Politics

16 January 2007 [15:55]

German ambassador: "We hope for greater achievements in NK conflict"

"Germany supports OSCE line in the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Being a member of the OSCE Minsk Group will continue to support the peaceful solution to the conflict," said Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Azerbaijan Per Stankina.
16 January 2007 [15:53]

Captured Azerbaijani soldier released

Captured Azerbaijani soldier on December 31 Eldeniz Nuriyev was released on Tuesday.
16 January 2007 [15:50]

President Aliyev to visit Germany

President Ilham Aliyev will pay an official visit to Germany in February.
16 January 2007 [00:58]

APPM picket not allowed

Baku Major's Office (BMO) did not allow Azerbaijani Path Political Movement (APPM) to hold picket outside of Economic Development Ministry set on January 16.
16 January 2007 [00:52]

Goran Lennmarker to visit Azerbaijan early February

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly president, rapporteur on Nagorno Karabakh, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Sweden Goran Lennmarker will visit Azerbaijan early February.
16 January 2007 [00:32]

6 Azerbaijani servicemen to return from Afghanistan, 7 from Kosovo

6 Azerbaijani servicemen serving in Afghanistan and 7 in Kosovo will return this week.
15 January 2007 [22:30]

Azerbaijan court jails man who published Web site to protest at prices

An Azerbaijani man has been sentenced to 12 days in prison for publishing a Web site complaining about rising gas, electric and transport prices in the ex-Soviet republic, an opposition activist said Monday.
15 January 2007 [22:18]

Armenia hasn't implemented CoE commitments

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee co-reporters George Colombier and Mikko Elo have already worked out a report on Armenia's commitments before the CE.
15 January 2007 [22:14]

Isfahan Armenian church head appealed to US Congress

Isfahan Armenian apostolic church head Koryun Papyan presented a letter to the US Congress.
15 January 2007 [22:13]

Akif Shahbazov: "Azadliq position on uncoordinated rallies serves to the interest of party leaders, not people and parties"

Azerbaijan Democrat party Supreme Assembly chief Akif Shahbazov made statements on the rallies set by some opposition parties.
15 January 2007 [22:06]

Captured Azeri soldier to be released Tuesday

The chief of International Committee of Red Cross Azerbaijani Office Martin Amasher said at his meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov that captured Azerbaijani soldier would be released on Tuesday.
15 January 2007 [19:07]

Azeri Embassy picketed in Moscow

Russia introduced new laws on Monday that experts say are intended to plug a hole in the country's labor market while discouraging foreigners from settling there permanently.
15 January 2007 [17:40]

Co-rapporteurs and Leo Platvoet to take part in meeting of PACE Sub-Committee on Nagorno Karabakh

The meeting of PACE Sub-committee on Nagorno Karabakh will be held in the frame of PACE winter session, the chief of the committee, Lord Russell Johnston's Office informs.
15 January 2007 [17:00]

Belarus Representatives Chamber: "Azerbaijan to discuss agreement on visa free regime"

The Chamber of Representatives of Belarus and Azerbaijan will discuss an agreement on visa free regime, Azerbaijani Embassy in Belarus told.
15 January 2007 [16:13]

Venice Commission to study project on Azerbaijan's Election Code

The project presented by official Baku, based on the EU Venice Commission's recommendations concerning the amendments to the Election Code is being worked out.
15 January 2007 [15:48]

Peter Semneby to visit Azerbaijan

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby will visit Azerbaijan on the first week of February.
15 January 2007 [15:44]

ADP's proposal on cooperation with government causes confrontation in opposition

If Azerbaijan Democrat Party (ADP) decides to cooperate with the government, we will review our elations with this party.
15 January 2007 [13:12]

Azerbaijan to raise the issue to set up special inspection to prevent Armenia's armament

Azerbaijan will raise the issue to set up a special inspection under the NATO and OSCE to prevent Armenian armament in violation of European Agreement for firearms.
14 January 2007 [15:32]

Iran's Ahmadinejad in Venezuela for talks with Chavez

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran arrived here over the weekend for talks with President Hugo Chavez, on the first leg of a Latin American visit to enhance Tehran's stature with governments where distrust of the Bush administration already runs deep.
14 January 2007 [02:29]

Armenian Deputy FM: "Opening Armenian-Turkish borders to benefit economies"

Opening the Armenian-Turkish border will benefit the economies of both countries, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan said.
13 January 2007 [17:27]

Iranians detained in U.S. forces raid on consulate in Iraq

American forces raided the Iranian consulate in the mainly Kurdish city of Erbil in northern Iraq before dawn today, detaining at least five Iranian employees in the building and seizing some property, according to Iraqi and Iranian officials and witnesses.
13 January 2007 [17:16]

Hurriyet: "US and Turkey: Strategic partners?"

