QUOTE OF THE DAY
Tony BLAIR, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom:
“I once again re-affirm UK support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and stress the importance of the OSCE principles governing relations between member states.”
From the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan during his visit to London on 14 December 2004.
Leonid MALTSEV, Minister of Defence of Belarus:
“My country advocates the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict on the basis of the international law norms.”
From the meeting with the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan in Baku, on 15 December 2004
Arshad Omar ISMAYIL, the ambassador of Iraq in Azerbaijan:
“The Iraqi people and its present leadership support the just position of Azerbaijan in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; this policy will remain unchanged.”
From the meeting with the chairman of the Parliament of Azerbaijan in Baku, on 22 December 2004
Ali SHAMKHANI, Minister of Defence of Iran:
“We are always ready to help Azerbaijan. Iran has always supported and will support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”
From the meeting with the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan in Baku, on 22 December 2004
The Russians about the Armenians
V.L.Velichko “The Caucasus. The Russian affair and inter-tribal issues.” (Continue. Onset in previous issues)
In the number of reports by French ambassador, filled with sympathy to Armenians and tendency to serious reforms, sincerely shared by Russian diplomacy, Mr. Kambon lists a number of brutal political murders by the members of Armenian revolutionary committee and their mercenaries, pointing to very typical fact, later checked by me, that Armenians on the whole are getting themselves into a struggle against their will, under the threat and terror of their leaders. Many of Turkish runaway Armenians, met by me or my friends admit that they have escaped to Russia not from Turks, but from their own terrorists.
The book, mentioned before, tells about the mass disorders, launched by Armenians, who were attacking Turks and Kurds to give rise to slaughter. Before the disorders and crying brutality in Constantinople, where the gang of Armenians rushed into the “Ottomans Bank”, armed by TNT bombs, Armenian revolutionary committee appealing to Mr. Kambon informed that Armenians decided to hold a peaceful demonstration, and that they are not responsible for any consequences if police will interfere. During the manifest Armenians started to kill policemen and even officers. This was an incentive to a brutal slaughter of Armenians, idea of which makes one’s hair stands on end. Mentioned book shows that the occasion to slaughter were given by revolutionists, by their defiant actions, while English ambassador and consul were trying to boost and complicate everything, Russian and French ambassadors despite all sympathy to innocent intriguers and brutal Muslims, were showing a great political tact
Especially remarkable were brilliant foresight and will of minister for foreign affairs, prince Lubanov, prevented Russia to get into the absurd war. He was the first who shake, but unfortunately did not completely destroyed convictions of our diplomacy that Armenianism is a friendly element and it is useful in neighboring Persia and Turkey. He understood that it was time for Russian-Turkish relationship to get into the new phase; particularly we should protect Turkey from foreign exploitations and interventions and in return obtain improvement of Christian’s positions on the east and better positions on the straits. Supporters of opposite opinion were flirting with Armenians in Turkey. They were supporting animosity against us and Slovenians and at the same time, they were supporting hegemony of Armenian tribe on Caucasus…
Any event, especially historical one needs to be exactly defined. For sure, Turkish brutality was terrible essentially and in sense of size. But it is also true that the English-Armenian press supported by the press of other countries were boosting sizes of this distress by adding zeros to the tens and hundreds of real victims.
(to be continued)
BLOODY CHRONICLE
Offences of Armenian Criminals towards Azerbaijani
8th May 1992. Azerbaijan. On behalf of “Dashnakzutun”, an international terrorist organization, Armenian criminals, consisting of foreign and domestic mercenaries, occupied Shishin region. In particular, Armenian terrorist organization “Laura” differed by its extra brutality. Lalayan Laura Gevorkovna was born in 1962, in Sumgayit city, where she worked in a passport and identity department. She was one of initiators of creating Armenian terrorist organization “Krunk” (meaning crane from Armenian language) in Sumgayit city, and was an active participant of killing Armenians, who refused funding terrorism. Afterwards she moved to Yerevan. Data of a famous political scientist R. Novruzogli confirms that L. Lalayan specialized in interrogating and torturing women and children. According to the publications of “Armenian grinion” 19 children were killed by special brutality by L.Lalayan in Azerbaijani city Shusha. “Laura’s Room”-an accommodation for torturing and surgical amputation. There is a version that nowadays her duties include criminal trade of human organs.
