Politics

02 October 2006 [18:32]

Russia imposes travel blockade on Georgia amid spying row

Russia's government reacted Monday against neighboring Georgia's decision to arrest five Russian servicemen last week on suspicion of espionage with a sweeping ban on travel and postal links.
02 October 2006 [18:28]

President Aliyev meets Bosnian Minister of Communications and Transport

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Branko Dokic, the minister of Transport and Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
02 October 2006 [18:26]

President Aliyev meets Turkish Minister of Communications and Transport

On October 2, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Turkish delegation led by the country’s Minister of Communications and Transport Binali Yildirim.
02 October 2006 [18:22]

President Aliyev: "No trade-offs in Karabakh issue during my presidency"

President Ilham Aliyev participated in the opening of the parliament's autumn session.
02 October 2006 [18:18]

Parliament's autumn session starts

The first sitting of Azerbaijani parliament's autumn session was held.
02 October 2006 [15:41]

Miliyyet: "Armenian Games of The Dinosaur"

Newsweek International Editor Fareed Zakaria once described French President Jacques Chirac this way: 'Chirac, the tired old dinosaur who seems increasingly uncomprehending of today's world.'
02 October 2006 [14:43]

President Aliyev receives OSCE MG Co-Chairs

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs of the Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier (France) and Mathew Bryza (US).
02 October 2006 [14:38]

Ambassador Anne E. Derse: "U.S. has always supported development of democracy in Azerbaijan"

"U.S. has always supported development of democracy in Azerbaijan," U.S. Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Anne E. Derse said on the occasion of the opening of the Parliament's autumn session.
02 October 2006 [12:49]

Azerbaijan to present report on narcotics to EU

Azerbaijan is drawing up a report on narcological situation and SCAD-4 project results to EU, said Mazahir Afandiyev, South Caucasus Anti-Drug Program coordinator.
02 October 2006 [12:46]

Rza Veziri: "It's up to Azerbaijani Government to prevent exploitation of gold deposits by Armenians"

Armenian government, foreign companies, US State Department, British Foreign Ministry, and UN have not reacted to the protest of the Azerbaijan International Mining Operating Company (AIMOC) against exploitation of gold deposits in Armenian-occupied Azerbaijan territories, said Rza Veziri, AIMOC president.
02 October 2006 [12:43]

PACE Autumn Session starts in Strasbourg

Debates on the situation in the Balkans and on Kosovo, as well as an address by Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, will be among highlights of the Autumn session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), to be held in Strasbourg from 2 to 6 October 2006.
02 October 2006 [10:46]

OSCE MG Co-Chairs arrived to Azerbaijan

They will hold the next round of talks with Azerbajan's leadership.
02 October 2006 [09:26]

ANAS Human Rights Institute director: "OSCE Minsk Group failed to reach any progress"

"OSCE Minsk Group failed to reach any progress in the settlement of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict. The co-chairs realize this themselves. We suggest the UN to establish a new group to mediate in the solution of the conflict. This new group should solve all conflicts in South Caucasus," Rovshan Mustafayev, Azerbaijan National Academy of Science Human Rights Institute director & co-chair of Baku Club told journalists.
02 October 2006 [00:06]

Iran lashes out at new U.S. sanctions bill

Iran on Sunday lashed out at a new U.S. bill of sanctions on entities or countries that provide goods or services for Iran's weapons programs.
02 October 2006 [00:03]

Tension between Russia, Georgia heats up

The Cold War is long over, but the tension between Georgia and Russia revisits many of its issues - allegations of spying by Moscow, suspicions of interference by the United States and concerns that a hot war will start without some sort of compromise.
01 October 2006 [15:17]

President Aliyev congratulates Nigerian President

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a message to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo congratulating him and the people of his country on the occasion of the Independence Day.
01 October 2006 [14:35]

OSCE Chairman in touch with Russia and Georgia to try to ease rising tensions over "spy" case

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, said on Sunday he was in close contact with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to try to decrease tensions over the case of four Russian military officers detained in Georgia for alleged spying.
01 October 2006 [13:42]

President Aliyev congratulates Hu Jintao

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a message to President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao to congratulate him and the people of his country on the occasion of the National Day.
01 October 2006 [12:27]

