Steve is a vastly experienced reporter, with facts at his fingertips and has a admirably and almost dispassionate clear writing style, free of the rather annoying hectoring tone that many adopt, especially when writing on Russia.

His latest post combines the best of his own blog with opinion from a perennial favourite of mine - Tom de Waal - about whom I have written previously.  De Waal's reporting on the Caucasus is always clear, balanced and informative.

See what you think:  http://oilandglory.com/2008/07/guest-column-americas-ostensible-ally.html#links

Azərbaycanda prezident seçkisi oktyabrın 15-də keçiriləcək.

Hakim Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası isə hazırki dövlət başçısı İlham Əliyevin namizədliyini irəli sürmək niyyətindədir. İqtidaryönlü Ana Vətən və Sosial Rifah partiyaları da seçkidə İlham Əliyevin namizədliyini müdafiə etmək qərarı veriblər.

İndiyə qədər Müsavat Partityasının başqanı İsa Qəmbərin, Azərbaycan Demokrat Partiyasının sədri Sərdar Cəlaloğlunun, Yaşıllar Partiyasının sədri Mais Güləliyevin, Bütöv Azərbaycan Xalq Cəbhəsi Partiyasının sədri Qüdrət Həsənquliyevin, Müasir Müsavat Partiyasının sədri Hafiz Hacıyevin namizədliyi təmsil olunduqları partiyalar tərəfindən irəli sürülüb. Bundan başqa, «Azərbaycan Naminə» İctimai Forumun rəhbəri Eldar Namazov müstəqil şəkildə namizədliyini irəli sürüb. Üç müxalifət partiyasının (Azərbaycan Xalq Cəbhəsi, Vətəndaş və İnkişaf, Liberal) təmsil olunduğu «Azadlıq» bloku isə seçkiləri boykot edəcəyi barədə bəyanat verib.

Trend News-un məlumatına görə, bununla bağlı cümə axşamı keçirilən mətbuat konfransında Təşəbbüs Qrupuna qoşulan Almaniyanın Franfurkt Universitetinin müəllimi İbrahimxəlil Balayev deyib ki, ötən beş ildə Azərbaycan təkcə ölkə daxilində deyil, beynəlxalq aləmdə önəmli uğurlar qazanıb. Ən mötəbər təşkilatlar Azərbaycanın mövqeyini dəstəkləyir. Bütün bu uğurlar prezident İlham Əliyevin həyata keçirdiyi uğurlu xarici və daxili siyasətin təzahürüdür. Balayev hesab edir ki, yaxın vaxt ərzində dünya azərbaycanlılarının təşəbbüs qrupuna daxil olan üzvlərin sayı artacaq.

Toplantıda təşəbbüs qrupunun üzvləri ABŞ Azərbaycanlıları Şəbəkəsinin müdiri Adil Bağırov, Macarıstanda yaşayan politoloq Vüqar Seyidov, Benilyuks Azərbaycanlıları Konqresinin rəhbəri Sail Qasımov telefon vasitəsilə tədbirə qatılıblar.

www.trend.az

What’s more, they have done that completely ignoring the fact that the continuing blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan is in gross violation of the same European values and the standards established by the Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization.

Therefore, we must do our utmost to have both the United Nations and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe pass relevant resolutions condemning the implementation of programs circumventing Armenia.”

   Let’s start from the fact that Kosovo declared its independence recently and many countries did recognize this independence, which gives a new energy to the settlement of the conflict. On March 4 as we know the Azerbaijanis violated the cease-fire. After this negative event the co-Chairmen should have visited the region and discussed it with NKR President, the authorities and the government. It’s worth mentioning that the government has changed in the countries of the region, both Armenia and Karabakh have new Presidents, new Presidential elections are in store for Azerbaijan in autumn, and in this regard the regular visit of the co-Chairmen to the region a bit differs from the previous ones.
   NKR President and the government have reconfirmed Artsakh’s stance regarding the peaceful settlement of the conflict and that Azerbaijan’s bellicose announcements hinder the process of the negotiations.”
   “How do you estimate the fact that Azerbaijan managed to repeat its famous resolution in PACE, regarding the “liberation of the occupied territories by Azerbaijan?”
   “Thus Azerbaijan is doing its best to hide it’s anti-democratic policy towards the national minorities. We all know that during the recent weeks and even months the idea of the national sovereignty is bursting among the lezgies, talishis and avars. They have already appealed to Daghistan, Russia and the whole world anticipating that the international community will somehow respond to the violation of the minorities’ rights.
   It is natural that Azerbaijanis intend to gain dividends, trying to decline the attention of the international community and bring it to Armenia’s internal political problems. It is evident and we must always take it into account.”
   “The leaders of the “pan-national” movement don’t even hide that their goal is to convince PACE use political sanctions against Armenia.”
   “The recent developments testify to the fact that the rivalry has become sharper between the two geopolitical poles. And if at present any European or western structure or state uses political sanctions against Armenia it will definitely change the ratio of the forces in the region.
   At the moment it is not beneficial for anyone especially the West to use political sanctions against Armenia, that can have impact on Armenia’s foreign policy. That is why I don’t think it can happen.
   Of course it is beneficial for certain internal and foreign powers. Firstly for Azerbaijan, which can gain dividends in case of Armenia’s “pro-Russian” stance, representing itself as the champion of the western values.”
   “Has Armenia’s policy regarding Karabakh changed after the “coup d'йtat”, or everything is the same?”
   “In general the strategy of the settlement of Karabakh conflict should be the same for Armenian people. There can be some changes in terms of the tactics, but the main approach must be the same, which is - Karabakh can’t be part of Azerbaijan.
   The second principle, which is not less important, is the guarantee of Artsakh’s security. In this regard, in my view nothing has changed and it cannot change because the majority of the people doesn’t question these two principles. In this case the change of government cannot have any influence on the policy regarding Karabakh

