NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3

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Path: sparky!uunet!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!paladin.american.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!agate!biosci!NET.BIO.NET!zuma!sera From: zuma!sera@NET.BIO.NET (Serdar Argic) Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet Subject: -->>> News - Azerbaijan <<<-- Jan. 19-23 Message-ID: <9301280513.AA03936@net.bio.net> Date: 28 Jan 93 01:05:41 GMT Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Reply-To: "talk.politics.soviet via ListServ" <TPS-L@INDYCMS.BITNET> Followup-To: soc.culture.turkish Lines: 528 In article <9301232030.AA04549@deepthought.cs.utexas.edu> farid@mem.odu.edu (F. H. Miandoab) writes: >The following news from Turan News Agency in Baku-Azerbaijan >is brought to you as a service of the: Thanks so much, Farid. > <Azerbaijan Aydinlig Association> > P.O. Box 14571 > Berkeley, CA 94701 > FAX: (804) 490-3832 > Email: farid@mem.odu.edu >P L E A S E make a hard copy of the news available to an Azerbaijani near you! >////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE "BLACK JANUARY" BAKU ( 19 JAN.) TURAN: Today and tomorrow - azerbaijan marks the third anniversary of the soviet troops' bloody crackdown which led to the death of many azerbaijani civil population. As it is known, in january of 1990, kremlin sent 35-thousand troops to baku to protect the crumbling communist regime. The operation, staged by the moscow's defence ministry, interior ministry and kgb was code-named "udar", meaning blow. The key role in the operation had been assigned to the task group "alfa" and diversion group "a" under the kgb of the ussr. " The leadership of the former ussr had artificially inflated the conflict between azerbaijan and armenia to have an excuse for meddling into azerbaijani affairs and to threaten the sovereignty of the other republics in order to protect the communist regime",- said the preliminary report of the azerbaijani public prosecutor office's on the results of the inquiry into the january-1990 baku events. In this crackdown, 130 civilians and 37 military men were killed, more than 700 wounded, among them 80 military personnel. More than 200 inquiries on the matter have been made. A number of the former leaders of the ussr and azerbaijan were questioned, among them a. Lukyanov, d. Yazov, v.Kryuchkov. But despite all that, the black january still keeps its secrets unrevealed. 69 Out of 108 volumes of materials of the inquiry into the january events were taken out by the former ussr public prosecutor's office to moscow and never returned back. January 20th is proclaimed as a day of national mourning. And today, at 12:00 noon local time, the meeting to mark the black day is due to take place at the central azadlig (freedom) square of baku . The azerbaijani leadership will take part in the meeting.--0-- NEW STATE EMBLEM OF AZERBAIJAN APPROVED BAKU (19 JAN.) TURAN: Today the milli mejlis approved the new emblem of the republic of azerbaijan - the eight-pointed star with fire in the center and the framing consisting of the three colors of national flag - green, red and blue. This emblem was the state symbol of the azerbaijani democratic republic of 1918-20. The milli mejlis passed this decision after it considered ten other proposals for the state emblem. It should be noted that earlier the national anthem and state flag of the azerbaijani democratic republic were approved as attributes of the new azerbaijani state.--0-- PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN APPEALS TO THE NATION ON OCCASION OF THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLACK JANUARY BAKU (19 JAN.) TURAN: President abulfaz elchibey of azerbaijan made an appeal to the nation on occasion of the third anniversary of the black january. "Those days all the nation rose up to defend the motherland and territorial integrity of the republic. The people, who have for 70 years suffered from totalitarian regime, went outdoors with the dream for freedom and hopes for democracy. But the soviet empire shot down these dreams and that night the tree of freedom was for the first time washed with sacred blood of martyrs", says the appeal. The appeal stresses that the struggle begun those days will be continued until the occupiers leave the azerbaijani soil. The president called on the compatriots to unite around the deed of strengthening of independence and sovereignty of azerbaijan.