US president signs Iran sanctions bill

President George W. Bush signed legislation that would impose mandatory sanctions on entities that provide goods or services for Iran's weapons programs.
01 October 2006 [12:06]

President Aliyev sends get-well message to Cuba's ailing Castro

Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, sent a message to the ailing Fidel Castro wishing for his steady recovery and calling for stronger ties between the two countries.
30 September 2006 [16:32]

Chirac: "The last step should be taken to achieve peace in Karabakh problem"

"As a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, France has been closely participating in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict for over ten years. I want to believe that it is high time to achieve peace accord," French President Jacques Chirac stated in Armenia.
30 September 2006 [15:54]

US intends to accelerate Georgia's integration into NATO

Law draft for Georgia's integration into the NATO is already brought to Senate of the USA.
30 September 2006 [15:51]

Russia suspends plans for further troop withdrawal from Georgia

Russia says it has suspended plans for further withdrawal of its troops from Georgia amid worsening relations between the two neighbors.
30 September 2006 [15:31]

Chirac: "Turkey should recognize "Armenian genocide" for EU membership"

France's President Jacques Chirac visited monuments of the false "Armenian genocide victims" in Yerevan.
30 September 2006 [15:12]

Public debate on separatism held in Baku

Public debate on "Separatism and Caucasus without separatists" were held in the frames of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Human Rights Institute Baku club meeting.
30 September 2006 [15:03]

Pata Davitaya: "Russian intelligence sent Armenian spies to Georgia"

"Armenians' autonomy in Georgia is out of question. We perfectly realize their aim," Pata Davitaya, Georgian parliamentarian and UN International Academy of Information member told journalists.
30 September 2006 [15:00]

Georgian MP calls Armenian general provoker

Armenian general should be called to account for having fought against Azerbaijan in Karabakh.
30 September 2006 [14:45]

Russia deploys military to the border with Georgia

Russia deploys military force to the border with Georgia, Vano Merabishvili, Georgian Interior Minister said.
30 September 2006 [14:39]

Offer on closed Musavat Assembly refused

Today at 11 a.m. the Assembly of Musavat Party started its meeting.
30 September 2006 [14:16]

US Senate sends Iran sanctions bill to the president

The Senate, with no debate Saturday, passed and sent to the president legislation that would impose mandatory sanctions on entities that provide goods or services for Iran's weapons programs.
30 September 2006 [14:12]

Ukraine denies sale of sophisticated radar to Iran

According to an IRNA report, Kiev ruled out certain media reports that it wants to sell Kolchuga early warning radar systems to Iran.
30 September 2006 [14:07]

Turkish navy chief joins other military leaders in warning of growing Islamist threat

Turkey's top naval commander joined other military leaders in speaking out against growing Islamist threats within Turkey, warning Friday that the military would not allow any concessions over the principle of secularism.
30 September 2006 [14:04]

Turkey rejects Ocalan's offer

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected a ceasefire call by Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, urging Kurdish separatists instead to abandon their fight against security forces.
30 September 2006 [13:58]

NATO, EU urge calm in Russia-Georgia row

NATO, the United States, and the EU have all attempted to calm the escalating spy row between Russia and Georgia.
30 September 2006 [13:55]

Armenia concerned about Russian-Georgian crisis

Armenia on Friday expressed serious concern at the escalating crisis between neighboring Georgia and Russia and again denied any responsibility for Russian espionage alleged by Tbilisi.
30 September 2006 [13:52]

Armenian Jewish Community leader criticizes Environment Minister for antisemitic comment

The head of Armenia's Jewish community, Rimma Varzhapetian, publicly criticized the country's minister of the environment for making an antisemitic comment.
30 September 2006 [13:50]

Chirac begins 3-day visit to Armenia

French President Jacques Chirac arrived in Armenia Friday on a three-day visit to this ex-Soviet Caucasus nation.
30 September 2006 [13:48]

Ankara resolute over Armenian bill, sole concern ties with France

The French National Assembly has decided to vote in the coming days on a highly contentious bill -- shelved last spring, leading to dismay and anger among the Armenian diaspora in France -- that penalizes any denial of an alleged Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.
30 September 2006 [13:31]