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan delivered yet another stinging rebuke to the US regarding their actions in Iraq.
13 January 2007 [17:08]

New head of OSCE Office in Baku says the Organization can play stabilizing role in Azerbaijan

Mr. Jose Luis Herrero Ansola, recently appointed head of the OSCE Office in Baku, said today that the Organization will continue helping Azerbaijan as it works to fulfill its commitments as an OSCE participating State.
13 January 2007 [17:05]

Outgoing OSCE Chief Says Moscow An Obstacle

As Spain begins its work as the 2007 chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), RFE/RL correspondent Dan Alexe speaks to the outgoing chairman in office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, about his tenure in 2006 and likely steps in the year ahead.
13 January 2007 [16:20]

PACE winter session to start shortly

Winter session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will commence in Strasbourg, January 22.
13 January 2007 [14:41]

Baku police waits for Major Office's decision on rallies

Baku Main Police Board (BMPB) waits for the decision of Baku Major's Office on rallies, said BMPB public security department chief Shamil Seyidli.
13 January 2007 [14:35]

Yagub Abbasov: "ADP interested in the cooperation with government"

"Intelligent and wise persons of Azerbaijan society were involved to New Azerbaijan Party (YAP).
13 January 2007 [01:57]

Umid Party postpones rally

Umid (Hope) Party postponed the rally appointed on January 13 as a protest to price rises by Tariff Council.
13 January 2007 [01:48]

Former MP appointed Deputy of Head of Samukh Executive Power

Deputy of the Head of Samukh Executive Power Gazanfar Aliyev was dismissed.
13 January 2007 [01:47]

Musavat Party appeals on holding rally

Musavat Party appealed to Baku Mayor's Office on holding mass rally in Khatai district on January 28.
13 January 2007 [01:45]

Azerbaijan disagrees on some points of PACE report

Azerbaijan disagrees on some points of the report concerning the role of women in the South Caucasus, prepared by Russian member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Vera Oskina.
13 January 2007 [01:42]

Senator Menendez again blocked Hoagland's nomination as US Ambassador to Armenia

Senator Robert Menendez took advantage of his veto power blocking Richard Hoagland's nomination as US ambassador to Armenia.
13 January 2007 [01:29]

Armenians intensify church construction in Azeri lands

Armenians have intensified church construction in occupied Azerbaijani lands.
12 January 2007 [15:49]

In next 50 years Azerbaijan not to be admitted EU

Azerbaijan's European Union (EU) membership problem is not discussed yet.
12 January 2007 [15:41]

OSCE: "Jose Luis Herrero Ansola is well-informed about Azerbaijan"

Head of the OSCE Office in Baku takes up his position on 1 February.
12 January 2007 [15:39]

Alan Waddams: "Opening the EU Office in Azerbaijan is very important"

The EU European Commission's special envoy to Azerbaijan will stop its activity after the EU Office is opened, said Alan Vaddams.
12 January 2007 [14:32]

Abbaseli Hasanov: "Azerbaijanis suffer from Iran's bureaucratic obstacles on visa issue"

"The cooperation of Azerbaijan and Iran on economical sphere develops. At present, some projects concerning the development of border regions is developing," Iranian Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Azerbaijan Abbaseli Hasanov told.
12 January 2007 [01:11]

Senior Iranian official suspected of spying on Iran's nuclear program

Iran announced Thursday that it has arrested a senior official for allegedly spying on the country's nuclear program.
12 January 2007 [00:49]

Simplified visa regime for Nakhchivan-Iran border to be applied

Simplified visa regime for Nakhchivan-Iran will soon be applied.
11 January 2007 [22:55]

Azerbaijan and Russia at loggerheads

Neither side willing to back down in energy dispute.
11 January 2007 [22:51]