--0-- ISKANDER HAMIDOV IS IN WASHINGTON BAKU (19 JAN.) TURAN: The azeri minister of internal affairs has been staying in washington for the occasion of inauguration. He was invited for a dinner party in the hotel sheraton, yesterday. During the supper, the us president-elect and the vice-president were present. Today the azeri minister of internal affairs met with the representatives of the us state department. A round the table talk with participation of hamidov and experts on the transcaucasus region is also planned. Iskander hamidov will meet with american journalists in the editorial office of the newspaper "washington times".--0-- THE USA IS READY TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO THE DEMOCRATICALLY ORIENTED COUNTRIES BAKU (19 JAN.) TURAN: The azeri charge d'affair in the usa jeyhun mollazade met yesterday with the president-elect bill clinton after the 42-nd american president met with the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in washington. Mollazade expressed his hope that the new us administration will support democratic changes in azerbaijan. The president-elect assured the envoy that his country regards with understanding democratic reforms which took place in the republics of the former soviet union. The president-elect marked also that the usa is always ready to render assistance to democratically orientated countries. An article, published last week in "washington times" blamed the decision of the us congress to strike azerbijan off the lists of countries receiving us humanitarian aid. This decision was regarded as not serving the strategic interests of the usa.--0-- IN MEMORY OF THE BLACK JANUARY VICTIMS BAKU (20 JAN.) TURAN: President abulfaz elchibey and leaders of azerbaijan laid flowers on the graves of the black january victims at the martyr's lane in baku, today. By tradition, since yesterday people in all azeri regions have been remembering those who sacrificed their lives in the name of independence and territorial integrity of azerbaijan. January 20th is a day of national mourning and non-working day. Chairman of administration of caucasian moslems, sheikh-ul-islam haji allah-shukur pashazade, presented his condolences to the families of the killed. Public prayers were hold today in all mosques, churches and synagogues in azerbaijan.--0-- PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS FREE OF CHARGE TODAY BAKU (20 JAN.) TURAN: Today baku's public transport is free of charge. The public transport, despite the million-ruble-losses, has been for the third year paying a tribute to the memory of the victims of the black january.--0-- AZERI POLICEMEN ARE TREATED IN IRAN BAKU ( 20 JAN.) TURAN: Eighteen azeri policemen, being seriously wounded while serving along the azeri-armenian border and in karabakh region, were sent for treatment to iran. This action is carried out within the bounds of the agreement reached between the society of azerbaijan-germany and public health ministry of iran.--0-- WINE-MAFIA NOT GOING TO SUBMIT BAKU (20 JAN.) TURAN: In the town of jalilabad on the south of azerbaijan, a police task force has arrested eight organizers of an illegal 200-strong meeting. According to the official version, the meeting demanding the resignation of the regions head of executive power, was staged by representatives of the local mafia in response to inventory checks started by the interior ministry at the wine factories. Authorities are sure that within azerbaijan there is a highly organized network of wine-smugglers with connections to practically all regions of the former soviet union and western europe. At the same time, the participants of the jalilabad meeting accused the head of the executive power of corruption and patronizing smugglers. Azerbaijani wine-mafia has been for a long time considered as one beyond the police powers and strength. At the close of 1970-s, in jalilabad an inspector of the ussr interior ministry, who revealed substantial inconsistencies in the books was killed. Despite the participation of the ussr"s kgb, the inquiry into the case on wine mafia has bogged down.--0-- MILITARY ACTIVITIES ON THE NORTH OF KARABAKH CONTINUE BAKU (20 JAN.) TURAN: Battles on the north of karabakh, in the region where the azeri army began a new military operation last week, continue. The azeri ministry of defence informs that units of the armenian expeditionary corps keep retreating from the valley of khanchay. At the same time, the azeri units exercise full control over the recently freed villages of serkhavend, kichan, and dovshanli. According to the same source, the local armenian peasants help the azeri soldiers to clear up roads and paths of mines. Yesterday the armenian artillery subjected the town of agdam and its surrounding areas to shelling. There are killed and wounded among the population. According to the information of the azeri ministry of defence, there were 10 killed and 60 wounded among the armed forces of the republic in the zone of military actions, yesterday. The ministry of defence denied the information of the armenian side on three military planes of the azeri air force being shot down over khankendi within the last two days.