WB to allot $50 bn to Georgia

World Bank

The World Bank will allot next $50m to Georgia, Business Georgia reports.

Georgia will receive $40m as a lax credit by the line of the International Development Association.

$10m will be allotted in a form of an ordinary credit by the head organization of the WB Group-International bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The bank has spread a statement according to which financing carries a budget replacing nature.

The aim of the project is indicated as "support to the governmental program of reforms to facilitate implications of decline, assist to recovery and prepare for post-crisis growth". 

Georgia Times

Source: News.Az - Latest news from Azerbaijan

Nakhchivan to host next Azerbaijani-Turkish forum

According to Turkish State Minister on Foreign Trade Zafar Chaglayan, the next Azerbaijani-Turkish forum will be held in Nakhchivan.

"We are planning to hold the next Azerbaijani-Turkish forum with participation of a big group of businessmen from the two countries in Nakhchivan", Turkish State Minister on Foreign Trade Zafar Chaglayan told a news conference on July 29.

He voiced satisfaction with the growth and strengthening of ties between our countries adding that Turkey will always support Azerbaijan in all issues and this has always been like that".

1news.az

Source: News.Az - Latest news from Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani leader supports expansion of economic cooperation with Turkey

Ilham Aliyev

President Ilham Aliyev voiced satisfaction with the level of economic relations with Turkey.

Azerbaijan and Turkey have a potential to expand economic cooperation, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said while receiving Turkish State Minister on Foreign Trade Zafуr Chaglayan.

According to the state television, during the meeting I.Aliyev voiced satisfaction with the level of economic relations with Turkey and stressed potential to expand them. In this connection the president stressed importance of Chaglayan's accompaniment by a group of Turkish entrepreneurs during the visit.

In turn, a guest from Turkey has congratulated the Azerbaijani president with the high development rates of the country and its capital city Baku, in

Playboy cover girl to visit Baku

DJ Flower, who has appeared on the Playboy cover, will perform with David Tavare and Velvet in Baku.

She will take part in the European stars' Summer Love concert on 14 August in Baku.

DJ Flower was once voted Girl of the Year by the Hungarian version of the men's magazine, Playboy.

1news.az

Source: News.Az - Latest news from Azerbaijan

Baku to host Turkey-Azerbaijan business forum

A large delegation of Turkish officials and business people led by Minister of Trade Zafer Caglayan will arrive in Azerbaijan.

Trade counselor of the Turkish embassy in Baku said Turkey-Azerbaijan business forum and series of bilateral relations will be held within the forum on July 29.

Turkish delegation will represent the companies of power, electronic, jewelry, medical equipment, agricultural, chemistry, steel, hotel and kitchen furniture, shoes, home textile, agricultural tools, software and IT, air cargo and other sector.

APA

Source: News.Az - Latest news from Azerbaijan

Turkish court sanctions to arrest generals over coup charges

Turkish Court orders arrest of 102 Sledgehammer officers.

A court late Friday evening ordered the arrest of 102 suspects in the investigation into the Sledgehammer Action Plan, a subversive plot allegedly prepared by a clique inside the military that included plans to crash Turkish jets and bomb large mosques at busy prayer hours to undermine the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) with the hope of eventually overthrowing it.

The 10th High Criminal Court ordered the arrest of 102 suspects, including two former force commanders. The court earlier this week accepted the prosecution's indictment against the suspects. The court judges unanimously ruled for the arrests.

The suspects who

Turkish court sanctions to arrest generals over coup charges

Turkish Court orders arrest of 102 Sledgehammer officers.

A court late Friday evening ordered the arrest of 102 suspects in the investigation into the Sledgehammer Action Plan, a subversive plot allegedly prepared by a clique inside the military that included plans to crash Turkish jets and bomb large mosques at busy prayer hours to undermine the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) with the hope of eventually overthrowing it.

The 10th High Criminal Court ordered the arrest of 102 suspects, including two former force commanders. The court earlier this week accepted the prosecution's indictment against the suspects. The court judges unanimously ruled for the arrests.

The suspects who

Green light for restoration of 11th century Baku mosque

Azerbaijan's state body supervising religion has approved a plan to renovate the 11th century Muhammad Mosque in Baku's Old City.

The State Commitee for Work With Religious Organizations today held the first session of its new council on the construction, restoration and renovation of places of religious worship. The session was presided over by the chairman of the state committee, Hidayat Orujov. 

The session considered appeals to the state committee on the construction and restoration of places of religious worshipş The council approved a project to restore the Muhammad Mosque locating in the Old City or Icheri Sheher, noting that the project had been well prepared. The members of the council also made proposals on a number of other mosques.

