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Newsletter June (2) 2008

  
NEWSLETTER
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan
  June 2008  
 
4, Kensington Court, W8 5DL, London
tel: + 44(0) 207 938 3412       fax: + 44(0) 207 937 1783
 

90th Anniversary of the Parliament of Azerbaijan (Milli Majlis) celebrated in Baku

Ukrainian President Yuschenko paid a one-day visit to Azerbaijan

Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan visited London

  International Conference “Azerbaijan’s road to prosperity; economic, political and foreign policy challenges” held in  
London

New building of NATO international school opened in Baku

Visits

90th Anniversary of the Parliament of Azerbaijan (Milli Majlis) celebrated in Baku

The parliamentary traditions of the country go back to 1918, the year when the first democratic republic
was established in Azerbaijan thus becoming the first of its kind in the whole Muslim East. Despite its very
short period of existence, Azerbaijani Parliament had made considerable efforts in strengthening the newly
emerged country in 1918-1920.

The special session celebrating the remarkable day on 19 June was attended by more than 200
participants from around the world and international organizations. Among them were Speakers of nine
foreign countries and twelve Vice-Speakers and many other high level delegates.
President Ilham Aliyev attended the special session and made a congratulatory speech. In his speech
President emphasized that Parliament played a remarkable role in state-building of the country.
The United Kingdom was represented by Baroness O’Cathain who made a speech at the session and
appreciated the role of parliament in democratic reforms and state-building process.

Ukrainian President Yuschenko paid a one-day visit to Azerbaijan

At the meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Victor Yuschenko appreciated the progress in
the whole range of issues and mainly energy projects being jointly implemented with Azerbaijan.
Moreover, he also praised the current level of bilateral relations, which are successfully in progress based
on mutual benefits and interests.
On his part, President Ilham Aliyev noted the intensity of bilateral contacts, reminding of his visit to Ukraine
in May 2008. President expressed that both sides are successful in coordinating all issues concerning the
bilateral relations in accordance with mutual.
Ukrainian President was accompanied by some high level government officials including ministers and
heads of state committees.

Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan visited London

On 30 June the deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov held several meetings in the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office of the Great Britain within the framework of his visit to London.
Mr Khalafov’s visit was aimed at holding political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two
countries and discussing issues related to the development of the bilateral relations.
During the talks the parties characterized the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Great Britain as
satisfactory and put an emphasis on huge potential to further develop the relations.
The special attention was given to the regional economic projects during the meetings. The parties
stressed the special role of the large regional projects, completed with the involvement of Azerbaijan in
strengthening peace and stability in South Caucasus and that this in its turn creates favorable conditions
to initiate new prospective projects.
Mr Khalafov has stressed Azerbaijan’s increasing role in energy security of Europe. The meetings also
focused on discussing some regional and international issues.

International Conference “Azerbaijan’s road to prosperity; economic, political and foreign policy
challenges” held in London

On June 20 the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the London Information Network on
Conflicts and State-building (LINCS), Azerbaijan Center for Strategic Studies (SAM) with support of the
 Embassy of Azerbaijan organized an international conference dedicated to Azerbaijan called “Azerbaijan’s
road to prosperity: economic, political and foreign policy challenges”.
The conference brought together some senior officals from Azerbaijan, representatives of British
  governmental bodies, officials representing transnational companies, international organizations, research  
centers  and mass media. 
Divided into 4 panels covering energy issues, human rights and governance, foreign policy prorities and
perspectives and challenges ahead for the country, the conference was assessed as an instrument to
bring the latest developments into the attention of the international community.
The key speakers highlighted the Government policies aimed at building sustainable economy,
diversification of the economy, putting in place a free and open civil society and major attempts which has
enabled the country to become a key player in a Wider Black Sea-Caspian Basin.
It was a common belief that Government has done quite well in terms of reducing poverty level, creating
new jobs and opportunities and decreasing the overdependence on oil and gas sector.
On the other hand, the existence of challenges lying ahead which require a great deal of effort and
consistency was admitted and the speakers expressed their approaches to the ways of tackling with those
challenges. The continuning stalemate around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was seen as a major hurdle
in the way of further regional cooperation and a potential threat to regional peace and stability.

New building of NATO international school opened in Baku

NATO Assistant Secretary General for the Public Diplomacy, Jean-Francois Bureau spoke at the opening
ceremony and touched to the importance of the school and urged to further expand the activity of these
schools.
Jean-Francois Bureau told that this school would provide the students with the opportunities to get broad
information about the NATO and international processes in general.
The NATO official said that the alliance is united around the main challenges and objectives as energy
security, democracy, human rights, stability and development.
On the occasion, the head of Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to NATO Kamil Khasiyev spoke about the
history of NATO schools and the role of such institutions in the development of diplomacy. He went on to
say that so far more than 400 students from Azerbaijan and other countries studied in the NATO school
established in 2003.

Visits

17 June, President Aliyev received the speaker of Turkish Parliament Koksal Toptan in the course of his
official visit to the country.
 
23 June, President received NATO Deputy Secretary General for public diplomacy Jean Francois Bureau
on his visit to the country to attend the opening ceremony of NATO School in Baku.
 
27 June, The US Assistant State Secretary for democracy, human rights and labor issues David Kramer
was received by the President. In the meeting the sides expressed their willingness to further strengthen
and deepen the existing relations.
 
27 June, NATO Special Representative for Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons visited
Azerbaijan.
 
27 June, President Aliyev met with the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group during their visit to the region.
 
30 June, Ukrainian President Yuschenko paid a one day visit to Azerbaijan.
 
30 June, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Luis Maria de Puc
came to Azerbaijan with a 2-day long visit
  
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan
  in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland  © 2008
 
www.azembassy.org.uk
london@mission.mfa.gov.az

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