Nation

PRESIDENT ALIYEV VOICES SYMPATHY OVER MOTHER QUEEN's DEATH

Azeri President Aliyev visited the residence of the British ambassador in Baku to commemorate the mother of Queen Elizabeth the second. He made notes in the book of condolences, where he expressed his deepest sympathy to the United Kingdom and its people over the Queen Mother's death.

"The Queen Mother's death brought a great sorrow and grief to your country and people. I share your lament and express my deepest condolences", the President said. Ambassador Andrew Tucker thanked the President for his visit, saying that he is proud of his coming. "By making notes in the book, you showed your respect to the British people", the diplomat said.

PARDONED INMATE SEEKING ACQUITTAL

Ex-Chief of the Interior Ministry Investigation Department Nizami Gojayev, who has been pardoned in a recent presidential decree, held a news conference Wednesday. He thanked journalists for what he described as impartial coverage of his criminal case and called on those who tried to make him a criminal image to abide by their conscience.

N. Gojayev said that the criminal proceeding initiated against him was an evident fake-up masterminded by former Chief Prosecutor Eldar Hasanov. "I was blamed for something I have never done and imprisoned for 10 years because of E. Hasanov, his deputy Nazim Allahverdiyev and head of the investigation group Azer Vahabzadeh", he said, terming the hearings among the fake-ups of the century.

The former prosecuting chief accused the Ministry for National Security of detaining criminals testifying in his case in its investigation cells.

Asked if he regards his arrest as a political order, N. Gojayev said it was a game aimed at smearing his relatives - Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov and chief of the legal department of the President Office Fuad Alasgarov.

N. Gojayev thanked President Aliyev and Prosecutor General Z. Garalov for fair treatment and said he had filed an appeals suit to get acquittal.

N. Gojayev was arrested on March 11, 1999 in the room of the Interior Minister Ramil Usubov on charges of being involved in the murder of Academician Ziya Bunyadov and ordering the assassination of former President of Azerbalig (Azeri fish) state concern Anvar Mustafayev.

Speaker warning

Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov said all enmeshed in the illegal arrest of the former chief of the investigation department of the Interior Ministry Nizami Gojayev would be punished. The statement came as he was commenting on media reports on the release of his close relative N. Gojayev.

PRO-GOVERNMENTAL PARTY BACKS ETHNIC AZERI MOVEMENT

The visiting leader of the National Liberation Movement of South Azerbaijan, Iran Dr. Mahmuadli Chehraganli is holding meetings with executives from political parties, public organizations and creative unions in Baku.

Dr. Chehraganli took part in a meeting at the headquarters of the Ana Vatan (Motherland) party Monday. Chairman of the party Fazail Agamaly said he was closely watching the struggle Mr. Chehraganli was pursuing for the rights of Azeris in South Azerbaijan, noting that the purpose and targets of this movement were a holy duty for the party's members. He said Ana Vatan would do its best for the struggle of Azerbaijanis in the south.

The ethnic Azeri leader spoke of the political developments in South Azerbaijan and their features. He voiced satisfaction with the support the press and political forces in Azerbaijan are giving for the struggle.

M. Chehraganlui also met with Garabagh war veterans.

FIRST CHILD SURVIVAL PROJECT LAUNCHED

Ramil Maharramov Public Information OfficerMercy Corps Azerbaijan

Mercy Corps has received funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the first Child Survival health initiative to be awarded in Azerbaijan.

The award was announced in October 2001 and will run through October 2006. The project sites chosen are all in the mountainous regions in the south: Yardimli, Lerik and 25% of Masali. These areas are among the most isolated in the country with up to 50% of the villages inaccessible in wintertime. A Mercy Corps assessment indicates a tremendous need for community-based maternal and child health services in the project area. Preliminary surveys have all been completed and program activities are soon to commence.

Child Survival is the term used worldwide for programs, which aim to reduce the deaths of infants, children and mothers in disadvantaged populations around the world. The program brings simple lifesaving and preventive health care to areas with traditionally high rates of infant, child and maternal mortality and morbidity.

Child Survival efforts in Azerbaijan will focus on mobilizing community-level mechanisms and networks that will facilitate health education and promote positive, preventive behaviors for caretakers of children under five and their mothers. Mercy Corps will strengthen the ability of mothers, caretakers and communities to take responsibility for their own health and the health of their children. In addition, primary health care will be improved through the training of feldschers and midwives, who provide the first level of health care at the community level.