New director for Azeri-language search engine

Hikmet Huseynov has been appointed director of Yumroo, the Azerbaijani-language search engine and web portal.

Hikmet Huseynov was previously head of the Ireli public union's information technology department and then secretary for its work with the regions.

Yumroo's previous director, Anar Yolchiyev, has taken up a new post with a government body.

News.Az

Source: News.Az - Latest news from Azerbaijan

Protesters demand return of Azerbaijani soldier's body

Mubariz Ibrahimov

The Karabakh Liberation Organization has picketed the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry to protest at Armenia's failure to hand over the body of a soldier.

Private Mubariz Ibrahimov was killed in an incident on 18-19 June on the contact line separating Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. Four soldiers of the Karabakh forces also died in the clash.

Demonstrators today carried placards saying "Give the hero's body back".

Deputy Defence Minister Vagif Mammadov and ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu went out to talk to the demonstrators.  The pickets voiced concern at the ineffectiveness of the ministry's actions and called for clearer measures.

Earlier in the day, the Karabakh Liberation Organization picketed the Baku offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross

OSCE mediators, Russian official discuss Karabakh conflict

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have discussed the Karabakh conflict with Russia's deputy foreign minister, Grigoriy Karasin.

Karasin held working consultations yesterday in Moscow with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Bernard Fassier (France), Robert Bradtke (USA) and Igor Popov (Russia), and Andrzej Kasprzyk, personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office.

They discussed pressing issues related to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, 1 news.az reported.

At the weekend, the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met in Almaty with the heads of the delegations of the countries co-chairing the Minsk Group mediators. In a downbeat statement after the talks, the mediators said "the efforts made so far by the parties to the conflict

Azerbaijan exports 15.3 million tonnes of crude in six months

Azerbaijan exported 15.303 million tonnes of crude oil for $8.787bn in the first six months of 2010.

Crude oil accounted for 85.77% of Azerbaijan's exports during the reporting period, according to figures from the State Customs Committee.

In the whole of 2009, Azerbaijan exported 27.829 million tonnes of crude for $11.989m, so it looks on course to exceed last year's export totals.

Crude oil exports in June were 3.258 million tonnes for $1.808 million, the highest monthly export figure this year. Monthly crude exports in May were 2.65 million tonnes for $1.67 million and in April 2.546 million tonnes for $1.49 million.

While most of the oil was produced by the BP-led Azerbaijan International Operating Company, it

Merkel loses key supporter as Hamburg mayor resigns

German Chancellor Angela Merkel lost another key regional supporter on Sunday, with the charismatic Christian Democratic (CDU) mayor of Hamburg, Ole von Beust, 55, announcing he would resign, dpa reported.

   He is the sixth CDU premier to leave the scene in 12 months, reducing the pool of experienced talent at the top of Germany's biggest party. In addition, the CDU's Horst Koehler shocked Merkel by suddenly resigning as president of Germany in May.

   Beust made his announcement just hours before suffering the defeat of his education policy in Hamburg's first-ever binding statewide referendum.

   More than 54 per cent of voters rejected his government's plans to alter the city's public-school system so that children spent six, instead of four years in primary school.

   Beust cryptically said: "The

Baku comments on possible temporary opening of Armenian-Turkish border

Azerbaijan's presidential administration comments on information about possible temporary opening of Armenian-Turkish border.

Chief of the International Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Novruz Mammadov has commented on the possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border for the period of NATO exercises in Armenia.

Currently, we do not have any official confirmation of the information that Turkey is really going to open borders with Armenia. All talks about it are currently observed on the level of statements in press, therefore, we cannot comment on this issue.
However, I would like to note that Azerbaijan's position on the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border remains changeless and clear.
We have repeatedly declared our position on

Gas export by South Caucasus pipeline decreases

In first half of 2010 South Caucasus pipeline exported 2.7 bn cubic meters of natural gas, according to sources in State Statistical Committee.

Export of natural gas by this pipeline has dropped by 200m cubic meters compared to the same indicators of 2009.

The South Caucasus pipeline exported 466.4m in January, 367.2m cubic meters in February, 466.4m cubic meters in March, 500m cubic meters in April, 400m cubic meters in May, 500m cubic meters in June.

By results of 2009 the South Caucasus pipeline exported 5.2bn cubic meters of natural gas. Gas exported by the pipeline has increased by 400m cubic meters compared to 2008.

The South Caucasus pipeline exports natural gas produced from Shah Deniz offshore gas condensate field. Gas is supplied

Iranian, Turkish foreign ministers discuss nuclear issue

Mottaki, Davutoglu

Manouchehr Mottaki and Ahmet Davutoglu have again voiced support for Tehran's fuel swap declaration in promoting peaceful nuclear cooperation.