Sergey Mironov to visit Azerbaijan

Chairman of Federation Council of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly Sergey Mironov will visit Azerbaijan in March current year.
11 January 2007 [22:50]

Interior Minister ends his visit ot Turkey

On 11 January, the Azerbaijan delegation headed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, colonel-general Ramil Usubov ended his visit to Turkey.
11 January 2007 [18:25]

Miguel Angel Moratinos: "OSCE will pay special attention to settlement of NK conflict"

The most recent meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council was held on Thursday.
11 January 2007 [18:23]

Jose Luis Herrero Ansola appointed head of OSCE Baku Office

New head of OSCE Office in Baku says the Organization can play stabilizing role in Azerbaijan.
11 January 2007 [18:22]

Human rights court awards Azeri opposition leader damages for torture in custody

An Azeri opposition leader was tortured in police custody after an anti-government rally, Europe's human rights court ruled Thursday, ordering Azerbaijan to pay him ?10,000 ($13,000) in damages.
11 January 2007 [17:09]

Araz Azimov: "Currently in Karabakh process ball is on Armenian side"

Azerbaijan performed necessary constructivism and political will for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and now Armenia is to perform similar approach, stated Araz Azimov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan to ANS TV company.
11 January 2007 [17:07]

In Summer of 2007 ICG to publish a report on Karabakh conflict

The Representative of the International Crisis Group for South Caucasus, will spread a special document related to the Nagorno Karabakh in summer 2007, said Sabina Freiser, the representative of ICG (International Crisis Group) on South Caucasus.
11 January 2007 [17:04]

Serbian 'Zastava' got permission to sell arms to Armenia

The day before Serbian Company Zastava got permission to export arms to Armenia, RFE RL reports. Dragolyub Gruevic, the manager of 'Zastava' factory in Kragujevac, stated that the cost of deal makes $1.75 million. He also said the company awaits one more permission for a deal of $ 900 000.
11 January 2007 [16:56]

Samad Seyidov: "We will take active part in discussions of Armenia's PACE commitments"

Though direct discussion concerning Azerbaijan have not been included to January session of PACE, but related issues are on the agenda of the organization, the chief of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov said.
11 January 2007 [16:53]

Azerbaijan to answer CE on its commitments late February

"Azerbaijani side has not answered the Council of Europe on fulfilling its commitments yet," said the PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteur for Azerbaijan Andres Herkel.
11 January 2007 [13:05]

ICRC officers visit captured Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mammadov for fifth time

The officers of International Committee of Red Cross Armenia Office (ICRC) visited Azerbaijani captured Soldier Samir Mammadov for the fifth time that was captured on December 24 by Armenians.
11 January 2007 [13:04]

GUAM Peacekeeping Forces to be set up by late February

The work on establishment of GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) Peacekeeping Forces will be completed by late February.
11 January 2007 [13:04]

Bernard Snoy: "Report on arsons presented to OSCE member states"

OSCE mission has presented the report on the results of the monitoring on arsons committed in the occupied Azerbaijani territories and on the border with Armenia to OSCE member states, said Bernard Snoy, the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.
11 January 2007 [02:36]

Turkish officials meet to discuss EU reforms

Turkey's foreign minister met with officials in charge of his country's relations with the European Union on Wednesday to discuss EU-demanded reforms even though the bloc has partially frozen membership negotiations with Turkey.
11 January 2007 [02:27]

6 Azerbaijani soldiers sent to Afghanistan, 7 to Kosovo

6 Azerbaijani soldiers have today been sent to Afghanistan, 7 to Kosovo concerning the rotation of peacekeepers in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
11 January 2007 [02:26]

General Prosecutor's Office held conference on results of 2006

General Prosecutor's Office held a conference on results of 2006 and future duties of the organization.
11 January 2007 [02:07]

Musavat MPs' appeal rejected

Musavat parliamentarians' appeal to hold MM extraordinary meeting in connection with the increase of prices was rejected.
11 January 2007 [02:04]

Mammadyarov to visit Kuwait

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will be on an official visit to Kuwait on January 20-21.
11 January 2007 [01:53]

Azerbaijani-Armenian front line to be monitored Thursday

Azerbaijani-Armenian front line near Yusifjanli village, the region of Agdam, will be monitored on Thursday in accordance with the mandate of the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
11 January 2007 [01:44]

