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 “Yerevan and Baku have a ‘golden opportunity’ to solve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Goran Lennmarker said. “For a range of years we have been striving to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. There is an interim decision and it will positively affect the mutual relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. They have gained a golden opportunity to solve the conflict. It is the very time to find a solution,” Lennmarker said at the 17th session of OSCE PA in Astana on 29 June, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. |
 The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Czechia will be discussed in Baku. The Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on 3 June to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries, Khazar Ibrahim, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan said on 30 June. Schwarzenberg will meet with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev during the two-day visit. Azerbaijan-Czechia business forum will be held as well, Ibrahim said. [/left] |
 The chairman of the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Luis Maria de Puig will pay four-day visit to Baku on 30 June, the press service of the Azerbaijani parliament said to TrendNews on 30 June. The PACE chairman will visit the grave of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in the Honorary Cemetery and Martyr’s Lane. Luis de Puig is expected to meet with President Ilham Aliyev, Speaker of the parliament Ogtay Asadov, Premier Artur Rasizade, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, members of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE, representatives of the political parties and civil society, journalists and representatives of the foreign diplomatic missions in Baku. |
 The Azerbaijani mugam was introduced to the American audience. The American audience got familiar with the Azerbaijani mugam thanks to the concerts of national music of Azerbaijan staged in Los-Angeles and Ohio cities. The Ohio residents attach great attention to the music and art, especially in spiritual style, and since mugam is also included in this genre of music, it was accepted very well in Ohio, said the article by the Consul General of Azerbaijan to Los Angeles Elina Suleymanova entitled Acquaintance of Ohio City with the Azerbaijani Mugam published in Ojat Post newspaper. The concert was organized within the celebrations on occasion of 85th anniversary of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. |
 “Azerbaijan highly appreciates the attention and efforts of OSCE to solve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” head of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary delegation, Vice-Speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament Bahar Muradova said to Trend News in Astana on 30 June. “President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Cooperation & Security in Europe (OSCE PA) Mr. Lennmarker thinks currently Baku and Yerevan have a ‘golden opportunity’ to solve the conflict and we appreciate his view,” Muradova said. |
 Electoral rolls-related complaints in Azerbaijan are not gaining mass popularity. “So far, the hot line of the Central Election Committee (CEC) has received only about 300 complaints regarding electoral rolls. As compared to past years, the index is the lowest,” Ramil Huseynov, head of the Elections Information Centre attached to CEC, said to Trend News on 30 June. At the meeting which took place at the end of May, CEC approved of a new electoral roll including 4,834,584 electors (53% women and 48 men). |
 On June 28, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Matthew Bryza (US) and Bernard Fassier (France) left Yerevan for Khankandi to discuss Madrid proposals with the self-proclaimed Nagorno Karabakh republic leadership. OSCE CiO’s Personal Representative, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk also attended the meetings. The mediators returned to Yerevan afterwards. |
 Classic People’s Front Party (KXCP) has held a republic-wide conference. Press Service of the Party told APA. Heads of regional branches of the party also attended the conference. Upcoming presidential elections were discussed and positions of local organizations were heard at the event. There are differences of opinion among the event participants in regard to the participation in the forthcoming elections. The local organizations have contributed suggestions on nominating Mirmahmud Miralioglu for the Presidency. The issues will be reviewed in the next supreme assembly on July 7. |
 The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Baku. The negotiations of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Yuri Merzlakov – from Russian, Bernard Fassier from France and Matthew Bryza from the United States were held with Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in Baku on 27 June. |
 On 27 June, David Cremer, the United States Deputy Secretary of State on Democracy, Human Rights and Labour issues, discussed the election situation in Azerbaijan in the meeting with opposition leaders. “The meeting was focused on the current democratic processes development in the region and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” MP Igbal Agazade, Chairman of the opposition Umid party, told TrendNews. The dialogue regarding democracy was launched between Azerbaijan and the United States today. The delegation from the United States is headed by Deputy Secretary of State on Democracy, Human Rights and Labour issues. The key topic of the discussions is the situation in election and media spheres in the country. |
 About 700 students, who received higher education illegally, were not accepted to the magistrates. This was said to journalists by Maleyka Abbaszade, Chairman of the State Commission on Student Admission (SCSA). The State Commissioned said that about 700 students, who submitted their documents to the magistrates, received their bachelor diplomas illegally. According to Abbaszade, only some of the students could collect over 50 points. “Theses students were allowed to participate in the contest, but their documents were rejected. |
 The destiny of the Azerbaijani captives in Armenia has not been determined yet, the member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and MP Ganira Pashayeva said on 26 June during the discussions in PACE on the activities of the International Red Cross Committee (IRCC). At the beginning of her speech Pashayeva gave brief information about the history of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and informed about the number of dead, missing people and wounded from Azerbaijan as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to Pashayeva, though State Commission of Azerbaijan on Work with Hostages, POVs and Missing People and IRCC have signed a framework agreement on collection of personal data about the missing people of the Karabakh war, the attitude to Armenia and our captives has not changed yet. |
 Trend News interview with Deputy Minister of National Security of Azerbaijan Republic, Major General Ali Shafiyev. The 21st century was characterized with changeability of the worldwide geo-strategic areals, acceleration of integration processes, as well as appearance of new international security challenges. Manifestations such as armed separatism, terrorism, religious and political extremism, illegal turnover of drugs, radioactive substances and arms, human trafficking are dangerous for Azerbaijan, as well. However, today there are all premises and conditions in Azerbaijan, which confidently moves through the way of establishing legal democratic State where steadfast public and political stability has been created, to protect national interests and take effective measures to combat above-mentioned threats. The public displays a permanent interest in the special service organizations of Azerbaijan, which play a specific role in ensuring national security in a reliable manner. With this respect, we appealed Deputy Minister of National Security of Azerbaijan Republic, Major General Ali Shafiyev, to get detailed responses to some questions. |
