President of Turkey Abdullah Gul hopes that the French court will make a right decision, TRT Haber TV Channel reported on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Jan.31, the French Senators collected required number of signatures demanding repeal of the law criminalizing the denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide". President Gul said it is impossible to believe that the French people will put their country in an awkward position. The Senators collected 70 signatures instead of fixed 60 and, thus, today they will appeal to the Constitutional Council.

NATO and U.S. experts are scheduled to visit Baku on Feb.14. During the visit a review will be made on the NATO assistance in reforming Azerbaijani Armed Forces, including in military training, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend on Tuesday. The cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO was laid in 1994, signing a framework document - Partnership for Peace.

The Session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) held in Palembang (Indonesia) has ended. It calls upon the Member Parliaments to initiate starting from 2012 (20th anniversary of the tragedy) a proper recognition to the genocidal massacre of Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian forces in the town of Khojaly on 26 February 1992, Ambassador Elshad Iskandarov, Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC)'s Secretary General, who took part in the work of the Session said.

Employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Azerbaijani POW Mammadbagir Akhundzade kept in Nagorno-Karabakh on Jan.30, the ICRC Baku Office Spokesperson Shahla Gahramanova told Trend on Tuesday. He said the ICRC employees delivered a "Red Cross" letter to the POW, and received a "Red Cross" letter from him. The POW's family was informed about the meeting. Junior sergeant of Azerbaijani Armed Forces Mammadbagir Akhundzade (born in 1990) was captivated near the Yukhary Chayli village on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

The Azerbaijani parliamentary plan for the spring session has been approved. It is planned to discuss the bills on "Ensuring the rights and freedoms of persons in custody," "Status of servicemen", "Reports of municipalities", "Loans for education," eEcological Expertise", "Appraisal activity", "Agricultural cooperation", "Higher education", "Politics in science," "State care of people with MS", "Rights of patients," "Culture", as well as the codes of "Urban planning" and "Construction" and "Competition."

On April 2-3, Baku will host next meeting of the Azerbaijani-Lithuanian intergovernmental commission. Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Kestutis Kudzmanas noted that the meeting would focus on current state and perspectives of economic relations between the two countries, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

There are additions to the list of e-services in Azerbaijan implemented by central executive bodies, the Cabinet of Ministers told on Monday. Point 22.7 for special permission to work in alternative and renewable energy is added in accordance with the amendments made to the list of services provided by the Ministry of Industry and Energy Minister. The cabinet decision comes into force on Jan.26, 2012.

U.S President Barack Obama said that the U.S unequivocally supports Georgia's accession to NATO, a member of the Georgian delegation, State Minister for Reintegration Eka Tkeshelashvili told media after the meeting between the Georgian and the U.S Presidents in Washington. She said that both parties discussed the prospects of intensifying cooperation between the U.S. and Georgia, including security.

A Supreme Court of France will make a decision on a law criminalizing denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" in a week, member of the Senate Commission for International Affairs Nathalie Goulet told Trend on Tuesday. "We have a lot of arguments for demanding repeal of this law," she said. According to Goulet, 70 signatures were collected by senators and now they have to wait for the Supreme Court's decision.

Accessories and souvenirs relating to the Eurovision 2012 contest will be available in Azerbaijan as in every country that has hosted the contest, its official website reported. According to contest official Sietse Bakker, various accessories are being produced related to the 57th Eurovision Song Contest held under the slogan "Light Your Fire." "Work is underway in terms of product quality and price. They will be available soon and will be affordable for everyone," he said. According to Bakker, accessories outlets will start operating in various parts of the city soon. They will also be sold at the Baku Crystal Hall, which will host Eurovision 2012.