Nation

TURKSOY PRESENTS H. ALIYEV WITH GOLDEN PLATE

President Aliyev received participants of the 15th meeting of the TURKSOY permanent council of ministers of culture last week. Mentioning that the objective of the organization is to contribute to the unity of history and culture of Turkic nations, the head of state highlighted the importance of restoring the lost values.

On behalf of TURKSOY, H. Aliyev was presented with a specially made golden plate.

Earlier, 12 Turkic ministers and deputy ministers of culture signed a declaration saying that TURKSOY should step up efforts at propagating Turkic culture and maintain closer cooperation with UNESCO. To propagate Turkic language and culture, a week of Turkic languages will be held in Paris in April. It has been decided to prepare a calendar of history and culture of Turkic nations for the occasion.

Azeri minister for culture Polad Bul-Bul Oglu has been elected as secretary general of TURKSOY again. A new position of a coordinator has been established, to be subject to re-election once every six months. Turkish deputy minister Kamal Ganj has become the first coordinator.

The 16th meeting will be held in Izmir, Turkey, in June 2001.

US APPROVES PUTIN AND ROBERTSON VISITS

President Aliyev received the US ambassador Ross Wilson last week to exchange views on the outcomes of recent visits by Russian President Putin and the Nato secretary general Robertson to Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Wilson said a number of key officials in the new US administration, including the new Secretary of State General Powel, are taking a particular interest in the Caucasus.

President Aliyev, in his turn, asked the US diplomat about the letter by a group of US Senators to President Clinton over the need to repeal Section 907.

He also described General Powel's interest in the Caucasus as commendable and voiced his readiness to talk over the issue.

NO SECOND REPEAT ELECTION

A Constitutional Court decision to approve results of the repeat parliamentary elections in 11 constituencies was announced by the CEC Tuesday. The 11 MPs are expected to receive ID cards of MM members.

Besides, chairman of the CEC M. Panahov stressed the importance of setting a date for additional municipal elections in 42 of 83 constituencies where around 200 municipal council members are to be elected. The CEC agreed that a decision on the issue would be made shortly.

"PUTIN's VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN IS ALSO ONE TO GEORGIA", SAYS SHEVARDNADZE

"I value President Putin's visit to Azerbaijan very highly and think it is also a visit to Georgia", Georgian President Edward Shevardnadze told local and foreign journalists Thursday.

Georgian president attached a particular importance to Putin's visit to Azerbaijan in his briefing, saying it carries tremendous significance both for Azerbaijan and the entire Caucasus region.

President Shevardnadze indicated with some satisfaction that in addition to the Garabagh problem, President Putin also touched upon the Abkhazian and Osetian problems of Georgia and pledged to further their soonest solution.

IFRC&RC AZERBAIJAN TEAM LEADER REPLACED

New Head of Delegation has been appointed to the Delegation in Azerbaijan of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Mr.Knut Kaspersen has replaced Mr. Borje Sjokvist, Swedish national on that position.

Mr. Kaspersen is 30 years old. He has been working in Azerbaijan with the International Federation since the beginning of 1999, first as a Relief Delegate and then as a Program Coordinator.

Mr. Kaspersen is a Norwegian national and representative of Norwegian Red Cross, which has been generously funding a number of Federation programs in Azerbaijan.

Mr. Kaspersen is a former Royal/Norwegian Air Force officer and studied political sciences at universities in Norway and Great Britain.

Before his mission in Azerbaijan he worked in six different countries, including Tajikistan and Georgia, where he worked as a Federation Delegate.

Alongside several European languages Mr. Kaspersen speaks Russian and even has learned some Azeri and has a deep knowledge of the history, culture and traditions of the peoples of the region.

Being a reformer by his character Mr. Kaspersen regards his primary task as new HOD in restructuring the Delegation to better focus the challenges of the day. "Institutional development of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society, building its capacity and recourses, however, remains a priority area in our future activities, Mr. Knut Kaspersen says.

NEW UN DRUG REPORT SEES HOPE ON HORIZON

The global drug problem - often characterized as hopeless - is neither unstoppable nor irreversible, according to the UN's new World Drug Report.