   “Do you mean Azerbaijan’s ambitions for “solving” the problem through military operations?”
   “The matter is first of all addressed to the efforts of bringing the settlement process beyond the frameworks of the OSCE Minsk Group and transferring it to other international tribunals, particularly, the UN Security Council and Assembly. And the enthusiasm of the Azerbaijani diplomacy seems to be giving way after the adoption of the well-known UN Resolution.
   In particular, I believe that the agreement reached between the two Presidents with regard to continuing the talks based on the Madrid principles testifies to the fact that Azerbaijan’s attacking policy in the panorama of the undesirable pre-electoral and post-electoral developments of Armenia is beginning to retreat.
   In the meantime, Azerbaijan is certainly trying to reiterate its willingness of solving the problem through military operations. Although the word does not suit the language of diplomacy, I don’t find a better characterization at the moment. If it is announced on the level of the President that the first stage of the war is over, and Azerbaijan is always ready to solve the problem through military operations, this can be estimated as an undisguised pressure against the international community and the mediators.
   Interpreting Azerbaijan’s attitude, we can state the following: if the mediators insist on settling the conflict based upon the Madrid principles, i.e. there’s no respect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, resuming the military operations remains the only way for the latter to solve the problem. Because, to the best of our knowledge, those principles envisage the definition of the NKR status through a referendum. Azerbaijan naturally admits the fact with a great sorrow, perceiving it as a mechanism of legalizing the secession of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
   Judging by all, the last visit of the Co-Chairs was aimed at mitigating the anxiety of the Azerbaijani side. As to what extent they succeeded in their efforts will be shown by the further development of the negotiation process.
   “To what extent is your optimism about the retreat of Azerbaijan’s attacking policy justified, taking into consideration the fact that the Azerbaijani delegation gained the successive advantage over us by ‘thrusting in’ the anti-Armenian formulation passed by the UN into the PACE Resolution?”
   “In general, I would advise or rather, ask the Armenian delegation not to overload itself and avoid initiating debates with the Azerbaijani party. I believe it would be more proper to simply state that if Azerbaijan has problems with Nagorno Karabakh, this is none of Armenia’s business, and Azerbaijan had better display its willingness by initiating a direct dialogue with Karabakh with the purpose of settling its problems.
   That’s to say, the Armenian party doesn’t have initiate a debate with the Azeris on most different topics such as ecological issues, human rights etc.
   Nevertheless, I think that restoring territorial integrity is the general political attitude of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and it applies not only to Azerbaijan but also to Georgia and Moldova. This may be considered as one of the manifestations of the East-West conflicts. The Azerbaijani diplomacy has held no victory at this point because the conversation is about the principle of territorial integrity in general.
   What does territorial integrity mean, and which are the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan? These are the questions that should be discussed on the legal plane. The thing is that Azerbaijan is now making claims for a territory which has never formed part of its statehood. In my opinion, the declarative statements on restoring territorial integrity should be viewed in this context.”
   “There is a widespread opinion that the West, on behalf of the Council of Europe, demonstrated a mild attitude towards us by not applying any sanctions with the purpose of imposing concessions with regard to the Karabakh issue. Is it possible to have a serious approach to this viewpoint?”
   “I think these are merely tricks used with the purpose of gaining some dividends in the internal political campaign. I am sincerely sorry that an issue like the Karabakh conflict becomes a subject of political speculations.
   As regards the allegations that the Council of Europe had a mild attitude to Armenia, they probably mean the authorities of Armenia. And a mild or non-mild attitude towards the authorities may be displayed by the public, society and the electorate responsible for forming those authorities. If the present-day authorities have been formed by the major part of the electorate, it is necessary to respect their decision and initiate the step-by-step implementation of all the activities aimed at strengthening construction work on the state level, fostering the country's economy and increasing its military power.
   That’s to say, it is necessary to make goal-oriented steps to solve the problems we are facing. And if it is impossible to solve global problems, we must be able to at least resist the challenges faced by the whole region and especially Armenia.

