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 B.C. 14-16 centuries kurgans were found in the territory of Oguz Region of Azerbaijan. The kurgans were found in Karimli Village of Oguz Region, Nasib Mukhatrov, staff member of the History and Etnography Institute of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences told APA. Ancient findings belong to the last Bronze Age and smallest tomb has 70 meter of diameters. Earthenware decorative crockery and different attires were found in the kurgans, which reflect the history of South Caucasus. Mukhtarov said they found Bronze Age funeral attributes and jewelries as well. Archeological excavations are continued in the area now. |
 Norway has extended Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to Azerbaijan. GSP is a preferential tariff system offered by developed countries to developing countries. It involves reduced MFN Tariffs or duty-free entry of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of donor countries. Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economic Development said Norway expanded its GSP scheme to include another 11 nations, counting Azerbaijan from 1 January 2008. The ministry has already submitted all required information to the Norwegian embassy in July to enjoy the tariff system. |
 Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a joint statement. APA reports that the President of Azerbaijan noted that the relations were successfully developing between the two countries. Turkey-Azerbaijan factor ensures peace and tranquility in the region: “Turkey-Azerbaijan friendship contributes to the relations between the countries. Our will has paved the way for the implementation of wide-scale energy and transport projects”. |
 Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has taken a stance on the developments in Georgia, APA reports. President Ilham Aliyev said in his joint statement with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Azerbaijan wanted the life in Georgia to be normal again. “We want the confrontation to stop. Georgia and Russia are Azerbaijan’s friends. We want our friends to be friends too. The recent happenings proved once more how delicate the stability in the region is,” he said. |
 Great Establishment Party will reconsider the issue on participating in the presidential elections. Chairman of the party’s Supreme Assembly Ajdar Aliyev told APA that the meeting of the Supreme Assembly would be held on August 21. “Local structures of the organization are dissatisfied with the party’s decision on not participating in the elections and they want the party to participate in the elections. Maybe decision will be made to participate in the elections,” he said. |
 “Central Election Commission is making preparations for October 15 presidential elections in line with the Work Schedule. As the election approach, we are strengthening cooperation with international organizations,” chairman of Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said, APA reports. He said that trainings had already begun in the regions to increase proficiency of election commissions. CEC chairman said both trainings and enlightenment of voters would continue till the voting day and added that Electoral Code had been published in English. |
 “First results of opposition talks over the united coalition will be known this week”, Eldar Namazov, the President of Public Forum for Azerbaijan told APA. He said political parties not joining the presidential elections intensified talks and reached certain agreements to establish coalition. Namazov said the talks were held at the bilateral level between the separate parties. “It was clear that positions coincide on some issues and there are chances to pass certain decisions”. Namazov said he wouldn’t stop Four’s activity while coalition was established. “Four had unified position on the presidential elections. This is not an organization, this is only consultative center and we will continue the consultations”. |
 “Appointment of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Sub-Committee on Nagorno Karabakh is reviewed and decided by CE Bureau, Samad Seyidov, head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE told APA. “Nomination of candidates, discussions and hearing the opinions of Azerbaijani and Armenian delegations take long time”, said Seyidov and added that the chairman of PACE Sub-Committee would be appointed at the PACE session in October. British parliamentarian Lord Russell Johnston, who has chaired the Sub-Committee since its establishing in January 2005, died last month. |
 The list of the media sources which will carry out free propaganda of presidential candidates in Azerbaijan was announced. “For the pre-election campaign, there will be allocated free ether time on the Public television, as well as place on the pages of newspapers “Azerbaijan”, “Khalg gazeti”, “Republic” and “Bakinski rabochi”, a source at the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Azerbaijan told TrendNews on 20 August. The CEC stated that if other broadcasting and printing organizations make a decision on possibility to provide ether time or place for pre-election agitation, they must send appropriate notices to the CEC. |
 On 20 August the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Steady development of cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries was stressed at the one-to-one meeting. The sides also expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to develop. Discussions also revolved around bilateral relations, regional and international issues. |