World Drug Report 2000 prepared by the Vienna-based United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) sees the most significant progress in the downward trend in production of the world's two main problem drugs: cocaine and heroin, with coca leaf and cocaine manufacture falling some 20% between 1992-1993 and 1999, and with opium production dropping more than 17% in the past year alone.

The Report says that thanks to a "get-serious" approach on the part of most major coca and opium poppy producing countries, production is now limited to fewer countries than ever before. Afghanistan and Myamar together account for about 90% of global illicit opium production and Colombia alone is responsible for two-thirds of global coca leaf production.

The UN estimates that some 180 million people - 4.2% of all persons 15 years and above - were consuming drugs in the late 90s.

More that 130 countries, both developed and developing, report to ODCCP that they face drug abuse problems. The UN believes the total number is probably higher.

NUMBER OF HUNGER-STRIKERS MAY RISE

The society for the protection of social rights of war-victim families and those handicapped in the Garabagh war disseminated a statement containing a number of social demands Tuesday. These include establishment of the state commission for control over the execution of laws, decrees and resolutions concerning the handicapped, war-victim families, war veterans, etc.

The statement says that due to the negligence and abuse of power on part of government officials, some 50 handicapped people have committed suicide and thousands of war veterans have left the country in search for source of subsistence. According to the chairman of the society Bagban Shirinov, if the demands are not complied within 3 days, some 2,000 people will start hunger strikes.

Another hunger-strike, of the Garabagh war handicapped, has been underway for two days. 415 people are taking part in the protest action.

POPULATION GROWTH RATE SLOWS DOWN

As of early 2001, the Azerbaijan population made up 8,081,000. In 2000, the population increased by 69,400 people, while in 1999 the growth constituted 71,200 people. In other words, the growth has slowed down.

As compared to 1999, birth rate per 1,000 people has declined from 14.9 to 14.6, mortality rate has remained unchanged - at 5.9 people. As a result, natural growth has increased from 9 to 8.7 people. The number of marriages has also decreased - from 39,900 to 37,400. 4,900 people came to Azerbaijan, half as many as those who have left the country (9,600 people).

ROW OVER ZAM-ZAM: WHO IS TO BLAME?

By Elmira Vazirova Azernews Staff Writer

The Ministry of National Security press-service has released a report, saying that at the end of last year the ministry received information that "Zam-Zam" drinking water produced by the Azeri-Saudi-Jordanian Joint Venture "Baku Beverages" is harmful for human health. The sanitary and chemical examination carried out by the Ministry of Health confirmed the suspicion. According to an expert opinion, the concentration of mineral substances in the Shollar water packaged by the "Baku Beverages" JV has been reduced to the level of distilled water used for technical purposes. Regular consumption of the water, which is described by manufacturers as purified spring water, undermines metabolism, reduces immunity, etc., experts say.

The initial investigation has discovered a number of punishable actions: deception of consumers, production and sale of hazardous goods. The materials have been forwarded to the Ministry for Interior.

"Azernews" has asked a Zam-Zam employee, head of the company's chemical laboratory, Doctor of Chemistry Bakhtiyar Mammadov to comment on the MNS report:

"We use drinking water purified by American technology with membrane filters. The water is treated when passing polymeric membranes, which are selected and installed in accordance with the composition of the water. This method of treatment enables us to reduce the toughness of the water, minimize the concentration of elements and ions harmful for human health. The water purified in this way is 5 times softer than ordinary water. Then, the water is enriched with iron, zinc, cobalt, and copper in quantities required by human organism, which leads to reduction of chloride gas. Before being packaged, the water is treated with ultra-violet rays twice. The chemical analyses are executed with every portion of water being dispatched and their results illustrate that the water meets all water safety requirements."

According to the general director of the company Mazahir Eminov, "Baku Beverages" launched the production of "Zam-Zam" in 1997. The water meets all technical requirements and is supported by the "Hygiene Certificate" and the "Certificate of Conformity".

The technological equipment has been purchased in the USA from such renowned producers as Cincinnati Milacron Co., Electra Form Inc. and Water Group System Inc., which is applied by many modern coolant producers worldwide.