 one day before the inauguration of President Aliev. The walls and doors of the synagogue were covered with feces. Rabbi Bekker believes that this was done in retaliation for the Jewish community's open and active support for President Aliev in the presidential elections Approximately one month later, a synagogue of the Mountain Jews in Baku was also smeared with feces. This time, the scale of what was done was much larger than in the first case. This attack happened on a Friday night so people who came to the synagogue for Saturday morning prayer found a depressing picture. This second synagogue desecration is likely a consequence of the fact that on November 16th, during a meeting with President Aliev, the chairman of the synagogue of the Mountain Jews reported that during anti-Armenian pogroms in Baku, the Jewish community hid Armenians. The people guilty of this crime were arrested. They were members of a pro-Iranian group who do not approve of President Aliev's ties with Israel. Since then, whenever matzo is baked in the matzo bakery attached to the synagogue, a police team stands guard in front of the building. Additionally, you can still read on the walls of buildings in various parts of the city the inscriptions, "Mossad scum - leave Baku" and "All of the circumcised are soldiers of the army of Israel." The person who wrote these inscriptions was arrested, and turned out to be a psychiatric patient, but the antisemitic slogans remain on the walls. Jews in Azerbaijan receive letters threatening to avenge Hamas leader's death

http://www.geocities.com/master8885/Religion/jews.html

At that he remarked that Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda and bellicose rhetoric don’t promote creation of an atmosphere of mutual confidence and affect the negotiation process as well as peace and stability in the entire region. “Hostilities provoked by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Martakert region on March 4 illustrate it,” Mr. Sahakian said, adding that official Stepanakert stands for peaceful resolution of the conflict and establishment of a direct dialogue with Baku.

Noting that the Karabakh conflict should be settled in the framework of the OSCE Minsk group, President Sahakian said that Azerbaijan’s attempts to transfer it to other instances do not further the process. The Co-chairs agreed fully with the viewpoint.

They also expressed readiness to assist peaceful settlement of the conflict and noted that NKR’s participation in the negotiation process is an issue of time.

NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also attended the meeting

The Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said last Saturday that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will eventually participate in Minsk Group mediated peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but only after the leaders of both countries sign onto a controversial document that would leave the yet unrecognized republic isolated and defenseless against a renewed Azeri war.

The statement, which is not the first of its kind, came during talks in Stepanakert between Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian and the US, Russian and French co-chairs of the Minsk Group.

During his meeting, Sahakian reiterated that the final resolution of the conflict would be possible only with the participation of Karabakh in the talks and warned the co-chairs, Matthew Bryza (US),Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France), that Azerbaijan's continued confrontational rhetoric posed a threat to the peace process.

The Stepanakert visit was part of a tour of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict zone that ended in the Karabakh capitol after seperate talks with the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan last week. The three mediators are due to brief fellow diplomats from other OSCE members states Monday on the current state of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and, in particular, the results of their latest tour of the Caucasus.

During talks with Sahakian, the co-chairs expressed their willingness to support the peaceful resolution of the conflict, noting that the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiation process was a matter of time and would come after "coordinating" several items in the negotiations.

"Nagorno-Karabakh will become part of the negotiation process after the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan agree upon the basic principles of agreement addressed during Madrid talks,” the Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said.

The Minsk Group, which has been mediating the conflict since 1997, presented the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Madrid last November with a set of basic principles for the continuation of negotiations.

The so-called Madrid proposal, forwarded to the president’s of both countries, deviated little from the principles established in 2004 at Prague, and envisaged the progressive return of seven liberated Armenian districts bordering Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

They also provide for the demilitarization of the conflict zone, the repatriation of Armenian settlers, the return of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons, and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force that neither the United Nations, NATO, nor the OSCE have the resources to manage.

During a previous visit to Baku in May, Merzlyakov’s had similarly stated that Karabakh’s participation in the settlement process is only possible after Armenia and Azerbaijan sign onto the basic principles established at Prague.

Although the Minsk co-chairs say the basic principles will provide a common basis to kick start negotiations, Karabakh’s authorities, along with many diplomats and international experts have signaled unease over the document. Among its shortcomings, is the feasibility of implementing a future referendum on Nagorno-Karabakh’s final status, which the Minsk Group has suggested would be determined at an unspecified later date.

Other points of the proposal, making a settlement based on the Madrid principles problematic, include a requirement for Armenian to withdraw from the Armenian districts of Kelbajar and Kashatagh (Lachin), which are the two liberated districts between Armenia and Karabakh, connecting the two.

Recurrent warnings by official Baku of an eminent military attack on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and frequent cease-fire violations by its army in recent months have also raised serious concerns over the future of peace in the Caucuses by US Congressmen.

Earlier in June US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) led a two hour hearing that included over a dozen members of Congress questioning Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried on, among other issues, Azerbaijan's escalating threats of war against Armenia and Karabakh.

Signals coming from Baku that it is rearming for an apparent second round war with Karabakh leave room to question whether the implementation of the Madrid principles would result in a settlement of the conflict.

Earlier this year, Sahakian met with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Stepanakert, where he requested the Minsk Group implement a decision made in 1995 by mediators in Budapest to include the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as a full member in the negotiation process.

The main roadblock to a final settlement of the conflict is Azerbaijan’s increasing belligerence and unwillingness to negotiate with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and the participation of Karabakh at the discussion table, there can be no logical or lasting resolution, according to Sahakian.

Əsgərin qohumlarının bildirdiyinə görə, hadisə əsgərin silahla ehtiyatsız davranma nəticəsində baş verib. Belə ki, R. Ağayev silahlı təhvil verərkən, silahdan açılan atəş boğaz nahiyəsinə dəyib.

