|
SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR A DEAL BY WORLD LEADERS ON POVERTY, SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
|
more |
|
OFFICIAL VISITS:
PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA
PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO CHINA
PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO POLAND
|
|
|
UNDP BRINGS TOGETHER ALL RELIGIOUS FAITHS IN AZERBAIJAN TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS
|
more |
|
WFP SURVEY SHOWS FOOD INSECURITY THREATENS RURAL AND DISPLACED AZERBAIJANIS
|
more |
|
PRESIDENT RECEIVES HEADS OF UNECE AND UNESCAP
|
more |
|
FIRST REPORT ON EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE PRODUCED
|
more |
|
AZERBAIJAN REACTS ON RESULTS OF OSCE FACT-FINDING MISSION TO OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
|
more |
|
AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA APPEAL TO UN OVER CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS
|
more |
|
PRESIDENT FREES POLITICAL PRISONERS
|
more |
|
OMBUDSMAN REPORTS TO PARLIAMENT ON 2004 ACTIVITIES
|
more |
|
MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTIES TO JOINTLY RUN FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
|
more |
|
PRESIDENT ALIYEV ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF RULING NEW AZERBAIJAN PARTY
|
more |
|
GOVERNMENT PRESENTS 2004 REPORT
|
more |
|
PRESIDENT OPENS THE FREIGHT TERMINAL AT THE HEYDAR ALIYEV INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
|
more |
|
AZERBAIJAN AND THE WORLD BANK AGREE ON THE FIRST TRANCH OF POVERTY REDUCTION CREDIT
|
more |
|
ILHAM ALIYEV ISSUED DECREE TO LIQUIDATE STATE TELEVISION
|
more |
|
SERIOUS CRIMINAL GROUP RENDERED HARMLESS
|
more |
|
|
To unsubscribe please click here
|
| AZERBAIJAN REACTS ON RESULTS OF OSCE FACT-FINDING MISSION TO OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Azernews, 23 March 2005
The OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna discussed the report on the illegal settlement of Armenians in the occupied Azerbaijani land, presented by the fact-finding mission, on Thursday.
The self-proclaimed "Upper Garabagh Republic" leadership bears the responsibility for the illegal settlement, the OSCE spokesman Richard Murphey told local ATV channel. He said, however, that the OSCE does not believe this is a result of a purposeful policy pursued by Armenia.
The fact-finding mission members indicated that a further settlement of Armenians in the occupied Azeri territories is unacceptable and stressed the importance of protecting historic and cultural monuments there, Murphey said.
The President's special envoy on Upper Garabagh, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov says that Murphey's illogical statement serves political interests and was made on an instruction of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.
Azimov added that separatists are not acting apart from Armenia and every step they take depends on official Yerevan.
The Deputy Foreign Minister said that the fact-finding mission's report generally meets Azerbaijan's interests.
"I have become familiar with the mission's report, which provides figures that are close to those presented by the Azerbaijani side."
The report on the illegal settlement of Armenians in the occupied regions of Azerbaijan, forwarded to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Vienna last Wednesday, was presented to the organization's Permanent Council the next day.
20,000-23,000 people have been settled in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. However, the report submitted by the OSCE fact-finding mission indicates that the figure is approximately 15,000-16,000, the Deputy Foreign Minister said.
The mission's report allows Azerbaijan to request assistance from relevant United Nations institutions. This may also lay groundwork for a new draft resolution of the UN General Assembly, said Azimov.
Asked whether Azerbaijan will pursue including the issue into the agenda of the 59th General Assembly session, the Deputy Foreign Minister said Baku will insist on putting it on discussion at the 60th session instead.
|
|
|
|
|
April 2005,
Issue No. 24
Previous Issues
UNDP Azerbaijan Website
Bulletin Home Page
LET ANCIENT HOLIDAY NOVRUZ BRING JOY
March 18,
Baku Sun
BAKU - Azerbaijan, best known as the land of fires, is - according to the British Museum's scientific team - also the site of the Gardens of Eden. When Sumerians - the first Turkic civilization, who rose as far back as 5,000 years BC - started preparations for New Year's celebrations, they sent envoys to the 'Gardens,' for sacred wheat seeds. It was strongly believed that sprouted wheat from the 'Gardens' would help to cultivate and gather bounteous harvest in the New Year that - according to Sumer augurs - comes into its own with the flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates, the crucial sources of fresh water in the overwhelmingly arid Mesopotamia [modern day Iraq].
The tradition has been kept alive: Novruz, the most cherished holiday in modern day Azerbaijan, also remains a deep-rooted tradition in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan. Though, nowadays, there is no need to travel to Azerbaijan for sacral seeds, as - again according to British Museum scientists - the Gardens have sunk into oblivion, under what presently is known as the city of Tabriz, the centuries-old 'custodian' of the Azeri heritage.
Novruz [the word meaning 'new day' in Farsi] marks the exhilaration of nature. The holiday, however, has other meanings too, as it has inherited much from all major cultures that celebrated it in the areas stretching out from the Balkans to the Altais, the original realms of the Turkic- and Finn-Ugor-language nations.
|
more
|
If you have any suggestions for how we can improve the Bulletin,
please send us an e-mail. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
|
|