"We regard the campaign against unleashed in the press as a consequence of unfair competition. We are ready for any unbiased expertise and are sure that the quality of Zam-Zam meets requirements", Mr. Eminov said.

NO DIPLOMATIC SERVICE TERM FOR AZERI AMBASSADORS

Permanent commissions of the Milli Mejlis on state building and legal policy and on international relations and inter-parliamentary ties discussed the draft law "On diplomatic service" Thursday. It is noteworthy that the draft does not indicate a definite term of diplomatic service of ambassadors.

Commenting on the draft, deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov said that since ambassadors are appointed by the president, it is up only to him to determine how long they should stay in office.

DRC TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN BAKU

The Danish Refugee Council is hosting an international conference in co-operation with UNHCR titled, "The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations: From Refuge to Durable Solutions in the Caucasus, - Constraints, Dilemmas and Possibilities," to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, March 12-14, 2001 at the Crescent Beach Hotel.

The aim of the conference is to follow-up on the recommendations of the 1998 Copenhagen Conference, "Conflict and Forced Displacement in the Caucasus," and to highlight the important role NGOs play in humanitarian action, and long-term perspectives that contribute to peace and stability in the region. Local NGOs from throughout the Caucasus region, international organizations and government representatives have been invited to participate.

AZERI, IRANIAN CUSTOMS SIGN MOU

Chairman of the Azerbaijan Customs Committee Kamaladdin Heydarov, who paid a visit to Iran on January 15-18, and president of Iran's Senior Customs Department Mehdi Kerbasian, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Azeri and Iranian customs bodies in Iran Thursday.

The parties stated their readiness for expanding customs cooperation and the need for launching new businesses in Azerbaijan in collaboration with Iranian entrepreneurs.

Mr. Heydarov pledged to expedite solution of all customs problems.

In a meeting with the Iranian minister for economics and finance Hussein Namazi and cooperation minister Morteza Haji, the parties focused on opening a branch office of the Iranian Bank for Export Development in Baku, Iranian investment opportunities in Azeri economy, expansion of bilateral trade and economic relations, etc.

JOURNALIST ASSAILED

The "Azadlig" newspaper correspondent Zamin Haji was assailed by three strangers outside his apartment January 18. The assailants attempted to tie the journalist's hands and take him away, but his resistance, as well as the help of the neighbors, made the attackers escape, inflicting some bodily injuries to the journalist.

A group of chief editors and heads of journalistic associations has appealed to the president, prosecutor general and interior minister to find and punish the organizers and executors of the flagrant attack on the journalist.

GARABAGH DISABLED LAUNCH HUNGER STRIKE

Some 500 members of 74 regional organizations of the Society of the Garabagh Handicapped launched a nationwide hunger strike Monday, deputy chairman of the Society Firudin Mammadov said Monday.

According to him, the strike was started after the society's appeal to the president of December 3, 2000, demanding an increase in pensions and allowances for the disabled and establishment of a special commission to monitor enforcement of presidential decrees concerning the handicapped, remained unanswered.

The strike will go on until the demands are complied.

MOST AZERI DIPLOMATS DON'T SPEAK AZERI

90% of Azeri diplomats don't speak their native Azerbaijani language and diplomatic correspondence is executed in Russian even though the law "On state language" requires that all official correspondence be compiled in Azeri, MP Nazim Ibrahimov, former ambassador to Ukraine, told a meeting of parliamentary commissions Friday.

MP Fazail Agamali said he thinks it wrong that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should give preference to those fluent in a foreign language. He added that diplomats should first of all be required to speak Azeri.

EMPLOYERS DISCUSS EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS

Employment and income generation problems were on the agenda of a seminar, "Collaboration among employers in Azerbaijan", held at Hyatt Park hotel Thursday. It was organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in conjunction with the Entrepreneurship Confederation of Azerbaijan (ECA).

The importance of eradicating child labor, which contradicts many ILO conventions, was emphasized. Mentioned among key problems were women's labor, ways of payment for it and support for female entrepreneurship.

The seminar was attended by the ECA president Alakbar Mammadov, ILO employment specialist Ervin Blasum, general secretary of Turkish Confederation of Employers Bulent Pirler, etc.