa Gambar, 1.5% - Ganira Pashayeva, 1.2% - Lala Shovkat Hajiyeva, 1.0% Vafa Guluzade and other persons.
Assessing social and political situation in Azerbaijan majority of respondents (91.7%) mentioned the presence of stable social and political situation in the country. Only 5.9% of them considered the current situation as unstable and 2.4% could not assess the situation.
A total of 88.9% of the inquired said that they would participate in the elections, 5.0% said no to polls and 6.1% avoided to state opinion in this respect as it is still to be shaped.
In response to question "Do you believe that the elections will be held fairly?" 70.9% of respondents expressed their faith, 20.9% - doubt and 9.1% found it difficult to answer.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Baku Office held presentation of special jackets prepared for media representatives on 3 September.
"It is very important to provide safe conditions for journalists during public measures, particularly in election campaign," Jose-Luis Herrero, the head of the OSCE Baku Office said at the presentation.
The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October. The Central Elections Commission (CEC) confirmed nomination of 20 presidential contenders with only two of them being officially registered by CEC.
Jackets were prepared with the sponsorship of the OSCE Special Envoy for freedom of media.
According to Herrero, these jackets will enable journalists to differ during public events and demonstrations. "The jackets will contribute to safety of media representatives," The OSCE Baku Office's head Herrero said.
The police must assist to media representatives in reporting about all kind of demonstrations, including the banned actions, Miklos Kharashti, the OSCE Special Envoy for freedom of media said at the meeting. "On the other hand, journalists should assist police in distinguishing of their appearance, as well. The jackets prepared for media will help it," Kharashti said. The OSCE mission which will observe presidential elections in Azerbaijan will publish its first report at the late September.
"The second report will be published at the early October," Boris Frles, head of observation mission of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said in a pres conference in Baku. Observation mission will publish first short-term report, he said. Frles said OSCE will publish its final report together with partners a day after the voting. "Our partners are Parliament Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) and European Parliament," Frles added. Observers will complete their mission at the end of October. OSCE final report will be published as a document two months later the elections.
Two Azerbaijani presidential candidates withdrew their candidatures. "Teymur Guliyev, the advisor of Madaniyyet (Culture) newspaper and Fikrat Ahadov, editor of the scientific and methodological department of the magazine of the Azerbaijani Education Ministry withdrew their candidatures for the presidential post," Natig Mammadov, the secretary of the Central Elections Commission (CEC) told journalists on 4 September.
The CEC officially registered candidatures of the current President Ilham Aliyev, the chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) and Igbal Agazade, the chairman of the opposition Umid party.
According to Mammadov, Guliyev explained withdrawal of his candidature with the current situation in South Caucasus and Ahmadov said that he could not gather required 40 signatures to register his candidature. The CEC decided to annul candidatures of Guliyev and Ahmadov after examining their apply.
Monitoring Group of the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will observe presidential elections in Azerbaijan despite opposition's appeal, Arif Mammadov, permanent representative of Azerbaijan to Council of Europe said to Trend by telephone.
The opposition parties of Azerbaijan united in Azadlig bloc (Popular Front Party, Liberal Party and Citizens and Development Party) who boycotts presidential elections, opposition Musavat party and For Azerbaijan public forum intend to appeal CE, OSCE and other European organizations not to send international observers for presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
"CE has already selected the composition of monitoring groups and no appeal can influence the presence of the mission," Mammadov said. "In any country there are parties who take part in elections and there are parties who do not take and appeal of those not going to take part in elections can not have a negative impact on monitoring of elections by international organizations".
The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan has confirmed nomination of 20 presidential contenders. Nomination of only two of them has been officially registered.
Activity of the opposition Democratic Elections Centre (DEC) in Azerbaijan was suspended temporarily.
This decision was made at the next meeting of the DEC, Mirmahmud Miralioglu, the chairman of the Classical Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (CPFPA) told Trend on 5 September.
Nine parties, including the CPFPA, the Azadlig Party, the National Democratic Party, the Open Society Party, the Great Azerbaijan Party, the Unified Popular Front party of Azerbaijan, the Takamul Party, the Greens Party and the Great Establishment Party are represented at the DEC established in January.
"The Centre suspended its activity temporarily in connection with the presidential elections. It will not function by the end of the presidential election," Miralioglu said. According to Miralioglu, the format of the DEC was not changed. "Change of format was not on the agenda," he said.
