News digest

PARLIAMENT's FALL SESSION GETS UNDERWAY

The Milli Mejlis convened for the first meeting of its fall session Monday, as speaker Murtuz Alasgarov said, touching upon the spring session, that the parliament had passed 118 acts, amended 33 laws and aligned Azerbaijan to 11 international conventions. He said MPs would attend a conference, "Islam in combat against terrorism", due to be held in Russia.

Afterwards, MPs approved the work plan of the fall session and decided to join the International Convention on eradicating economic terrorism, condemning terror and suggesting that Azerbaijan provide air space to the US.

AZERBAIJAN ADMITTED TO WOT

The 14th session of the World Organization for Tourism in Seoul, Korea, last week decided to admit Azerbaijan to the organization. Azeri minister for youth, sports and tourism addressed the session with a report on the situation with tourism in Azerbaijan and the prospects of its development, a Ministry source has told Azernews.

NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR's MISSION OVER

Foreign minister Vilayat Guliyev received Tuesday the Norwegian ambassador Olav Berstad at the end of the latter's diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan, MFA said Tuesday.

Mr. Berstad said he had witnessed the strengthening people and statehood of Azerbaijan, its democratic development and integration with the West during the three years he has spent in the country. The ambassador voiced a hope for a soonest negotiated settlement to the Garabagh conflict with joint efforts of the international community.

Min. Guliyev appreciated the role the Norwegian diplomat has played in forging relations between Azerbaijan and Norway and wished him success in the future.