"Azerbaijan is the victim, but Armenia - the organizer of terror" Ilham Aliev rejects the accusations of official Yerevan

/* Baku, October 1, 525 */

"It is difficult to believe that Armenia has information about the places where terrorist Osama bin Laden hides and which countries he calls. Simply, the accusations are part of the libel and slander policy Armenia has brought against Azerbaijan over the past 13 years", Ilham Aliev, Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE told Georgian journalists while commenting on the Armenian deputy Ovannis Ovanisyan's statements on Azerbaijan's ties with bin Laden.

I.Aliev stated: "Azerbaijan suffered a lot from terrorism. Since the beginning of the Armenian aggression 32 terroristic acts were committed in Azerbaijan by Armenian terrorist groups. As a result of these terroristic acts 2.000 people of Azerbaijan were killed, tens of thousand injured.

"Armenia's terrorist acts against Azerbaijan are organized on the state level.

Armenian policy bases on occupation of Azerbaijan's territories, brutal assassination of women and children. Azerbaijan is the victim, but Armenia - the organizer of terror".

"If Armenia has information about bin Laden's telephoning some countries, then it means that Yerevan itself keeps contacts with this terrorist", I.Aliev stressed.*

Safar Abiyev: "Anti-terrorist measure in Nagorno-Karabakh must be taken"
The military doctrine of Azerbaijan regards Armenia as an enemy state

/* Baku, October 2, Sahil-IRG */

Recently the Minister of Interior of Azerbaijan Ramil Usubov declared about a possibility of launching an anti-terrorist operation in the occupied terretories of the country, thus causing discomfort for Yerevan and the regime in Karabakh. Now the statement of Ramil Ususbov is followed by the declaration made by the Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev who says that Azerbaijan’s leadership has a vast amount of evidence prooving that Azerbaijanis have been victims of terrorist actions launched by Armenia, including those in Russia. Naming Armenia a state that supports international terrorism the Minister made the terrorist group ASALA an example: “ I believe no one can deny the existance of training camps for kurdish terrorist in Armenia and the occupied Karabakh. I even anticipate that the anti-terrorist operation planned by the western powers will be directed against Armenia as well” - said Safar Abiyev. In his opinion this operation should be launched in Nagorno Karabakh: "Anti-terrorist operation in the occupied terretories of Azerbaijan must be launched, because those who occupied these lands are terrorists" - commented Safar Abiyev. Speaking about Azerbaijan’s position regarding the anti-terroris operation planned by US, the Minister stated that so far Washington has not officially addressed Azerbaijan concerning the question of using its territory and air. However if it does Azerbaijan will be ready to contribute. Besides Savar Abiyev informed that the military doctrine of Azerbaijan, which is under elaboration, mentions Armenia as an enemy state. The Minister noted that within next 3 years all staff of Azerbaijan’s military forces would have new uniforms. As concerning the reforms in the press-service of the Ministry, he told that a lot is being done to create a press-service that would meet modern demands.*

Azeri Defense Minister begins official visit to Turkey

/* Ankara, October 1, ANS */

Turkey--Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev began a three-day official visit to Turkey October 1. According to news coming from Ankara, the Azeri minister met with his Turkish counterpart Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. The issued discussed at the meeting remained vague for media, since the meeting was held behind closed doors. What is known to the media is that the talks conducted and to be conducted by Colonel General Abiyev in Turkey were and will be focused mainly on bilateral military cooperation issues, as well as detailed discussion of the document on military cooperation due to be signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey. It’s noteworthy that the document is due to be signed by the end of the year. According to it, Turkey will render Azerbaijan every kind of assistance, including military aid, such as modernization of Azerbaijan’s armed forces etc. By the way, an analogous agreement was signed between Russia and Armenia. According to the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan, official Ankara will help Azerbaijan with manpower and military equipment if a state of war comes to being between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As for the probable stationing Turkish military bases in Azerbaijan, this could only be solved by the two nations’ parliaments. It should be noted that Azerbaijan’s most famous military lyceum named after Camsid Naxcivanski was granted to Turkey’s management since this year. Starting 2002, the education process in the lyceum will start using NATO standards.*

DemCongress views crackdown as counterproductive

/* Baku, October 1, AssA-Irada */

Opposition regards the recent crackdown by the authorities on the freedom of speech, press and political forces part of the crackdown campaign launched by the world’s powerful regimes following the September 11 terror acts in the USA, Musavat chairman Isa Gambar told a news briefing after a meeting of the pro-Musavat Democratic Congress Monday.

