Azerbaijan successfully fights against threats to its interests - UPDATE

The necessary forces and means have been mobilized to ensure stability and security during the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku at a high professional level, National Security Minister, Lieutenant General Eldar Mahmudov said in his article published by official state newspaper Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

"The Eurovision Song Contest 2012 will be held in Baku. Therefore, delegations and participants from dozens of countries, hundreds of foreign journalists and thousands of tourists are expected to arrive. Important tasks have been assigned to the national security agencies, as well as well as all relevant agencies, to ensure the country's stability and security during the contest. The necessary forces and means have been mobilized to fulfill these tasks," Mahmudov said.

Mahmudov said large-scale regional and international projects have been implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years.

In addition, he said, Azerbaijan has become an arena of large-scale international political, religious, cultural and sport events.

"National security agencies are also actively involved in ensuring the security of all these projects and events," Mahmudov underlined.

As a result of socio-political stability, founded by national leader Heydar Aliyev, active law enforcement policy pursued for the last 15 years, Azerbaijan and Baku are regarded as the republic and capital with the highest rates in the CIS in terms of fighting criminality, Mahmudov said.

"The key task of national security agencies is to ensure the security and stability, and protect independence and statehood of Azerbaijan. Our goal is to create favorable conditions for the state's foreign and domestic policy and reliable ensuring of development. In this issue, of course, every citizen must be vigilant, act from the standpoint of the state and not to deny assistance to state authorities in ensuring security," he said.

The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku Crystal Hall, which is under construction near the area of the State Flag. The motto is "Light your fire".

The Baku Crystal Hall is the arena with a capacity of up to 23,000 spectators. Approximately 16,000 people will be able to attend each of the three Eurovision Song Contest live shows in May.

Logo of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest is "Fire Flower", while the motto is Light your fire!

Azerbaijan won the right to host the prestigious European song contest after the victory of Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell / Nikki) at Eurovision 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany last May.

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Significant results were achieved in the targeted fight with threats against Azerbaijan's political, defense and economic interests, as well as in the fight against terrorism, subversion, sabotage and incendiary aspirations last year, National Security Minister, Lieutenant-General Eldar Mahmudov's article published in Azerbaijan newspaper said on Wednesday.

The minister stressed that several effective preventive measures have been conducted against sabotage and other destructive activities of foreign special services directed against Azerbaijan, as well as its armed forces.

The criminal cases have been filed under the article "Parricide" against two servicemen involved in subversive and secret-service activity in Azerbaijan on behalf of foreign special services.

Mahmudov added that members of two separate groups, on the whole, 24 people involved in the cooperation by Iranian special forces, have been found and detained as a result of efficient anti-subversive activities conducted by the National Security Ministry.

These individuals are charged with parricide, espionage against Azerbaijan's sovereignty and state security, as well as in the preparation for terrorist acts, illegal acquisition of a large number of firearms, ammunition and other serious crimes.

Two men wanted internationally and participating in the armed groups against coalition forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been arrested as a result of comprehensive measures to combat terrorism, the minister added.

All world countries, including dynamically developing Azerbaijan having a favorable geo-strategic position are concerned about the transnational organized crime, he said.

"A consistent struggle has been conducted in the areas related to drug smuggling, illegal migration, human trafficking, money laundering, cyber-crime, organized crime and other spheres in 2011," the minister added.

He stressed that about 30 transnational organized criminal groups and gangs involved in illegal trafficking of narcotic, psychotropic substances and precursors have been revealed during this period. About 630 kilograms of narcotic substances have been seized from illegal turnover. About 353 kilograms have been confiscated as a result of operational measures, held jointly with Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish counterparts.

About 40 criminal cases have been filed in accordance with these facts, 137 people-citizens of Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Russia, Iran and Georgia were brought to the investigation.

The transnational organized criminal gang involved in equipment smuggling used in the nuclear sphere has been neutralized within the fight against smuggling, Mahmudov stressed.

The smuggling of medicaments, a large consignment of precious stones, gold jewelry, spirits, radioactive and hazardous substances has been prevented. About 8 criminal cases have been filed in accordance with these facts. About 16 people have been brought to justice.

Human trafficking for sexual exploitation has been prevented. A criminal case has been filed, he added.

Public Prosecutor's Office has brought two Azerbaijani citizens to justice on the criminal case filed under the article "Forced removal of human organs and tissue for transplantation" on the basis of the materials of the National Security Ministry.

The organized criminal group, consisting of Azerbaijani citizens engaged in theft of gold from Gadabay gold and copper processing plant was revealed and brought to justice in 2011.

The organized group, accused of illegally withdrawing large sums of money from various bank accounts by using computer information has been arrested as a result of operational measures.

Moreover, about 27 criminal cases on false documents, including the preparation of forged securities, uncontrolled international communication, tax evasion, misappropriation of funds by entering into the confidence of people and other crimes have been filed.

It should be stressed that the professional holiday of employees of the National Security Ministry is celebrated on March 28.


/Trend/