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CIS DEFENSE MINISTERS COUNCIL MEETING OVER IN BAKU
The meeting of CIS Defense Ministers council completed in Baku Friday, having considered and adopted 20 documents on military and technical cooperation, results of joint military training as part of the "Southern Shield of the Commonwealth-2001" initiative, draft program of military and technical cooperation, etc.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has been elected as chairman of the council, while General Yakovlev as chief of staff for coordination of military cooperation in CIS. His candidacy will have to be approved by the CIS Summit in Minsk due on June 1.
The meeting was attended by Defense Ministers of Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, a delegation led by the staff commander for coordination of military cooperation in CIS Army General Viktor Prudnikov, as well as an aide to the Belorussian Defense Minister and a representative of Armenia.
President Aliyev received the meeting participants.
GARABAGH CONFLICT, REGIONAL SECURITY DISCUSSED IN ISTANBUL
Matters relating to regional security and stability and ways of a peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict are being discussed by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's political committee in Istanbul.
The meeting is being attended by leaders of a number of PACE committees and commissions.
Representing Azerbaijan is the chairman of the parliament's permanent commission on international relations and inter-parliamentary contacts Samad Seyidov and MP from the PFPA Asim Mollazadeh.
PACE EXPERTS TO PREPARE REPORT ON AZERI REFUGEES
Azeri and Georgian parliament members spoke of the life and problems of refugees and IDPs from Upper Garabagh, Abkhazia and South Osetia, as they attended a two-day international conference in Baku organized by the PACE Committee for Migration, Refugees and Demography.
MP Ilham Aliyev said in his remarks that Armenia has occupied Azeri lands, which is openly admitted by Armenian government.
Addressing the conference was also the head of Armenian State Department for Refugees Mr. Yeganian, who said half of Armenia's population had left the country.
Another Azeri MP Bakhtiyar Aliyev said the Azerbaijan government fully subscribes to the opinion of PACE experts that it is possible to return refugees to their homes without waiting until the conflicts are resolved. However, it is, first of all, necessary to provide for suitable conditions for this to happen.
Chairman of the PACE committee Tadeus Iwinski said it was important to resume a dialog at the level of MPs in an effort to restore shattered peace in the region. In his opinion, by so doing the parties can approach lasting peace.
Mr. Iwinski added that results of the conference would be summarized in the form of a report, while the next conference is due in Yerevan next year.
In a subsequent news conference, the Council of Europe spokesman on refugees in Azerbaijan and Armenia Mrs. Vermouth-Mangold said a report would be prepared on the issue and discussions held at the PACE and the committee.
On Saturday, the conference participants will travel to refugee camps and settlements around Baku.
OSCE OFFICE PICKETED ON LACHIN OCCUPATION ANNIVERSARY
On May 17, the 9th anniversary of the occupation of Lachin, around 50 refugees from the province picketed the Baku office of the OSCE on the initiative of the Garabagh Liberation Organization.
The refugees voiced protest to the participation of an Armenian representative in a conference in Baku dedicated to the problem of refugees in South Caucasus. Protests were also voiced to the invitation of an Armenian officer to attend the CIS Defense Ministers Council.
The protesters blamed international organizations, the OSCE Minsk Group in particular, for the inability to resolve the Upper Garabagh problem. A resolution was handed to the OSCE office, saying that as long as Armenia's occupant regime does not face international court and is held accountable, the people of Azerbaijan must not maintain any relations with Armenia.
International organizations must be assertive in punishing Armenia, otherwise the people of Azerbaijan will liberate their lands in a military way, "there is no other option than military one today", the resolution says.
The picket was not interrupted by police.
The Day of Remembrance of Lachin was also marked in the Alley of Martyrs on the initiative of "Lachin" association and the Garabagh Liberation Organization. Taking part in the action were refugees, local senior executives, as well as representatives of the PFPA, Musavat and Geyrat parties.
After tribute was paid to those killed in the war, a small manifestation was held in the Alley, as former mayor of Lachin Azer Mammadov said if Armenians were granted the Lachin Corridor, it would mean that Garabagh was being separated from Azerbaijan.
Lachin, with population of 60,415 people located between Armenia and Upper Garabagh, used to cover an area of 1,883 square kilometers before the occupation. At present, 126 villages and settlements, 14 historical monuments, 108 educational institutions, 217 culture centers, 142 clinics, 48 industrial and 63 agricultural enterprises are under Armenian occupation. More than 320 residents of Lachin perished when fighting against Armenian invaders. Refugees from Lachin have been accommodated in 58 provinces of Azerbaijan.
EU KNOW MORE ABOUT US NOW
The second meeting of the European Union-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary cooperation committee completed Tuesday, as Greek ambassador Mercurios Karafotias stated in a subsequent news conference that EU representatives had been provided with detailed information about Azerbaijan.
Head of the European parliament delegation Mrs. Ursula Schleischer said the findings would help the European community resolve many of the problems Azerbaijan is facing. She indicated that there are 6 agreements on cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan at present. Asked about the possibility of Azerbaijan's acceptance to the EU, Mrs. Schleischer said Azerbaijan has to carry out major reforms in the areas of public health, ecology and human rights. Touching upon the Garabagh problem, the EU official spoke highly of the OSCE Minsk Group toward its resolution. The European parliament delegation was received by President Aliyev Tuesday.
AZERBAIJAN, ITALY TO SIGN THREE CO-OP DOCUMENTS
Three new Italian-Azeri agreements have been prepared: on avoiding double taxation, on cooperation in the areas of culture and defense, according to the Italian ambassador Mrs. Margarita Costa. All the three documents are to be signed in early June.
Mrs. Costa said Italy had provided one seat in its Diplomatic Academy to Azerbaijan. In regard to cultural cooperation, she said a Paganini Violin would be brought from Italy and a concert of Azeri violinists organized.
UN PREPARES AZERBAIJAN COUNTRY REPORT
The UN office in Azerbaijan held a seminar at Hyatt Regency last week as part of the "State evaluation of the Azerbaijan Republic" project, which comprises 8 chapters: demographic development, economic and social development, human rights, migration, food safety, public health and medical service, education and children, and ecology. Working groups comprising government representatives, NGOs and experts were set up to prepare the final version of the project. The project will be submitted to all UN member-states.
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Issue No.21(203), 2001
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