During a meeting in Portugal, the two ministers discussed bilateral issues, the possibility of a nuclear fuel swap and Tehran's declaration on the exchange, IRIB reported on Thursday.

The two ministers said the Tehran declaration offered significant potential for peaceful nuclear cooperation.

The meeting was held as the Iranian foreign minister is on a tour of Europe, which first took him to Spain and later to Portugal.

During his stay in Portugal, Mottaki met the country's top officials including his counterpart, Luis Amado, on Tuesday. The two ministers discussed major regional and international developments

Azerbaijani MPs meet diaspora in Norway

Bahar Muradova

Every Azerbaijani living abroad should actively promote Azerbaijan in their country of residence, a deputy speaker of parliament has said.

"Azerbaijanis residing abroad should integrate with the community where they live in order to gain influence and important positions," Milli Majlis deputy speaker Bahar Muradova told members of the board of the Youth Organization of Norwegian Azerbaijanis, according to the State Committee for Diaspora Issues.

The chairman of the Norwegian organization, Ramil Aliyev, said it had been important for young Azerbaijanis in Norway to meet members of the Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, led by Muradova.

The assembly was held in the Norwegian capital Oslo on 6 to 10 July.

"The attention

End of the road for Azadlig opposition bloc?

The opposition Azadlig bloc is on the verge of collapse after the Civic Development and Liberal parties suspended their membership today.

This leaves the Popular Front of Azerbaijan Party (PFAP) the sole member of Azadlig.

The Azadlig (Freedom) political bloc was created before the 2005 parliamentary elections by the Popular Front of Azerbaijan Party, Musavat, the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan and the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan. It was the largest opposition bloc contesting the 2005 polls. The Democratic Party and Musavat left the bloc after the elections, Musavat disagreeing with Azadlig's decision to give up the seats it had won in parliament in protest at election irregularities.

The Civic Development and Liberal parties have decided to withdraw from Azadlig now, because of a PFAP decision to work with the Musavat Party again, Liberal Party founder Lala Shovkat told APA news agency today.

However, PFAP officials denied this evening that a decision to form

War of words between Baku and Yerevan

Elkhan Polukhov

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman has accused the Armenian deputy foreign minister of trying to change the talks process on Karabakh.

The accusation came after Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov's disclosure of details of the negotiations on a Karabakh settlement prompted a hail of criticism in the Armenian press.

Mammadyarov said on Friday that he intended to discuss with his Armenian counterpart the timing of the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan's Lachin and Kelbajar districts.

These districts are especially sensitive to the Armenian side as they lie between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.

One of Mammadyarov's most vocal critics is Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan. He accuses the minister of spreading false information targeting the

'Russia misses possibility of impacts against Armenia'

'Current US Administration is focused on the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace process.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Azerbaijan was designed to demonstrate Washington’s desire to improve relations with Azerbaijan and generate movement in resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict', Stephen Larrabee, Senior Analyst and Distinguished Chair in European Security at the Washington DC of the RAND Organization said.

Commenting on Secretary Clinton’s statement that the United State adhere to the peace settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the basis of territorial integrity, non-use of force, right for self-determination and on the basis of Helsinki principles, Mr. Larrabee said, 'this is a standard formulation of the principles on which Washington’s

'Russia misses possibility of impacts against Armenia'

'Current US Administration is focused on the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace process.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Azerbaijan was designed to demonstrate Washington’s desire to improve relations with Azerbaijan and generate movement in resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict', Stephen Larrabee, Senior Analyst and Distinguished Chair in European Security at the Washington DC of the RAND Organization said.

Commenting on Secretary Clinton’s statement that the United State adhere to the peace settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the basis of territorial integrity, non-use of force, right for self-determination and on the basis of Helsinki principles, Mr. Larrabee said, 'this is a standard formulation of the principles on which Washington’s

France has no contacts with separatist regime of Karabakh

Hervé Novelli

No country including Armenia recognizes the independence of Nagorno Karabakh.

According to the news service for the Azerbaijani embassy in France, the due statement was made by French Secretary of State Hervé Novelli said speaking on behalf of the French FM Bernard Kouchner at a plenary session of the French Senate on July 6.

'France supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within internationally recognized borders and like any other state, including Armenia, does not recognize independence of Nagorno Karabakh which has been repeatedly stated by the French government', said the secretary of state speaking about the position of official Paris to the

EU supports for the security and stability of Georgia

EU welcomes Tbilisi's action plan for engagement.

EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, welcomed Georgia’s Action Plan for Engagement with its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as “a significant step forward towards a policy of engagement with the populations living in the regions.”

“Reaching out to the populations is a prerequisite for finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” Ashton said in a statement on July 8.