LIBYAN ISLAMIC CALL SOCIETY IN BAKU

By Arslan Abbas Azernews Contributor

Representatives from the International Islamic Call Society are currently in Baku. Leading the delegation of 5 to deliver humanitarian aid to refugees and IDPs, hospitals and orphanages, Dr. Abdussalam Suwais held a conference at the Libyan embassy in Baku.

Mr. Suwais said his organization s an NGO and was established 30 years ago on the instruction of the Libyan Revolutionary Committee. The society aims to render assistance to the disadvantaged. It is active in Asian and African countries, assisting people living under hard conditions in America, Europe and Austrailia. The society provides both step-by-step and regular aid and organizes medical teams, as well as batches of foodstuffs and clothing for Africa and Asia, Muslims in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Pakistan, and India. Secondary assistance envisions construction of hospitals, clinics, schools, and mosques.

The society provided its first humanitarian aid to Azerbaijan in 1997 for uprooted people and orphans. The delegates then visited a tent town in Bilasuvar, as well as children asylums and hospitals in Surakhany and Khatai districts of Baku.

"I was struck by the tolerance, patience and hospitality of people that lost their homes 9 years. I got closely familiarized with the Azerbaijan people and who knows this nation well can't but love it", Dr. Suwais said.

The delegation was expected to leave Azerbaijan Saturday. It has already held meetings with vice-premier, chairman of the State Customs Committee Ali Hasanov and chairman of the Caucasus Clerical Board Allahshukur Pashazadeh.

LITHUANIA INTENDS TO DEVELOP TIES WITH AZERBAIJAN

Lithuanian foreign minister, chairman of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe Antanas Valionis, who is in Baku on an official visit, said his country intends to develop ties with Azerbaijan in all spheres. According to him, an agreement on consultations with the Azeri Foreign Ministry has been reached. Lithuania is eager to expand commercial and economic relations, which requires establishment of a legal frame, the minister said.

The diplomat said the Azeri President Aliyev received an invitation to pay an official visit to Lithuania at a convenient time.

Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev received deputy Lithuanian defense minister Povilas Malakauskas in the first meeting of the military of the two countries Tuesday. The Lithuanian deputy conveyed the regards of his minister and expressed the wish to hold military cooperation with Azerbaijan. He said the Lithuanian armed forces are just taking shape and cooperate with Nato as part of the "Partnership for Peace" program. "We expect much from the forthcoming Prague summit of Nato", he said. Min. Abiyev spoke of the history of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict and said that Armenia is a country that pursues the policy of terrorism and aggression and supports terrorism. "32 terror acts were committed in Azerbaijan that claimed the lives of over 2000 civilians", he said. The Azeri minister regretted that the international community backing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and knowing the aggressive policy of Armenia refrains from pressuring the latter. "It is time to teach Armenia a lesson", he stated, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

ETHNIC AZERI LEADER STAYS AWAY FROM AWARDING CEREMONY

The "For Democratic Reforms" society conferred the ethnic Azeri leader of South Azerbaijan, Iran Mahmudali Chehraganli, who is currently in Baku, the Fighter of Great Freedom award.

The award was presented in a ceremony Friday, but Dr. Chehraganli was not able to attend it due to his bad health. The honored diploma of the society was handed in to chairman of the Union for Integral Azerbaijan Jahandar Bayoglu. The society is expected to present the valuable gift to the Azeri leader after his recuperation.

TURKIC LEADER COMMEMORATED

The Party for National Democracy (Grey Wolf) held a gathering to commemorate the leader of the National Movement of Turkey Alparslan Turkesh at the ISR Plaza Hotel of Baku Wednesday. Attending the event were chairman of the Musavat Party Isa Gambar, leaders of the two PFPA wings Ali Karimli and Mirmahmud Fattayev, former Azeri consul in Turkey Abbas Abdulla, intelligentsia, and representatives from public organizations.

Speakers said A. Turkesh was true Turkist, who had taken an active part in a movement to save Turkic peoples, including preservation of their languages, cultures, traditions and customs. Participants noted the famous saying by Turkesh that "A man who loves his people can't but love other nations".

CONTEST ON CHINA EXPECTED

The Chinese embassy in Azerbaijan has moved an initiative to hold a "What do you know about China?" contest among youths and teenagers. The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism of Azerbaijan has approved the proposal. The contest is expected to comprise tests compiled by the Chinese embassy for youths and teenagers aged between 14 to 17 in early May.

10 participants gathering more points will win tickets for summer holiday camps in Beijing.

The embassy will assume expenses for staying in China, while the Ministry will pay for part of travel expenditures.