Officers of the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee prevented drug trafficking and smuggling of alcohol to Azerbaijan, Customs Committee officials said

As a result of joint operation conducted by police and customs officers in Bilasuvar region of Azerbaijan, 2 011 g of heroin and 14 895.1 g of hashish were confiscated from residents of Barda region of Azerbaijan Ruslan Ibrahimov and Jalil Jabbarov.

Customs office of Astara region of Azerbaijan discovered 251.566 g of heroin in the luggage of Iranian citizens Turkambur Golamreza Ahmadi and Ismayil Mahmoud Amirturani, who traveled from Iran to Azerbaijan by passenger bus.

Officials of the Khacmaz Customs office confiscated 54 bottles of Russian vodka without excise duty stamp from the Russian citizen Svetlana Gamidovna Adilova.

The customs officials also detained Russia citizen Sirajudin Saypulaev, who tried to smuggle 9 950 boxes of Marlboro Gold and 1500 boxes of Kent Nanotech cigarettes to Azerbaijan.

APA

Source: News.Az – Latest news from Azerbaijan

The Georgian pair of figure skaters are on the 20th place after the first performance at the Winter Olympic Games.

The Georgian pair of figure skaters are on the 20th place after the first performance at the Winter Olympic Games in Canada’s Vancouver, Irakli Japaridze, head of the figure skaters federation of Georgia, told InterpressNews from Vancouver.

"The pair has been greeted with special warmth because of our tragedy. Only the dance of the Georgian pair has been shown live via US channels", Irakli Japaridze said.

The pair of Otar Japaridze and Elisson Rid has been created 8 months ago. Elisson Rid was born in the USA. However, she has lately received a Georgian citizenship.

The Figure skaters will perform original dance on Sunday and free dance on Monday.

As for women’s competition, it will be held on 23-25 February. Georgian figure skater Elene Gedevanishvili has arrived in Vancouver today.

InterPessNews

Source: News.Az – Latest news from Azerbaijan

“It is not a secret that a large part of air pollution falls on cars in different world cities today. At present, about 549,511 vehicles have been registered in Baku. Most of them, that is, 80 percent do not meet the standards of Euro -3 and Euro-4″, Mayor of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov said at a meeting on environmental issues, chaired by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, AzerTaj state news agency said.

According to him, these cars emit toxic substances above the established norm. Preventing the import of vehicles that do not meet European standards, the gradual decommissioning of those manufactured 10-15 years ago, those that do not meet environmental standards, exploitation term of which is exhausted, increase of new fuel production meeting European standards, will improve the environment in Baku, Abutalibov said.

Oil-contaminated land, the emergence of artificial lakes and pools of waste oil as a result of activities of the oil industry, operating in Baku for over 100 years, the preference of quantity, not quality for the indicated period of time, non-utilization of reservoir waters are among the major factors negatively affecting the ecological sitation of Baku, he said.

Head of Baku’s Exertive Power also stressed that the process of cleaning oil-contaminated soil, the transfer of industrial enterprises outside the city and creating new industries that meet world standards are implemented to eliminate these factors. It already gives positive results.

“Emissions of toxic substances significantly reduced in Baku as a result of productive work restrainting gas and dust in the existing plants,” the head of Baku’s executive power said.

According to him, one of the issues to be resolved is the problem of sewerage system. The term of exploitation is exhausted. It also contributes to the formation of artificial mud lakes, pollution of the Caspian Sea.

Since April 2007 construction and adjustment operations have been launched within a project prepared in accordance with the presidential decree. This project is aimed at cleaning polluted water and sewer lines. The third new technological line with a capacity of 160,000 cubic meters has been put into operation to solve this problem, impacting negatively on the environment.

Thus, the efficiency of an existing station has been raised from 480,000 cubic meters to 640,000 cubic meters per day, Abutalibov said.

Certain work has been done to implement the President’s decree “Certain Measures for the Protection of the Caspian Sea against Pollution”, signed on June 20, 2007 and improve the situation in this area.

Local water-purifying units meeting international standards, that creates conditions for the purification of about 4,000 cubic meters of polluted water per day were installed, Hajibala Abutalibov said.

Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 20 / Trend Capital N. Ismayilova /

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Finance within the execution of the WB project on accountability in the budget and corporate sectors (CAP / SAP) has announced a competition for the post of a consultant to establish a training and certification center on accounting and preparation of educational standards under the Ministry, the ministry said.

The project is financed by funds provided by the Japanese government, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Azerbaijani government.

