Category: Key Issues

BAKU: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree amending the decree "On Establishment of New Management Framework for Economic Policy and Economic Reforms in the Republic of Azerbaijan" No. 1151 of September 9, 2020, and canceling the decree "On Establishment of Financial Stability Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan" No. 995 of July 15, 2016, Trend reports. The decree amended the composition of the Economic Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to the amendments, the Assistant to the First Vice President was removed from the Economic Council's composition, while the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on socioeconomic matters was added. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: ZF Group LLC is set to invest one million manat ($588,235) in establishing an adhesive tape production enterprise within the Araz Valley Economic Zone industrial park (East Zangezur economic district), said Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov in social networks, Trend reports. "ZF Group" LLC has obtained residency in the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" Industrial Park. The company will specialize in the production of various adhesive tapes within the industrial park. This enterprise, with an investment volume of 1 million manat ($588,235), is expected to create permanent jobs for 32 individuals," the minister said. The publication also says that so far, seven companies have received resident status in the Araz Valley Economic Zone industrial park. On October 4, 2021, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of the Araz Valley Economic Zone industrial park in Jabrayil district. Spanning 200 hectares, the park is equipped with essential infrastructure and mana gement systems to facilitate entrepreneurial activities. It is strategically organized to support logistics, competitive product manufacturing in various industrial sectors, recycling processes, and sales through the utilization of modern technologies. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the application of the law of Azerbaijan 'On arbitration' No. 1077-VIQ dated December 26, 2023 and the settlement of some issues in this regard, Trend reports. Will be updated Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: A total of 439 people have been employed in Azerbaijan's Lachin ?ity liberated from Armenian occupation within the 'Great Return' state program, the Azerbaijan Public Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population told Trend. At the moment, 433 families (1,635 people) have been provided with permanent residence in Lachin. The return of former IDPs to the restored town of Lachin continues in accordance with the order of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev The grandiose victory in the Second Karabakh War and the successful outcomes of 24-hour local anti-terror measures laid the foundation for the 'Great Return' state program to Azerbaijani territories, which Armenia had occupied for over 30 years. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: Amendments have been made to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Forensic Expert Activity", Trend reports. According to the information, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a relevant decree. The decree authorizes the Azerbaijani Defen?e Ministry to participate in the process of forensic psychiatric examinations. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: Azerbaijan expects Armenia to submit accurate maps of all land-mined sites, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan said in a statement, Trend reports. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan takes note of the statement by the National Security Service of Armenia dated 25 January 2024, on the intention to present landmine maps to Azerbaijan. Armenia's indiscriminate, massive and purposeful planting of landmines in the territories of Azerbaijan is one of the major threats to large-scale post-conflict restoration and reconstruction work, the civilian population living in these territories, and the return of IDPs and their peaceful lives in their homes. These actions of Armenia are not only a war crime, but also serious violation of international humanitarian law and Armenia's undertaken commitments. Azerbaijan, both before the 2020 Patriotic War and during the post-conflict period, has repeatedly demanded Armenia to submit landmine maps. It is well-known that the accuracy of landmine maps, the existence of which was denied by Armenia following the signing of the Trilateral Statement dated 10 November 2020, but later was submitted as a result of international pressure, is only 25%. We have frequently pointed out that the provided maps are ineffective, incomplete, and do not accurately portray the reality on the ground. Although these maps show that only 400 thousand landmines were reportedly deployed in our territories, the actual number of landmines surpasses one million. At the same time, it is worth noting that more than 55% of landmine explosions in recent years occurred in locations outside the areas where maps were provided by Armenia. We remind that 342 of our fellow citizens have become landmine victims since the end of the Patriotic War in 2020, with 65 individuals killed, including three journalists. Out of 65 dead, 50 were civilians. It is also the fact that, even after 2020, Armenia deployed new landmines of Armenia production within and along the perimeters of th e territory of Azerbaijan where Russian peacekeeping forces were temporarily deployed, with about 500 thousand landmines planted. At the same time, this proves that there is no basis for the statements of Armenia declaring that it has neither produced nor exported landmines in recent decades. This statement by the Armenian side demonstrates that the intention of this country is not a humanitarian one and this step could not be considered as a confidence building measure. Azerbaijan expects Armenia to submit accurate maps of all land-mined sites that have not yet been fully presented to Azerbaijan. Moreover, urgent measures have to be taken by Armenia to provide information on fates of 4000 missing Azerbaijanis, and places of mass graves where Azerbaijanis have been buried over the last 30 years, " the statement reads. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: A bill 'On private international law' will be prepared in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. The issue is reflected in a decree on the application of the law of Azerbaijan 'On arbitration' No. 1077-VIQ dated December 26, 2023 and the settlement of some issues in this regard signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers, within six months, must prepare and submit to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan a draft of a new law of Azerbaijan 'On international private law', taking into account international norms and principles, as well as progressive foreign experience. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: Voting in the presidential election will begin at Azerbaijan's embassy in Korea and end at the US Consulate General in Los Angeles, told "Election 2024' Independent Media Center, Trend reports. According to the information, the voting will start at 08:00 and will end at 19:00, local time zones. Based on the data of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan, a total of 49 polling stations in 37 countries have been set up to organize voting outside the country. On December 7, 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on holding an extraordinary presidential election in the country on February 7, 2024. The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) on Dec. 19 approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, nominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), for participation in the extraordinary presidential election. Azerbaijan has registered 7 candidates to run in the extraordinary presidential election. To ease election chores and ensue smooth running, "Election 2 024' Independent Media Center was launched by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: Mixing hydrogen and all relevant to these technical processes will certainly remain a key part of the future development of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) - in line with the development of the market's evolution and in close cooperation with adjacent transmission system operators (TSOs), the ICGB, the pipeline operator, told Trend. "While ICGB is dedicated to staying on top of sector trends and continuing to develop the pipeline's infrastructure to meet market demand and developments, current efforts are predominantly dedicated to IGB's technical capacity expansion from 3 to 5 bcm/y. The binding phase of the incremental process is planned for July 2024 and the company is working actively to make this possible," said the company. The IGB gas pipeline connects with the Greek national gas transmission system (DESFA S.A.) and the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP AG) in the area of Komotini (Greece), and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system (Bulgartransgaz EAD) in the area of Stara Zagora. The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 km, the diameter of the pipe - 32'' - and a design capacity of up to 3 billion m3/year in the direction Greece - Bulgaria. Depending on the market interest for larger capacity and the possibilities of the neighboring gas transmission systems, the capacity of IGB is designed with the option for increase up to 5 billion m3/year with additional construction of a compressor station. Source: Trend News Agency