Category: Key Issues

Baku: Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Latif Gandilov has met with Islambek Mursabekov, the international observer appointed by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS). During the meeting held at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Kyrgyzstan, Islambek Mursabekov got acquainted with the commission members of the polling station set up regarding the snap presidential election of the Republic of Azerbaijan scheduled for February 7. They also familiarized themselves with the polling station. Ambassador Latif Gandilov informed Islambek Mursabekov about the work carried out to help organize the election process. Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

Baku: Azerbaijan`s Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva attended the 10th Board of Directors Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsman Association (OICOA) held in Pakistan. The event, hosted by the Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan, welcomed representatives from OIC nations, including Trkiye, Bahrain, Morocco, Indonesia, and Bulgaria. During her address, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva highlighted the challenges emerging in ensuring human rights and freedoms due to increased armed conflicts and natural disasters. She emphasized the gross violation of fundamental human rights and the rise in forced migration as a result of these events. Sabina Aliyeva underlined the weakened initiatives aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations amidst these challenges, emphasizing the significant role of national human rights institutions. Drawing attention to the negative environmental impact of war, the Azerbaijani Ombudsman shed light on Armenia`s acts of ecological terrorism during the nearly 30-year occupation period, including the existing landmine problem in Azerbaijan`s liberated territories. She informed participants about the ongoing construction efforts aimed at ensuring sustainable settlement and safe living in the liberated territories. Aliyeva highlighted the decision to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan in 2024 as a significant sign of respect and trust towards Azerbaijan. She proposed organizing a joint event with the participation of Ombudsman institutions of OIC countries to facilitate the exchange of experiences in environmental protection and advocacy. The 10th Board of Directors Meeting of OICOA addressed several issues of mutual interest among its members. Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

BAKU: Ambassador of Azerbaijan Bunyad Huseynov presented his credentials to the President of China Xi Jinping, Trend reports citing the Xinhua agency. To note, Xi Jinping received credentials from ambassadors from 42 countries. In accordance with the decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in August 2023, Bunyad Huseynov was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to China in August 2023. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: Chairman of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Ties Samad Seyidov and other members of the committee have welcomed the delegation of the Grand National Assembly of Trkiye headed by Chairman of the Committee on National Defense Hulusi Akar and expressed gratitude to the Turkish delegation to PACE for their support of Azerbaijan, the Parliament told Trend. According to Seyidov, the strong and friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Trkiye, characterized as 'one nation, two states,' are flourishing. Cooperation between the two brotherly nations has been reinforced across various domains and has achieved a new level. The Committee Chairman underscored the historical significance of the Shusha Declaration. The Azerbaijani Member of Parliament highlighted that following Azerbaijan's liberation its lands from Armenian occupation and the complete restoration of sovereignty, certain European states displayed a biased stance towards the country. Recently, the Azerbaijani delegation issued a statement during the PACE meeting, declaring the cessation of interaction and withdrawal from the organization due to the prevailing atmosphere of racism, Azerbaijanophobia, and Islamophobia within the structure. Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Hulusi Akar, conveyed his appreciation for the hospitality and the cordial meeting. He expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development witnessed in the country across all sectors. Akar discussed the various meetings conducted during the visit and emphasized the successful development of allied relations between the two countries in all domains. Hulusi Akar underscored the significance of inter-parliamentary ties and the productive cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries, emphasizing the collaboration within committees and international organizations. He highlighted the great importance of expanding ties within the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States. He no ted that the Turkish state and people felt proud of Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Karabakh War. In reference to the upcoming extraordinary presidential election in Azerbaijan, Hulusi Akar expressed the belief that President Ilham Aliyev, the liberator of Karabakh, will be re-elected as the head of state. During the meeting, members of the Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Ties, including Sabir Rustamkhanli, Sevinj Fataliyeva, Javanshir Feyziyev, Nasib Magamaliyev, Sahib Aliyev, Asim Mollazadeh, Ramil Hasan, Rasim Musabekov, Nigar Arpadarai, and Sevil Mikayilova, delivered speeches. They shared their perspectives on the historical and current state of relations and discussed the continued enhancement of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The meeting was attended by deputies of the Grand National Assembly of Trkiye, including Refik Ozen, Mehmet Ali Celebi, Feyzi Berdibek, Ozgur Ceylan, Metin Ilhan, Zuhal Dora, Dursun Atas, Didem Hasturk, Volkan Durmaz, Genceh an Babis, Mohammad Akkiraz, as well as the Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Cahit Bagci, and other officials. The credentials of Azerbaijan's delegation to PACE were challenged on the opening day of the 2024 winter plenary session. Frank Schwabe, who heads the German delegation to PACE, proposed to deny the Azerbaijani delegation's credentials because Azerbaijan allegedly 'organized the expulsion of Armenians from Karabakh'. Thus, PACE was dissatisfied with the fact that they were 'not invited' to observe the presidential elections to be held on February 7. Before that, in October 2023, the PACE adopted a one-sided and biased resolution regarding localized anti-terrorist measures undertaken by Azerbaijan in Karabakh. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters Alexander Kurenkov, Trend reports, referring to the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic. The meeting underscored the strong strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Russia. It was highlighted that the two countries should actively develop their collaboration in all areas, including emergency prevention and elimination. The parties emphasized the necessity of signing the Plan of Joint Activities between the Republic of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Russian Federation's Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Natural Disasters for 2024-2026. During the meeting, the opportunities for strengthening Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation in emergency prevention and response were highlighted. Source: Trend News Agency

