Nation

SUMMER CAMP

By Nigar Garibova Information/Reporting Officer IFRC

12 August 2001 marked the end of a Pilot Summer Camp Project implemented by the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society under supervision of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation). This project was a component part of the Children Support Program (CSP) and targeted 40 most vulnerable children living in the Southern Camps (Sabirabad, Saatli and Bilasuvar) as well as 10 orphaned children from the Lenkaran Boarding School. Drina Karahasanovic, Community Development Delegate recalls the time when the CSP had been just initiated: "We started with a small number of those interested and now we have about 100 volunteers involved in the Program. Ilham.Isgenderov and Solmaz Maharramova - Sabirabad Regional Center's staff, and all our volunteers - Natig Aliyev, Samira Latifova, Rovshan Kerimov, Tarana Guliyeva, Elvina Rasulova and Almaz Bagirova - did a really very good job and now we may say that this Pilot Project succeeded. We intend to re-launch it next summer. Besides, it would be a good opportunity for the AzRC to raise some funds to achieve self-sustainability of the project in future." The Project funded by the Swedish Red Cross started on 24 July 2001 and hosted children in two ten-days shifts, 25 children in each. Local authorities of Lenkoran region contributed with beds and electricity supply, while the Ministry of Sport allocated accommodation for the children. The Federation supported by the funds of the Swedish Red Cross, provided transportation, food and logistics support to the Project.

COMMISSION ON GABALA RADAR STATION COMPLETING WORK

The state commission on the Gabala radar station is expected to complete its work within a month, according to the minister for natural resources and ecology Husseingulu Bagirov.

After the work results are analyzed, the commission will report on its findings to President Aliyev. Afterwards, the talks with Russia will be on agenda.

According to the minister, the environmental impact of the radar station is not as huge as it is described in mass media.

"I would even say that some experts deliberately embellish the ecological complications. Of course, it is beyond a doubt that the station does damage the ecology. If the commission agrees that the damage it causes to the nature and the population is considerable, then the talks can take a different turn. In the meantime, however, while the commission results are being processed, it is impossible to say anything about the status of the station", the minister said.

CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETS WITH IRANIAN AMBASSADOR

The Consultative Assembly of pro-governmental parties has held a closed-door meeting with Iranian ambassador Ahad Gazai to discuss the Iranian-Azeri relations. Spokesman for the Ana Vatan Party Zahid Oruj told AssA-Irada Tuesday that the parties decided not to divulge any information about the meeting. Z. Oruj said the meeting was very important, as each member of the Assembly vented his fury over Iran's repeated violation of Azerbaijan's air space.

MOD DISMISSES EXERCISE RUMORS

Some media reported Thursday that an Azeri National Army unit has launched military training in the Caspian Sea. Defense Minister Safar Abiyev was said to be supervising the training. The media further claimed that the exercises were taking place at the time when Iran continued its aggressive raids into the Azerbaijan territorial waters in southern Caspian. The reports also quoted some Azeri military figures as saying that the Azerbaijan army is no weaker than the Iranian despite some drawbacks and dilapidated equipment.

However, the MOD has dismissed the information.

ELCHIBAY REMEMBRANCE PLANS RELEASED

The Elchibay remembrance committee met Friday as some 50 members representing various political parties elected a renowned poet Ramiz Rovshan as chairman. The meeting also set up a working group of 9.

It was proposed to ask the authorities to mark August 22 on the state level, to hold nationwide remembrance parties, poetic contests, etc. It was decided to conduct another meeting of the committee, of which the press will be notified two days earlier.

MINISTRY APPARATUS TO BE RESHUFFLED

Considerable staff cuts are in the offing in the central apparatus of the Ministry for Ecology and Natural Resources. However, the fired will not remain jobless, Minister Husseingulu Bagirov said Thursday.

The minister also pointed out to the deplorable condition of forests in Azerbaijan.

"In our country, one and the same government agency is responsible both for felling forest trees and preserving them. We must create a system that would save forests", he said.

LAKE DRYING TO END THIS MONTH

The Mayor of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov has stated that drying of Ganligol lake is expected to complete later this month, as water from this artificial reservoir is being pumped into the municipal sewer system and discharged into the Caspian after being purified at the aeration center in Hovsan.

According to Mr. Abutalibov, the territory the lake now covers will be given a new life.

As to the desire of a Canadian construction company, "Stonpey" to acquire the land plot for subsequent construction works, H. Abutalibov said the company, first of all, had to fulfill the commitments it had undertaken.

PROSECUTORS THREATEN TO SUE ANS TV

General Prosecutor's Office intends to sue ANS TV channel for blaming Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov of drunkenness in a "Khabarchi" program. All other media spreading the misinformation are threatened with similar measures.

This and other allegations were first voiced by sacked prosecutors in a news conference on August 7.

Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Journalists Aflatun Amashov believes that the Prosecutor's Office has taken a wrong position. According to him, Article 62 of the law "On mass media" envisages that journalists cannot be held accountable for the information released during a news conference.

FIRST CASPIAN SUMMIT IN PREPARATION

The first ever meeting of Caspian nations' presidents is planned to take place in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, as a special working group comprising deputy foreign ministers of the five littoral countries is currently making preparations for the meeting.

According to the deputy foreign minister of Russia, Russian President's Caspian status negotiator Viktor Kalyuzhny, the exact date of the summit is now being ascertained. The group is expected to meet next in Astana, Kazakhstan, in September.

In an exclusive interview with ITAR-TASS news agency, V. Kalyuzhny said, "The summit is expected to adopt a declaration outlining the parties' positions". According to him, the views of Caspian nations on the status issue are gradually nearing. The importance of systematic Russian-Iranian consultations on the status issue was highlighted during a meeting with Iranian deputy foreign minister Ali Ahani in Moscow on August 9, as the parties agreed to continue the exchange of views.

Mr. Kalyuzhny mentioned that Tehran stands for Caspian division into 5 equal sectors. "This rubs directly against the positions of Moscow, Astana and Baku, which want to divide the seabed with a modified median line, while leaving much of the water reserves in common use. Ashgabat tends to be joining this position on certain conditions", he said.

The Russian diplomat did not rule out the fact that the Caspian Group of Five may soon develop into a regional organization of multifaceted cooperation, as the countries have a lot in common.

NO PLAGUE OR CHOLERA THREAT IN AZERBAIJAN

Various media sources have recently reported of an outbreak of cholera and plague epidemics in Tatarstan and Kazakhstan respectively.

According to the director of the plague prevention station under the Ministry of Health Dr. Magsud Gasimov, there are 3 places of potential plague epidemic in Azerbaijan, which are under permanent control of the station. As a result of such attention, there have been no plague cases in Azerbaijan for 30 years. For cholera prophylactics, water from all open reservoirs is subject to daily laboratory analyses and if a source of cholera is detected, the use of water from the body is banned.

The station is currently enforcing measures of control at airports and on the railway, M. Gasimov said.