18-19 May 1992. Lachin. Azerbaijan. Armenian terrorists on behalf of “Dashnakzutun” occupied Lachin region situated outside the mountain Karabakh region. There were many deaths reported among innocent citizens. As a result of occupation 63341 Azerbaijan people became homeless. According to investigations by N. Alekperova Armenians ruined palaces and castles of Sultan Ahmed, Hamza Soltan, holy places, caves, camps of ancient life, graves, mounds and structures of historical importance. Rich funds of historical museums were taken and transferred to Yerevan.
18-19 May 1992. Nahchivan Autonomous Republic. Azerbaijan.
Armenian criminals made sequential trial to occupy Sadarak settlement; there are deaths among innocent citizens.
21 May 1992. France. An Armenian scientist A. Aganbekyan in the department “Continantal” discussed “Ecological program of Armenian nation against Azerbaijanis with an active participation of various representatives from Armenian commune and members of different Armenian terrorist organizations. A ciphered document “А 214-1” considered the following ecological terrorism: a) distribution of a certain medical preparation, which would affect men’s nervous system and terminate as paralyses b) place certain medical arrangement among female students c) organization of several medical distribution,, which would result in a low birthrate in Azerbaijan. According to the data collected by R. Novruzogli this represents the ecological terrorism against Azerbaijan nation.
Historical dates of Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict
(Continue. Onset in previous issues.)
Year 1993
June 3-4 – “Minsk Nine” consultations. Adoption of the “Pressing arrangements schedule for execution of the 822nd UNO resolution”.
June 17 – Agreement of cease-fire in Agdam and Stepanakert by mediation of Russia.
June 26-28 – Occupation of Agdere city of Azerbaijan Republic by Armenian military forces.
June 27 – Agreement of cessation of the offensive operations, bombardments and air attacks in Mardakert and Agdam for the period of one week by mediation of Russia.
July 12 – Visit of M.Raffaelli in Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert with the purpose of Minsk Group schedule adaptation.
July 18-20 – Visit of mediatory mission of Russia in Baku.
July 23-24 – Occupation of Agdam region of Azerbaijan which is beyond the bounds of Nagorno-Karabakh, by Armenian military forces, resulting 158000 Azeries being banished from their places of inhabitancy.
July 29 – Adoption of 853rd UNO resolution, demanding “immediate and unconditional withdrawal of occupant forces from Agdam region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan Republic”.
July 21-August 12 – UNO consultation. Adoption of the “Pressing arrangements schedule for execution of the 822nd and 853rd UNO resolutions”.
August 11 – Offensive of Armenian military forces in Fizuli and Jebrayil.
August 18 – Declaration of UNO Chairman concerning immediate and unconditional withdrawal of occupant forces from Fizuli, Agdam, Kelbajar, and other newly occupied regions of Azerbaijan Republic.
August 23 – Occupation of Fizuli region of Azerbaijan which is beyond the bounds of Nagorno-Karabakh, by Armenian military forces, resulting 152860 Azeries being banished from their places of inhabitancy.
August 23 – Occupation of Jebrayil region of Azerbaijan which is beyond the bounds of Nagorno-Karabakh, by Armenian military forces, resulting 57125 Azeries being banished from their places of inhabitancy.
August 31 – Occupation of Kubatli region of Azerbaijan which is beyond the bounds of Nagorno-Karabakh, by Armenian military forces, resulting 31364 Azeries being banished from their places of inhabitancy.
September 21-28 – Negotiations in the framework of OSCE Minsk group in Paris.
October 14 – Adoption of 874th UNO resolution, calling sides to “refrain from any inimical acts, interference or incursion, which may lead to excrescence of conflict and undermine peace and safety in a region”.
October 18-21 – Negotiations in the framework of Minsk Group.
October 23 – Assault of Goradiz by Armenian military forces, supported by tanks. Occupation of this transport junction resulted to Zangelan and part of unoccupied territories of Jebrayil and Gubadli regions being cut from the rest of Azerbaijan Republic.