A consultant’s duties include cooperation with state agencies to prepare documents to establish the center, including his activities and management. Moreover, a consultant will assist in the preparation of the primary strategic plan of the center, organizational structure, a financial plan, registration of a center in the relevant state agencies, in the preparation of administrative and legislative base to regulate the educational regulations in accounting, certification programs and educational materials.

A consulting company should have rich experience in accounting and auditing, in the preparation of a certification programs in professional accounting. It should have strong relations with universities, famous for its accounting programs, work to achieve comprehensive results, as well as have working experience in the Azerbaijani language.

Date of execution is from June 2010 to December 2012.

For more information one should apply to the Ministry of Finance by phones: 404 47 27, 404 47 16. Applications are received till March 5, 2010.

The total project cost is $ 24 million. The project is funded by the World Bank’s loan worth $ 11 million, grants of the Japanese Fund PHRD ($ 3 million), Seco (2 million) and a share of the Azerbaijani government ($8 million). The draft CAP / SAP was approved by the WB executive board on March 27, 2008.

Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at capital@trend.az

Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 20 / Trend News K. Zarbaliyeva /

Azerbaijani advocate met with the believers who have been detained during an unauthorized action of protest.

Advocate Chingiz Ganizade told Trend News about the meeting with Agali Yahyayev, Elchin Abbasov, Elnur Huseynov and Elnur Samadov detained in the temporary isolator of Yasamal district police departent.

A group of 60-70 people came after the prayer in the mosque of Haji Sultanali located in Yasamal district of Baku at the intersection of Murtuza Mukhtarov and Salatin Askerova streets, attempted to hold an unauthorized march on February 13 at 03:00 p.m..

During a meeting with the advocate all detainees denied information about pressure exerted on them during interrogation, and expressed satisfaction with the conditions for prayers.

According to Ganizade, Abbasov applied to him with a request to change a measure of restraint due to the pregnancy of his wife. The advocate has promised to apply to the appropriate authorities.

Yahyayev asked his friends to hire another lawyer.

Before the meeting Ganizade examined the conditions of detention in the police department.

The advocate said prison cells are very spacious. Necessary conditions have been created for detainees to pray.

According to the information voiced by the Head Police Department and City Prosecutor’s Office of Baku, the investigative and operational actions were held in accordance with the Articles 221.3 (the hooliganism committed with application of a weapon or subjects, used as the weapon), 315.2 (application of the violence dangerous to life or healthconcerning the representative of authority) and Article 310 (commitment of actions connected to autocratic representation by official or assignment of powers of official, entailed essential infringement of rights and legitimate interests of citizens or organizations) of the Criminal Code.

Four people trying to hold illegal march and using force towards representatives of authority were detained. Seven people accused of the article 310 were arrested in administrative order.

Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia

The Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament Oktay Asadov met with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Chief Saeed Jalili, Mehr news agency reported.

Jalili said during the meeting that Tehran supports the policy of the region countries to ensure their security through joint cooperation. He said that with this policy, Iran is prepared to use all its potentials to strengthen security cooperation with all its neighbors.

In his turn, Oktay Asadov said that strengthening peace and stability in the region is beneficial for countries.

Asadov spoke of historical, religious ties between the two countries and expressed his desire to further develop relations between the two countries.

Azerbaijani Speaker’s visit to Iran started today. The parliamentary delegation headed by Oktay Asadov will be on an official visit to Iran from 20 to 22 April at the invitation the head of Iran Islamic Council Assembly of Iran.

Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia

The main priority of Iran’s foreign policy is the solution of regional problems, said the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, at a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Oktay Asadov, who is on a visit to Tehran.

“The solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is important for the whole region,” said Larijani, Mehr news agency reported.

Azerbaijani Speaker mentioned Azerbaijan’s commitment to the peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of the principle of country’s territorial integrity.

At the meeting, Larijani also highlighted his country’s interest in developing economic ties with Azerbaijan, with which Iran is closely connected by historical and cultural ties.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the United States – are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.

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Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia

Pope Benedict XVI in a meeting Saturday with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, praised the peaceful coexistence in Lebanon between various religious communities, including Druze, Christians and Muslims, dpa reported.

Hope was expressed “that the country (Lebanon), through the exemplary coexistence of the various religious communities … may continue to be a ‘message’ for the region of the Middle East and for the whole world,” the Vatican said in a statement issued after the morning talks.

In a newspaper interview hours before the meeting, Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, said he shares the pontiff’s concern for the Middle East’s dwindling Christian communities, in particular those in Iraq where many continue to flee abroad and are often targets of Islamist militant attacks.

