19th Eurasian Economic Summit…

The 19th Eurasian Economic Summit has today kicked off in Istanbul, Turkey, organized by the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation. AZERTAC is a media partner of the Summit. Azerbaijan is represented by a large delegation at the event including deputy speaker of the Milli Majlis Valeh Alasgarov, Energy Minister Natig Aliyev, chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, chairman of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov, Deputy Minister of Communications and High Technologies Elmir Velizade, MP Nizami Jafarov and representatives of the country`s religious communities. The event featured a documentary reflecting the activity of Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation. A multi-faceted activities of national leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev were also highlighted in the film. Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov read out President Ilham Aliyev`s congratulatory message to the summit participants. The event then heard a speech from Akkan Suver, president of the Marmara Group Foundation. He stressed the importance of the summit, pointing to the fact that the participants attached pivotal importance to development and progress, as well as fight against separatism and terrorism. Describing Armenia's aggressive policy against Azerbaijan as an intolerable crime against international law and humanity, Akkan Suver said the Azerbaijani government was right in demanding the withdrawal of the occupant troops from its lands. The event also heard speeches from Asaf Hajiyev, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Hikmet Tanriverdi, chairman of the Istanbul Ready-Made Garment Exporters' Association (IHKIB), vice chairman of Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament Yu Hongjun. The event brought together heads of state and government, ministers and other officials, diplomats, MPs, as well as former heads of state and government, media and NGO representatives from 40 countries. The two-day summit features discussions on a wide range of issues, including the Silk Road economy, energy, forced migration and terrorism.  

Azerbaijan in the fields of culture and tourism…

Azerbaijan`s Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev has held several meetings in Kuwait. The visit aimed to boost cooperation with Arab states of the Persian Gulf in cultural and tourism fields. During the visit, the Minister held a presentation on Azerbaijan`s tourism potential. Mr. Garayev said Azerbaijan was interested in increasing a number of tourists from Arab states. The Minister, as part of the visit, met Minister of Information of Kuwait, Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homoud Al-Sabah. Minister of Information Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homoud Al-Sabah stressed the importance of media and cultural programs for development of tourism between the two countries. Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homoud Al-Sabah emphasized the significance of strengthening the bilateral relations with Azerbaijan in the fields of culture and tourism.  

Turkey will stand by Azerbaijan in all issues even further

"Turkey will stand by Azerbaijan in all issues even further," said Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Tugrul Turkes as he attended the 19th Eurasian Economic Summit. He commemorated the Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians killed during the conflict as a result of recent intensive violation of ceasefire by the aggressor on the line of contact between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, wished those injured the swiftest possible recovery. The Deputy PM said that his country which supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity would further stand by Azerbaijan in all issues including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement on the international level. The 19th Eurasian Economic Summit organized by the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation is held in Istanbul, Turkey with the participation of Azerbaijani delegation.  

Film Festival: “The fulfillment of the promise: Secrets of Vilnius”

Francophone Film Festival has opened in Baku with Lithuanian documentary "The fulfillment of the promise: Secrets of Vilnius". The Festival will feature such films as "Love Building" (2013, Romania), "The Cherry Orchard" (1999, Greece), "Gismet (Al Massira)" (1997, Egypt), "Andalusia, my love!" (2012, Morocco) and "Ernest and Celestine" (2012, Belgium). The Festival will close on April 17, and will then travel to Ganja.  

Protests in Berlin…

Upon his arrival in Berlin on an official visit, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was met with protests from hundreds of Azerbaijanis. Holding Azerbaijani flags and banners in English and German, hundreds of Azerbaijanis gathered outside the German Government House to protest the Armenian president. The protesters accused Sargsyan of committing genocide in Khojaly, calling him murderer of children and reminding that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. They expressed support for more than one million refugees and IDPs and protest against Armenian provocations on the front line. Hundreds of Azerbaijanis chanted the slogan of “Sargsyan the terrorist!” At the picket Azerbaijan's flags were waved, slogans "Return our homeland!", "Observe UN resolutions," "Stop occupation policy!" were voiced. The protesters were able to attract the attention of Germany's public to the topic, distributing books and other materials about the realities of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the Khojaly massacre committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis in 1992. The rally was joined also by representatives of the Turkish and Georgian diasporas.  