Armenia: Secrets of a “Christian” Terrorist State
Samuel A. Weems
The Armenian Great Deception Series – Volume 1
(Continuation. Beginning in previous issues)
Look and think how and why the United States were bias toward muslim Azerbaijan. In 1992, a small but noisy American-Armenian lobby began negotiations with the US Congress on passing a bill to stop aiding Azerbaijan. Why? Because Azerbaijan rejected the use of its ports by the Armenians, receiving military equipment there and permitting to transit that equipment through the territory of Azerbaijan. By pressing on the Congress the American Armenians achieved the formulation of Azerbaijan’s self defence as “unlawful embargo.”
And now, after Sept. 11 President George W. Bush wants to get from all muslim countries, including Azerbaijan, a guarantee for aiding the US in struggle against terrorism. The fact that Azerbaijan is geographically close to Afghanistan is the main factor that made this small country important for the American military aspirations. President has asked the Congress to repeal the bill on stopping the aid to Azerbaijan, adopted in 1992. In consequence, the American Armenians held a campaign with the purpose of inhibiting the efforts of Bush to support that important muslim country. According to the American Armenians, that can harm Armenia. It turns out that it is more important than the US national interests.
In addition to struggle with President Bush, the American Armenians are also working on getting an Armenian terrorist out of the Californian prison. In 1982, this terrorist killed a Turkish diplomat. The terrorist was arrested, brought to court, found guilty and got life sentence by the Californian jury. The American Armenians are calling the murderer back to freedom, to alk in the streets of the United States.
It is important to point out that after Sept. 11 events we as a nation are trying to friend close friends among muslim states. This means that we should not support a terrorist state like Armenia despite it calling itself christian!
Acting under the political pressure of a small but noisy group calling itself Aremnians does not honor the Congress. It is time to check the Armenian facts. Starting with 1918, terrorism was the main export of this tiny country, and the foreign support of all christian countries of the world was its main import. Using small number of muslims in the USA, the Armenian-American lobby feels itself free here. No one troubled to find out if Armenia is a real christian state as it declares itself? This book aims to investigate the attempts and actions of the Armenians building as they claim a sovereign and independent state. The book will also consider the activity of the Armenians in the context of calling themselves christians. Are they really christians?
The facts studied in this book are as follows:
In 1890, a small Armenian terrorist group within the Ottoman Empire began a revolutionary activity for misappropriating the lads and property owed by muslims. These very Armenians claimed that about 3 thousands years ago those lands belonged to their ancestors. Besides that, the Armenians have been living with the Ottoman muslims at peace and agreement for more than 500 years before they started their terrorist activity in 1890. It is supposed that about a millennium ago they were living under the Roman laws.
Up until 1914-1915, this band that stirred up troubles was so small that the Turks did not even pay attention to it. Then Russia’s aggressive war against the Ottoman Empire broke out, and all Armenians, believing that the Russian tsar would give them the lands they missed, inclined to the Russians. But the Russian did not even have such intention!
(to be continued)
National Heroes of Azerbaijan
Journalist-Fighter
This amazing place of Azerbaijan charms with its emerald forests, impassable mountains, and slopes with satin cover, but nature is not the only description it is also a homeland for many sons and daughters of Azerbaijan. Legendary Gachag Nabi, his battle friend and life partner Hajar Hanum, hero of USSR Garay Asadov and many others famed this place. This matchless edge is a homeland for today’s heroes too.
One of them Kazimaga Movsum ogli Kerimov a decent son of Azerbaijan fought for independence and integrity of his country. He was born in 1951 in Sariyatag village located in Gubadli region. Since childhood, he differed by courage and bravery as an adaptation from his heroic ancestry Nabi, Hajar, Garay…
Kazimaga graduated from Journalist department of a State University of Azerbaijan. Recommending himself as an activist, gave him a chance to work in a local magazine “Azerbaijan School”. However a tight attachment to village lifestyle brought him to Geranboy region, where he created a family, build a house… However the ideal dream was ruined by “our neighbors”, who wishes to construct “Great Armenia”. Unofficial war with Armenians worried Kazimaga and he voluntarily joined national army. Being an officer he was working as a vice commander of a second Geranboy battalion. Their operations were successful; Kazimaga participated in all of them personally demonstrating bravery. They were preparing an operation for Manas region, which considered tanks in front and fighters at the back leaded by Kazimaga, he commanded to find advantageous places next to a farm and be ready for attack, the same time he saw several terrorists shooting our troop. There was a tough skirmish, Kazimaga killed 3-4 Armenian terrorists and got a heavy wound himself. Without paying attention to terrible pain he was still commanding, his last command before fainting was “Fight, don’t worry about me”. He was taken to a hospital by helicopter, where he woke up, looked at his hands and said:”Its good hands our ok, writing hands of a journalist”. Doctors could not save his life because of a massive loss of blood. Only 41 years that brave men lived.