Müdafiə Nazirliyindən yaydığı rəsmi məlumatda isə deyilir ki, R. Ağayev xidməti vəzifəsini yerinə yetirərkən həlak olub.

Azərbaycan sülhməramlılarının İraqdakı fəaliyyəti dövründə bu, ilk ölüm hadisəsidir. 150 nəfərdən ibarət Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələrinin sülhməramlılar bölüyü Əl-Hədida şəhərindəki su elektrik stansiyasını qoruyur.

Allah rəhmət eləsin!

ANS PRESS

It has become clear to me that corruption in the justice system is a serious problem in several European countries - not only as a perception but also as a concrete reality... Corruption in the justice system often goes hand in hand with political interference. Ministers and other leading politicians do not always respect the independence of the judiciary and instead give underhand signals to prosecutors or judges on what they are expected to deliver. The distortive effect of such practices is even worse in countries where there are close links between the political leaders and big business. This is where greed tends to trump justice.

Jewish organizations in Azerbaijan have received unsigned letters that threaten to avenge the death of Hamas leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, Azerbaijani daily Zerkalo has reported. Analysing the recent attacks in member countries of the US-led coalition and nuclear cooperation between Iran and Russia, the daily suggested that these threats could be part of "a bigger policy" regarding US plans against Iran. The following is an excerpt from A. Rasidoglu's report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 3 April headlined "Baku may become a target for terrorists" and subheaded "A number of Jewish organizations have received a message from terrorists that next Sunday will become bloody":

The Jewish school in the third housing estate in Baku received an unsigned letter of threats yesterday: "We will avenge the death of our Hamas leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin. Wait for Passover surprises!", the president of the Jewish women's organization, Larisa Reykhrudel, told a Zerkalo correspondent. According to her, the law-enforcement agencies have already been informed about this.

Other Jewish organizations have received similar letters of threats as well. We do not indicate the extent to which the situation has deteriorated, we do not confirm or deny this fact, but one way or another, we have to draw certain conclusions. The thing is that following the 11 September events, Azerbaijan became one of Washington's supporters. Then our country's military units left for Afghanistan and Iraq within the framework of the fight against terrorism. In a word, Baku has proved that it is a loyal friend of the United States. Given the fact that the member countries of the antiterrorist coalition have lately become a target for terrorists, terrorist attacks in Baku are still possible. Passage omitted: Recent attacks In Pakistan, Turkey and Spain Mainly Jewish organizations have been targeted in most of these countries. Several dozens of Jews have been killed in Turkey as a result of these terrorist acts. There is a danger that Jewish organizations will become a target for terrorist attacks in Azerbaijan as well.

Passage omitted: The paper says that terrorists usually commit their crimes in public places Today when almost any smuggler can violate the Azerbaijani border, it is quite likely that well-organized terrorists might get into our country. In the current situation, one can unequivocally say that it is not "the Muslims' fight against infidels". To all appearances, the game on the new field is joined by Russia and Iran which do not want to allow any operations to be carried out against the Tehran regime from Azerbaijani territory. It is true that the Kremlin is not interested in aggravating relations with Washington. On the other hand, Russia does not want to lose the Iranian market - there are not so many buyers of its high-tech products today and to all appearances, Moscow has no intention of putting up with Russia's role as an adjunct of raw materials to the West. Something different concerns us as well. Not only has Russia sold a nuclear reactor to Iran, it has also promised to supply it with ready-made nuclear fuel and receive nuclear waste on its territory. And the conclusion is that along with the Bushehr nuclear power station, Iran also has other nuclear facilities that need enriched uranium. If these facilities have a purely civilian nature, then why is Iran against IAEA inspections?

It is known that Israel is most concerned about Iran's missile and nuclear programmes. Israeli diplomats, as well as Israel's friends in the USA have been using Washington to exert pressure on Russia and restrict Russia's technical cooperation with Iran. According to some reports, independent research centres in the USA have drawn the conclusion that precision strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities might not only reliably freeze the development of its nuclear programme, but also significantly undermine the so-called "tough Islamic regime" in that country. Passage omitted: This is proved by Iraq's example; the USA denies any plans to attack Iran Summarizing the aforesaid, we can say that the unsigned letter is quite likely to be part of the scenario of a bigger policy.

http://www.geocities.com/master8885/Religion/jews.html

In the Soviet period, being deprived of social-political role, Islam in Azerbaijan was reduced to traditional and everyday functions. After independence was gained the role of Islam was overestimated: it became one of the component parts of Azerbaijani identity. Great number of old and new mosques and religious schools (madrasah) were opened, was formed a strata of people who got education in well known foreign Islamic centers. Were restored Islamic holidays, the propaganda of Islam was raised to the governmental level. Islam was considered to be a most important value by the state and was underlined unique, national character of Azerbaijani Islam. State-religion relations were regulated by certain laws, and a regulation about the freedom of religion was adopted in the constitution. Pilgrimage of the president Heydar Aliyev to Mecca in 1994 grew the importance of religion in the country.