Benedict received Hariri at the Vatican Apostolic Palace where, “in an atmosphere of great cordiality,” their talks focused on Lebanon and the broader situation in the Middle East, the Vatican statement said.

“Having then highlighted the need to find a just and global solution to the conflicts affecting that region, reference was made to the importance of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue for the promotion of peace and justice,” the statement added.

The two leaders also recalled “the importance of the presence and activities of Christians in the country.”

Hariri expressed “great appreciation for the contribution made by the Catholic Church for the benefit of all society, especially through her educational, health care and aid institutions.”

The Lebanese premier also held separate talks with the Vatican’s second-highest official, Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. He also met with the Holy See’s equivalent of a foreign minister, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

In terms of Lebanon’s constitution, the three highest state offices must be occupied by representatives from three different religious groupings, with the president a Maronite Christian, the premier a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shiite Muslim.

Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia

President Hamid Karzai urged international troops to prevent civilian casualties during military operations in an emotional appeal on Saturday, as six civilians were killed in two blasts and another was shot dead by NATO troops in southern region, dpa reported.

Two civilians were killed on Saturday in Nahr Saraj district of southern province of Helmand when their motorbike was struck by a roadside bomb, Afghan interior ministry said in a statement.

Four other civilians were killed in a similar attack in the neighboring province of Kandahar on Friday day, the statement said.

The seventh civilian was shot to death by NATO troops in Helmand’s Nad Ali district after their soldiers suspected him of carrying an explosive device towards their patrol, NATO said in a statement on Saturday.

The troops later found that the man was civilian with no explosives in his possession.

The announcement about the civilian killings came hours after President Karzai appealed to NATO troops to make every effort to prevent civilian casualties during the current anti-Taliban push.

Karzai, who was speaking to lawmakers during the re-opening session of parliament after the winter break, choked up when he held up a picture of an eight-year-old girl, describing her as being the only survivor after a NATO rocket killed 12 members of her family earlier this week.

The civilians were killed during Operation Mushtarak, a Dari word for “together” that began in central Helmand last Saturday. The operation which is being conducted by 15,000 Afghan and NATO troops is the largest offensive since the ouster of Taliban regime in late 2001.

Karzai praised the work of NATO’s top commander in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, who has made protecting civilians the centerpiece of his war strategy. “The civilian casualties have been reduced, but it has to reach a point where there is no death at all,” he said.

The NATO military has said that 16 civilians have been killed during Operation Mushtarak in the past eight days. Twelve NATO troops and one Afghan soldier have also been killed along with more than 40 Taliban fighters in the same period.

The combined forces have retaken “key areas” in Marjah town, one of the main bastions for the Taliban in the province, which was entirely controlled by the militants until recently. Afghan and NATO military have said that they needed several weeks before they clear the area of roadside mines and booby traps.

“Fighting remains difficult in the northeast and west of Marjah, but insurgent activity is not limited to those areas,” the NATO military said on Saturday.

The Afghan and NATO troops were trying to reopen schools and provide jobs for the locals by launching reconstruction projects in the recently occupied areas in a bid to extend the central government authority in the district, the statement said.

Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia

Diplomatic ties between Israel and European countries have not been plunged into a crisis over the Dubai assassination of a Hamas official, Israel Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Saturday.

The murder of Mahbouh al-Mahbouh on January 20 has been widely attributed to Mossad, a claim that Israel denies, dpa reported.

“I don’t forsee a crisis with European allies”, Ayalon said in the Israeli city of Rehovot, repeating that there was no link between Israel and the killing.

Ayalon made this comments two days before an official visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to Europe.

Lieberman is to hold meetings with European counterparts amid the accusations against the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad of faking the passports of six British, three Irish, one German and one French citizens to carry on the assassination.

“Britain, France and Germany all share our interests in the battle against global terror, therefore there will be no crisis,” Ayalon said. “Instead, our relations will continue to deepen,” he added.

Dubai police released this week the names and photos of 11 suspects and said he is “99 per-cent certain” that Israel’s secret service, Mossad, was responsible for the operation, even though the Israeli government said it was “not correct to assume” so.

Lieberman’s agenda on Monday includes talks with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Belgian Foreign Minister Stefan Vanackere, as well as a meeting with European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek.

In the evening, he is scheduled to have an “informal” dinner with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, an EU official added. The talks would focus on the Iran nuclear threat, the Middle East peace process and EU-Israel relations.

Allegations against Israel on the use of fake foreign passports provoked expressions of outrage from the EU countries concerned this week.

Source: Trend – news from the Caspian, South Caucasus and Central Asia