According to the President’s edict Kazimaga was given a National Hero Status of Azerbaijan.
Gadir Nasirov
“Voice of Karabakh”
Aid to the refugees in Azerbaijan by the Global Ration Supply Program of UNO is suspended.
Aid is suspended because of 50% shortage in the ration supply products fund.
In December 15 Global Ration Supply program of UNO announced that since January, 2005 no more aid will be provided to 140 000 refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan.
According to information received by “TREND” agency’s office in Baku, the reason of suspension is 50% shortage in ration supply products fund.
Representative of VPP in Azerbaijan, Rakhman Choderi comments: “We have tried everything, last month we even cut the ration in half. But the ration reserves we have is not enough. Most of LDPs are so poor that the can not afford to buy any provisions. Especially in wintertime when temperature goes under 20 degrees, situation becomes horrible.” As he claims, 75% of aid receivers are women and children who live under extremely hard conditions.
Three-year aid program originally set on level of $21 million is realizing since 2003. But now VPP faced shortage of $10 million. Donor-countries are: USA ($6.3 million), Sweden ($2 million), Japan ($1 million), Netherlands ($1 million), Denmark ($261 thousands), Norway ($162 thousands), Switzerland ($148 thousands), and Luxemburg ($119 thousands).
Sequel of a terrible chronicle
KHOJALY – trough the eyes of journalists and witnesses
This was said by “non-khojalis,” outside people who by chance became witnesses of the Khojaly events.
Time Magazine, Slaughter in Khojaly: “So far, around 200 mutilated dead bodies of the Azerbaijanis were transported from the town.”
Times Magazine, March 3: “Many of them, including a little girl, were terribly injured, only her face was untouched.”
Izvestiya magazine, March 5, 1992: “There were women, children and aged, executed in Khojaly, their corpses were scalped as shown in a documentary film of Azerbaijan specialists.
On March 4, two video tapes, recorded by Chingiz Mustafayev on February 28 and March 2 at the place of a mass murder of Khojaly civilians by the Armenian militants, were shown in the permanent mission of Azerbaijan Republic in Moscow…”
Le Monde, March 14, 1992: “According to foreign correspondents from Aghdam, women and children fleeing from Khojaly were shot from assault rifles; three of the victims were scalped and their nails were taken out.”
Le Crois Evenement, March 25, 1992: “Early in March, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh attacked Khojaly settlement. The Azerbaijanis talk of thousands of killed people while the Armenians admit only 200 people.”
The correspondent of Izvestiya magazine, who visited Nagorno-Karabakh, wrote on May 25, 1995: “…Arriving at the notorious settlement, I try to discern it. I see the walls of several destroyed houses and a plain field behind them… I am asking the hosts: ‘And where is Khojaly?’ ‘Passed it by…’
At that time, MK newspaper informed the world: “Only dead people remained in Khojaly.” As MK correspondent V.Ivleva confesses, she was not in the first, but in the second attack row and approaching Khojaly, she noticed “something resembling a cloud moving toward her.” That was a crowd of half naked distracted people. “A woman, walking barefooted on the snow, with three children was the last one in the crowd of the Turks. She hardly walked and often fell. It turned out that her youngest kid was only two days old,” she wrote. Later, V.Ivleva did not want to remember publicly these horrible Armenian atrocities, thus taking the responsibility for some of those crimes. Evidently, the Armenians carried out appropriate work over her.
(to be continued)
Armenian trace in Russian encyclopedic editions
Arif HUSEYNOV, winner of Hasanbay Zardabi award
For many years, intellectual Azerbaijani readers used Russian information editions and sci-tech literature. Even today, many people buy dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, published in Russia, enjoying high quality printing, kaleidoscopical diversity of topics, rich content and dynamically changing modern tendencies of these editions. Everything could be good, however there is one big “BUT.”