However, these realities did not further institutionalization of Islam, specification of its role in social life. Although in Azerbaijan there are structures regulating both religious (Administration of Caucasian Muslims) and state (State Committee in Charge of Religious Organizations) structures, however, separate social structures don’t trust traditional religious institutions and little by little get involved in non-traditional ones. Religious radicalism is also spread, which makes a ground for Islam to be politicized. In the reports of human right organizations and different international organization relating to Azerbaijan the state authorities are advised to organize public discussions on Islam and Islamic institutions involving independent and official clergymen, representatives of social organizations and intellectuals in them.

In comparison with Christian churches trying to centralize religious issues to regulate them, there is not such a structure in Islam. In Azerbaijan most of the religious groups collaborate with the government and recognizes spiritual authority of the state supported Administration of Caucasian Muslims. However, there are separate spiritual groups, which don’t obey the Administration, and such groups don’t have that much authority in society. In separate cases independent imams are more influential which represent both traditional and non-traditional branches of Islam in Azerbaijan. For example, the Imam of Abu Baqr mosque imam Hamet and the former imam of Juma mosque, human rights advocate Ilghar Ibrahimoghlu. The religious elite make no attempts to have any dialogue with them apprehending the fact of religious dissidence in the country quite painfully.

Although Azerbaijan is a Shiite state, from the standpoint of religious institutionalization it is different from the biggest Shiite state, Iran. There is no Shiah spiritual hierarchy, no marja’ al-taklid – religious firstprimary source – the faithful should follow. Sheikh ul-Islam of Azerbaijan is not considered to be the absolute interpreter of dogmata and holly laws.

According to the survey carried out in 2006, 7.2% of population is profound believers, 49.7% believe in God but don’t use the principles of Islam in practice. 2/3 of the Muslim population is Shiites, 1/3 – Sunnis.

In its turn the state avoids of spreading the influence of Islam in the country’s social-political life and aspires to restrain religion and preserve secular principles in the country. Azerbaijani authorities periodically exerted pressure and used violence to religious and political parties, pro-Islam figures and non-traditional Islamic directions and religious activists in Azerbaijan. These realities have considerably hampered progressing of Islamic discourse, specifying the role of Islam and its social-political life.

From the beginning of 2006 the Islamic factor acquired more important role in Azerbaijan’s social-political life, which was conditioned both by outward and inward factors. As a result of the usual falsification of parliamentary elections of 2005 caused disappointment to western values and the west in general. Gradually advocates of the Islamic way of development appeared in the political field.

The Azerbaijani community also became more sensible to the realities relating to Iran in geopolitical developments, which revealed anti-American moods. Azerbaijan also responded to the war waged by the Prophet Mohammed’s caricature in 2005. In the beginning of February Baku, later on also in Nardaran (religious district not far from Baku) were held protest action. Were burnt the flags of the US, Israel, Denmark as well as Armenia and Switzerland. On February 11 not that well-known Azerbaijani newspaper “Yeni Khabar” printed caricature of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. In April Jewish organizations were threatened by some unknown “Muslim brothers.” In summer 2006, during Israeli-Lebanon war, were held crowded anti-Israeli rallies in Baku and a few other places, which were unprecedented.

According to the data of survey carried out in April-May of spring 2006 by the Center for Religious Studies in Baku and Sumgait, 9% out of 600 young Azerbaijani responders was for the creation of Islamic state in Azerbaijan.

It is also noteworthy the survey carried out in April-May of 2006 by the Center for Economic and Political Studies among 1000 responders all over the country. In this case for the creation of Islamic republic was 19% of responders, 30% were for partially. If we put it in another way, for about half of the responders was for Islamic moral values. 40% of responders are ready to support any Islamic republic in international relations if the latter one has a problem with any of the Islamic countries.

The number of people wearing Islamic kerchief in Azerbaijan has been increased recently causing many social problems. In 1999 a law was adopted on not wearing kerchiefs while photographing for official documents. In 2007 the Azerbaijani parliament was going to discuss a bill “on education” prohibiting to wear kerchief in the educational institutions. However, the problem got a wide public resonance and was taken out of legislative plane.

Today there are religious circles in Azerbaijan which put forward the ideas of declaring Islam as a state religion, including the Islamic laws into legislation, increasing Islam’s influence in social life. For example, in Azerbaijan was risen the questions of polygamy and temporarily marriages. It was required for women not to be prohibited to wear kerchief in photos for official documents.

One can notice certain religiosity in separate circles of youth and intellectuals as well as in Baku. It goes without saying that activity of the Islamic structures is more effective in needy stratum if population, which in the context of the state’s inaction see their support in Islam. In this sense Islam has a considerable potential to become the ideological basis of social-political movements.

According to separate Azerbaijani researchers, the problems one can witness in the religious field hinder formation of democracy and civil society, pose threat to the existence of secular state and it is necessary to work out corresponding conception to overcome them. According to an arabologist Nariman Gasimoglu, suchlike problems occur only because the state hasn’t determined the place and role of Islam in the civil society, which is of strategic importance. It is mentioned that the authorities are not able to settle religious problems only through administrative-legal mechanisms.