 The Azerbaijani opposition Umid party will not establish election bloc around itself. “We received proposals from different parties to cooperate, but we do not plan to go to the elections as a bloc,” MP Igbal Agazade, Chairman of the party, stated to journalists on 27 June. Agazade said that the relevant issue is to work with citizens rather than to establish the bloc. “We prefer to visit every house principle. Recently, we distributed about 200,000 lists. Now, we distribute disks. The disks will attract our approach to many issues. Disks have already been distributed amongst 20,000 families. |
 G8 Foreign Ministers called Azerbaijan and Armenia to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It was mentioned in one of the items of the statement by the Foreign Minister of Japan, Masahiko Komura, as the chairman of the two-day ministerial meeting, which was completed today in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, ITAR-TASS reports. The Foreign Ministers of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, USA, Japan stated their support for the efforts of the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, directed toward prompt solution of the conflict. Ministers noted that Armenia and Azerbaijan must "demonstrate restraint" and take "serious steps" to reach an agreement. At the same time, the Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Japan, Kadzuo Kodama, reported to the correspondent of ITAR-TASS that "wide discussions on this problem were not held at the conference". |
 The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a written Declaration on 90th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE, Ganira Pashayeva, who devised the Declaration, told TrendNews on 27 June. According to the procedure, for being adopted, the written Declaration at PACE should be signed by at least 20 MPs from five countries. Pashayeva stated that more than 20 MPs from five countries signed the Declaration, and document was adopted. The Declaration “ Azerbaijan as the first Democratic Republic of the East” recalls that this year 90th anniversary of ADR will be celebrated. |
 The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, approved continuation of the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement within the framework of the OSCE and expressed hope that this process will continue and strengthen, the U.S. Co-chairman of the OSCE, Matthew Bryza, briefed the media in Baku on 27 June. The French Co-chairman, Bernard Fassier, said that currently there are not new proposals for peaceful solution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. According to him, currently the sides work within Madrid agreement. “I noticed that there is a possibility for normal constructive dialogue. |
 Exclusive interview of Secretary of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe Mr. Gianni Buquicchio to Trend News: Question: How does the Venice Commission assess the changes made in the Election Code of Azerbaijan? Answer: Press have paid enough attention to the issue. Venice Commission’s position was clear, but we were not familiar with the final draft passed at the Azerbaijani Parliament. The final draft was sent to us several weeks ago and now we are considering this. Many suggestions of the Venice Commission were taken into account and that is a positive factor. At the same time, I must say several issues to which Venice Commission used to pay great attention, including composition of election committees, have been retained. |
 The National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting made an oral warning to two local televisions channels Lider and ANS, Nushiravan Maharramli, the chairman of the Council, told Trend News on 26 June. Lider violated the requirements of the Law on TV and Radio Broadcasting with respect to advertisement. Several days ago Lider demonstrated advertisement reels of alcohol drinks till 11:00pm. In accordance with the article on advertisement of the Law on TV and Radio Broadcasting, the alcohol drinks can be advertised after 23:00. |
 The Head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev, said that conditions will be created in the country to ensure transparency in using the mechanism of auction for managing lands being owned by the municipalities. “The appearing situation was a test for the heads of the municipalities. There is information on the chairs of the municipalities who expressed their wish to voluntarily leave their position after being depraved of the right to sell lands,” the head of staff of the President’s Executive Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev, said during the 2nd Republic meeting of the heads of the municipalities in Heydar Aliyev Palace in Azerbaijan’s city of Yevlakh on 25 June, TrendNews reports with reference to Azertaj. |
 The delegation scheduled to attend the various programs dedicated to 90th anniversary of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, APA reports. The visitors will arrange meetings at the Baku Slavic University, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan, Social Policy Commission of Milli Majlis and various youth organizations within the framework of the visit to be lasted until June 30. |
 French co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier arrived in Baku yesterday. APA’s correspondent in Heydar Aliyev International Airport reports that Fassier congratulated Azerbaijani people on the occasion of Day of Armed Forces and said he would attend the parade. He said that peace agreement had not been reached yet. “The conflict has been continuing for 15 years. Establishing real peace requires wisdom, moral power and will,” he said. French co-chair said other co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov and Matthew Bryza would also come to Baku that day. On Friday they will meet with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. |
 A new school building has been constructed in Buynuz Village of Ismayilli Region by means of financial resources allocated by the Government of Japan. Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Masamitsu Oki also attended the inauguration of the 250-seat school building, local officials told APA. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the ambassador noted that his country took interest in the projects carried out in Azerbaijan in the fields of education and health. The ambassador said one more new project was carried out for the drinking-water needs of Lahij Village of Ismayilli Region. |
 Caspian Sea Energy Forum will take place on July 16 in Moscow. Heads of the governments of Caspian littoral states will attend the event organized by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Energy Ministry and a number of official organizations in the Russian capital, APA quotes the Russian media. The energy security in the Caspian Sea, oil and gas infrastructure, activation of the investment processes, international energy cooperation in the region of the Caspian Sea, as well as legal status of the Caspian Sea will be discussed at the Forum. Energy ministers of the Caspian littoral states, including Azerbaijan have been invited to the event. |
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