Baku: Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kenya Sultan Hajiyev has met with Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of the country Martha K. Koome. Underlining the importance of establishment of the Azerbaijani embassy in Kenya in 2023, the Chief Justice wished the diplomat success in his activity. Ambassador Sultan Hajiyev highlighted the history of Azerbaijani statehood, the country's achievements during the period of independence, and the restoration of territorial integrity as a result of the glorious Victory in 2020. The diplomat also informed the Chief Justice about Azerbaijan's large-scale restoration and reconstruction works, as well as mine clearance carried out in the liberated territories in the post-conflict period. Noting that Azerbaijan will play host to a number of prestigious international events, the ambassador emphasized that the country would be hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this year, and the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in 2026. The diplomat also mentioned Azerbaijan's contributions to the activities of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) together with other member states during its chairmanship of the organization. Sultan Hajiyev underscored that the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year would be conducive to strengthening dynamically developing relations, and this, along with other domains, could provide an opportunity to establish fruitful cooperation between the two countries' courts. Emphasizing the importance of implementing various joint initiatives, including reciprocal visits, Kenya's Chief Justice Martha Koome expressed her country's interest in sharing experience with Azerbaijan in the judicial and legal domains, especially in learning Azerbaijan's experience in digitalization of judicial operations. She also provided insight into the foreign relations of the Supreme Court of Kenya. Source: Azerba ijan State News Agency

BAKU: Ahead of the upcoming extraordinary presidential election in the Republic of Azerbaijan on February 7, 2024, the distribution of ballot papers to district election commissions has commenced at the Milli Majlis (Parliament) printing house, Media and Communications Department of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Secretariat told Trend. The process involves members of the CEC, and secretariat staff, along with the chairmen and secretaries of respective district election commissions. "The process has been executed in an open and transparent manner, ensuring that all conditions are in place for international organizations, election observation missions, media representatives, and election stakeholders to closely monitor the proceedings," said the statement of the department. "On the initial day, January 30, ballots will be transported to a total of 36 electoral districts. This includes electoral districts in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, polling stations in the territories liberated from Armenia n occupation, as well as electoral districts encompassing remote areas of the republic. Over the following two days, the distribution will extend to all other electoral districts throughout the country, bringing the process to its full completion," the statement reads. "Following the distribution of ballot papers produced under high-security conditions to the district election commissions, the subsequent processes of transportation, storage, and allocation to the precinct election commissions are safeguarded by the relevant bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs," the department added. "During the event, media representatives were briefed on the requirements of the Electoral Code and the organization of the process of the preparation and secure delivery of ballot papers. Additionally, answers were provided to questions of interest to journalists," the Media and Communications Department of the CEC Secretariat said. Upon the approval of the requirements for the text, form, number, and production order o f ballot papers by CEC within the stipulated legal terms for the presidential election, the printing process commenced on January 24, 2024. In accordance with the Commission's decision, a total of 6,524,203 ballot papers were printed. After the distribution of ballot papers to the district election commissions in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Electoral Code, they will be transferred from the district election commissions to the precinct election commissions no later than three days before the beginning of voting. 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 December 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 electio n. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: A group of international observers from the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS), invited by the Azerbaijani Parliament Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova, is taking part in the observation of Azerbaijan's extraordinary presidential election, Trend reports via the Secretariat of the IPA CIS Council. The group includes accredited MPs and senators from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament Zhakip Asanov was appointed as the coordinator of the observer group from the IPA CIS. Besides, the group includes officials from the assembly led by the Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Dmitry Kobitsky. The observers will begin short-term monitoring in Azerbaijan on February 4. Meetings with candidates' election headquarters, the leadership of the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Prosecutor General's Office, the Constitutional Court, and the Parliament of Azer baijan are scheduled for February 4-6. On February 7, international observers from the IPA CIS will visit polling stations in Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan. Monitoring will also be organized at foreign polling stations. On December 7, 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree calling for an extraordinary presidential election in the country on February 7, 2024. On December 19, the CEC of Azerbaijan approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, nominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), for participation in the extraordinary presidential election. Azerbaijan has registered seven candidates to run in the extraordinary presidential election. Source: Trend News Agency

BAKU: The Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Alexander Kurenkov has visited Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. The two-day visit will focus on issues of cooperation across emergency bodies. Source: Trend News Agency