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ASHURA TO BE MARKED APRIL 5
Ashura is a tragic date in Islamic history, when Imam Hussein (son of Imam Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad), together with his 72 followers, was brutally killed in Karbala city of modern Iraq.
This year Ashura is marked on April 5, the tenth day of the Month of Prayer Muharram. The duty of each Muslim on this day is to commemorate the killed Imam and his people and pray. But Shiite Muslims usually beat themselves with chains and swords in grief, which sometimes has lethal result. The practice, however, is said to be banned by the Holy Koran.
Ashura is largely marked by Shiite Muslims, or only 10% of all Muslims. Shiite Islam is predominantly spread in Iran, Azerbaijan and Iraq. Unlike Soviet times when Azeri Muslims used to mark the tragedy in a clandestine manner, nowadays Ashura mourning is marked openly.
Especially solemn are mourning ceremonies in Iran, as Iranians encourage commemoration of Ashura in Azerbaijan as well.
JOURNALIST DENIED ACCESS TO PARLIAMENT
A "Yeni Musavat" newspaper parliament correspondent Esmira Namiqqizi was denied access to the Milli Mejlis Friday for having described the national assembly as "falsified parliament" in her newspaper stories.
According to parliament spokesman Agshin Babayev, the order was issued by the Milli Mejlis administration. E. Namiqqizi will be re-admitted if she offers an apology. Otherwise, after 2 to 3 sessions, the newspaper will be asked to send another correspondent, he said.
E. Namiqqizi has branded the denial as something illicit and pledged to sue the parliament.
GERMAN GOV’T DELEGATION EXPECTED ON VISIT
German federal minister on economic cooperation and development Mrs. Heidemary Vechorek Tsoil is expected to visit Baku April 8-10.
The minister will be accompanied by a delegation of some 30 government officials and journalists, according to the German embassy.
Mrs. Tsoil intends to get acquainted with the political, social and economic situation in the country and identify potential German contribution to the alleviation of conflicts and socio-economic development of the region. The parties will also focus on prospects of financial cooperation.
The minister is expected to travel to Yeni Yashma and Khyzy to become familiar with the course of joint projects.
INT’L EXPERIENCE IN EMERGENCIES STUDIED
A 2-day seminar "Earthquakes and consequences", organized by the UNDP and the state commission on emergencies, was held at the UN Resource Center last week.
Representatives of 40 government and non-governmental organizations were in attendance. The main objective of the seminar was to study international experience in emergencies.
Professor of Greenfield University, director of the emergencies center, UN expert Kenneth Westgate briefed participants of international practices and cooperation between government and NGOs.
CONGRESS OF WORLD AZERBAIJANIS COMING UP
A congress of Azeri communities and organizations of the world is due in Moscow September 28-30. Most of the expenses have been assumed by the "Franc Foundation".
The decision to conduct the congress was made at a conference of Azeri Diaspora in Russia and CIS countries in March, which had been organized by the very "Franc Foundation". It was attended by representatives of Azeri Diaspora from 58 regions of Russia, as well as Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Belorussia, Kazakhstan, and Moldova.
KALBAJAR OCCUPATION TURNS 8
It has been 8 years since Armenians captured the borderline Kalbajar province stretching for 105 kilometers along the border.
The province was set up in 1930. Its population prior to the occupation was 45,000 people. The province included 122 villages, 28,000 hectares of forests. Its highest mountain top was Jamish (3,724 meters above sea). The area of the province, which was frequently referred to as Azerbaijan's Urals, was 1,936 km.
HIV-INFECTED KIDS IN FOCUS
Children's Organization of Azerbaijan (COA) is expected to hold a "Children and AIDS" consultation on April 12, to be attended by representatives both of government and non-governmental organizations, the COA deputy chairperson Rukhsara Akhundova told Azernews Saturday.
According to her, there are many HIV-infected kids in Azerbaijan, something that should raise serious concern in relevant bodies.
The meeting will also focus on infants suffering from other venereal diseases. Besides, participants are expected to demand an end to the transit of Dubai-bound promiscuous women through Baku, as it poses a threat of venereal diseases, she said.
RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN VISIT BAKU
A delegation from Russian Stavropol province led by the head of the province's investment and foreign contacts section Sergey Levshkov visited Baku lately. According to a spokesman for the Stavropol governor, president of the Azerbaijan "Odlar Yurdu" society Fakhraddin Yariyev, the 18-people delegation predominantly includes businessmen.
Since arrival on March 28, the delegation held meetings at the ministries of economics, trade and agriculture to focus on ways of setting up joint ventures and collaborating in economic, cultural and technical spheres. Stavropol governor is expected to visit Azerbaijan shortly to sign a number of cooperation documents, Yariyev said.
Azerbaijan imports grain and wheat from the province. Other bilateral relations will expand after signing of the agreements, Yariyev said.
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© 1998-2003 Azernews. All Rights Reserved.
Issue No.14(196), 2001
Crucial Key West talks get startedPowell gets first chance at mediation with upper Garabagh talksPresident outraged by Iran’s minister‘Milosevic arrest must lead to his extradition to icty’, says COE PA presidentTurkey seeks to develop economic tiesEgypt‘s oil industry: overviewNews digestNationParliament newsEcologyNews in briefBusinessOil & gas news
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