Mayis Gulaliyev, who was nominated for presidency in Azerbaijan by the 'Green Policy' Initiative Group, submitted the collected signatures to the Central Election Commission (CEC) on 5 September. "We collected 44,886 signatures in 69 election districts," Gulaliyev told Trend . Gulaliyev is the co-chair of the Green Party of Azerbaijan, established in 2007.
According to him, 1,000 signatures collected by his representatives were recognized invalid for several reasons. "We did not face serious problems during the signature collecting campaign, except pressure on our representatives and signing persons in Samukh district," Gulaliyev said.
The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) will not examine appeal of candidates who did not give back signature lists in time. "According to law, the deadline for submitting signature papers expired at 06:00p.m. 5 September. It was not CEC, but those not submitting signature lists in time who have violated law," Azar Saryev, spokesman of CEC said to Trend on 6 September. Sariyev said 21 people have been nominated for presidency and they have taken signature lists from CEC.
"Ilham Aliyev, candidate from New Azerbaijan Party, Igbal Agazade, chairman of Umid Party, Hafiz Hajiyev, chairman of Muasir Musavat party, Qudret Hasanguliyev, chairman of Unified Popular Front Party, Fazil Gazanfaroglu, chairman of Great Establishment Party, Mais Gulaliyev, chairman of Green Policy initiative group, poet Agaevli Ali Isa, Fuad Aliyev, chairman of Liberal Democrat Party and independent candidate Gulamhuseyn Alibayli have collected the necessary 40,000 signatures and submitted to CEC," CEC representative said.
A total of seven candidates has not returned signature lists and four people have withdrew their candidacy.
Sariyev said candidacy of two of them has been canceled.
The unemployed Alimukhtar Akbarov gave back signature lists to CEC without any signatures. Teymur Guliyev, Fikrat Ahadov, Mubariz Allahverdiyev and Intigam Mammadov, who had been nominated independently, have withdrawn their candidacy.
Though Qudrat Isaqov, senior research fellow of Physics Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (NASA) said to media he has withdrawn his candidacy, he has not made an official appeal to CEC. Therefore, his name is in the list of those who has not submitted signature lists. The unemployed Yashar Ahmadov, hospital attendant Sevinj Quliyeva, doctor Vugar Seyidov, editor-in-chief of Ekspertiza newspaper Suleyman Guliyev, unemployed Arif Aliyev, and Aliyev Sarafli, senior research fellow of Literary Institute of could not return signature lists in time. As Safarli and Aliyev brought signature lists to CEC after 06:00p.m., they were not accepted.
Azerbaijan is interested in holding transparent and democratic presidential elections. " Azerbaijan will make every effort to hold transparent and democratic elections, which will reflect nation's will and will not end up with confrontation," Ali Hasanov, the head of the Public and Political Department of the President's Administration told AzerTaj from Washington.
Hasanov is in official visit in the United States at the invitation of the US National and Democratic Institutions. He held several meetings at the State Department, Congress, International Agency and other influential non-government organizations within the framework of the visit. The meeting focused on processes of democratic reforms, situation with human rights and process on establishment of the civil society, as well as issues on preparations to the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
According to Hasanov, work is always being conducted to solve current difficulties both in the United States and in Azerbaijan. "However, these problems are not main ones. Events happening separately do not reflect general situation regarding democracy. Azerbaijan has enough will and efforts to settle existing problems. Washington wants the presidential elections in Azerbaijan to be held in line with the international standards," Hasanov said.
Parliament
The Azerbaijani standing Parliamentary Commission on Regional Issues has developed four bills. The bills will be submitted to the Parliament for discussion at the autumn session, Arif Rahimzade, Chairman of the Commission, said.
Twenty-two bills and two decisions, developed by the Commission, were adopted at the spring Parliamentary session.
The autumn session of the Parliament will be held on 1 October.
According to Rahimzade, the new projects are to introduce partial changes into the administrative-territorial division, changes into the Azerbaijani territorial status and state register over territorial districts, to introduce certain changes and supplements into the Azerbaijani municipal lists made into the law on territories and lands of municipalities.
The legislation plan of the autumn session of the Parliament was approved at the meeting.
The Azerbaijani Parliament's autumn session will begin on 2 October. "Autumn session will begin one day later, because the Ramadan holiday falls on 1 October," the parliament told Trend on 5 September.
According to regulations, autumn session of the parliament begins on 1 October of each year and finishes on 30 December. Spring session begins on 1 February and finishes on 31 May.