The Institute for Islam and Democracy headed by Gasimoglu, has worked out “Conception of determining the place and role of Islam in Azerbaijani society” the key element of which is religious-enlightening activity of the state. The state, in spite of its secular character, should lead it. Islam is to be the monopoly of the nation and not of separate people, religious figures or the community. In education programs are to be included the lessons of the Koran and to avoid of discords the Islamic principles should be interpreted only from the standpoint of the Karan but not at all of other Islamic firstprimary sources. Religious rites, ceremonies and preaches are to be held only in the Azerbaijani language for Islam to be understandable to all. This very course may unite the society around common religious-ethnical values, overcome religious dissociation and radicalism and avoid of threats directed against secular principles.

It should be mentioned that growth in religiosity is furthered by polarization in the Azerbaijani society, devaluation of moral criteria and lack of democracy resulting disappointment in traditional religious institutions and secular values.

However, at present the society demands preserving secularity. The surveys regularly carried out have come to prove it. In the visible future traditional and non-traditional religious directions have no chance to be risen to the political level. A few groups, which publicly speak about creation of the Islamic state, have insufficient strategic conceptions and mechanisms of influence. In their turn, the authorities exaggerate the threats coming from Islam to ground violent acts and control the religious field.

 http://noravank.am/en/?page=analitics&nid=1254

As we know in its resolution PACE in fact replicated the formulations passed in the UN by the efforts of Turkey and Azerbaijan about “swiftly liberating the occupied territories from Armenian forces”. In response to our questions Political Scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan comments on Strasburg “process”.

“Unfortunately, as the Speaker of NKR Parliament recorded recently, Europe and the European Structures, mildly speaking, have little picture of the problems faced by Artsakh and between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. I have to state that our delegation as well fails to properly represent the essence of Karabakh conflict and to shift the settlement process into the legal domain.

Thus, little by little Artsakh issue turns into a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenian and Azerbaijani people. Moreover, our diplomacy, our delegates lack good knowledge of what is happening in Azerbaijan in reality. The conversation is mainly about the members of PACE delegation.

“What do you mean?”

“I will bring one example. The resolution regarding Azerbaijan runs that at the moment three journalists are under detention. Whereas, yesterday, the same day when the issue of Azerbaijan was being discussed in Strasburg the editor in chief of “Tolishi sado” (Voice of Talish) Novruzaly Mamedov was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, and Responsible Secretary Elman Guliev – to 6 years’ imprisonment. Both are charged as national traitors.

Which means not only is the freedom of speech suppressed in Azerbaijan, but also the rights of the native minorities, in this case Talish people.

Moreover recently 56 detainees have been released by amnesty from which 5 were journalists. Two cases are at the moment in court, one has been summoned to the police and severely beaten, at the moment he is in hospital.

But the members of our delegation never speak about these facts. Azerbaijani opposition also keeps silent because they are tools in the hands of the ruling power. Instead of touching upon those issues our people put forward other statements that has nothing to do with the main topic and start disputes. That is why I have to say that we are not ready for ideological and propaganda campaign with Azerbaijan, not only in Armenia but also outside the country.

Zatən bu gün yüksək patriotik əhval-ruhiyyədə davam etsəydi təəccüblənərdim. Parad başa çatdıqdan sonra Sahil metrosunun qarşısında bir qrup gəncin yığışıdığını gördüm. Qrup əlində Azərbaycan bayrağı "Azərbaycan! Qarabağ!" sloqanları qışqırırdı. Birdən kütlədən bir nəfərin "Bayrağını cıran polisə ar olsun!" qışqırığına yüzlərlə insanın "AR OLSUN! AR OLSUN! AR OLSUN!" cavabı gəldi. Məsələnin nə yerdə olduğunu öyrənmək məqsədilə kütləyə yaxınlaşdım və bir neçə dəqiqə söhbətdən sonra vəziyyət mənə aydın oldu.

Parad bitdikdən sonra gənclər əllərində bayrağımız "Azərbaycan! Azərbaycan!" qışqıra-qışqıra Sahil metrosuna tərəf hərəkət ediblər. Qarşılarına çıxan polis nəfərlərindən biri onlardan sloqlan səsləndirməməyi, bayraqları yığışdırmağı və qrup şəkilində hərəkət etməməyi əmr edib (ay ağıllı, hərbi parad, silahlı qüvvələr günü, vətənpərvər hisslərin cüşa gəldiyi zamanda bundan yersiz əmr ola bilərmi?). Təbiidir ki, gənclər buna əməl etməyiblər, cavab olaraq isə bu bişərəf polis əlini ataraq bayrağımızı cırıb və qısa müddət sonra etdiyi hərəkətin şərəfsizliyini anlayaraq ( və ya heç anlamayıb ) hasidə yerindən qaçıb. Mən həmin qrupa yaxınlaşanda gənclər polis və mülki geyimli bir nəfərlə söbət edərək bu biyabırçılığı törətmiş polisin  tapılaraq cəzasına çatmasını istəyirdilər. 5 dəqiqəyə yaxın sürən müzakirə zamanı kütlə "Azərbaycan! Azərbaycan!" süarları səsləndirməkdə davam edirdi. Bir müddət sonra isə əraziyə 2 PPX maşını yaxınlaşdı və hər şey bundan sonra başladı. Kütlədən bir nəfər bayraq məsələsini PPX maşınında oturan polisə hadisəni izah edib istədiklərinin bildirmək istəyirdi ki, polislərdən biri maşını  tam sürət kütlənin üzərinə sürdü. Xoşbəxtlikdən, insanlar səkiyə çıxmağa vaxt tapdılar. Əvəzində isə polis maşını səkiyə yaxın sürərək, pənəcərədən əlindəki dəyənəklə insanlara zərbələr endirir və onların üzərinə tüpürürdü ( vətəndaşın üzərinə tüpürən post patrul xidəmti işçisi - rəzilliyin son həddi ). Bundan sonra digər maşın da ona qoşularaq Sahil metrosunun qarşısındakI yolda sözün əsl mənasında "MAŞIN (oxu AT) OYNATMAĞA" başladılar.  Maşını vəhşicəsinə Azərbaycan bayrağını əlində saxlamış oğlanın üzərinə sürən PPX işçiləri bir müddət sonra yolu təmizlədilər və insanlar dağılışdı.

