Nation

PRESIDENT RECEIVES CREDENTIALS OF CHINESE ENVOY

President Aliyev received credentials of Chinese ambassador to Azerbaijan Chzhan Siyun Saturday. Handing in the credentials, the Chinese diplomat said that Azerbaijan and China are friendly nations and China is ready to put bilateral relations on higher level. He assured the President he would his utmost to enhance cooperation. The ambassador conveyed regards of head of China Szyan Szemin to President Aliyev and invited him to take part in an official reception at the Chinese embassy in Baku on April 2 to mark the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations. President Aliyev congratulated the diplomat on the appointment and said that there have been friendly relations and broad cooperation between the two nations. The President said Azerbaijan was determined to develop these ties. "Our diplomatic relations will turn a decade this year, and we have known each other well over this period", the President said.

IDPs URGE TO REJECT OSCE MINSK GROUP

IDPs called to reject the meditation of the OSCE Minsk Group and enforce the US SC resolutions in a forum mounted by the Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO), an opposition minded entity, at the editorial office of the Azadlig newspaper Saturday.

Displaced people from Fuzuli, Agdam, Jabrayil, Gubadli, Zangilan, Kalbajar, intellectuals, as well as the leader of the National Liberation Movement of South Azerbaijan, Iran Mahmudali Chehraganli took part in the event to mark the Genocide Day of Azerbaijanis.

Recalling the words of the late ex-president of Azerbaijan Abulfaz Elchibay that the way to liberation of Garabagh goes through Tabriz, an Azeri city in Iran, M. Chehraganli said that hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis in Iran are longing to free Garabagh from under the Armenian occupation.

The forum adopted a statement calling to reject the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group for what they believe is indifference to the fate of the Azerbaijan people and pro-Armenian position. The statement urges to enforce the UN SC resolutions, exclude Armenia from the UN, impose sanctions on it and bring L. Ter Petrosian, R. Kocharian and A. Gukasian to international justice. The forum says Azerbaijan people and IDPs should be set to liberate the occupied lands in a military manner.

'RUSSIA NOT CONCERNED OVER AZERI-US MILITARY CO-OP'

Russia respects Azerbaijan's rights to independently determine its foreign policy and choose partners, Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolay Ryabov told a news conference Tuesday. According to him, Russia considers this cooperation with understanding, as it causes no serious concern and anxiety. Russia doesn't intend to hinder the cooperation, the envoy added.

TOP OFFICIAL TIPS CASPIAN PROGRESS

Chief of the President's Office International Relations Department Novruz Mammadov confirmed that the next summit of the Caspian nations is due in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on April 23-25. Progress with the legal status of the Caspian will be made in the summit, where Azeri President Aliyev is expected to participate, he said. Turkmenistan is hesitating to take certain steps amid the approaching positions of Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

GARABAGH SEPARATIST's VISIT RAISES CONCERNS

The visit of the head of Garabagh separatists to France and his meetings at the Foreign Ministry of the country have caused backlash among the Azeri public, Democratic Congress-2 said in a meeting Wednesday. Though French top rankings have said the trip was of unofficial nature, Azerbaijan couldn't but be concerned over the official reception of a separatist, who obtained visa in a country rather than Azerbaijan, in France, OSCE Minsk Group co-chair. The congress termed similar visits inadmissible, as they are deepening public distrust in the OSCE MG in Azerbaijan.

ETHNIC AZERI LEADER MEETS ASSA-IRADA, AZERNEWS STAFF

Leader of the National Liberation Movement of South Azerbaijan, Iran Dr. Mahmudali Chehraganli toured the AssA-Irada international independent information agency and the Azernews newspaper Monday. Director of the agency and the newspaper Fazil Abbas told the guest of the 11-year long activities of the agency and 5-year-old publication. He noted that daily information bulletins of AssA-Irada and reports in the Azernews reflex realities in Azerbaijan.