In accordance with regulations, the standing commission of the parliament begins its work on 15 September annually. "However, the standing commission decided to begin its work earlier without expecting this date in 2008," the parliament said.
The parliamentary speaker Ogtay Asadov will make a report on summary of spring and extraordinary session of 2008 at the beginning of the parliament. Then MPs will discuss and adopt plan on legislative work of autumn session.
It is expected to discuss draft laws on State Budget 2009, Apiculture (first reading), Changes into the Law on Territorial and Administrative Territorial Division, Child and Teenager Sport (first reading), as well as on Education (second reading) at the first meetings of the parliament.
Foreign policy
Demonstration was held in Baku to support Georgia On 1 September, the day of the special summit of the European Union (EU), which was convened by the French President to discuss Russia's action against Georgia. The Georgian Diaspora organizations and the Georgia Embassy in Azerbaijan organized this action. At the same time, solidarity action was held throughout Georgia. Participants of the action in Baku held hand-in-hand and surrounded the Georgian Embassy through the human chain. Stop Russia was a main slogan of the action.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Special Representative for Nagorno-Karabakh said the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is the key obstacle for closer cooperation amongst South Caucasus countries. "Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may become the beginning of closer cooperation amongst South Caucasus countries," OSCE PA Special Representative for Nagorno-Karabakh Goran Lenmarker said to journalists in Baku on 1 September.
"The conflict is the only obstacle for cooperation amongst the three countries. Efforts and endeavours must be made to settle the conflict," said Lenmarker. According to him, settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is important in terms of repatriation of IDPs to their land and establishment of stability in the region.
During his today's visit to Baku Lenmarker discussed the situation in Georgia. "The position of such a leading country as Azerbaijan is important for OSCE," he said. He negotiated with Azerbaijani President, Parliamentary Speaker and Foreign Minister in Baku.
Azerbaijan believes that Europe will never accept the fact of occupation of the Azerbaijan lands.
"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be settled exceptionally within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and Europe will never accept the fact of the occupation of the Azerbaijan lands," said the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, during the meeting with the OSCE PA Special Representative for Nagorno-Karabakh, Goran Lenmarker, on 1 September.
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan described the protracted conflicts as threat for the safety of region and realizable projects, the press center of foreign Minister told Trend . In order to establish sustainable peace in the region, it needs to settle the conflicts existing in the region on the basis of the international principles, the Minister said.
All conditions have been provided in Azerbaijan for the conduct of free and fair elections, Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan said during his meeting with Boris Firlec, head of observation mission of OSCE for presidential elections in Azerbaijan.
Minister stressed the importance of Azerbaijan-OSCE cooperation in this field. Minister also said Azerbaijan, which is in the process of democracy building, is committed to the international obligations and democratic values.
Firlec, who has observed parliamentary elections in Georgia and Armenia, said he has a relevant experience in this sphere. He spoke about the functions of observation mission and plans concerning upcoming presidential elections. The chief goal of observation is to help conduct democratic elections, he said. Firlec noted OSCE group of observers will inform public about their activities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov met Tuesday with newly appointed Egyptian ambassador to the country Mr. Sabir Mansur, press service of the Ministry said. Mr. Mansur presented his credentials to the Azeri Minister, noting he is pleased to start a tenure in Azerbaijan which shares common culture, history and traditions with his country. The sides exchanged views on successful development of economic and political relations between the two states.
Mansur said his country always supports Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity and will do its best to expand bilateral ties. Elmar Mammadyarov, in turn, said Azerbaijan is ready to give all contributions to the development of cooperation.
Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov met Tuesday with newly appointed Cuban ambassador to the country Marcello Kabaliero Torres, press service of the Ministry said. Mr. Torres praised dynamic development of Azerbaijan-Cuba bilateral ties. He said Cuba is interested on strengthening of economic cooperation with Azerbaijan. Along with politic and economic cooperation, Mr. Mammadyarov expressed importance of the expansion of humanitarian cooperation.
The sides also touched upon further consultations between the ministries of the two states and the issues to be discussed at forthcoming intergovernmental meeting. Finally, Ambassador Torres presented copies of credentials to the FM of Azerbaijan.
The draft convention includes key principles of security and military and technical cooperation and we are continuing work with this regard, Khalaf Khalafov, deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan said to media on 4 September. "It will be introduced to the participants of Baku meeting which will begin on 4 September in the capital city of Azerbaijan. The draft convention includes cooperation of customs and border services of Caspian littoral countries and cooperation of interior affairs services," deputy minister said.