President Ilham Aliyev hailed cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif. The head of state stressed the importance of holding the first meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia in Baku. President Ilham Aliyev said the trilateral meeting would open a new page in the history of regional cooperation and would contribute to the strengthening of peace and stability in the region. President Ilham Aliyev said the issues of cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, security, energy, transport, fight against terrorism and other fields would be reviewed during FM Mohammad Javad Zarif`s visit to the country. The head of state said the two countries` views coincided in these areas. President Ilham Aliyev noted the visit created a good opportunity for exchanging views over the topics covering the bilateral ties. The head of state recalled his recent visit to Iran, saying he once again thanked President Hassan Rouhani for hospitality when they had a phone conversation yesterday. President Ilham Aliyev said the two countries reached agreement on a number of issues and signed several documents during the visit. The head of state emphasized that this paved the way for the development of cooperation between the two countries, and described his visit as historical. President Ilham Aliyev hailed cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran as excellent. The head of state said Azerbaijan was interested in developing the relations and expressed his confidence that the two countries would reach their goals. President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan and Iran always supported each other within international organizations. Mohammad Javad Zarif conveyed greetings of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani to President Ilham Aliyev. The FM recalled President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Iran, saying this trip made a historical contribution to the development of the two countries` ties. Mohammad Javad Zarif underscored the importance of the trilateral format of cooperation, which was initiated by Azerbaijan and implemented with consent of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. Mohammad Javad Zarif said that together with his Russian and Azerbaijani counterparts they already started to discuss various fields of cooperation. The Iranian FM said there were good opportunities for cooperation in transit, customs, fight against terrorism, as well as tourism, culture and other fields. Mohammad Javad Zarif said this trilateral format created historical conditions for developing the trilateral cooperation among the countries and expanding Iran`s bilateral ties with Azerbaijan and Russia. President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings of President Hassan Rouhani and asked the FM to extend his greetings to the Iranian head of state.  

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is still far from being stable

Moscow doesn't plan to stop work on the conflict's settlement, RIA Novosti agency quoted the Russian president's spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Apr.7. To stop on achieved is simply impossible and no one is going to do this, Peskov said. Moscow, since the beginning of the conflict's escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh, has applied and continues to apply decent efforts to create conditions for its settlement, according to Peskov. He noted that the large work at various levels was carried out in order to stop the shelling. These efforts of Russia have been mentioned by the participants of the process, said Peskov adding that Moscow, of course, will continue its consistent policy. He also acknowledged that the escalation of the conflict has led to significant setbacks in terms of Nagorno-Karabakh problem's settlement. Peskov said that very good, positive steps have been achieved prior to the recent escalations, and now due to the setback, a lot will have to be achieved again. On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations…

The Armenian side continues to spread false information about the ceasefire violation by servicemen of Azerbaijan's Armed Forces, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry told Trend Apr.7. The Armenian media claims that allegedly the Azerbaijani side does not comply with the agreement reached Apr.5 between Azerbaijan and Armenia to stop military operations on the line of contact of the two countries' troops. The Armenian media claims that allegedly the Azerbaijani side continues to violate the ceasefire regime, said the ministry adding that this false information. "Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry declares that the Azerbaijani side strictly follows the ceasefire regime from the first day of its announcement and is committed to the reached agreement," said the ministry. "The ceasefire regime has again been violated by Armenian servicemen." The information disseminated by the Armenian media is untrue and disinformation, added the ministry. On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.  

Elmar Mammadyarov: “The issue of defining the status of the Caspian Sea is still relevant”

Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia attach great importance to the transport corridors passing through these countries, and in particular the railway networks, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. He made the remarks at a press conference following the trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian foreign ministers. A meeting of the Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov, Sergey Lavrov and Mohammad Javad Zarif is taking place in Baku Apr. 7. Mammadyarov noted that the groundbreaking ceremony of the railway bridge construction on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran will take place April 20. Mammadyarov said that the ministers also touched upon the issues of fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and smuggling. The three countries also agreed to develop humanitarian ties, and discussed the issue of defining the Caspian Sea status, the minister said. "On Apr. 6, Baku hosted a meeting at the level of deputy ministers of all the five Caspian littoral states," Mammadyarov said. "The issue of defining the status of the Caspian Sea is still relevant. We all expect a final decision regarding the sea's status." ---