Unfortunately, Azerbaijan’s history and other information about our country are often falsified, ad this causes our readers’ justified anger. In particular, I mean the articles about Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh published in Big Encyclopedic Dictionary (100 thousand words) and New Encyclopedic Dictionary (60 thousand words), published in 2003-2004 by a group of encyclopedists, who had worked in Big Russian Encyclopedia before and later engaged in private edition activity. It is time to clarify where the “roots” of such falsified materials are.
The fact is that in the past, the reigns of power over Big Soviet Ecyclopedia (BSE) were held by lame Levon Shaumyan, the son of a blood sucker of the Azerbaijani people, provoker Stepan Shaumyan. Levon’s position was the assistant editor-in-chief of BSE, but he had a status that exceeded his service responsibilities. He used them generously to materialize his militant hatred toward the Azerbaijani people, our history and the whole Turkic world in so-called historical articles and other kind of encyclopedic literature, rudely and shamelessly falsified and made of lie and slander. His successor holding same views A.I. Danilov (real surname is Danilyan) is the assistant editor-in-chief of New Russian Encyclopedia today. As it should have been expected, encyclopedic articles about our history, historical Azerbaijani land of Karabakh matched the tendency of the Nazi Germany ideologists applied by Danilyan’s predecessor and all pro-Armenian forces. “The larger lie is, the more people will believe in it.” Now let us bring concrete examples. We are talking about the article titled “Nagorno-Karabakh” published in Big Encyclopedic Dictionary and New Encyclopedic Dictionary. The following is written both of these editions: “Historical region in Transcaucasia. Territory – 4,47 thousand sq. km. Population – 194 thousand people (1991). Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous region is officially the part of Azerbaijan, in fact since 1988 is independent.” That is it, sophisticated lie worthy of not only resentment, but also curse! The trouble is that someone has permitted the author of this lie to misinterpret in such subjective way the issue related to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Republic. As it is seen, enemy forces are not restrained by the proven argument that the UN, all other priority international organizations and world powers recognize territorial integrity of our Republic. The Armenians and their confederates continue their political twaddle trying to put it into a reputable encyclopedic reference.
Here is another example: in the article “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” it is categorically stated that the settlement of the official status of Nagorno-Karabakh is postponed till unknown date. Another bewildering lie again! Moreover, the support of the Armenian’s aggressive policy can be transparently observed in Big Encyclopedic Dictionary. The article “Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic” says the following: “Autonomous Republic within Azerbaijan, enclave in the territory of Armenia.” What is this: banal illiteracy, geographic unawareness or intent? Probably, the last one, because old workers and not new inexperienced ones had been working for many years in these editions. According to their interpretation, Nakhchivan has also become the territory of the Armenians. Although in the article “Enclave” the same dictionary explains: “Enclave is the part of a state’s territory, which is surrounded by the territory of another state.” It means that according to definitions and fact, Nakhchivan is not located in the territory of Armenia, but only partially surrounded by the territory of that country. And the whole world knows this. Simply, Armenia’s old occupational dream toward Nakhchivan is also expressed here. However the editors of Big Encyclopedic Dictionary, not being afraid of looking incompetent, contradict themselves; they just want to stir up trouble and confuse inexperienced information seeker. In this context, Shusha is called “former Azerbaijani enclave.” From such pseudointerpretation it turns out that there is only one city-enclave in Nagorno-Karabakh, and other regions belong not to Azerbaijan, but to homeless Armenian immigrants who fled from Iran, Turkey and other countries and settled in the Azerbaijani territory some time ago. The fact of the Armenians’ immigration to Karabakh is known to all states, which recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. But the trouble is that this encyclopedic source can seem to be truth in last instance for uninformed people. And those unaware of the main problems of Azerbaijan will not even think to doubt the authenticity of the articles and truthfulness of the compilers of Danilyan’s school, brought up on pro-Armenian arrogance and xenophobia.
The “Big” calls Stepanakert “the centre of Nagorno-Karabakh.” The “New” in this case approached a little bit the truth and called the article “Khankandi.” But there were falsifications here as well: “Khankandi is the Azerbaijani (until 1923) name of Stepanakert city, the main city of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.” Firstly, Khankandi was not a city before 1923. Secondly, this city is a part of Azerbaijan now as well and officially remains its name. In these dictionaries, it is falsely mentioned that “in 1988, a conflict over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh with the involvement of Azerbaijan and Armenia broke out.” And once again, no word about Armenia’s occupation of 20% of the Azerbaijani lands.
(to be continued)
Armenia – Russia’s outpost?!
Speaking the truth, there is no place for a question mark here. At least, there is nothing questionable for us here. Simply, so far Russia has not admitted that so publicly.
Yes, we know it for a long time. If it were not so, Russia could have prevented the present source of conflict in South Caucasus in its bud. That is to say Russia, knowing that Armenia, which demands the part of Azerbaijan’s territory, is not right, should have put the former in its place. But Russia has not done that. On the contrary, all following actions of that Power demonstrated its inclination to the unjust party. Let us have a quick look at the history of the conflict. After the beginning of the Armenians’ notorious “movement” for unification Nagorno-Karabakh – undividable part of Azerbaijan – with Armenia, a situation when even in spite of an emergency situation regime, functioning of a Special Governing Committee in NKAO, etc. the Azerbaijani population of Nagorno-Karabakh was expelled from its native land. Moreover, this expulsion was accompanied by inhuman tortures of the Azerbaijanis by the Armenians.
In 1988-1989, for creating the myth of “the Azerbaijanis oppressing the Armenians” (the fact that about 30 thousand Armenians live in Azerbaijan at present, prove that it is a figment) “demonstrative” killings of the Armenians were stirred up on a prepared scenario. That was enough for Gorbachev’s administration as a pretext to enter the troops to Baku at the night from 19 to 20 January 1990 and murder hundreds of innocent people.
In 1992, Armenia launched an undeclared war against Azerbaijan, and during two years it occupied seven more regions along with Nagorno-Karabakh, which do not form the administrative part of the Autonomous region. Then and now, it was clear for everyone that Armenia could not have done it alone without active support of its “elder brother.”
We do not repeat the facts of free arm shipments of about 1 billion USD from Russia to Armenia, the following open and secret armament of the occupier state, the participation of the Russian troops on the Armenian side in military operations against the Azerbaijanis; we have written a lot about all of that in the previous issues of our newspaper. And after all that, Russia, a co-chairman of the Minsk Group, posed as if its attitude toward both conflicting parties was equal (?!).
At last, Russia in the person of State Duma leader, Boris Grizlov, admitted its special attitude toward Armenia. During his recent visit to Armenia Mr. Grizlov met with the chairman of the National Assembly of that Republic, A.Bagdasaryan, and stated: “Armenia is Russia’s outpost in Caucasus.” We think that every modern person knows the meaning of the word “outpost.” However, it is worth reminding that “Russian Language Dictionary” under the editorship of S.I. Ozhegov explains that word as follows: “Outpost – 1. Forward post, fortified station. 2. Advanced station, the basis of smth.” It turns out that Grizlov’s statement means: “Armenia is Russia’s forward post in Caucasus” or “Armenia is our basis in Caucasus.” It should be noted that the President of Russia did not refuted the words of State Duma speaker while answering the questions of journalists in his large pres conference.
Now it is clear whom Azerbaijan is dealing with. And the President of Azerbaijan I. Aliyev is right when expressing his attitude toward B. Grizlov’s statement in the following way: “We always thought that Armenia was a state, and it turned out to be an outpost. Therefore, now we do not know with whom to hold negotiations: with the outpost or its host?”
Really, whom should we talk to?
IDB PRESIDENT MEETS IDPS IN SABIRABAD
The delegation of the Islamic Development Bank /IDB/ headed by its president Ahmad Mohamed Ali met with IDPs temporarily settled in the Galagayin tent camp located in Sabirabad region and got acquainted with their living conditions and local school. IDB president said that the main purpose of this visit is to learn of the plight of people living in tent camps.
The guest stated that he would bring the truth on Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Garabakh conflict, plight of IDPs to the world community’s notice and send a special IDB commission to learn the needs of IDPs and, therefore, define the amount of possible aid.
Deputy of the department of the Cabinet of Ministers Gurban Sadigov updated the president on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Garabakh conflict, plight of IDPs and government’s efforts to ensure their social protection.