Mr. Gambar then recalled of the arrests of journalists, closure of newspapers, deprivation of political parties of their offices, and the crackdown on the freedom of meeting. He dwelt upon the use of force against the ADP rally in Nakhchivan on September 29. According to him, the rally was quelled as tens of people were beaten up and arresting. Whereabouts of the apprehended are still unknown, he said.

DemCongress-1 believes that such a policy is not going to yield any fruit neither to the country nor to the authorities.*

Parliament's fall session gets underway

/* Baku, October 1, AssA-Irada */

The Milli Mejlis convened for the first meeting of its fall session Monday, as speaker Murtuz Alasgarov said, touching upon the spring session, that the parliament had passed 118 acts, amended 33 laws and aligned Azerbaijan to 11 international conventions. He said MPs would attend a conference, "Islam in combat against terrorism", due to be held in Russia.

Afterwards, MPs approved the work plan of the fall session and decided to join the International Convention on eradicating economic terrorism, condemning terror and suggesting that Azerbaijan provide air space to the US.*

Georgian President pays one-day visit

/* Baku, September 29, AssA-Irada */

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze’s airplane landed in the Baku airport at 12.30 on Saturday, as Azeri President Heydar Aliyev greeted the distinguished guest. Straight from the airport, the Georgian President was taken to the Alley of Martyrs to pay tribute to those who have perished for their country.

Afterwards, the two presidents held a one-hour closed-door meeting at the President’s office and were then joined by delegations of the two countries.

Following the meeting the parties signed a package of inter-governmental agreements and documents on the transit, transportation and sale of natural gas. Signing the documents first were Georgiy Chanturia, president of the Georgian International Oil Corporation, and Majid Karimov, the Azeri fuel and energy minister. The documents were then signed by the presidents of thew two countries.

Addressing the signing ceremony, President Aliyev said both their private meeting and the one on the level of delegations had been a success. Signing of the document carries tremendous importance and is a part of a new oil strategy Azerbaijan has pursued since 1994. "Back when the Contract of the Century was being signed we were considering oil export alternatives and I think we have chosen the right way", H. Aliyev said. He then spoke of the successful solution of the Baku-Supsa, Baku-Novorossiysk and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline issues, adding that there is a trillion cubic meters of gas in the Shah-Daniz field. He then indicated that the export route through Georgia represents historic importance for Azerbaijan, Georgia, the entire region, and for their integration with Europe. The Azeri President then expressed his confidence that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline projects would be successfully implemented and that this would give both countries both economic and political dividens and contribute to regional security.

In his remarks, Mr. Shevardnadze congratulated the audience on the occasion of signing and described the Shah-Daniz project as a large-scale one. He then praised his Azeri counterpart for making the signing happen at last. "There were some complications, but the Azeri President made a decision in favor of Georgia and contrary to Azerbaijan’s interests. This is evidence to the fact that Azerbaijan is a reliable neighbor", he said.

The main talking point during a subsequent news conference was the security of the gas pipeline amid accusations of Georgia and Azerbaijan of terrorist links. H. Aliyev said it was no easy task, especially given the conflicts in the region. "But if we have coped with other challenging tasks, I am sure we can handle this one too", he said. As far as allegations of terrorism are concerned, H. Aliyev stated that presidents of the two countries had themselves been targets of terror attacks. "Azerbaijan has always been opposed to terrorism, separatism, extremism and religious fanaticism", he announced.

Mr. Shevardnadze agreed with his counterpart, saying "Terrorism must be eradicated".

Asked what Azerbaijan and Georgia would do to combat terrorism within the CIS, Mr. Aliyev said there was no need to make any division in the struggle against a universal evil.

In response to a question whether the persecution of Azeris in Georgia was a part of the state policy, the Georgian President said, "Everything is alright there".