--0-- THEOLOGICAL FACULTY IS TO OPEN AT THE BAKU UNIVERSITY BAKU (20 JAN.) TURAN: In the near future, the islamic theological faculty will be opened at the baku university with the help of turkish specialists. The level of teaching in azerbaijani university will reach that of theological faculties of the turkish and western universities. With the help of turkey, the religious complex consisting of mosque and cultural center will be built in baku. Turkish theologist aydin said to the turan correspondent that it is necessary to open the theological faculty to study religion, in particular, islam as a science and a code of moral principles for the society. Aydin believes that in this way it is possible to avoid such extremes as superstition and radicalism and to reach harmony between state and religion.--0-- HEIDAR ALIYEV ASKS BILL CLINTON TO HELP NAKHICHEVAN BAKU (20 JAN.) TURAN: Chairman of the supreme mejlis of the nakhichevani autonomous republic heidar aliyev informed the turan news agency that he has sent two messages to us president bill clinton. Having congratulated clinton with the new post, aliyev asked him to render assistance to nakhichevan. The message stresses that nakhichevan has been for nearly nine months suffering from the much more hard blockade than armenia. Having lost all communication links with azerbaijan, nakhichevan is going through the extreme difficulties to secure the viability of the republic's economy and also the minimum needs of the population in food, fuel and electric power. The message outlines that for the last five months, nakhichevan mainly lives at the expense of food credit deliveries from turkey and partially from iran. Repeated attempts by the republic to resume the operation of the railway through the territory of armenia were deadlocked, says the message. In connection with the extremely complicated situation arisen in nakhichevan, aliyev asked bill clinton to render humanitarian help to the republic. Aliyev expressed his opinion that the us help to nakhichevan having common border with armenia would brilliantly prove the kind and considerate attitude of the usa towards the whole region and would be highly appreciated. The nakhichevani leader expressed his hopes that president of azerbaijan abulfaz elchibey would regard with understanding this request.--0-- NAKHICHEVAN IS GOING TO JOIN THE ENERGY SYSTEM OF TURKIYE IN A NEAR FUTURE BAKU (21 JAN.) TURAN: Planned date for joining of the energy system of the autonomous republic of nakhichevan to that of turkiye is postponed. The leader of nakhichevan heidar aliyev classified the announcement of the deputy chairman of the supreme soviet of azerbaijan afiaddin jalilov that the autonomous republic will receive turkish electricity today as premature. Aliyev links the delay of the energy deliveries from turkey to severe weather conditions and some technical problems. At present the main energy supplier of the blockaded nakhichevan is iran. Iran meets 40-50 percent of the electricity requirements of the nakhichevan. Specialists assert that the energy problem of nakhichevan will be completely settled by joining the energy system of the turkiye.--0-- 30 MLN-DECALITER-DROP IN WINE AND VODKA PRODUCTION BAKU (21 JAN.) TURAN: Even at the current prices, azerbaijan will lose at the minimum 14 billion rubles due to the losses in viticulture. According to the data of the agriculture ministry, only 496 thousands of the planned 1 billion tons of grapes were gathered last year. This means that this year, the wine industry will produce 30 mln. Decaliters less. This is half the production level of the last year. Specialists point out a number of reasons for the present-day situation, among them the war going on in the zone of traditional viticulture, unfavorable weather conditions, changes in government, but the most important - cutting down of 100,000 hectares of vineyards in the anti-alcoholic campaign of 1986 by the order of the central committee of the communist party.--0-- VIOLENT COMBATS ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF KARABAKH BAKU (21 JAN.) TURAN: Violent combats reported along the river of khachinchay on the north of karabakh are going on. Press-center of the azerbaijani defence ministry reports that azerbaijani units, having captured a number of strategic positions, are on the offensive. At present, the battles are going on near the villages of dovshanli and vengli. In the direction of fizuli, armenian units keep fighting for the heights, which would help them to subject the town of fizuli and also the main baku-fizuli road to persistent shelling. The next armenian attack on the height of gizil gaya, assumed early in the morning today, has failed. At the same time, armenian units subjected the town of fizuli to massive shelling by "grad" installations and tank fire. There are reports on wounded and destructions in the town. On the south of the region of lachin, heavy combats for the height of susuz-dag are under way. The height itself has changed hands several times already. 