The key topic of Baku meeting of the Caspian littoral countries will be continuation of discussions on determining of status of the Caspian. "We are going to discuss major issues of the draft convention and revealing several more questions on this issue. We will discuss all these issues today and tomorrow at the meeting of deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral countries - Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran," Khalafov said. "We are going to work on the remaining issues".
The five Caspian littoral countries are represented on the level of deputy foreign ministers in Baku meeting.
The official Baku is a proponent of continuation of bilateral talks with Iran and Turkmenistan to reach agreement on the status of the Caspian Sea, Elmar Mammadyarov, foreign minister of Azerbaijan said.
"We are proponents of continuation of bilateral talks with the friendly Iran and Turkmenistan to secure division of bottom of the Caspian Sea into sections," Mammadyarov said in a meeting of the joint working group of the Caspian littoral countries at the level of deputy foreign ministers in Baku on 4 September.
Minister said Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the division of the bottom of the Caspian Sea among Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia which will provide good legal base to reach common agreement on the legal status of the sea.
Azerbaijan is committed to the intensification of talks and is confident that the current potential of mutual understanding among Caspian littoral countries will enable to solve above-mentioned questions, Minister stated.
Mammadyarov said the current disagreements on the issue of legal status must not hinder Caspian littoral states to exercise their sovereign rights in the Caspian and also bilateral cooperation of the Caspian littoral countries. "I think it is important to continue discussions on the division of the bottom of the sea and using water areas of the Caspian Sea for the security issues, laying underwater cables and pipelines, ensuring free access of the Caspian littoral countries to other seas and world ocean and on other conceptual issues," Mammadyarov said.
Baku attaches great importance also to the improvement of ecological situation of the Caspian and completing coordination and adoption of Convention on legal status of the Sea. "We believe that all issues on this problem should be solved through constructive dialogue between the Caspian littoral states on the base of generally accepted standards and principles of international law," he said.
Minister stressed great significance of the intensifying efforts of the Caspian littoral countries in a fight against "international terrorism posing a threat for security of world community". "The key component of cooperation of the Caspian littoral countries with this regard is considering security issues in the Caspian based on reached agreements in a format proposed by Kazakhstan and supported by Russia during the second summit of heads of states of the Caspian littoral countries," minister said.
Mammadyarov said Baku has developed and introduced parties draft agreement on cooperation regarding dividing line of border and customs services and interior affairs agencies and on providing security in the Caspian.
Ukraine is celebrating the 17th anniversary of its independence, with the achievements in domestic and foreign policy, Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Boris Klimchuk said.
Stable democratic power system was established in Ukraine and its is based on European values and democratic traditions, market economy, respect to human rights and freedoms, including mass media freedom, Ambassador said at a press conference dedicated to Ukraine's Independence Day on 4 September.
According to the Ambassador, Ukraine's relations with friendly Azerbaijan were comprehensively and intensively developing during the years of independence. "This year was particularly rich. Mutual visits of heads of states brought the Ukraine-Azerbaijan relations to a new strategic partnership level," he said.
At present, Ukraine and Azerbaijan are on the threshold of implementation of large international projects which can dramatically affect the energy security of the region and of entire Europe, Klimchuk said.
Azerbaijan opened Consulate General in Aktau city of Kazakhstan. Rashad Mammadov, who will head the Azerbaijani Consulate General in Aktau, was presented to the leadership of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, Latif Gandilov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kazakhstan, told Trend . The third diplomatic city after Almaty and Astana will appear in the map of Kazakhstan. At the same time the city is the oil capital city of Kazakhstan, the ambassador said. For the first time the idea to open the Azerbaijan Consulate General in Aktau was voiced during the ambassador's speech at an investment forum in Aktau in 2006. "Aktau is the gates to Central Asia. Kazakhstan begins just from this city for Azerbaijanis. The biggest Azerbaijani diaspora in Kazakhstan operates in Aktau and it was established during the Soviet period," the diplomat said. "The Azerbaijani Consulate General in Aktau will enable more efficient solution of the problems of our citizens. Azerbaijanis in Kazakhstan settled in all 14 regions of the country. Therefore, it is difficult and economically expensive for embassy to cover all," Gandilov said.
