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 The oppositional Azerbaijani Democratic Party (ADP) will not participate in presidential elections, to be held on October 15. The decision was made in the congress of the party on August 12, APA reports citing the party’s press service. The Party explains its decision by lack of democratic election environment in the country, as well as by inactivity of other oppositional organizations at elections. |
 Data about the countries of the South Caucasus have been removed from Google Maps online service. APA reports that the data were removed from the server after the military operations were launched in South Ossetia. There are only blank maps of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, data about the cities, settlements and highways have been removed. Besides, CyberSecurity website reports that Russian websites are unavailable in the territory of Georgia. It is also reported that hackers attacked the websites of Georgian government agencies last week. |
 “Russian military aircrafts have bombed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline”, said Secretary of Georgian Security Council Alexander Lomaia, APA reports quoting AFP. He said that air attacks had been made on southern part of Rustavi City, it was not known whether the oil pipeline had been damaged or not. Deputy Chief of Russian Armed Forces Headquarters Anatoli Nogovitsin refuted the reports. He said Russian army had not bombed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The General considers that such statements are directed to Turkey’s reaction. |
 Group of Azerbaijani volunteers living in Georgia was returned as there was no need for them, member of Georgian parliament, head of the group Azer Suleymanov told APA. The MP said that a group of 50 men aged 25-45 had left for the conflict zone the day before, but along with the volunteers our compatriot also returned, since there were enough servicemen. Azer Suleymanov has arrived in Tbilisi this morning and attended the parliament’s sitting. Other volunteers returned to their homes. |
 The left Social-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA) held a meeting but failed to take the final decision regarding the upcoming presidential elections. “As a result of discussions the issue was decided to submit to party’s regional organizations for consideration. The issue is expected to be discussed in the regional organizations for five days. Later, the Central plenary session will make a final decision on the issue,” Araz Alizade, Chairman of SDPA told Trend News. Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections on 15 October. Ayaz Mutallibov, SDPA another co-chairman, who has been living as an emigrant in Moscow, opposed participation in the elections. Mutalibbov believes that whether he cannot participate in the presidential elections the party should not nominate another candidate. |
 Azerbaijan’s Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev has received the delegation headed by Musa Kulaklikaya Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the ministry told APA. Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic also attended the meeting. The sides discussed the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan in medical sphere, prospects of medical cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as the projects implemented in the medical sphere in Azerbaijan by TIKA. Ogtay Shiraliyev underlined technical assistance of Turkey in the project of constructing “Bone Marrow Transplantation and Thalassemia Center”. The minister said qualification of Azerbaijani specialists in Turkey for treating hemoglobinopathy was one of the main components of this project. |
 Georgia has left CIS, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili announced it during the meeting in Tbilisi. Saakashvili stressed that he would propose other countries to leave CIS ruled by Russia as well. |
 The Russian and French presidents on Tuesday announced a six-point plan of principles for settling the conflict in Georgia. "We have not achieved peace yet but we have achieved a provisional cease-fire of hostilities," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. The points include Russian agreements to conclude all military operations, return Russian armed forces to the line preceding the beginning of operations, and not use force again in Georgia. In return Georgia would return its armed forces to their normal and permanent locations. Both sides would provide free access for humanitarian assistance; and international consideration of the issues of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would be undertaken. |
 The Israeli and Azerbaijani relations will be discussed in Baku. The discussion will take place within the framework of the Israeli delegation’s Baku visit, which will be headed by David Allan Harris, the executive director of the US and Jewish committee, Trend News reported. According to the State Committee on Azerbaijanis living abroad, the visit will be realized form 13 to 16 August. The delegation also includes the head of the Caucasus Jews Culture Centre, living in the United States and Canada and Samuel Kliger, the director of the US-Jewish Committee Department on former republics of the Soviet Union. Visit’s target is to get familiarize with Azerbaijan and local Jewish community, as well as to discuss expansion of bilateral relations. The delegation, led by Harris, will meet with the political officials of the country during the visit. |
 The Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission (CEC) approved five presidential contenders’ authorized representatives. The CEC confirmed representatives of the chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Gudrat Hasanguliyev, the chairman of the Umid Party Igbal Agazade, the chairman of the Muasir Musavat Party Hafiz Hajiyev, the chairman of the Azerbaijani Liberal-Democratic Party Fuad Aliyev and the chairman of the Greens Party Mais Gulaliyev. At the meeting, it was decided to establish Observation and Revision Service at the CEC. The Service will observe utilization of the allocated funds for the elections committees. The Service includes representatives of the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Taxes, the National Bank, the Chamber of Accounts and CEC’s three members. The presidential elections will be held in Azerbaijan on 15 October. |
 The Central Elections Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) urged the public to closely participate in specifying lists of voters. “Specifying lists of voters will be possible till the elections day. Everybody should actively participate in this regard notwithstanding their political position,” Mazahir Panahov, the chairman of the CEC, briefed the media on 12 August. The CEC registered 4,834,584 voters. More than 4,600,000 people were registered in the lists of voters in 2007. A total of 52% of registered voters are women and 48% are men. |
 Gulamhuseyn Alibayli, former chairman of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Supreme Assembly, intends to establish a new party. “It is not ruled out that I will establish a new party. If the idea is realized, the new party will be of a parliamentary type,” Alibayli said to Trend News on 11 August. Alibayli said he had decided to participate in the upcoming presidential elections and had submitted the relevant documents to the Central Elections Commission (CEC). “I will specify my plans to establish a new party during the elections process. It means that a number of our supporters will be revealed during the elections. Therefore, during the elections process I will make a final decision on establishment of a new party and will take real steps in this direction after the elections,” Alibayli said, hoping that he will gain votes of dissatisfied electorate. “Naturally, I will try to achieve this purpose. |
 Azerbaijani political scientists consider impossible to establish the Caucasus Countries Union. “It is impossible to establish any union without settlement of the ongoing conflicts in the Caucasus region,” Zardusht Alizade, an independent political scientist, said to Trend News on 12 August. On 11 August, Turkish Premier Receb Tayyib Erdogan urged the Caucasus countries to establish the Caucasus Union in connection with the events in Georgia, adding that such a union was impossible without Russia’s participation. According to Alizade, if Russia is pursuing aggressive policy, establishment of any union with the country is out of the question. “Unions are established amongst close countries to lead their relations to the highest level. Erdogan just does not deeply perceive the situation in the post-soviet region. Therefore, he offers senseless proposals,” he said. |
 Alongside with free air time, the Public TV (PTV) of Azerbaijan is to allocate paid air time for presidential candidates. “PTV will allocate free and paid air time. We will take into account the financial state of candidates,” Ismayil Omarov, Director General of Public TV, told Trend News. The cost for paid air time and other similar questions have not been specified yet, Omarov said. “Heads of private channels assemble to consider the allocated air time and the issue is solved through the chairmanship of the National TV and Radio Council before the elections. Later, the air time is announced. Free air time will be announced as soon as presidential candidates pass registration,” Omarov stated. |
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