Servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will participate in NATO’s Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2012 training which will be held in Macedonia next week, press service of the Defense Ministry told APA. The training, which will continue till May 29, is held within the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program and has a purpose of mutual improvement of forces between NATO and partner countries.

The European Union Delegation in Azerbaijan held an event on the 62nd anniversary of Europe Day. According to APA, Head of the EU Delegation Roland Kobia said the organization is based on peace, democracy and rule of law. “We want to share these values with our partners, including Azerbaijan”. The ambassador said EU is intensively developing political dialogue, economic relations, energy and cultural cooperation with Azerbaijan. “EU-Azerbaijan cooperation is established on the basis of sovereignty and mutual respect”.

APA was told at the Republican Seismological Service Center that the quake was recorded on 6 km west from Sheki at 14.05 by local time today.  4-magnitude quake was felt in the epicenter and 3-magnitude in settlements near the epicenter.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressed the world community on World Environment Day, 5 June, 2012, APA was told at the UN Office in Baku. The message reads: “As the world gears up for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), World Environment Day is an opportunity to highlight the need for a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable world. This year’s theme, “Green Economy: Does it include you?”, underscores the need for everyone to play their part in keeping humankind’s ecological footprint within planetary boundaries.

The annual summer session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) will be held in Baku in 2014, vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, head of the Azerbaijani Delegation in the OSCE PA Bahar Muradova told journalists, APA reports. Bahar Muradova said that the Azerbaijani side addressed for holding spring session of the organization in Baku: “Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly attentively approached this appeal and held negotiation with the Azerbaijani side about holding annual summer session in Baku in 2014. Agreement letter of the Azerbaijani Parliament will be sent to the Secretary General today.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul yesterday signed a law allowing foreigners to buy real estate in Turkey, the Sabah newspaper reported on Friday quoting the president's apparatus press service. Earlier this month, the Turkish parliament passed a law allowing foreigners to buy property in Turkey. Previously it was proposed to make a buyer to be able to purchase no more than 30 hectares throughout Turkey. Under the amendments to the law, a foreign buyer may purchase up to 60 hectares of land, if it appeals to the Turkish authorities and gets permission.

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) of Azerbaijan issued a statement concerning the 20th anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijan’s Lachin region by the Armenians.

A quake hit Sheki region of Azerbaijan. APA reports quoting the official website of the Republican Seismological Service Center that 2,8-magnitude quake was recorded on 9 km west from Sheki city in the depth of 6 km at 15.22 today. 3-magnitude quake was felt in the epicenter. No causalities were reported.

On May 17 Baku as part of the Eurovision 2012 song contest will host a Georgian party, the Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) said on Thursday. According to information, Georgia will be the first to receive the delegation of the Eurovision 2012 participating countries. Guests invited to the party will be able to taste Georgian wine, cheese and sweets. The party will take place in the Euroclub.

The 2nd World Political Forum is held in Istanbul Congress Center. APA’s correspondent reports that the representatives of Libyan and Egyptian popular movements delivered speeches at the opening of the meeting which focuses on global processes.  The forum will continue with panels of different topics. Azerbaijan is represented in the forum by the head of the political analysis and information department of the Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov, SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev, chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Board, Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh and Azercell-Telekom CEO Ali Agan.