Members of National Euro-Integration Committee of Azerbaijan including Arzu Abdullayeva, head of Baku Office of HCA, Eldar Namazov, head of For Azerbaijan public forum, Mehman Aliyev, head of Turan news agency and Avaz Hasanov, chairman of Humanitarian Studies Society have been in Georgia from August 28 to September 2. They have meet with governmental agencies, NGOs and opposition members of Georgia. The visit aimed at rendering moral support of Azerbaijani community to that of Georgia. NECA also rendered humanitarian aid to those who became refugees as a result of South Ossetia conflict.
Abdullayeva said population in Tedotsminda where Azerbaijanis make up majority, have problems of water supply and lack of schools. " Georgia will receive large financial aid to restore war-affected infrastructure. In a meeting with the Georgian ombudsman Sozar Subari we asked him to assist in the resolution of problems in the villages populated with Azerbaijanis," Abduillayeva said.
Avaz Hasanov, chairman of Humanitarian Studies Society said the villages populated with Azerbaijanis have suffered serious damage. "Sown areas have been burnt in these villages. As conflict coincided with the harvest, Azerbaijanis will face hardships in winter," Hasanov said.
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Luis Maria de Puig, highly assessed the recent pardon order signed by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. "During the meeting of Bureau, the PACE President assessed the recent pardon order as a respectful approach of the President and Government of Azerbaijan to the European standards, principles and values of the Council of Europe," the PACE Vice President, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE, Samad Seyidov told Trend by telephone from Paris.
Up to now, 45 pardon orders have been signed in Azerbaijan, affecting 4,858 prisoners. The last pardon order was signed on 26 August and affected 96 people.
The meeting of PACE Bureau took place in Paris on 5 September. The meeting mainly focused on the Georgian-Russian conflict.
Seyidov said that the PACE President also assessed the pardon order as an attempt to further develop the relations existing between Azerbaijan and Council of Europe. "This is a high assessment made on the eve of the Presidential elections and visit of the observers to Azerbaijan. It will yield its positive results," the Vice President said.
Azerbaijan plays an important role in stability of the region, Katalin Szili, the Hungarian National Assembly speaker said at a meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister on 5 September. According to Szili, Hungary is interested in diversity of transit routes. It is important to settle conflicts in post soviet countries in order to provide security of energy passages in the region, Mammadyarov said. Each country should be interested in solution of existing conflicts, as well as establishment of stable and reliable neighbor relations in South Caucasus, the Foreign Minister stressed. According to Mammadyarov, it is possible to solve the Armenian and Azerbaijani conflict on the base of Azerbaijanїs territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders.
The meeting focused on discussions of cooperation in legislative and non-oil field between two countries, as well as Azerbaijanїs integration to the European Union (EU).
Political movements
The opposition Azadliq bloc of opposition parties of Azerbaijan has announced that it will not be close down.
"No party can demand us to suspend activities of Azadliq bloc," Ali Aliyev, co-chairman of Azadlig bloc and chairman of Citizens and Development Party said to Trend .
A group of opposition parties refusing to take part in the presidential elections in Azerbaijan to be held on 15 October is holding talks on the establishment new union. This initiative was advanced by Azadliq. A group of opposition parties is expected to sign this document by the end of this week. Other parties represented in new union demand Azadliq to be closed down.
Azadliq bloc includes three opposition parties- Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Liberal party and Citizens and Development Party.
"The establishment of new union does not mean the end of Azadliq bloc. When we initiated to establish a new union, our first condition was continuation of activities of Azadlig bloc. Because Azadlig bloc has went through thick and thin. Therefore, we are not going to conduct new experiments in this sphere," Aliyev added.
According to him, there are allied relations among parties included in Azadlig bloc. Aliyev said it is impossible to speak about the establishment of such relations between parties of the new union.
On 5 September, bloc Azadlig, Musavat party and the Forum For Azerbaijan signed a joint statement recognizing the elections and the power which will come after the elections as illegal.
Some Azerbaijani opposition parties refused to join to the opposition's joint statement.
The Classical Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and the Open Society Party did not join the opposition parties' joint statement boycotting the presidential elections, Ali Karimli, the co-chairman of Azadlig bloc and the chairman of the National Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) told journalists on 5 September.
The parties included in Azadlig bloc the (the Popular Front Party, the Liberal Party and the Citizen and Development), the Musavat Party and the Public Forum 'For Azerbaijan' signed a joint statement on recognition of the elections as illegitimate on 5 September. The government to be formed after the presidential elections is announced as illegitimate in the statement.