25 Armenian soldiers lost their lives at the battle-field there.--0-- AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION LEFT FOR THE MINSK SUMMIT OF THE CIS HEADS BAKU (21 JAN.) TURAN: Delegation of the republic of azerbaijan headed by the first vice-premier vahid ahmedov left for minsk to participate in the tomorrow's summit of the commonwealth leaders. As it is known, azerbaijan did not enter the cis and will participate in the summit as an observer. The turan news agency was informed that the aim of the azerbaijani delegation in the summit is to establish bilateral relations with the states of the commonwealth.--0-- RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA WILL MEET IN GENEVA BAKU (21 JAN.) TURAN: Turan agency was credibly informed that the leader of the caucasian moslems sheikh allahshukur pashazade and catalicose of all armenians vazgen the first will meet in geneva on february 4-8. The meeting of these religious leaders is aimed at looking for ways out to stop bloodshed and to restore peace between azerbaijan and armenia.--0-- TURKISH-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS BECAME MORE PRAGMATIC BAKU (21 JAN.) TURAN: "Turkiye regards azerbaijan as its close neighbor and ally", the presidential adviser for humanitarian affairs rafig ismailov said to the turan correspondent on his return from ankara. The adviser classified the recent information on straining of the relations between turkiye and azerbaijan, as not corresponding to the reality. "Talks with the premier demirel and other turkish leaders showed their increased interest in azerbaijan", said ismailov. The adviser believes that "turkish-azerbaijani relations left the phase of euphoria and entered the phase of pragmatism and business cooperation".--0-- EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR IN BAKU BAKU (21 JAN.) TURAN: Egyptian ambassador to russia, abil al arabi, arrived in baku for a working visit, today. The ambassador will meet with the azerbaijani leadership. It is expected that president abulfaz elchibey will receive abil al arabi. One representative of the azerbaijani foreign ministry linked the visit of the ambassador of egypt to official visit of president elchibey to egypt, scheduled for the end of february.--0-- CEASING OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJAN CONFLICT IS POSSIBLE WITH FIRM INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES BAKU (23 JAN.) TURAN: Last night the chairman of the minsk conference of the csce on nagorno karabakh, mario rafaelli, arrived in baku. The representative of the azeri ministry of foreign affairs informed turan agency that the aim of rafaelli's mission is to resume negotiations on the peaceful resolution of armenian- azerbaijan conflict. On sunday rafelli will leave for khankendi via frontier town of agdam and after returning to baku, he will travel to yerevan via tiblisi. It is known that a number of meetings in the bounds of csce and five round of negotiations conducted in rome did not cease military activities between the two states and according to the azeri diplomat's words "reached a deadlock". They connect in baku "skidding" of peacemaking efforts of the csce with refusal of armenia concerning the ceasing of military activities and demilitarization of karabakh until the beginning of minsk peace conference. The azeri leadership is convinced with the necessity of active participation of the international community in the settlement of armenian-azerbaijan conflict. The azeri minister of foreign affairs announced in the beginning of january that "the peaceful resolution of the problem is possible if russia, the usa and turkey will come forward as guarantors of the peace agreement and will pledge to take strict measures towards the side violating this agreement". --0-- COTTON PRODUCERS RECEIVED THE RIGHT TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTION BAKU (23 JAN.) TURAN: Azerbaijani government passed a resolution granting cotton producers the right to sell their production by themselves. Producers will receive 50 percent of the income from trade. The first free cotton fair was held in baku yesterday. Russia ukraine, lithuania and georgia took part in the fair. 80,000 Tons of raw-cotton was sold, and average price of one ton was 420,000 rubles. For the last six months, the government in pursuit of the ways to stimulate the cotton production, has carried out a number of measures, but failed to gain positive results. The 1992 cotton harvest has become the worst within the last 30 years - 325,000 tons, it made up only 60 percent of the planned figure. Cotton producers believe that without changes in form of property in farming, no success should be expected in this branch of agriculture. There are 19 cotton factories and tens collective farms specializing on cotton in azerbaijan. All of them are state-owned.