Əslində bu hadisədə maraqlı və sual doğuracaq çox məqam var. Mənə ilk maraqlı olan, bayrağımızı cırıb tülkü kimi qaçıb gizlənən polisin öz cəzasını alıb-almamasıdır. Yəqin ki, hələ gizlənir, bişərəf. Bunu yemisən-yemisən, çıx kişi kimi de ki, mən etmişəm, get cəzanı al. Yoxsa sənin kimi bişərərfə görə niyə şərəflə öz işinin peşə borcunu yerinə yetirən və daşıdığı paqonlara layiq olan insanlara söz gəlməlidir? Niyə bir bişərəfə görə bütün sistem haqqında mənfi fikirlər söylənilməlidir? Voobşe, sən haranın binamususan ki, minlərin şəhid olduğu, milyonların baş əydiyi, Cənab Prezidentimizin diz çöküb öpdüyü bayrağa əl atasan? Bəlkə də bu dəfə tülkülüyün səni xilas etdi, amma gələn dəfə qaçmaq səni xilas etməyəcək.

İkinci məsələ, PPX. Hər özünü adam sayan gəlib partul olur. Ay *?%, sənə kim vətəndaşın üzərinə tüpürmək olar deyib? Sən haradan oxumusan ki, istədiyin vaxt pəncərədən dəyənəklə səkidəki insanları vurasan? O paradda gördüyüm zabitlərdən, hərbi kursantlardan, xüsusi təyinatlılardan sonra, bu PPX işçisi... Doğurdan da meşə caqqalsız olmur...

Son sözüm isə, ətrafınıza baxın. Hər sahədə müsbətə doğru nə qədər dəyişikliklər var. Bütün sahələr inkişaf edir. Hər kəs irəliləyir. Bircə siz boğazımıza keçmiş balıq sümüyü kimisiniz! Daşıdığınız paqonlara layiq olun! Bu şərəfli peşəni ləkələməyin! Adam olun, hələ də gec deyil, adam olun və bir de heç vaxt mənim ölkəm, onun bayrağı və dəyərləri ilə işiniz olmasın. Olmasın ki, olasınız: bu gün varsınız, sabah da olasınız.

Bir daha Silahlı Qüvvələrin buna layiq olan bütün şəxsi heyətini səmimi qəlbdən təbrik edirəm. Gün o gün olsun, Şuşada qələbə paradını keçirək. Amin! 

VİDEO TEZLIKLƏ

26 iyun Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri Günüdür. Bu münasibətlə hər biziniz təbrik edirəm. 

Nəhayət ki, çox gözlədiyimiz hərbi parad da baş tutdu. Səhər saatlarından Hökümət Evinin həndəvəri və Neftçilər prospektinə paralel olan bütün küçələr polis əməkdaşları tərəfindən dairəyə alınmış və insanların gediş-gəlişinə icazə verilmirdi. İnsanlar DİN mətbuat xidməti vətəndaşlara paradı izləmək üçün Dənizkənarı Parkda yer ayrılacağını bildirmişdi. Düzdür, yer ayrılmışdı. Amma, həmin yerin ölçüsü parada baxmağa gələnlərin sayı ilə müqayisədə çox kiçik idi. İnsanlar həmin əraziyə çatmaq üçün, Kukla Teatrının qarşısındakı keçidə kimi uzun bir yolu qət elməli idilər. Sahil metrosundan Bulvara düşən yol isə polis kardonu ilə bağlanılmışdı. Mənsə, Bülbül və Neftçilər prospektlərinin kəsişməsində dayanıb, səbirsizliklə paradın başlanmasını gözləyirdim. Saat 10:00-a deyilsə də parad saat 12:00 radələrində başladı. Bu vaxta kimi isə Sahil metrosunun qarşısında tolpaşmış kütlə polis kardonunu yararaq Neftçilər prospektinə yığıldı. ÇPA-ın əlavə qüvvələrinin köməyi ilə yol boşaldıldı və parad başladı. Azadlıq meydanında olanları deyə bilmərəm, amma mən olduğum yerdən ilk olaraq Xüsusi Təyinatlı Dəstənin əsgərləri keçdi. Ardınca pilotsuz cəsus təyyarələri, artilleriyadan toplar, qrad qurğuları, yer-yer, yer-hava və s. tipli raket qurğuları nümayiş olundu. Növbəti isə Silahlı Qüvvələrimizin elitası sayılan Hərbi Hava və Hava Hücumundan Müdafiə Qüvvələri idi (HHM sistemi, zenit-raket kompleksi və s. həbi texnika və s.). Butax üzərində həri helikopterlərin üçüşundan sonra isə MiQ və SU hərbi təyyarələri yüksək pilotaj nümayiş etdirdilər. Hətta, üçrəngli bayrağımızı da səmada əsk etdirdilər. Bundan sonra Azadlıq meydanı qarşısında Silahlı Qüvvələrin müxtəlif qoşun hissələrinin və zirehli texnikanın marşı olsa da mən onları görə bilmədim.