Karimli said that negotiations were held with these parties. "Technical problems aroused at the Open Society Party to make a decision, but they expressed their agreement with this statement. The document was also coordinated with Mirmahmud Miralioglu, the chairman of the CPFPA. The Union For Democracy, where the CPFPA is included, put forward terms, that if all parties represented at the Union join the statement, the CPFPA can sign this document," Karimli said.
The CPFPA agrees with principles of the statement, Miralioglu, the chairman of the CPFPA told Trend on 5 September. "The Union For Democracy believes that it would be more real if all parties of the Union sign the joint statement. Thus Azadlig bloc joined the statement with all three parties, which are represented at the organization. If all four parties represented at the Union (the CPFPA, the Azadlig Party, the Great Azerbaijan Party and the National Democratic Party) do not decide to join the statement, the CPFPA will not join the document, as well," Miralioglu said.
Azerbaijan's opposition parties changed their mind to apply to international organizations to urge not to send international observers to the presidential elections.
"International organizations have already defined the observers to watchdog the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Therefore, the opposition parties which signed a joint statement removed this item from the document for it is unethical," Chairman of the Citizen and Development Party Ali Aliyev said to Trend on 5 September.
During coordination of the document, the parties said they intended to develop appeals to the Council of Europe, OSCE and other European structures to urge not to send international observers to the presidential elections.
Azerbaijan's permanent representative to the Council of Europe Arif Mammadov told Trend in a telephone conversation on 5 September that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) monitoring group will arrive in Azerbaijan to observe the presidential elections not depending on opposition's appeals.
Ruling New Azerbaijan Party of Azerbaijan (NAP) has announced that opposition parties not taking part in presidential elections do not have a right to assess the outcome of the vote.
"Opposition parties not taking part in the elections have either lost their electorate or they are not pleased with the rules that everybody accepts," Aydin Mirzazade, member of Political Council of NAP said to Trend on 5 September.
"The election which lacks free competition conditions and boycotted by major presidential candidates can not be considered legitimate," a statement said. The document also said pre-election situation in the country does not allow conducting free and fair elections. Political activity is too weak. Many obstacles are created for political parties. Freedom of assembly is almost banned.
Representative of ruling party said political forces not going to take part in the elections does not have any moral right to assess outcome of the vote.
"This is unreasonable and contradicts moral principles. It contradicts political rules to assess outcome of the vote when it has not been held yet".
He said it is common knowledge that parties boycotting elections does not have public support and they are obliged to boycott elections as they know they will lose it.
MP added presidential election have not started yet, only part of the process has bee completed. "Neither local nor foreign observers have disagreements about elections in this stage. Anyone wishing to take part in the elections has been nominated. No problems emerged in registration of candidates and sign-collection process. Presidential elections will be seriously observed," Mirzazade said.
Lala Shovkat, the leader of the National Unity Movement (NUM) invited new opposition forces to the political arena. "I would like new forces and young forces to appear at the arena of the Azerbaijani opposition and to do their best for democracy," Shovkat told journalists. Accoring to the leader of the NUM, people, who have not struggled and stand aside, are speaking about our leave and their rumors are wrong. "If anybody wants us to leave the arena, we are prepared, but it is necessary for new forces to appear to replace us at the arena. If there are new forces, let them appear. I have not seen them since 2005," Shovkat said. Shovkat is co-founder and co-chairman of the opposition Azadlig bloc. She was Secretary of State from June of 1993 to spring of 1994 and established the Azerbaijani Liberal Party in 1995.
Nagorno-Karabakh
From 31 August to 5 September the subunits of Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of armed forces of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani army retaliated and no causalities reported
Monitoring of the troops contact line nearby Gapanli village in the Terter region of Azerbaijan, which was conducted in conformity with the mandate of the personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office on 5 September, resulted in no incidents, Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reported to Trend .
On the Azerbaijan side the monitoring was conducted by field assistants of the OSCE Chairman-in-office's personal representative Peter Ki and Irji Aberle.
On the opposite side of the line, which was recognized at international level as Azerbaijan's territory, the monitoring was held by OSCE Chairman-in-office's personal representative Andrzej Kasprzyk and his field assistants Antal Herdich and Vladimir Chontulov.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh's seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The sides are still holding peace negotiations.
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States is the intermediary in peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. For preservation of ceasefire OSCE regularly monitors the troops contact line.