Walking A Tightrope: Azerbaijan And the Politics of Iranian Nuclear Weapons

In late 2006, the Azerbaijani government announced that sanctions against Iran for its continuing nuclear program could negatively affect the entire region, that it would oppose sanctions, and instead supported a purely diplomatic, negotiated approach to the problem posed by Iran's nuclear program. This pronouncement was hardly unexpected, but it reflects the obstacles to any successful and internationally concerted program of sanctions and pressures against Iran.
11 January 2007 [01:21]

Bush resubmits nomination for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia

President George W. Bush on Tuesday re-nominated as ambassador to Armenia a career diplomat whose confirmation was blocked by Senate Democrats in the last Congress.
11 January 2007 [01:04]

Azerbaijan and Georgia: Playing Russian Roulette with Moscow

It is no secret that Russian-Georgian relations have gone from bad to worse since the 2003 Rose Revolution. Yet in December 2006, Moscow for the first time since 2000 attempted to use economic pressure against Azerbaijan, with whom it had been successfully developing bilateral ties in deep contrast to Georgia. Some experts have speculated that Georgia provided the impetus for Moscow to suddenly to increase prices for natural gas and electricity exports to Azerbaijan. Did Russia try to recruit Azerbaijan in its effort to isolate Georgia, and refused? Was this an attempt to spoil Azerbaijani-Georgian relations, and could it potentially threaten the cordial relationship that Baku has maintained with the Kremlin since 2000?
11 January 2007 [00:53]

Separatists ready to return Azerbaijani soldier Eldeniz Nuriyev

Separatist Nagorno Karabakh regime declared that they are ready to hand over Azerbaijani soldier Eldeniz Nuriyev that was captured on December 31.
11 January 2007 [00:51]

Serbian FM: "Belgrade should not sell arms to Armenia"

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic criticized arm selling to Armenia. The minister noted that the steps taken by President Tadic are contrary to Prime Minister Voislav Kostunica's opinion.
11 January 2007 [00:50]

EU Office in Azerbaijan to be opened until March

European Union Office in Azerbaijan will be opened until March, said EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby.
10 January 2007 [18:10]

Turkish PM receives Azerbaijan Interior Minister

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Azerbaijan Interior Minister Ramil Usubov, who is in Turkish capital of Ankara for official visit.
10 January 2007 [18:05]

Lukashenko intends to establish new union of Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Belarus

Belarus President Aleksander Lukashenko intends to establish Baltic-Black Sea states' Union.
10 January 2007 [17:59]

PACE mission not ready to visit region

"PACE mission to monitor the situation of cultural monuments in South Caucasus is not ready to visit the region," said the rapporteur of PACE to monitor the situation of cultural monuments in South Caucasus, parliamentarian from Great Britain Edward O'Hara.
10 January 2007 [17:54]

Leo Platvoet: "Facts on captivity of Azerbaijani soldiers will not be included in my report"

"I have no information about the captivity of three soldiers of the Azerbaijani Army. Anyway, the fact on the captivity of Azerbaijani soldiers will not be included in my report," said Leo Platvoet, PACE Rapporteur on the Missing Persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
10 January 2007 [13:40]

Azeri FM set to attend next round of talks on Karabakh

Azerbaijan's foreign minister will participate in the next round of negotiations with the Armenian foreign minister on the breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.
10 January 2007 [13:27]

Faruk Logoglu: "Turkey and Azerbaijan should start joint fight against Armenian lies"

"Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are headed by democrats who used to support Armenians. Submission of the draft law on so-called Armenian genocide to the House of Representatives was always prevented.
10 January 2007 [13:21]

Captured Azerbaijani soldier Samir Mammadov's first letter delivered to his family

The officers of International Committee of Red Cross delivered the first letter of Samir Mammadov who was captured by Armenians on December 24.
10 January 2007 [13:19]

Musavat Party Leader holds conference on price rises

The leader of Musavat Party Isa Gambar held a press conference dedicated to the rise of prices of communal services and energy supplies.
10 January 2007 [13:09]

Azeri-Latvian intergovernmental commission to meet

The official Riga requested Azerbaijani Government to hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission.