News digest

PRESIDENT INVITED TO ASIAN FORUM

President Aliyev has been invited to take part in a Summit dedicated to peace and mutual confidence in Asia. The forum is due in Astana, Kazakhstan, in October-November 2001.

The letter of invitation from Kazakh President Nazarbayev was handed to President Aliyev by the deputy foreign minister of Kazakhstan Kayrat Abuseyidov.

According to Mr. Abuseyidov, a document on promoting security in Asia, currently in preparation, will be signed during the Summit, he said.

Accepting the invitation with appreciation, President Aliyev said he would like Azeri experts to take part in preparation of the document as well.

GERMAN EMBASSY DISMISSES RUMORS

Following the numerous telephone calls arriving at German embassy in Baku over the possibility of recognition by German parliament of the Armenian massacre in Ottoman Empire in 1915 as genocide, a source from the embassy has stated that such discussion is not on parliament agenda.

German government maintains that the developments of 1915-1916 can become object of scientific discussion for historians and international lawyers. The source has stated that this is a bilateral issue in Turkish-Armenian relations.

TRACECA TO OPEN OFFICE IN BAKU

The official opening ceremony of the TACIS TRACECA program in Baku will be held during a visit by an EU delegation Wednesday. President Aliyev and other officials are expected to take part in the ceremony.

The office is domiciled in the building of the former consulate section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was established with financial assistance from the EU.

200 RENOWNED MUSICIANS LEAVE AZERBAIJAN

Nearly 200 renowned composers and musicians have left Azerbaijan lately due to poor living standards. In an interview with Azernews, secretary of the Union of Composers Ramiz Sohrabov mentioned such famous composers as Faig Sujaddinov, Agshin Alizadeh, Firangiz Alizadeh, Farhang Husseinov, singers Sarvar Ganiyev, Sohrab Adigozalzadeh, Ogtay Guliyev, Rauf Adigozalov, musicians Zemfira Gafarova, Aida Taghizadeh, Naila Mehdiyeva, Babak Gurbanov, conductors Nazim Rzayev, Kazim Aliverdibayov, etc.

CASPIAN LEGAL STATUS DISCUSSION UNDERWAY

Discussions on Caspian legal status at the level of deputy foreign ministers of littoral states started in Tehran Tuesday. The negotiations are expected to last till February 21. The parties are scheduled to exchange views on ways of resolving Caspian ecological problems. The Azeri delegation is led by deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov.

The meeting is of a preparatory nature for the summit of the Caspian nations due in Turkmenistan on March 8-9.

AZERI, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTS TO SIGN CO-OP TREATY

Chairman of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine Mr. Ivan Plusch is expected to pay an official visit to Baku in late February. During the visit, an agreement on cooperation will be signed between the two parliaments, according to the Ukrainian ambassador Boris Alexenko.

This will be the first official visit of the Ukrainian speaker to Azerbaijan since both republics gained independence. While in Baku for 2 days, Mr. Plusch will focus on prospects of inter-parliamentary cooperation.

EARTHQUAKE IN DAGESTAN

A 5-point magnitude earthquake hit Dagestan Sunday. The quake was centered 70 km away from Makhachgala on the Caspian coast. In the capital city itself, the tremors measured 3 points.

SENIOR GEORGIAN OFFICIAL IN BAKU

Chairman of the state department for border protection of Georgia Valeriy Chkheidze arrived in Baku for two days Monday, according to a diplomatic source.

The distinguished guest is expected to focus on prospects of cooperation with the head of the Azerbaijan frontier guard Abbasali Novruzov. Also in the focus will be the situation on the Azeri-Georgian border, the Red Bridge, etc.

Azernews

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