 The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has assured international watchdogs that the democratic elections will be held in the country. The authorities will attempt to provide conditions to hold transparent and democratic presidential elections,” Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister, said at the meeting with Yevgeniy Sloboda, Chief of CIS Watchdog Commission at the upcoming presidential elections. Sloboda expressed satisfaction regarding the supplements and changes introduced into the Azerbaijani Election Code. Azerbaijan will host the presidential elections in October 2008. |
 On 20 August, the Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission (CEC) approved candidacy of two more presidential contenders, including unemployed Arif Aliyev and Ali Agayevli. Both presidential contenders run for presidency independently. Thus, the CEC has approved a total of 16 presidential candidates. The CEC registered the candidature of President Ilham Aliyev, the chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) at the meeting on 16 August. |
 Gulamhuseyn Alibayli, a former chairman of Supreme Assembly of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), will not withdraw his presidential candidature in the current stage. “After discussions at the election office, it was decided to begin signature collecting campaign for registration of the candidature,” Alibayli told TrendNews on 20 August. Alibayli said that this issue was widely discussed at the election office. “We decided to collect at least 40,000 signatures required for registration of candidature and participate in the election campaign after registration of candidature. I do not exclude to re-consider withdrawal of my candidature in the next stage of the election campaign,” he added. |
 The opposition Great Establishment Party (GEP) will not boycott the presidential elections. “The GEP just does not participate in the elections with its own candidate. Members of our party will participate in voting,” MP Fazil Gazanfaroglu, the chairman of the GEP said to Trend News on 20 August. According to Gazanfaroglu, the party’s members have not given with any instruction to vote for any concrete candidate from the opposition or the authorities. “On this matter, we give our members full freedom and we made a decision on this matter. They can vote for any candidate,” Gazanfaroglu said. |
 Two opposition parties of Azerbaijan, which opposed each other for a long period of time, will be united in one Centre of Cooperation. “There is no any problem to unitre the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) and the Classical Popular Front Party (CPFP) in a new cooperation centre of opposition. Tensions between parties, which persisted earlier, are left back in history,” Zalimkhan Mammadli, the chairman of the CPFPA Supreme Assembly said to Trend News on 20 August. Three opposition parties, including the Popular Front, the Liberal and the Citizen and Development, united in Azadlig bloc began to negotiate with opposition parties boycotting presidential elections in order to establish new centre of cooperation. The bloc held talks with Musavat, the CPFPA and the Public Forum of For Azerbaijan. |
 Elshan Manafov, former member of the Central Committee of the left Social-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA) is to stand for presidential post. “Manafov feels financial shortcomings to nominate his candidature,” Manafov told Trend News on 20 August. At the meeting of SDPA Central Plenary session on 18 August, the party took a decision not to participate at the upcoming presidential elections with its own candidate due to financial problems. Manafov rejects his refusal from membership in the party. “SDPA will hold a meeting in September. I will demand resignation of Araz Alizade, party’s co-chairman. The left parties reach serious successes in many countries. In Azerbaijan, however, left parties cannot reach any success. The activity of regional organizations of parties was paralyzed and party unites Alizade’s people. There are no Ayaz Mutalibov’s people represented in the party. |
 The format of Democratic Election Centre (DEC) of opposition parties in Azerbaijan will be changed. “Parties, united in DEC, cannot either take part in the upcoming presidential elections. The organization will become centre of cooperation of parties, which will boycott the elections,” Zalimkhan Mammadli, chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Classical Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (CPFPA), which united in DEC, told Trend News. According to Mammadli, DEC does not stick to successful and principal position. “Centre’s key aim is to democratize the Election Code and pre-election situation, as well,” he said. |
 The opposition Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (DPA) may not join the formant of cooperation of parties boycotting the upcoming presidential elections. “We reject the conditions set forth to consider election illegitimate which is the key principle of cooperation,” Sardar Jalaloglu, DPA chairman said to TrendNews. Last week at the meeting of the Board of Chairmen of Azadlig bloc decided to create a center of cooperation of parties refusing to take part in the elections. Fuad Mustafayev, activist of Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan was assigned to hold talks with this regard. Mustafayev determined the illegitimacy of elections as a key principle of cooperation of the parties. “Parties taking this step will immediately join this cooperation,” he added. |
 Romanian President Traian Basescu will pay a business visit to Baku tomorrow, Spokesman for Azerbaijani Embassy in Romania Tural Rzayev said, APA reports. Traian Basescu will meet with President Ilham Aliyev. Romanian President will visit Azerbaijan within the framework of his travel to the ally countries. Traian Basescu is in Ukraine now. Bilateral relations and situation in Georgia were discussed at his meeting with Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko. |
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