--0-- AZERBAIJANI CAVIAR IN EUROPEAN MARKETS BAKU (23 JAN.) TURAN: The chairman of the state fish company "azerbalig", hafiz mamedov, informed turan agency that the network of firm shops called "azerbaijani caviar" will be opened this year in germany, austria and france. The direct selling of black caviar abroad will bring azerbaijan the much needed income. About 32 tons of black caviar, one kilogram of which costs 160-180 dollars on the world market, was produced this year in the country. Increasing of production volume and acquisition of more advanced production equipment, will make the eastern azerbaijan one of the leading producers of this delicacy in the world", - marked mamedov. According to mamedov, considerable increase in production of black caviar is connected with the fact that 72 private enterprises which produced 4 ton of black caviar a year are liquidated.--0-- CREATION OF STATE COMMITTEE FOR NATIONAL ISSUES BAKU (23 JAN.) TURAN: The leaders of lezghin cultural center "samur" declared the necessity of creation of a state committee on national issues. The chairman of the center, professor ali musayev, considers that azerbaijan as the conglomeration of different national groups needs an organ regulating international relations. Chairman of the parliament isa gambarov accepting leaders of "samur" classified the initiative of the cultural center as rational and announced that in the nearest future the azeri leadership would consider this issue. It is known that last autumn the council for national problems was set up under the state adviser of the president of azerbaijan, which included national minorities and well-known figures of the country. But a number of members of this council consider its deliberative functions insufficient and not corresponding.--0-- OMAN IS READY TO ISSUE CREDITS TO AZERBAIJAN BAKU (23 JAN.) TURAN: Sultanate of oman is ready to render azerbaijan humanitarian aid and substantial credits for the development of economy of the country with the oil-chemical complex given the first priority. The azeri delegation returning from a visit to oman informed of the agreements reached. The official delegation visited oman within the bounds of program for development of all-round close links of azerbaijan with the countries of the near east and the persian gulf in particular. The personal representative of the azeri president, yusif gaziev, informed also that sultan of oman, kabus ben seid, accepted the personal invitation of abulfaz elchibey to visit azerbaijan. It is known that the sultan promised ex-president mutalibov to give credit amounting to 200 mln dollars for the development of oil-industry. But in connection with the change of leadership in azerbaijan this promise was not fulfilled.--0-- THE SUPREME WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF THE FORUM OF CAUCASIAN HOME IS SET UP BAKU (23 JAN.) TURAN: The conference "women for peace" in "caucasian home" has ended its work in baku today. Women representing various socio-political movements of caucasus took part in the conference. The conference was held in the bounds of the forum "caucasian home". The conference approved the charter of the supreme woman's council of the caucasian home forum and elected its staff. The conference appealed to the heads of the states and parliaments of the caucasian region, calling on them to raise their voice to protect peace in the common caucasian home.--0-- \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ T U R A N N E W S A G E N C Y Baku - Azerbaijan Phone: (8922) 66-7977 66-7833 Fax: (8922) 66-2009 Telex: 142168 META SU \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ TEHRAN-IRAN (13 Jan.) IR. TV: The first caravan of the Iranian made full-size and mid-size buses crossed the border to the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to a newly reached agreement between Iran and Azerbaijan, 600 full-size buses, 50 mid-size buses and 10 passanger cars will be sold to Azerbaijan.--0-- Serdar Argic 'We closed the roads and mountain passes that might serve as ways of escape for the Turks and then proceeded in the work of extermination.' (Ohanus Appressian) 'In Soviet Armenia today there no longer exists a single Turkish soul.' (Sahak Melkonian)