Baku, June 8, AZERTAC
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov has met with Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Cahit Bagci to exchange views on the expansion of economic cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
The sides also discussed joint work to be done to increase mutual trade between Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Baku, June 8, AZERTAC
A street rally has been held in Houston, Texas organized by Samir Novruzov, head of the US-Azerbaijan Center of Integration (USACI) and a board member of Azerbaijanis Coordination Council in America (ACCA). The the street rally aimed to draw attention to the deaths of the Azerbaijani journalists and a local district official, accompanying them, as well as to the undesirable position of terrorist Armenian state, which refuses to provide map of minefields.
During the street rally held in the territory of Westheimer Road & Post Oak Boulevard, Azerbaijani compatriots expressed their anger by demonstrating the portraits of Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishov, and slogans describing horrific images of mine explosions, such as “Killed journalists by mines!”, “Say NO to Armenian lies!”, “Armenian terrorism”, “Danger! Mines!”.
Representatives of the Azerbaijani community also held a protest rally in the city. Then, carnations were laid in the memorial corner of the martyred journalists.
Samir Novruzov noted that Armenian leadership’s refusal to provide map of minefields to Azerbaijan was strongly condemned. This was assessed as an obstacle to the restoration of peace and normal life in the liberated lands and in the region.
The rally participants called on the world community and influential media organizations to support Azerbaijan’s just and fair position and not to turn a blind eye to the violation of international conventions by Armenia.
Baku, June 8, AZERTAC
Turkey on Monday rescued 131 asylum seekers in the Aegean Sea after they were illegally pushed back by Greek coastal authorities into Turkish territorial waters, an official said, according to Anadolu Agency.
Acting on a tip, the Turkish Coast Guard rescued at least 102 migrants from rubber boats off the coast of Dikili in the western Izmir province, said a coast guard statement.
Another 29 asylum seekers were rescued from two rubber boats off Izmir’s Foca district, the statement added.
After routine checks, they were taken to the provincial migration authority.
Turkey has repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.
Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
Baku, June 6, AZERTAC
After a difficult start to the season, Jüri Vips has ensured his title challenge is well and truly in motion, with the Hitech Grand Prix driver winning for the second time in a row in the Baku Feature Race.
Beating out PREMA Racing duo Oscar Piastri and Robert Shwartzman, Vips becomes just the second double-winner of 2021, and is the first driver in Formula 2 to take two wins in a single weekend.
Piastri slices Guanyu Zhou’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship down to just five points. The UNI-Virtuosi racer finished outside of the points in 13th, telling his team over the radio he just didn’t have the pace.
Shwartzman was up from 10th after a disappointing Qualifying session and scored his second podium of both the season and the weekend, following up his Sprint Race 1 win with P3 to move up to third in the title fight.
Jack Aitken was the only driver to line up on the mediums, but the HWA RACELAB driver ended up starting from the pitlane, having stopped on track during the formation lap. There was a similar problem for the Campos Racing of Matteo Nannini, but the Italian couldn’t get going again.
After an aborted start and a second formation lap, Lawson and Vips gave their team a heart-in-mouth moment, the duo going side-by-side off the line and into the first corner. Eventually, Vips scooched ahead, but not before a touch of contact between the pair. Thankfully for Hitech, they both got away unscathed.
Piastri had gotten a great jump off the line from third and made the most of the duo’s brawl to clamber ahead of Lawson and into second.
As was the case in both of the Sprint Races, the field wouldn’t make it through the first lap without a Safety Car, as Marcus Armstrong got caught up in a scuffle with Dan Ticktum and Pourchaire.
None of the trio came off well, as Armstrong ended up in the wall and out of the race before Pourchaire retired from the pits. Meanwhile, Carlin were forced to bring Ticktum in for a new front wing, with the Briton also getting a new set of tyres, before being handed a 10s-time penalty for causing the collision.
When racing resumed, Lawson regained P2 from Piastri and started to stare down his teammate in first, but was then handed a 10s-time penalty as well, for forcing Pourchaire off-track at the start of the race.
Vips was taking no risks and immediately headed into the pits to ditch his supersofts at the first opportunity on Lap 6, returning in ninth. Lawson made the change on the next lap, serving his penalty and returning in P13, while Piastri headed in from first and returned directly behind Vips.
As the rest of the grid, apart from Ticktum and Aitken, all headed in on Laps 9 and 10, Vips, Piastri and Ralph Boschung lined up in the provisional podium spots. But the Campos wasn’t in the position for long, getting overtaken by Shwartzman, who was up from 10th.
Piastri’s podium was also under threat, as the PREMA was given a 5s time penalty for an unsafe release, with 14 laps left to try and build a buffer. Meanwhile, Lawson was making moves on his way back through the field, rising to eighth after passes on Christian Lundgaard and Jehan Daruvala.
