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Azertag Eng

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry: Armenia has failed its obligation under applicable international law to conduct effective investigation into fate of missing persons

Baku, August 31, AZERTAC

“For more than 25 years, Armenia has failed its obligation under the applicable international law to conduct effective investigation into the fate of missing persons,” Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Today marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Enforced disappearance is a problem encountered by thousands in Azerbaijan for almost three decades. 3890 persons (3171 servicemen, 719 civilians) from Azerbaijan are still missing as a result of the aggression by Armenia. Armenia extensively practiced taking and holding of hostages and mistreatment and summary execution of Azerbaijani prisoners of war and hostages since the early 1990s. Despite the fact that the taking of hostages is clearly prohibited by international humanitarian law, 267 Azerbaijani civilians (including 29 children; 98 women; 112 elderly people) were taken hostage and weren’t released by Armenia. Until now, 1102 Azerbaijani hostages (including 224 children; 357 women; 225 elderly people) have been subsequently released from Armenian captivity.

By these illegal acts, Armenia seriously violated the relevant provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions relative to the treatment of prisoners of war and to the civilian persons in time of war, as well as their first Additional Protocol. Along with relevant norms of international humanitarian law, the issues related to missing persons are also considered in the context of internationally protected human rights, in particular those relating to the right to be protected from arbitrary detention, the right to fair trial affording all judicial guarantees, the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the prohibition of enforced disappearances, the rights of persons deprived from liberty and others,” the ministry said.

“Those reported missing among Azerbaijani population disappeared in circumstances that raise serious concerns as to their well-being, particularly given the atrocities widely practiced by armed forces of Armenia during the conflict. Similar to other breaches of international humanitarian law, unlawful detention, torture and outrages on the personal dignity of detained hostages and prisoners of war were part of systematic policy of collective punishment and discrimination against Azerbaijanis.

The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons of the Republic of Azerbaijan identified that in violation of the norms of international humanitarian law the Azerbaijani hostages were detained under unbearable conditions, together with prisoners of war, were transferred from one place of detention to another, both in the formerly occupied territories of Azerbaijan and in the territory of Armenia. There was mass annihilation of Azerbaijani prisoners of war and hostages by armed forces of Armenia in 1990s. Many hostages, including children, women, and the elderly, were brutally killed, some died later in Armenian captivity as a result of torture, intolerable conditions and diseases. As the corpses of the dead were not handed over to Azerbaijan, these persons are still considered missing.

Despite the repeated appeals of the State Commission, only a few years ago it was possible to get information about 54 Azerbaijani prisoners of war and hostages, including 6 women who were registered by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and visited at various times by the ICRC’s representatives at the places of detention.

For more than 25 years, Armenia has failed its obligation under the applicable international law to conduct effective investigation into the fate of missing persons. Instead, Armenia denies its responsibility for the aggression it unleashed and for the incalculable human suffering caused, glorifies war criminals and terrorists, and propagates hatred and Azerbaijanaphobia. Azerbaijan has initiated judicial proceedings to prosecute and punish the perpetrators of the atrocity crimes. While accountability and redress serve to ensure the rights and interests of the victims and must be an inevitable consequence of the offenses committed, they are also an essential preventive tool and one of the key prerequisites on the path to genuine reconciliation,” the ministry added.

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Azertag Eng

Azerbaijani defense minister holds official meeting

Baku, August 30, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan`s Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has held an official meeting at the Central Command Post, the Ministry of Defense told AZERTAC.

Deputies of Minister of Defense, Commanders of types of troops, Chiefs of Main Departments, Departments, and Services of the Ministry attended the meeting. Commanders of the Army Corps and formations stationed in the liberated territories and other officers were also involved in the meeting held via video communication.

Having brought to the attention of the meeting participants the tasks assigned to the Azerbaijan Army by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, the Minister of Defense noted that the reforms carried out in the Azerbaijan Army will further be continued.

The Minister of Defense congratulated the Turkish Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Staff, as well as the heroic Turkish soldier on the occasion of 30 August Victory Day and the Turkish Armed Forces Day.

Having analyzed the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border and in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporally deployed, the Minister of Defense instructed to pay special attention to the conduct of practical training on the activities of units and control points, the clarification of combat plans and the aspects of logistical support to provide an immediate and adequate response to the provocation of the opposing side and to maintain the combat capability of the troops and the combat readiness of the military personnel at a high level.

Regarding the planned activities in the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Hasanov gave relevant instructions on organizing military service, clearing mines and unexploded ordnance, creating military infrastructure, laying mountain roads, and keeping them in constant working condition in the liberated territories. The minister stressed the importance of paying special attention to discipline, safety, and fire safety rules, as well as to the further improvement of the medical support of servicemen.

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Azertag Eng

Azerbaijani defense minister sends letters of congratulations to Turkish counterpart and Chief of General Staff

Baku, August 30, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan`s Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has sent congratulatory letters to Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar and Chief of the General Staff, Army General Yashar Guler, the Ministry of Defense told AZERTAC.

The letter says: “I cordially congratulate you, your family and your subordinates on the occasion of the Victory Day and the Turkish Armed Forces Day. I wish you health, long life, family happiness and success in your difficult and honorable work.

I am confident that the friendly and fraternal Turkish Armed Forces will overcome all difficulties as well as expand and strengthen existing cooperation between our institutions.

I take this opportunity to express my respect and esteem to you.”