M. Chehraganli spoke of his visits to Northern Azerbaijan and abroad, as well as talks and meetings held. He stated the guideline of all his meetings was the idea of Azerbaijan's integrity and he was always trying to introduce values of Azerbaijan people to the world.

RUSSO-AZERI DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS TURN 10

Deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov and Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Nikolay Ryabov held a news conference Tuesday dedicated to the tenth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. A photo exhibition was organized at the Foreign Ministry to mark the event.

Mr. Khalafov said bilateral relations had reached a level of strategic partnership, with a decent legal frame set up and understanding on a number of issues achieved. There is identity of positions on the legal status of the Caspian and the fight against international terrorism, he said. "Russia is playing an active role in the resolution of the Garabagh conflict as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair", Kh. Khalafov underscored, noting that economic cooperation is not on the desired level despite the immense potential.

Ambassador Ryabov said it was possible to raise the level of economic cooperation by creating new enterprises and securing a financial base. "The cooperation should also cover humanitarian area", he said.

PAKISTAN's NATIONAL HOLIDAY MARKED IN BAKU

The Pakistani embassy in Baku has marked Pakistan's national holiday in a solemn ceremony at the Guba Hall of the Hyatt Regency Hotel of Baku.

Taking part in the ceremony were Premier Artur Rasizadeh, first Vice-Speaker Arif Rahimzadeh, Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev, Minister for Economic Development Farhad Aliyev, the Interior Minister, Colonel General Ramil Usubvov, Chairman of the State Committee on Religious Entities Rafig Aliyev, Minister for Public Health Ali Insanov. Minister for Education Misir Mardanov, SOCAR President Natig Aliyev, other ministers, government officials, MPs, and public figures of Azerbaijan. Also in attendance were Turkish, British, Saudi, Iraqi, Egyptian, French, Indian, and Italian diplomats.

Welcoming the guests, Pakistani ambassador to Azerbaijan Faiz Muhammad Khoso spoke of the independence history of his country. National representatives gathered in Lahor, Pakistan to announce their own state based on Islamic law. This was the beginning of the struggle led by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which ended in the establishment of a new state, Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

Touching upon Pakistan's economy, the ambassador said that the key industry is agriculture allowing for a fourth of the country's annual production volume. Pakistan is giving much heed to the development of science and technology.

On his country's foreign policy, Mr. Khoso said that Pakistan rests on sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in affairs of other countries. Pakistan is against all forms and types of terrorism and stands in the same row with countries fighting international terrorism. Voicing Pakistan's intentions to live in peace with all neighboring nations, he hoped for a negotiated solution to the Garabagh and Kashmir problems.

Elaborating on Pakistani-Azeri relations, the diplomat said that this year is very important, as it will see the 10th year of the relations. New undertakings will be taken to celebrate the anniversary.

Address to countrymen

Addressing Pakistanis living in Azerbaijan, the ambassador spoke of the history and nature of friendly relations between the two nations.

“Pakistan and Azerbaijan are two countries bound by religious affinities, cultural, historical and linguistic similarities. Owing to it, Pakistan was the second country recognizing the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. Since then both the brotherly countries have developed close and fraternal ties in all the spheres.”

The visits of our former President Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Laghari to Azerbaijan in 1995 and President Heydar Aliyev to Pakistan in 1996 have provided a solid foundation to build the friendly ties between the two states, he indicated.

“The best way to pay tributes to our leaders, who struggled and sacrificed their lives for the cause of Pakistan, is to follow their footsteps to make Pakistan progressive, peaceful and true modern Islamic state”, he concluded.

AUSTRIAN EXPERTS STUDYING TOURISM SCOPES IN AZERBAIJAN

A group of 6 experts from Austria will be visiting Baku from April 2 till 8 on the invitation of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism. The visitors will hold meetings at the ministries of culture, ecology, economic development, youth, sports and tourism, and Azerbaijan Airlines state concern. The experts are scheduled to conduct a seminar at Baku State University for staff teaching tourism.

The specialists are expected to visit some of the regions to explore opportunities of tourism development in Azerbaijan, the press secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism said Monday.