British MP to visit Azerbaijan

The member of the House of Lords in the British Parliament Baroness Vivien Sterr, Governor of Edinburgh Prison David Croft and Deputy Director of the John Smith Memorial Trust Joanna Lamb will be visiting Azerbaijan on October 2.
30 September 2006 [13:28]

National holiday of China marked in Baku

On September 29, Chinese Embassy arranged a ceremony dedicated to the 57th anniversary of proclamation of the People's Republic of China.
30 September 2006 [13:17]

Spanish company works in occupied territories

Spain's company engaged in woodwork in the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani lands.
30 September 2006 [13:06]

CEC holds regular meeting

Regular meeting of Central Election Commission chaired by Mazahir Panahov was held Sept. 29.
30 September 2006 [12:56]

Cuba invites Azerbaijan to apply for membership in Non Aligned Movement

Cuba and Azerbaijan signed two accords Friday to promote dialogue and bilateral cooperation at the same time promising to defend a peace, stability and equitable development agenda in international forums.
30 September 2006 [12:44]

The Aliyev brothers' lawyer: "Authorities violated the presumption of innocence"

Charles Both, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer for Farhad and Rafiq Aliev, said the authorities have violated both Azerbaijani law and international human rights norms.
30 September 2006 [12:01]

Council of Europe election observation mission announced

Council of Europe will send an election observation mission leaded by Romanian Lyudmila Sfirloaga to observe local elections in Azerbaijan scheduled for 6 October.
30 September 2006 [11:55]

Masalli and Yardimli regions' heads of executive powers substituted

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev issued an executive order on dismissal of head of executive power of Masalli region Ogtay Aliyev.
30 September 2006 [10:27]

Damage to Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia costs $80-100bn

"The damage to the real estate in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces costs USD80-100bn with consideration of the present inflation," State Real Estate Registration Service (SRERS) chairman Arif Garashov said.
30 September 2006 [10:18]

Turkish MP Zuheyir Amber: "Turkey cannot possibly build diplomatic relations with Armenia now"

"The exclusion of Turkish candidates from the list for their rejecting false "Armenian genocide" in the Netherlands have nothing to do with democracy even with humanness," Turkish parliamentarian from ANAP party, member of foreign relations commission Zubeyir Amber told.
29 September 2006 [19:09]

National Independence Party of Azerbaijan rallies for Azeris in Iran

Parliamentary elections in November 2005 brought severe negative consequences for the Azerbaijani opposition.
29 September 2006 [19:01]

Emergencies Ministry and French Embassy sign letter of intent

Minister of Emergency Situations Col. Gen. Kamaladdin Heydarov has received French ambassador to Azerbaijan Bernard Amaudric du Chaffaut.
29 September 2006 [18:56]

Vartan Oskanian: "UN Security Council's decisions are binding"

"Armenia can start war only after Azerbaijan's attack," Vartan Oskanian, Armenian Foreign Minister stated at the press conference.
29 September 2006 [18:42]

Azeri Foreign Minister visits Cuba for the first time

Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Cuban counterpart Felipe Perez Roque are due to sign Friday in Cuban capital of Havana an inter-ministerial accord for the exemption of visas.
29 September 2006 [15:33]

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to visit Azerbaijan

Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza (US), Bernard Fasier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), who are mediating in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, will visit Azerbaijan on October 2 this year, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Taghizadeh told.
29 September 2006 [15:20]

Russian envoy to Georgia blasts espionage charges

Russia's ambassador to Georgia continued Moscow's diplomatic attack on Tbilisi Friday dismissing espionage charges brought against four officers stationed in the capital.
29 September 2006 [15:18]

Russian MP urges vigorous action against Georgia over scandal

A senior Russian MP launched a vitriolic attack on the Georgian leadership Friday and called on Russia's government to use every available lever to pressure Tbilisi over an acrimonious espionage scandal.
29 September 2006 [14:43]

Custom's Chief meets US Ambassador

Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Lieut. Gen. Aydin Aliyev met September 28 with US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mrs. Anne Derse.
29 September 2006 [14:29]

Azeri official rejects Armenian FM's accusations

On September 27, representative of Azerbaijan exercised the Right of Reply on the last day of the general debates at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly to make some things clear about the statements made by Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian at the General Assembly.
29 September 2006 [14:26]