Ümumilikdə isə parad, təşkilatçılıqdakı bir sıra qüsurları nəzərə almasaq yüksək səviyyədə keçdi. Vətəndaşlar bir daha öz dövlətlərinin hərbi gücünə əyani şəkildə şahid oldular. BU həm xarici qüvvələrə əzələ nümayişi, həm də ölkə vətəndaşlarının hərbi gücümüzə olan inamın qüvvətlənməsi idi. Ümid edirəm ki, bu tip tədbirlər daha tez-tez keçiriləcəkdir.

Hərbi paraddan şəkillər:

26 iyun Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələrinin yaradılmasının 90 illiyi ilə bağlı keçiriləcək hərbi parada son hazırlıq işləri yekunlaşmaq üzrədir. Daxili İşlər Nazirliyindən verilən məlumata görə hərbi parad 26 iyun saat 10:00-da başlayacaq. Paradda Silahlı Qüvəllərin şəxsi heyətindən 4 510 nəfər hərbçi, 210 ədəd hərbi texnika, 19 vertolyot, 25 hərbi təyyarə, 31 hərbi gəmi və 1 kater iştirak edəcək. Parad AzTV və ANS telekanalları ilə canlı yayımlanacaq.

My new nephew, born Saturday.  I'm proud to say that he doesn't resemble an alien as much as most newborns usually do.

But in a polluted world, he may come to resemble one.  He might breathe in too many exhaust fumes and his two eyes could merge into one big eye in the middle of his forehead.  I think happened last year to some kid in Azerbaijan last year, or some other place youve never heard of. A cyclops baby would have a hard life.  What if he needed glasses? He'd have to strap a monocle to his head.  I dont think his insurance would cover that.  And what if he walks by a cute girl and winks at her? He'd walk into the pole he didn't see while his eye was closed.  Then he would be laughed at, mocked, driven to seclusion, and write a book no one would read.

 Im keeping an eye on my nephew's future.

Seriously though, I can't help but think of him now while I read the news...I wonder what the world is gonna be like for him when is an adult.  It scares me a little. But then I remember that the world he will live in will be the world that WE have created for him, the world that we are creating right now.  What more motivation can we ask for in order to start taking care of our planet...and of each other?

I'll offer a tip for those of you who need help getting the ball rolling: consume less.  It's so freaking easy to do.  Buy a sturdy water bottle that you can refill with your own filtered water. That simple task can save you hundreds of dollars a year by avoiding bottled water costs; eliminates the need to dispose of the bottles; decreases the demand for goods in plastic bottles which in turn saves millions of barrels of oil that are used to make all that plastic, increasing the supply and driving down costs so you also save at the pump; decreases our consumption of declining fresh water resources (at least in some cases, because many brands of bottled water get their product from the same sources at public tap water); and makes our world a lot cleaner. 

Of course my brother would not want you to read this... he keeps telling me about the yuppies who come into his store and buy bottles of Fiji water for $4 a pop.  You guys are making him a rich dude. 

But the fact is, in effect, it costs much, much more.  I hope it's worth it to you.

Azərbaycan Respublikasının Silahlı Qüvvələrində və Azərbaycan Respublikasının qanunvericiliyinə uyğun olaraq yaradılmış başqa silahlı birləşmələrdə müddətli həqiqi hərbi xidmət keçən hərbi qulluqçuların sosial müdafiəsini gücləndirmək məqsədi ilə qərara alıram:

1. Azərbaycan Respublikasının Silahlı Qüvvələrində və Azərbaycan Respublikasının qanunvericiliyinə uyğun olaraq yaradılmış başqa silahlı birləşmələrdə müddətli həqiqi hərbi xidmət keçən hərbi qulluqçuların aylıq vəzifə maaşları orta hesabla 100 faiz artırılsın.

2. Azərbaycan Respublikasının Nazirlər Kabineti bu Sərəncamdan irəli gələn məsələləri həll etsin.

3. Bu Sərəncam 2008-ci il iyul ayının 1-dən qüvvəyə minir.

İlham Əliyev,
Azərbaycan Respublikasının Prezidenti.
Bakı şəhəri, 25 iyun 2008-ci il.

www.president.az