 | Nation |
SHUSHA OCCUPATION TURNS 9
The occupation of Shusha, one of Azerbaijan's most beautiful towns in Upper Garabagh, will turn 9 years on May 8. The day marked throughout the republic, by all political parties and public organizations. The state committee on refugees provided bed linen to over 400 war-victim and disabled families from Shusha.
The "Day of Shusha" action was held in the Alley of Martyrs on the 9th anniversary of the occupation of Shusha on the initiative of the "Freedom to Garabagh" organization.
Speakers suggested that May 8 be announced as the Day of occupied territories, condemned the proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group and demanded that only UN SC resolutions be taken into consideration in resolving the Upper Garabagh conflict. It was also demanded that the authorities officially announce, at least at the level of the Milli Mejlis, that they would not sign any document hurting the interests of Azerbaijan. "There is no Azerbaijan without Shusha and Lachin", the protesters said.
244 historical monuments, 77 cultural institutions, 10 agricultural farms, 24 medical clinics, 26 schools, as well as 30 residential settlements and villages are currently under Armenian occupation.
Now, the population of Shusha has found refuge in more than 48 provinces of Azerbaijan.
The town was founded in 1750 by Azeri Khan Panah. In the 18-20th centuries, the town played an important role in Azerbaijan's cultural life. It was from Shusha that a number of Azerbaijan's famous poets, composers, singers and musicians originated. The names of poetess Natavan, composer Uzeir Hajibayov, singers Bul-Bul and Rashid Behbudov, conductor Niyazi, musical dynasties of the Hajibayovs and Badalbayli are known to all.
CASPIAN STATUS HIGH ON AGENDA
Caspian status issue was back in the spotlight last week. Turkmenistan and Iran appeared to have taken tough positions in the issue, while Kazakhstan foreign minister has come out with an initiative to sign a bilateral agreement with Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the working groups of five coastal nations on the legal status of the sea, due in Baku on May 15-16, is expected to discuss and prepare the agenda of the subsequent summit of Caspian presidents.
The presidents of littoral countries are expected to sign a political statement to be developed by working groups.
Turkmenistan threatened Azerbaijan with International Court and called on foreign companies to halt oil production from disputed offshore fields. According to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry's diplomatic note the Azeri-Turkmen two-day talks over Caspian status issue, held in Ashgabad, "did not bring" any results due to the "non-constructive position" of Azerbaijan.
The note has been handed to the head of Azeri delegation, Deputy Minister of foreign affairs Mr. Khalafov.
The note called on Azerbaijan "to halt any exploration and production of hydrocarbons, as well as any seismic surveys of the oil-fields, located in the disputed areas, until the issue of determination of the medium line is resolved".
The disputed offshore fields are Azeri, Chirag and Kyapaz (these fields are referred by Turkmenistan as Osman, Hazar and Serdar respectively).
Meanwhile, the Iranian clerical leader Ayatolla Khamnei stated on May 3 his non-recognition of Caspian status deals concluded to this end. According to him, Caspian belongs to all of the littoral states and Iran will not allow anyone to expand its influence in the region by entering into agreements with other coastal nations.
In the meantime, The Kazakh Foreign Ministry has come out with an initiative to sign a bilateral agreement with Azerbaijan on dividing the Caspian sea bed along a modified median line. Russian Interfax reports that Foreign Minister Y. Idrisov submitted his proposal on this issue to Prime Minister K. Tokayev.
The Kazakh Foreign Minister believes that "it will require additional efforts and time to achieve a consensus on the legal status of the Caspian on a five-sided format (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan)".
The preliminary agreement on the issue was achieved in 1997, when Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan agreed "to adhere to the borders of the sectors along the median line" until a convention on the Caspian legal status is signed.
Kazakhstan seems anxious to go ahead with signing of the bilateral agreement.
