News digest

AZERI NATIONALS ENTITLED TO TURN TO EUROPEAN COURT

The Azerbaijan parliament (Milli Mejlis) is expected to ratify the European Convention on Human Rights before the end of the year. The ratification will enable Azeri nationals unhappy with the rulings of local courts to turn directly to the European Court, according to a diplomatic source.

CONGRESS OF WORLD AZERBAIJANIS DUE IN BAKU

Baku is expected to hold the maiden congress of world Azerbaijanis on November 9-10, as 500 delegates from 37 countries are expected to take part. On top of this, 100 visitors and 100 Azeri representatives will also join the event.

Bracing itself for the congress is the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism, which is expected to lead a section, "Youth and sports", as part of the gathering. Attending the section will be representatives from 25 states and its plenary meeting will be held in the administrative building of the National Olympic Committee.

RUSSIAN VICE-PREMIER EXPECTED IN BAKU

Russian vice-premier Victor Khristenko is expected to pay a working visit to Baku on November 15-16. The trip aims to lay groundwork for President Aliyev's upcoming visit to Russia.

Mr. Khristenko is scheduled to hold talks with his Azeri counterpart Abbas Abbasov to make preparations for a meeting of the Azerbaijan-Russian inter-governmental economic commission. The two are co-chairs of the commission.

THREE INJURED IN FRONT LINE MONITORING

A land mine explosion wounded an officer and two soldiers of the Azerbaijan army in the course of front line monitoring in the contact line of the Armenian and Azeri troops in Terter province held by the OSCE MG co-chairs Monday, local ANS TV reported Tuesday.

The Ministry of Defense could not be reached for comments.