Nation

PRESIDENT ALIYEV COMMEMORATES TERROR VICTIMS

Tuesday marked the third month of the horrible terror attacks on the US on September 11. Commemorations of the victims of the attacks are being held in all peace-loving countries. In a show of solidarity, President Aliyev and his accompanying officials visited the residence of the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Ross Wilson to attend a party commemorating the victims of the terror Tuesday.

YOUTH MINISTER TO TAKE PART IN WTO

Minister for youth, sports and tourism Abulfaz Garayev is taking part in a meeting of the World Tourism Organization in Vienna, Austria. It will lat till December 13. This is the first official invitation Azerbaijan has received since the country was admitted to the WTO.

The visit aims to study the experience of Austria in organizing winter games. The minister is expected to visit Madrid in the second half of December.

UN HELPING CHECHEN REFUGEES IN BAKU

Chechen refugees in Baku are getting monthly cash assistance through the UNHCR. In another assistance, each of the 410 Chechen families settled in Baku have received $20 at the Yasamal branch of the Red Crescent Society.

The UN plans to hand out blankets among Chechen refugees on December 12.

CSC ALLOTS AZM150 MLN FOR SHELTER

8 families (38 people) have been left homeless in the wake of a fire in a residential building under the Caspian Shipping Company (CSC), as they couldn't salvage their belongings. As a result of the fire, a person burned to death, while two are in hospital with fractured limps.

An emergency commission was set up for fire relief comprising representatives from the executive body of Yasamal district and officials. On its part, the CSC has allocated AZM150 million for settling the residents in the Baku Hotel. The Yasamal branch of the Red Crescent Society has provided them with clothes and household appliances, the branch said Saturday.

POVERTY AND AIDS CONTEST WINNERS ELECTED

The awarding ceremony of the winners of the contest for the best journalistic articles on "Poverty and AIDS" held by the UNDP, "Ikhlas" charity organization and "Yeni Nasil" journalistic association was held at the ISR Plaza Friday.

The jury elected Rauf Nasirov from Echo newspaper for his "AIDS attacking from the south" article as the winner of the contest, who received $500. The second place and $300 were won by Mehriban Almammadova from Khalq Jabhasi newspaper and Samir Talibov of Baku Business newspaper, while the third prize was conferred to Nigar Nasibova from Zerkalo and Mahir Nematov ($200 each).

Deputy spokesman for the UNDP in Azerbaijan Mustafa Gulam spoke of the spread of AIDS epidemic and said that 315 people, including 24 already died, had contacted the virus in Azerbaijan. He underscored the special role of journalists in combat against AIDS.

UN CONVENTION TO MULL REFUGEE PLIGHT IN AZERBAIJAN

Vice-premier, chairman of the State Committee on Refugees has been off to Geneva to take part in the jubilee meeting of the UN Convention dated 1951 on the Status of Refugees. A. Hasanov is expected to address the meeting on behalf of the Azerbaijan government and report on the plight of refugees and IDPs. He will meet with executives from the UNHCR, the International Migration Organization and other institutions, the State Committee on Refugees said in a statement Tuesday.

SWISS EXPERTS HELPING ANAMA

By Tofig Niftaliyev Azernews contributor

The Swiss Government remains highly concerned about the mine and UXO problem worldwide; Switzerland is assisting Mine Action activities in various countries since 1993, according to the needs specified in the field.

While the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs finances Mine Action Programs, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) is providing expertise, personnel and material for humanitarian demining. Since 1997, the DDPS is supporting programs conducted by the UN and selected NGOs. Currently, Swiss experts are deployed to Kosovo, Albania, Yemen, and Azerbaijan. Earlier deployments were to Bosnia, to Somaliland, to Chad, and to Mozambique.

Highly concerned about the mine and UXO problem in Azerbaijan, the DDPS managed to deploy to Baku a Mine Database Specialist in mid-1999. During his one-year deployment to Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Actions (ANAMA), this Swiss expert helped, among other things, building up ANAMA'a capacities for the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). Since mid-2001, again a Swiss expert is working with ANAMA, in the capacity of Information Advisor.

While the DDPS is aware of the fact that UXOs remain a problem of high priority with regard to humanitarian demining, the Swiss Ammunition Enterprises have, in the mid-90s, developed a cost effective system for contact-free explosive ordnance disposal (so-called SM EOD systems). These systems not only make EOD more efficient, but also make it safer for the personnel in the field.

The Swiss Government is glad to be in a position to provide ANAMA with a sufficient number of SM EOD systems in order to support field activities over several months. An integral part of this material assistance by the Swiss DDPS to ANAMA is a training course in the use of the SM EOD systems, conducted in Azerbaijan by Swiss experts.

The DDPS is highly appreciating the excellent cooperation with ANAMA.