A round table on “Agdam – 15 years under Armenian bondage” was held a day before the anniversary of the occupation of Agdam region. The event was organized by the Public Association for “Protection of Rights of Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan” and “Hasrat Yolu” Public Association. Chairman of the PA PRMIDPA, professor Nadir Abdullayev made an opening speech. Editor of the “Voice of Karabakh” (Golos Karabakha) newspaper, Gadir Nasirov reported on the subject “15 years have passed since occupation of Agdam and Agdere” and Chairman of the “Hesret Yolu” Public Association for assistance to captives and hostages, Esmira Orujova spoke on “Our compatriot captives and hostages in Agdam and Agdere region”. Speakers emphasized that two regions of Azerbaijan were occupied 15 years ago – Agdere on July 7 and Agdam on July 23. Over 14 thousand people lived in 14 villages of Agdere region (1705 sq/km territory) before the occupation.

Azerbaijani President sent back State Support Conception for Development of Media for improvement, Ali Hasanov, Head of Socio-Political Department of Presidential Apparat said, APA reports
Hasanov stated that conception has been presented to the President, but Azerbaijani President sent back conception to the department to make several amendments and annexes.
“We prepare the document to be signed. After arriving of President in Baku, other documents and conception on media are expected to be signed. Various measures on the development of independent media are planned to be taken. I do not want to speak about it comprehensively,” he said.

One more member of US Congress House of Representatives has joined Working Group on Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told APA
Rob Wittman, Republican representative of Virginia’s 1st congressional district decided to join Working Group. Numbers of working Group on Azerbaijan have been increased by 42.

Today 15 years have passed since occupation of Azerbaijan’s Agdam Region by Armenian Armed Forces. Agdam Region, with 1154 square meters area and 147 000 population, was occupied by Armenian armed units on July 23, 1993, APA reports. Azerbaijan controls only 22.6 per cent of the region’s territory now. Armenians destroyed historical monuments, cemeteries, residential facilities, hospitals, schools and offices in the occupied territories of Agdam. More than 6000 Azerbaijanis became martyrs in the battles for Agdam. Armenia violates principles of Hague Convention for Protection of
Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and Paris Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and continues to rob the cultural property of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan shows interest to purchase grain from Ukraine. First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov discussed this issue with Ukrainian ambassador Boris Klimchuk, APA reports. They agreed to hold agrarian business-forum of both countries. The forum can take place within the meeting of Ukrainian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission in Kiev in November.

OSCE Minsk Group is for continuing peace talks on the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Nagorno-Karabakh on the basis of major principles.
“The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs welcome constructive meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in St. Petersburg on 6 June and call on the sides to refuse from their maximal initiatives during the talks, public statements and avoid all types of aggressive rhetoric,” said a statement issued by he OSCE Minsk Group mediators from the United States (Mathew Bryza), France (Bernard Fassier) and Russia (Yuriy Merzlyakov), placed in the OSCE’s website on 22 July.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will consider the release of three arrested Azerbaijani journalists. “We have received an appeal sent by the Azerbaijani Press Council in connection with the release of the arrested journalists and the President has been informed that,” Ali Hasanov, head of the public and political department of the President’s Administration, said.
Three journalists are in prison in Azerbaijan: editor-in-chief of the Gundalik Azerbaijan and Realniy Azerbaijan newspapers Eynulla Fatullayev, the editor-in-chief of Azadlig daily Ganimat Zahid and the writer for Azadlig daily Mirza Sakit.
Hasanov stressed that presently the President Administration had several project and appeals related to media.

The Bill on Fight against Legalization of Cash Assets and Other Property Gained by Illegal Ways and Terrorism Financing, which was brought up for discussions in Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) from the first reading, does not meet international standards.
“Unfortunately, at present, this Bill does not reflect all elements that can turn into a large and unified law against money laundry and terrorism financing. Some parts of this Bill should be reviewed once again to make it to fully conform to international standards,” Anne Derse, the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan said in the seminar Fight against Money Laundry and Terrorism Financing in Azerbaijan: Obtained Lessons and Best Experiences on 22 July.
The Bill on Fight against Legalization of Cash Assets and Other Property Gained by Illegal Ways and Terrorism Financing went through the first reading in the spring session of Milli Majlis.

22 June is professional holiday of journalists, APA reports. July 22, when the first issue of Akinchi was printed and established by Hasan bey Zardabi , is marked as National Media Day.
Over the past 133 years Azerbaijani media, which faces regress and renaissance, plays a role of mirror reflected views of society toward processes. There are various newspapers and magazines in the country and newspapers online have been developed. Azerbaijan became a part of global information network with development of information technologies in modern period and global processes have influenced on media as well. Hundreds of journalists joined qualifying seminars and courses by support of international organizations.

Bahram Khalilov, Chairman f the State Commission on Civil Servants Issues under the Presidential Administration, believes that salaries of civil servants should be defined depending on the results of their work activity. Civil servants who work a lot must be paid as well, Khalilov said.
According to Khalilov, this experience is used in world widely and he considers relevant to use this experience in Azerbaijan.
Some candidates, who passed the contest successfully, held by the Commission, preferred to work in private sector because of high salaries, Khalilov said.

Opposition MP Ali Masimli believes that the Government has more chances to victor the elections rather than the opposition. “The votes to be collected by opposition parties will be insufficient for victory in the current situation,” MP told TrendNews on 22 July.
Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections on 15 October. Musavat party has already nominated its Chairman Isa Gambar, Azerbaijan Democratic Party - Sardar Jalaloglu, the Greens Party nominated Mais Gulaliyev, the Popular Front Party of Unified Azerbaijan nominated Gudrat Hasanguliyev and Muasir Musavat nominated Hafiz Hajiyev. The head of the public forum For Azerbaijan Eldar Namazov stands for presidency as an independent candidate. The governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) will nominate country’s current President Ilham Aliyev. Pro-governmental parties Ana Vatan and Social Prosperity Party intend to support Ilham Aliyev at the elections. Bloc Azadlig uniting three opposition parties (Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Citizen and Development Party, Liberal Party) intends to boycott the elections. The Democratic Reforms party made a decision to participate in the elections as an observer.