Month: April 2024

ASTANA: Kazakhstan's second-tier banks and individual non-bank exchange offices sold 18,969 gold bars with a total weight of 816.4 kilograms from January through March 2024, Trend reports. As noted by the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the program for the sale and buyout of measured refined gold bars for the population (hereinafter referred to as the Program) was launched by the National Bank in 2017. In total, since the beginning of its operation, 170,543 gold bars with a total weight of 6.2 tons have been sold. Gold bars are presented in five varieties: 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 g. The most popular among buyers is the 10-gram bar. Its share of total sales is 25 percent-43,039 pieces. This is followed by 100 grams: 40,004 pieces (23 percent), 5 grams: 39,093 pieces (23 percent), 20 grams: 28,581 pieces (17 percent), and 50 grams: 19,826 pieces (12 percent). The largest volumes of sales of measured gold bars in the first quarter of 2024 occurred in the following regions: Almaty (12,456 pieces, 66 percent), Shym kent (2,861 pieces, 15 percent), and Zhetysu (983 pieces, 5 percent). Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's second-tier banks and individual non-bank exchange offices sold 38,729 gold bars with a total weight of 1.6 tons from January through December 2023. Source: Trend News Agency

On April 25-30, the II "Lazgi" International Festival is being held in Uzbekistan's city of Khiva, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan told APA. Collectives from Azerbaijan, France, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Trkiye, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Brazil, Pakistan, South Korea, Indonesia, Egypt and Iran are participating in this year's festival. The Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble, which is representing Azerbaijan in the festival, ranked first with its high-stage performance. According to the rules of the festival, the participants must perform their folk dances, as well as a type of Lazgi dance. It is worth adding that the ancient Lazgi dance has been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Source: Azeri-Press News Agency

'We resolutely reject the groundless and accusatory claims made against our country by the Minister of the Interior of France, Gérard Darmanin, while talking about Azerbaijan-New Caledonia relations in the law committee of the French National Assembly on 29 April 2024,' said Aykhan Hajizada, spokesperson for Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as he commented on the allegations made against Azerbaijan by the Minister of the Interior of France. 'Accusing Azerbaijan of allegedly supporting separatism with regard to New Caledonia, the Minister of the Interior of France forgets that it was the French side that took steps to support aggressive separatism in Azerbaijan for a long time and regularly received representatives of the so-called separatist regime in France at a high level. It is known that the French Parliament, at the initiative of the ruling party of France, adopted decisions and resolutions that questioned and harmed the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, recognized the sepa ratist regime as well as enabled the activity of a friendship group with the former so-called separatist regime. Instead of trying to smear Azerbaijan with ridiculous and cheap accusations, such as the massacre of the Armenian population, the French Minister of the Interior should not forget that as part of its colonial policy implemented for many years and continued now, his country has committed crimes against humanity with respect to local peoples and brutally murdered millions of innocent people. Against the backdrop of all the above mentioned, it is completely unacceptable for a French government official without fitting into any ethical framework in terms of international interstate relations to deliberately use insulting expressions about the constitutional state structure of Azerbaijan. We once again call on France not to interfere in Azerbaijan's internal affairs and to stop making baseless claims against our country. Once more, we declare that our country will continue to take all necessary meas ures to protect its national interests,' Hajizada added. Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

On April 30, the first meeting of the Council of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation was held in Baku. The Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan told APA. The meeting that was held in Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, was attended by the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova, Deputy Minister of Culture of Trkiye Serdar Çam, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan Chyngyz Esengul Uulu and Turkish Ambassador in Azerbaijan Cahit Bagci. At the meeting, discussions were held on the tasks set before the Foundation, including the Action Plan for 2024 and 2025, and the preparation of the Turkic Cultural Heritage Convention within the framework of the 10th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States held on November 3, 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Source: Azeri-Press News Agency

'The bilateral and direct negotiations advocated by Azerbaijan are aimed at achieving sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus, and they represent the most effective and successful approach to reaching mutually acceptable outcomes, as demonstrated by recent agreements reached by the delimitation commissions,' said Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov as he addressed the 3rd session of the Arab Economic and Cooperation Forum with the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan in Doha. The FM also highlighted the current situation in the region during the post-conflict period, emphasizing extensive reconstruction and restoration efforts in the liberated territories and the ongoing threat posed by mines. Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jayhun Bayramov met today with Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, in Qatar. The discussions during the meeting centered around various aspects of the bilateral cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and Lebanon, spanning political, economic, humanitarian, cultural, and other areas. They underscored the importance of holding political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries. The FMs also highlighted the significance of cooperation within international organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Minister Bayramov briefed his Lebanese counterpart on the latest regional developments, including the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process and the agreement resulting in the de-occupation of four Azerbaijani villages. During the meeting, they also exchanged views on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Source: Azerbaijan State Ne ws Agency

Azerbaijani and Armenian sides have confirmed participation in negotiations, to be held in Kazakhstan, official representative of Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan Aybek Smadiyarov told RIA Novosti, APA reports. According to him, information about exact date of negotiations will be provided. Source: Azeri-Press News Agency

Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, received the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of the United States of America including David Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Jack Gerard, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy as well as Miles Hansen, President of the Stirling Foundation and Edward Rowe, CEO of the Stirling Foundation. During the meeting, the importance of the upcoming World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku was discussed, with confidence expressed that this event would contribute to the expansion of intercultural dialogue on an international scale. The participation of many distinguished guests from various countries in the forum was seen as a sign of the strong international interest in the event. The conversation also touched on Azerbaijan's contributions to intercultural and interfaith dialogue. It was acknowledged with satisfaction that historically, representatives from different cultures and religions in Azerbaijan have liv ed together peacefully as a united family. Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

As part of his working visit to the State of Qatar, Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Minister of Foreign Affair and National Community Abroad of Algeria Ahmed Attaf, Azerbaijani MFA told APA. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov extended his congratulations to Minister Attaf on the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Algeria. The ministers praised the interaction within international organizations between the two countries, including the United Nations (UN), the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), stressing the importance of continuing mutual support of each other's candidacies and initiatives within the international organizations. The sides underscored the significance of developing cooperation in the field of energy and other domains, highlighting the important role of high-level reciprocal visits and political consultations in this regard. Highlighting the importance of development of bilat eral interparliamentary relations, the Azerbaijani top diplomat lauded the visit of the members of the Algeria-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group to Azerbaijan on April 22-25 this year. They also underlined the importance of bilateral relations in the energy sector, emphasizing the significance of furthering these ties. The FMs also noted that the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan this year, created favorable opportunity for new areas of cooperation. The meeting also saw discussions on other regional and bilateral issues of mutual concern. Source: Azeri-Press News Agency