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U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT NOTES HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENT
The United States Department of State released on February 26 its annual Country Report on human rights for Azerbaijan for the year 2000. The report notes some improvements in the Azerbaijan's human rights record but serious problems remain.
Each year, the United States Department of State submits 195 human right reports for countries all over the world to the Congress, highlighting progress and areas of concern with respect to internationally recognized human rights as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In remarks marking the release of the Report, Secretary of State Colin Powell said, "no country can claim a perfect human rights record; nor should any seek exemption from international security. Each nation must be accountable for the way it treats its citizens."
US TO PROVIDE AID
The outcomes of the 3rd meeting of the US-Azerbaijani inter-governmental working group proved useful for both parties, the US Department of State coordinator for Newly Independent States William Tailor told a news conference at the US embassy Friday.
According to him, besides bilateral relations, the parties focused on Azerbaijan's admission to the WTO and combat against corruption on the government level. The Azerbaijan government has asked the US Department of Justice to share experience in curbing corruption.
Mr. Tailor told journalists that the US had provided $34 million worth of assistance to Azerbaijan in 2000, while this year the volume would rise to $32 million, he said. The money will be spent on implementation of credit projects, which primarily concern small and medium enterprise development and education of Azeri students in the States.
The agreement to set up the commission was signed in Baku in 1999, with meetings held in March 2000 in Baku and in October 2000 in Washington.
MPs TO BAIL ARRESTED WAR HANDICAPPED
A group of MPs has asked the President and Prosecutor General to release on bail the arrested Garabagh war handicapped, according to MP Igbal Aghazadeh. He said the appeal has been signed both by opposition and pro-government MPs.
A group of the handicapped was arrested during the February 19 clashes with police.
JAPAN HELPS OPEN GYN CENTER IN GANJA
A gynecological and obstetrics center has been opened in Ganja to serve the western part of the country. It was built with the assistance of Japanese government.
Attending the inaugural ceremony, Japan's ambassador to Azerbaijan Tetsue Hirose presented an ultra-sound unit, 7 chairs and other equipment to the center on behalf of his government.
Public Health Ministry told Azernews Tuesday that the center had been built in lieu of old one, which was burnt.
During President's visit to Japan in 1998, he asked for assistance to Azerbaijan's public health sector. Japan's government has complied the requests only of 2 in 70 countries, one of which was Azerbaijan's.
500th ANNIVERSARY OF SEFEVID STATE TO BE MARKED
The Sevefid state, which holds a special place in the Azerbaijan history, is going to turn 500 this year. It was under the Sevefid rule that all Azeri lands were first united into a unified state. Therefore, the anniversary should be officially marked, says the address to President Aliyev adopted by participants of the science conference "Role of the Sefevid state in Azerbaijan's statehood".
The conference, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, was held at the international tourist center "Ganjlik" on March 2.
The address also suggests to set up a state commission and outline a plan of activities to be undertaken.
QUAKE IMPAIRS ARCHIVES
The November 25 earthquake left numerous cracks in the building of State Archives. Currently, all employees of the institution have to huddle only in two unaffected rooms, director of the State Archives Shahsuvar Gashimov told Azernews Thursday.
The archives have been domiciled at the Museum of Azerbaijan History since 1969, covering total space of 2,800 square meters and containing over 2 million documents.
Touching upon the plight of the archives, head of the state department for archives Atakhan Pashayev says he has twice asked vice-premier Abid Sharifov, but with no avail. Neither has the state commission on emergencies visited the building. Mr. Gashimov thinks the Archives must either be repaired or moved to another location urgently.
AZERI SHOT DEAD ON GEORGIAN BORDER
A 17-year-old Azeri-born citizen of Georgia Fuzuli Husseinov was shot dead with sub-machine gun on a new bridge on the Azeri-Georgian border Monday.
The incident broke out during an attempt of a group of Mughanli village residents in Georgia, including the killed man, to smuggle an undeclared consignment across the border.
Following the incident, the villagers set the frontier post ablaze.
According to Georgian sources, investigation is underway. The staff of the border post have been replaced.
Ministry of National Security press spokesman Araz Gurbanov told Azernews Tuesday that the incident had taken place on the Georgian territory and involved a Georgian citizen, therefore, it would be wrong to add political touches to the matter.
On Tuesday, while the incident was being discussed in the Milli Mejlis, MP Mais Safarli suggested that a commission of Azeri and Georgian MPs be set up to look into the reasons for what happened. He said it is not ruled out that either Armenians or Georgian nationalists might be involved in the incident. However, speaker Alasgarov stated that if there was a border regime violation, the frontier guard acted accordingly. He added that such things do happen on the border and should not be viewed as manifestations of nationalism. "Azerbaijan and Georgia maintain friendly relations and they cannot be spoiled. Let this be dealt with by the law-enforcement. Then, if necessary, the Milli Mejlis will say what it thinks", he said.
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Issue No.10(192), 2001
No truce achieved in Paris talksPresident urges osce to take resolute stepsAzeri, Ukrainian parliaments sign for co-opPro-musavat demcongress hails Paris talksNew WB initiative launchedSheik congratulates muslims on Gurban BayramiNews digestNationParliament newsOpposition newsEcologyNews in briefBusinessOil & gas news
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