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Azertag Eng

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed exhibitions organized by Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Shusha

Shusha, August 30, AZERTAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed the “Karabakh is a pearl of Azerbaijani culture” and “Again in the native land: Pearls of Karabakh art” exhibitions organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation as part of the Vagif Poetry Days held in Shusha.

First, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with “Karabakh is a pearl of Azerbaijani culture” exhibition in the Shusha Art Gallery.

The exhibition, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, features works by Boyukagha Mirzazade, Toghrul Narimanbayov, Maral Rahmanzade, Nadir Abdurrahmanov, Mikayil Abdullayev, Ujal Hagverdiyev, Museyib Amirov and other prominent Azerbaijani artists. The exhibition also features must-see places of Karabakh, its writers, carpets, horses, mugam and victories in the Patriotic War.

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Then, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed “Again in the native land: Pearls of Karabakh art” exhibition in the Shusha Carpet Gallery which was restored and repaired by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and presented by the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the exhibition features fleecy and pileless carpets, carpet products, national embroidery and clothing sets, and examples of metal work art. It also includes carpet samples from the collection of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan.

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The “Memory. Photographic history” exhibition was also organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Shusha as part of the Vagif Poetry Days. The photo exhibition highlights Azerbaijan’s ancient history, rich culture, beautiful nature and traditions.

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Azertag Eng

President Ilham Aliyev: We are in Shusha today, and from now on we will live in Shusha forever

Baku, August 30, AZERTAC

“During the occupation, many of us – both former IDPs and the entire Azerbaijani people, including myself – repeatedly thought that there is no justice in the world. Because if there was justice, we would not be in this situation. I was of the same opinion. But life has shown that there is justice, you just have to be patient, you have to be patient, you have to believe in justice and you have to work to achieve justice, you have to move towards the goal. Self-sacrifice is needed to restore justice. Today we can all say openly and deep inside that that yes, there is justice, justice has been restored, we are in Shusha today, and from now on we will live in Shusha forever”, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the opening ceremony of the Vagif Poetry Days in Shusha.

“While giving the good news of Shusha to the people of Azerbaijan on 8 November, I said that Shusha is already free, this is the truth. We are gathered in a free Shusha. I said that we have returned to Shusha. This is also true. Festivals, poetry days, cultural and many other events are already being held and will continue to be held. I said that we would revive Shusha. This is happening, because we are reviving Shusha,” President Ilham Aliyev added.

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Azertag Eng

Azerbaijani tankmen reach semifinals of “Tank Biathlon” contest

Baku, August 30, AZERTAC

Azerbaijani tankmen participating in the “Tank Biathlon” contest held as part of the “International Army Games – 2021” reached the semifinals, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry told AZERTAC.

Azerbaijani tankmen competed with tankmen from Kazakhstan, Serbia and Belarus in the Individual Race stage of the contest held on August 29 at the Alabino military training ground in Moscow, Russia.

According to the results of the stage, Belarusian team took the first place, Kazakh team took the second place, Azerbaijani team took the third place, Serbian team took the fourth place.

Azerbaijani tankmen, who are in the 4th place among 11 teams, reached the semifinals.

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Azertag Eng

Turkey among top 3 countries in world in combat drone technology

Baku, August 30, AZERTAC

Turkey has risen to the world’s top three in combat drone technology, the Turkish president said on Sunday, according to Anadolu Agency.

“With our unmanned combat aerial vehicle Akinci, Turkey has become one of the three most advanced countries in the world in this technology,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the delivery ceremony for the Baykar Akinci combat drone in the northwestern Tekirdag province.

Erdogan expressed hope that the Akinci will strengthen Turkey’s “sincere efforts” to establish trust, peace, and justice in both the region and the world.

Underlining that Turkey is determined to become the leading country in combat drones, Erdogan said Turkey has to develop new technologies.

The nation’s goal is to develop armed drones that can take off and land on aircraft carriers with short runways for use in missions abroad, he added.

Erdogan also praised Turkey’s extensive use of home-sourced defense products, which in recent years leaped from 20% to about 80%.

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Azertag Eng

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended opening of Vagif Poetry Days in Shusha

Shusha, August 30, AZERTAC

The Vagif Poetry Days have been organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the native city of the poet for the first time after the liberation of Shusha from occupation.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the official opening ceremony of the Vagif Poetry Days.

The head of state addressed the opening ceremony.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then viewed the “Karabakh is a pearl of Azerbaijani culture” and “Again in the native land: Pearls of Karabakh art” exhibitions organized as part of the Vagif Poetry Days.

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Azertag Eng

Female judoka Karimova bags Azerbaijan’s ninth gold at Tokyo Paralympics

Baku, August 29, AZERTAC

Female judoka Dursadaf Karimova has added a ninth gold to Azerbaijan`s medal haul at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

She earned the medal thanks to a victory over Kazakh Zarina Baibatina in the women`s +70kg final.

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Azertag Eng

Azerbaijan logs 4,241 new coronavirus cases

Baku, August 28, AZERTAC

4,241 new cases of coronavirus infection have been recorded in Azerbaijan, while 3,366 patients have been recovered, the Task Force under the Cabinet of Ministers told AZERTAC.

According to the Task Force, 43 persons have died after testing positive for COVID-19.

“The overall confirmed cases in Azerbaijan have reached 413,986, with 358,230 recoveries and 5,512 deaths, while treatment of 50,244 others is underway.

A total of 4,414,517 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the country so far”, the Task Force added.