Piastri was closing in on Vips after the Estonian was held up by the backmarker of Alessio Deledda, with the Italian given a time penalty for not letting the Hitech past. Once he had overcome Deledda, Vips was able to hunt down Aitken in second and put the HWA in-between himself and Piastri. Ticktum then pitted from first, serving his time penalty and returning in 11h, while Aitken fell to P12, after his own pitstop.
Despite the penalty, Ticktum was on the charge, setting purple first and second sectors before picking off both David Beckmann and Lundgaard for P8, behind Daruvala and Lirim Zendeli. Drugovich had edged ahead of Boschung for fourth, but was too far off Shwarztman to trouble the podium places.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro expressed her deep concern and sadness over the death of correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov (Alioglu) and camera operator Siraj Abishov, according to the official website of the organization.
According to reports, both journalists, who worked for Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) and Azerbaijan Television (AzTV), respectively, died today while on duty as a result of a landmine explosion in Kalbajar district. Other persons, including film director of AzTV Emin Mammadov, have reportedly received injuries.
“The tragic death of Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishov is terrible news and I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to their relatives and colleagues,” Ribeiro said.
Ribeiro noted that the law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the case and expressed hope that it will ensure full accountability for the journalists’ death.
Baku, June 4, AZERTAC
AZERTAC has made an appeal to international media organizations which it is a member of, including the News Agencies World Congress (NAWC), the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), the Association of National News Agencies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (ANIA), Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), as well as heads of member agencies and other international media organizations on the death and injury of Azerbaijani journalists in a mine planted by Armenia in Kalbajar district on June 4.
The appeal reads: “Despite Azerbaijan’s persistent demands for the provision of maps of landmines planted by Armenian armed forces in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, Armenia keeps on ignoring the appeals. Moreover, Armenian saboteurs infiltrating Azerbaijani territories are planting new mines in Azerbaijani settlements and roads. As a result of these insidious and inhuman actions, civilians are killed and injured. Yet another tragedy happened on 4 June. This time, it was journalists who fell victim to Armenian provocation.
Employees of the Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) and Azerbaijan Television (AZTV) were filming the liberated territories when they hit a mine in the village of Susuzlug of Kalbajar district on 4 June. AZERTAC correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov and AZTV cameraman Siraj Abishov, as well as the deputy representative of the head of the Kalbajar district Executive Authority in Susuzlug village, Arif Aliyev, who was accompanying the film crew, were killed when their vehicle hit the anti-tank mine. Four people were seriously injured and hospitalized.
AZERTAC calls on the leaders of the world media, international and regional media organizations to vehemently condemn Armenia’s ongoing provocations and raise their voices in protest. This is not only an attack on the lives of civilians, but also an open act of terrorism against free speech and the activities of journalists. We hope that the world media and international media organizations will not remain indifferent to this.
We recall that reconnaissance and sabotage groups of the Armenian armed forces have recently been trying to implement acts of sabotage on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, including Kalbajar district, by crossing deep into Azerbaijani territory. According to initial reports, the journalists were hit by a landmine that was planted by the saboteurs. What happened is further evidence of the tragic consequences of Armenia’s continuing attempts to sabotage and mine roads in Azerbaijani territory.
Different types of mines and other booby traps planted by Armenia have already killed or injured more than 120 people in the seven months since the end of the war.
Distinguished colleagues, we once again call on you to condemn Armenia’s actions, which run counter to the norms of international law, the fact that media workers and civilians are becoming victims of terrorism while performing their official duties, and to show journalistic solidarity.”
Baku, June 4, AZERTAC
Azerbaijan`s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in the country Hande Harmanci.
The sides exchanged views on the issues of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and WHO, as well as, cooperation in the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the cooperation with WHO and that last year was a year of serious challenge for the cooperation. The measures taken by Azerbaijan in the fight against COVID-19 within Azerbaijan, as well as the assistance provided by the country at the international level and the initiatives put forward were also noted. It was brought to the attention of the other side that the high-level meetings of international organizations, including Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States and Non-Aligned Movement dedicated to the fight against the pandemic were held and Special Session of the UN General Assembly was convened at the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan. It was stressed that Azerbaijan supports the equal and fair distribution of vaccines in the world, and in this regard, the country’s voice has been raised at the international level.
Hande Harmanci provided information on WHO projects carried out in Azerbaijan, including functioning of regional training centers in 12 regions of Azerbaijan, mobile training services implemented in 5 conflict-affected regions of Azerbaijan with the support of the UN Unified Emergency Fund, work with people in need of assistive technologies, strengthening of emergency systems and work done in other areas. She noted that WHO Regional Director will pay a visit to the region in the nearest future.