The Georgian government adopted on July 3 the Action Plan, which lays out concrete proposal on how to implement Georgia’s State Strategy on Occupied Territories, adopted by the government in January, 2010.

“The EU is ready to contribute

Belgium will play neutral role of 'honest broker'

Philippe Jottard

News.Az interviews Philippe Jottard, Ambassador of Belgium in Azerbaijan.

Why are the circumstances in which Belgium is assuming now the presidency of the European Union special?

It is the 12th time we take on this responsibility but this time will be very different. As one of the six founding members of the EU Belgium gained a lot of experience in the past decades as a member of the EU and occasionally as a president of its Council of ministers. The last time Belgium was the president of the Council of the EU in 2001 the European Council adopted in December the declaration of Laeken that became the starting point of the constitutional debate in the EU leading eventually to the Treaty of Lisbon. In those days too the EU had to react to the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11th calling for instant leadership by the presidency of the EU.  An upcoming EU-presidency must be prepared for the unexpected as well.

Several factors determine the environment in which the Belgian presidency will have to operate. First of all, the EU is working now under the new Treaty of Lisbon. Together with many new competences and legal procedures to adopt our laws, two very important institutional innovations were introduced. First, the European Council was given a permanent president, the former Belgian Prime minister, Herman Van Rompuy; secondly, Lady Ashton was appointed High representative for foreign affairs and security policy and at the same time vice-president of the European Commission. She is presiding the Foreign Affairs Council. Both the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council were presided by the rotating presidency before the Treaty of Lisbon came into force. To create a more efficient governance system, the treaty created these 2 permanent presidency functions. All 9 other council formations and the corresponding preparatory working groups remain under the system of the rotating presidency and it is precisely in this very extensive area that Belgium is  taking over

PACE President is unaware of the events-Armenian Speaker

Mevlut Cavusoglu

'Cavusoglu's statement bewilders.'

RA Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan says he is bewildered at the fact that PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu admits his ignorance of Baku’s belligerence.

It is at least strange that the PACE President is unaware of the events much spoken in the world today, he said, adding that the presidents of the co-chairing states also made decision on the issue.

“In case Cavusoglu is really unaware of the developments, it proves that the Armenian side is right claiming that not a single structure within PACE can be engaged in Karabakh issue. PACE’s involvement might jeopardize

US Karabakh Foundation official visits Baku

Chief executive of the US Karabakh Foundation located in Washington, Diana Cohen Altman, is visiting Baku.

Within the framework of the visit, she met Khazar University rector Hamlet Isakhanly on July 5. At the same time, she met the students of the university and held exchange of views.

In the coming days, Diana Cohen Altman is also planning to meet Azerbaijan’s public and state officials.

News.Az
 

Source: News.Az - Latest news from Azerbaijan

Baku seeks to find the solution to the dispute based on international law

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday.

Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that the present meeting would be very successful. He congratulated the US top diplomat on Independence Day and wished all the best to the people of the United States.

The Azerbaijani leader pointed out Azerbaijan places a great importance to Clinton`s visit. According to him, the US-Azerbaijan relations have been successfully developing in a variety of fields.

President Ilham Aliyev mentioned the efforts of the United States, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair, to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He noted Azerbaijan seeks to find the soonest solution to the dispute based on international law.

The Head of

Armenian Defense Minister meets OSCE MG mediators

Seyran Ohanyan

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan has received OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs after their visit to Karabakh.

During the meeting the sides discussed the current stage of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

According to the news service for the Defense Ministry, the sides exchanged views on the situation on the defense line, the recent incidents on possible developments. Seyran Oganyan considered the efforts of the co-chairs in finding appropriate ways of peaceful settlement to be important.

ARMENIA Today

Source: News.Az - Latest news from Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani president opens road interchange

Ilham Aliyev

New the road interchange opened in Baku.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the second complex of the road interchange of different level in Baku at the intersection of the Heydar Aliyev and Ziya Bunyadov avenues, according to AzerTaj.

Minister of Transport Ziya Mammadov informed the president about the technical features of the new road interchange.

It was noted that the overall length of the second complex of the Beyukshor road unit at the junction of the highway in the direction of the international airport named after Heydar Aliyev and Bunyadov's avenue is 1,194 meters. The complex includes

Norway, Azerbaijan agree on address information system

Today Norway, Azerbaijan signed a grant agreement.

The State Committee for Property Affairs of Azerbaijan and Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority signed a grant agreement on creation of the address register information system.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Chairman of the Committee Karam Hasanov pointed out that the committee will initially use services of international consultants. It will determine system technical requirements and announce a tender to prepare the register database. The project will allow to create the address database.

He pointed out European Union`s EURADIN and INSPIRE`s practices will be used in order to bring the information system in line with European standards.

The agreement was