On Saturday night, the Georgian President left back for Georgia.*

‘Co-op with Armenia ruled out until lands are liberated’, I. Aliyev says

/* Baku, September 29, AssA-Irada */

Head of the Azerbaijan delegation attending the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly session in Strasbourg on September 28 MP Ilham Aliyev has been interviewed by an Armenian journalist Armen Zargarian. When asked why Azerbaijan aspires to have the Garabagh problem discussed in the PA CE, Mr. Aliyev said the more the issue becomes a talking point at various levels, the sooner the international community will understand the fairness of Azerbaijan’s position. He said Armenia is reluctant to discuss the matter because it is doing its best to conceal the essence of the dispute and cover up the occupation of Azeri lands, aggression against the people of Azerbaijan, deprivation of more than a million Azeris of their homes. What Armenia does want to focus on now is cooperation, but it has to be understood that any cooperation is out of the question until Azeri territories are freed from occupation.

With regard to the mutual accusations of terrorism being made by Azeri and Armenian delegations, Mr. Aliyev said Azerbaijan has a long list of crimes perpetrated by Armenian terrorist organizations in Azerbaijan. Among the 32 terrorist acts committed to this end are explosions in the underground, trains, buses, ferryboats, which have claimed a total of 2,000 lives. But all Armenia claims to have is the blank allegation that Bin Laden has allegedly called someone in Azerbaijan 60 times.

Mr. Aliyev added that the territory of the Upper Garabagh is now out of anyone’s control. Since it has not been recognized as an independent country, not a single international monitoring has been conducted there and the agreement on conventional arms in Europe has no effect. As a result, the number of tanks and weaponry in Upper Garabagh is much bigger than Azerbaijan and Armenia put together have.

Mr. Aliyev emphasized that Armenia has captured 7 Azeri provinces that had never before been populated by Armenians and is now talking to Azerbaijan from the position of force. "But the world has changed dramatically, and it is no longer to possible to exercise such approaches", he said.

The Azeri MP went on to say that although Azerbaijan has suffered heavy human loss, destruction and its people have had to live in unbearable conditions for years, its economic prospects are much brighter than those of Armenia. Armenia is now in complete isolation from regional projects. For example, although it would be more cost efficient to lay export oil and gas pipelines through its territory, this infrastructure is going to bypass Armenia.

In conclusion, Mr. Aliyev said, "Azerbaijan wants to resolve the Garabagh problem in peace and this was our commitment at the time of acceptance to the Council of Europe. But you have to understand that this status quo cannot last forever". He then stated that under no circumstances would Azerbaijan agree to a settlement that might hurt its territorial integrity.*

Shah Daniz partners welcome Azerbaijan-Georgian agreements on gas export

/* Baku, September 29, AssA-Irada */

The Shah Daniz partners welcomed Saturday the intergovernmental agreements and related accords signed in Baku between the Azerbaijan and Georgia for the transit, transportation and sale of natural gas. The agreements signed by President Heydar Aliyev and President Eduard Shevardnadze will pave way for the development of the world-class Shah Daniz border to link up to a new BOTAS pipeline to Erzurum.

In a statement issued Saturday in Baku the Shah Daniz partners said: "We are pleased to witness this major milestone which will enable the delivery of Azeri gas to Georgia and onward to Turkey. We consider that this is a good deal for both Georgia and Azerbaijan. The Shah Daniz project is currently in the detalied engineering phase and good progress is being made. The next step required to enable construction activities to commence next year and first gas to be delivered to Georgia and Turkey by 2005 is the enactment of these agreements in Georgia and conclusion of significant commercial agreements with Azerbaijan.”

The Shah Daniz partners are: BP 25,5%, Statoil 25,5%, SOCAR 10%, ELF 10%, LUKAgip 10%, OPEC 10%, and TPAO 9%.*

Ruling party’s regional branch facing scandal

/* Baku, September 20, AssA-Irada */

Executives of the Binagadi branch of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party, A. Namazov, R. Hasanov and K. Alikhanov, accused chairman of the branch Fuad Hajizadeh, his deputy and other leaders of corruption and plotting intrigue.

According to them, those who run the branch have led it to a disastrous situation, with corruption and bribery reining. Half of the branch members are unhappy with this, they said. The speakers indicated that head of the local executive body meddles in the branch affairs and supports its leaders in illegal machinations.

The three said that the members of the Binagadi branch of the party have addressed its chairman President Aliyev to take appropriate measures.*