FM Bayramov noted the importance of the visits in terms of expanding cooperation and stressed the importance given to the visit of the regional director to the region in this regard. The minister also briefed Hande Harmanci on the restoration and construction activities and future plans carried out in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, noting the possibility of participation of the WHO and other UN agencies in the restoration projects.
During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on the potential cooperation areas between Azerbaijan and WHO.
Baku, June 4, AZERTAC
Azerbaijan has filed a further application in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding Armenia’s refusal to hand over the maps they have of life-threatening mines and unexploded ordnances in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.
According to AZERTAC, the new application will increase pressure on Armenia to comply with its international legal obligations.
Landmines were laid by Armenia on an enormous scale during the nearly thirty years the country illegally occupied land internationally recognised as a part of Azerbaijan. In contravention to international law, Armenia also laid landmines as it retreated from the liberated territories.
The Government of Azerbaijan has repeatedly urged Armenia to hand over the minefield maps since the Joint Statement was signed on 10 November 2020, bringing an end to all military activities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In February 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, wrote to the United Nations Secretary-General imploring the organisation to support calls for Armenia to release the location of landmines.
Chingiz Asgarov, Agent of the Republic of Azerbaijan before the ECHR, said:
“Armenia’s refusal to hand over the minefield maps has no strategic, legal or moral merits, and solely intends to cause loss of life and suffering to Azerbaijani civilians in the region.
Armenia’s actions also endanger Armenians who continue to live in the liberated territories.
We once again urge Armenia to live up to their international legal obligations by releasing the minefield maps and any relevant information. We call on the European Court to intervene for as long as Armenia continue to refuse.”
The ongoing refusal to hand over these maps, or any information that aids Azerbaijan’s efforts to save lives, has caused and continues to cause severe violations of Azerbaijani civilians’ European Convention rights under Articles 2 and 8 of the Convention, Article 1 of the Protocol No. I, and Articles 2(1) and 3(2) of Protocol No. IV.
Anti-personnel mines and other explosive devices planted by Armenia have killed or injured more than 120 people since the signing of the Joint Statement. These figures continue to increase despite efforts to clear over 35,000 mines from nearly 100 million square meters in the liberated territories in the 200 days since the Joint Statement was signed.
The refusal to hand over the minefield maps has also impeded Azerbaijan’s efforts to bring internally displaced families and communities back to their homes nearly thirty years after they were forcibly displaced following Armenian occupation.
Baku, June 4, AZERTAC
Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has met with the delegation led by the Second Chief of the Turkish General Staff, Corps General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. The delegation is on a visit to Azerbaijan to participate in the 13th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense told AZERTAC.
First, the Turkish delegation visited the grave of national leader Heydar Aliyev in the Alley of Honors and laid flowers at his grave. They also visited the Alley of Martyrs, laid wreaths and flowers at the graves of the heroic sons of the Motherland, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of the country, and at the monument erected in honor of the Turkish soldiers killed in 1918.
Recalling that relations between the two countries are built on the basis of friendship and brotherhood, the Minister of Defense stressed that Azerbaijan is expanding its cooperation with Turkey in the military, military-technical, military-educational fields to build up defense capability that is one of the main factors ensuring stability in the region.
Colonel General Zakir Hasanov noted that the Patriotic War, which began with a counter-offensive operation, ended with a glorious victory of the Azerbaijan Army under the command of the President of Azerbaijan, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev. Informing the delegation about the successful military operations carried out by the Azerbaijan Army, the Minister expressed gratitude for the support of Turkey during the 44-day war.
Congratulating the participants on the starting of the 13th Meeting of the Azerbaijani-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue in Baku, the Defense Minister wished them success in their activity.
Corps General Bayraktaroglu congratulated the Azerbaijani people on the victory in the Patriotic War, expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs, and wished recovery to the wounded.
The Corps General Bayraktaroglu hailed the friendly and fraternal relations, including the level of effective cooperation between the two countries. He expressed gratitude for organizing a regular meeting of the Azerbaijani and Turkish military delegations in Baku.
During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for the development and key areas of the Azerbaijani-Turkish military cooperation and exchanged views on conducting joint military exercises with the involvement of various types of troops, as well as other issues of interest.
Baku, June 4, AZERTAC
President of the Republic of Turkey, Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan has received a delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) – Head of Central Apparatus Tahir Budagov in Ankara.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the importance of developing relations between the Justice and Development Party and the New Azerbaijan Party. The Turkish President expressed his confidence that the expansion of cooperation is extremely beneficial for both sides.
The Azerbaijani delegation includes chairman of the YAP Inspection Commission, MP Sevinj Huseynova, YAP Board Member, MP Hikmat Babaoglu, MP Ramil Hasan and chairman of the YAP Youth Association Bakhtiyar Islamov.
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