Azeri envoy meets Kazakh official

Latif Gandilov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Kazakhstan met with S. Abdurrahmanov, Chairman of the Committee for International Affairs, Defense and Security of the lower chamber of Kazakhstan Parliament (Majlis).
29 September 2006 [14:22]

Kazakhstan President discussed Caspian gas pipe construction with US Energy Secretary

"Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, at a meeting with Samuel Bodman, US Secretary of Energy, discussed construction of a Caspian gas pipeline and peaceful atom development," Karim Massimov, Vice Premier, Minister of Economy and Budget Planning has stated this at a briefing for journalists.
29 September 2006 [14:03]

Former Azpetrol president Rafig Aliyev faces new accusations

Former president of Azpetrol Group of Companies Rafig Aliyev faced new accusations on September 28, Jamil Hasanli, Rafig and Farhad Aliyevs' Rights Defense Committee chief told journalists.
29 September 2006 [13:59]

Farhad Aliyev appeals to intellectuals and MPs

Azerbaijani imprisoned ex-economic development minister Farhad Aliyev appealed to intellectuals and parliamentarians.
29 September 2006 [13:54]

Farhad Aliyev's real estates seized

Ex-minister of economic development Farhad Aliyev's real estates including the properties registered as those of some legal entities were seized by a court decision, State Real Estate Registration Service chairman Arif Garashov said.
29 September 2006 [13:52]

Russia will not turn Pichugin over to Georgia

Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko has confirmed that Lieut. Col. Konstantin Pichugin is staying at the headquarters of the Group of Russian Troops in the Transcaucasia in Tbilisi.
29 September 2006 [13:49]

Georgia says 1 Russian released, 4 charged with espionage

The Georgian Interior Ministry said Friday that one Russian serviceman has been released and four officially charged with espionage in a scandal that threatens to wreck already tense bilateral relations.
29 September 2006 [13:46]

Iran says again: no uranium enrichment moratorium

Iran's foreign minister reiterated Friday the Islamic Republic's position that it does not see any reason to announce a moratorium on its uranium enrichment program.
29 September 2006 [13:43]

Pentagon apologizes for "Kurdistan" map incident in Rome

The US Department of Defense at the Pentagon has apologized to Turkey for an incident in which an American lieutenant colonel used a map showing 18 different cities in Turkey inside an area labeled "Kurdistan" during a seminar at the Rome-based NATO Defense College.
29 September 2006 [13:38]

President Aliyev to address Parliament

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev will address the first sitting of Milli Majlis autumn session on October 2.
29 September 2006 [13:31]

President Aliyev to pay a two-day working visit to Latvia

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to arrive in Latvia for a two-day working visit next Wednesday [Oct. 4], a spokeswoman for Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said.
29 September 2006 [10:16]

Azerbaijani appeals court upholds conviction of opposition activists

An appeals court on Thursday upheld the conviction of three Azerbaijani opposition youth activists on charges of attempting to stage a coup, but reduced a prison term for one of them.
29 September 2006 [10:14]

Robert Kocharyan: "We accept both independence and inclusion of Nagorno Karabakh into Armenia"

"We accept both Nagorno Karabakh's independence and its inclusion into Armenia," Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in his interview to Al-Jazeera TV channel.
29 September 2006 [09:58]

Portugal squad for Azerbaijan match

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has called up two uncapped defenders to his squad for next month's Euro 2008 qualifier against Azerbaijan.
29 September 2006 [08:53]

Asim Mollazadeh meets with Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan

Leader of Democratic Reforms Party (DRP) Asim Mollazadeh met with Russian ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov.
29 September 2006 [08:09]

Armenian Minister insults Jewish people

Armenian Environment Protection Minister Vardan Ayvazyan made insulting remarks against Jews which angered the Jewish community of the country.
28 September 2006 [16:23]

Baku to host 1st Forum of Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora organizations

The State Committee for Azerbaijanis Abroad (SCAA) prepares for the first Forum of Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas to be held in Baku in March next year, SCAA chief Nazim Ibrahimov told the press conference.
28 September 2006 [16:09]

Udo Burkwolder: "Azerbaijan needs tolerance and time to solve uncontrolled border problems"

Press conference was held in Baku devoted to the end of the meeting of the heads of border departments' working group of the International Border Issues Conference (SIOFOK Conference).