IRAVAN-ZANGAZUR REPRESENTATION IN EMIGRATION BEING SET UP
The Azerbaijan Center for Strategic Researches has come up with the idea of establishing the representation of the Iravan-Zahgazur in emigration.The recent consultations held within the human rights committee of world Azeris decided to continue discussions on determining the composition of the organizing committee, which would convene the first congress of Azeris from Iravan and Zangazur, originally Azeri lands that were handed over to Armenia in the 1920s. It was also decided to set up a working group to prepare and distribute the necessary documents, to register people ousted from Iravan and Zangazur and to attend to other technical issues.
The committee is expected to meet again on May 12.
RENOWNED RESEARCHER IN BAKU
By Anar Jabrayilli Azernews Staff Writer
The Center for Islamic Researches "Irshad" is organizing a visit to Azerbaijan by a renowned scholar, author of many of the Holy Koran definitions Mrs. Iman-Valeria Porokhova on May 7-10.
The visit by the academician is intended to inform the Azerbaijan community of the humanitarian mission of Islam in the period of transition.
Mrs. Porokhova will also provide explanations and definitions of the role of religion in state and public development and its potential in resolving conflicts between human beings and the society, among human beings themselves, etc.
As part of the visit, a round-table was held at "Irshad" and attended by scholars of Islam.
Participants discussed issues relating to the place Islam holds internationally. Also on agenda was the issue of missionary activities. It was indicated that it undermines the spiritual balance that takes years to shape among various religious communities that traditionally exist in Azerbaijan.
Also scheduled are meetings at the Slavonic University and interviews with Space, Lider and ANS TV channels.
GREEK MOD OFFERS TRAINING TO AZERI OFFICERS
Greek Defense Ministry has offered 5 seats in its military schools to Azeri officers. According to the Greek ambassador Mercurios Karafotias, Greece has assumed all expenses on their education and accommodation. He also indicated that last November Greek MOD had presented Azerbaijan with two mini-buses and a computer system.
Touching upon prospects of military cooperation, the diplomat said a draft agreement on it had been forwarded to the Azerbaijan party.
ECO FOREIGN MINISTERS ADOPT COMMUNIQUE
The 11th meeting of the council of foreign ministers of Economic Cooperation Organization in Dushanbe, attended by Azeri foreign minister Vilayat Guliyev, heard the report by the council of permanent representatives and approved the Organization's budget for 2001, the report of the 11th meeting of the regional planning council and the ECO work program for 2001.
Addressing the meeting Mr. Guliyev said Azerbaijan was interested in strengthening cooperation with ECO member-states and participating in major economic projects being implemented as part of the Organization, including transport, trade, energy, and communication ones.
The Dushanbe communique was adopted after the meeting.
The Azeri minister was received by Tajik President Imamali Rahmonov, as the two spoke of bilateral cooperation within ECO framework. Mr. Guliyev also met with his Tajik counterpart and other delegations attending the meeting, MFA told AssA-Irada Tuesday.
GARABAGH WAR DISABLED SEEKING AID FROM INT'L ORGANIZATIONS
A meeting of the human rights committee for the Garabagh war disabled held at the Human Rights Resource Center last Wednesday was attended by members of the liquidated Society of the Garabagh War Disabled. The meeting focused on the possibility of using the assistance of international organization in rehabilitating the rights of the Society members.
The society's lawyer Aslan Ismayilov said the UN Human Rights Committee due to meet in June would also review the materials forwarded by the Society.
Send it to friend
© 1998-2003 Azernews. All Rights Reserved.
Issue No.19(201), 2001
Cavanaugh negotiates upcoming geneva talks with AliyevConference on Garabagh in GermanyOpposition outlines Garabagh settlement principlesBP launches new stageNews digestNationParliament newsOpposition newsBusinessOil & gas news
Contact: Fazil F. Abbasov
Address: 370002, Baku, 85 S. Asgarova, 3-rd floor
Tel: (99412) 949 373, 946 542, 956 905
Fax: (99412) 958 537, 989 240
Email: azernews@azeurotel.com