The delegation composed of ambassador of the Saudi Arabia to Azerbaijan Ali Hasan Ahamd Jafar and ambassador of Egypt to Azerbaijan Yusif Ahmad Ibrahim al-Sharkari.
AzerTAg
Good deeds of the embassy of Japan
From now on, more than 140 pupils of the secondary school in Farjan village of Gubadly region (occupied by the Armenian bandit formations in 1993 – ed.) will study in normal conditions. Tens of families, including the staff of this school, which were settled in the administrative building of Sumgait plant of concrete products №1 before, lived in inappropriate conditions for a long time.
As AzerTAj reporter informs, a large reconstruction works have been conducted here. The roof of the building was restored and communication lines – sewerage system, energy supply line – fully updated. New window frames and doors are installed, sanitary arrangements constructed. Classrooms and the school library are fully renovated and equipped. Living facilities of these families are also repaired.
The project was carried out by the financial assistance of the government of Japan that allotted a grant within the program “Roots of grass and person’s security,” which is successfully realized in many countries and covers social-economic development projects serving the improvement of living standards of the people. Gurban Sadigov, chief of branch in the Cabinet of Ministers, Malik Isagov, chief of Gubadly region executive power and Ramiz Hasanov, deputy chief of Sumgait executive power and other participants of the ceremony of handing over the building during their speeches pointed out the role of the Japanese government in improving material technical basis of health and educational facilities in Sumgait. They expressed their gratitude for assisting in the restoration of the village school and living facilities of IDPs. The deputy ambassador of Japan in Azerbaijan Mr. Toyoshi Matsuyama gave a speech and talked about the projects the Japanese government plans to carry out in Azerbaijan in the near future. He also expressed his hope that their generous action would help people, who became IDPs, improve their accommodation and social conditions of life.
The guests toured the building after the restoration and talked to the dwellers.
FROM EDITORIAL STAFF: As ANS TV channel has informed recently, former ambassador of Japan in Azerbaijan Toshiyuki Fudzivara is declared “Man of 2004” and honored the Azerbaijan National Hero Chingiz Mustafayev award by the TV channel. The ambassador is awarded due to his large activity on the restoration of numerous buildings and kindergartens, social, medical facilities and places of compact accommodation of refugees and IDPs, etc. We congratulate Mr. Toshiyuki Fudzivara with these awards and wish him success in his future activities. We are grateful to the Japanese government for its assistance to the young sovereign Republic of Azerbaijan.
By the way, it is appropriate mention here that on December 21 of the ending year, a contract for 86 893 USD has been signed within the program of the government of Japan “Roots of grass and person’s security.”
This program has been carried out in Azerbaijan since 2000. For the past time, the government of Japan realized 65 projects, 36 out of which are directly related to IDPs. And according to a newly signed project grant, three dormitories in Darnagul district, where 339 families or 1 200 IDPs live, will be repaired. The chairman of the State Commission for refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov informs that the government of Japan has invested 447 million USD in Azerbaijan so far, 7 million out of which are directed to the projects related to IDPs. The new Ambassador of Japan in Azerbaijan Mr. Tadahiro Abe says that 3,859 million USD are spent on the realization of 65 projects within the above mentioned program. In addition, the diplomat informed that his country also participated in several projects for assisting IDPs through other international organizations.
“We aided the Armenians as our brothers”
The honored constructor of Azerbaijan Emil Akhundov remembers how he participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the earthquake in Armenia
On December 7, 1988 at 11.41 (Moscow time) an earthquake occurred in Armenia, which destroyed Spitak town and caused destructions in Leninakan, Stepanavan and Kirovakan towns.
58 villages in north-west of the Republic were ruined and approximately 400 villages were partially damaged. Tens of thousands of people died and half a million of people lost their houses. It is not appropriate to talk about it now, but the Azerbaijani specialists were among the first to help the then brotherly Republic. The honored constructor of Azerbaijan, a cavalier of “Peoples’ friendship” order Emil Akhundov remembers how it happened.
“On December 8-9, 1988 Operational HQ for the liquidation of the consequences of the earthquake by the decision of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR in Armenia. Boris Yevdokimovich Sherbin was appointed its chairman. I met him for the first time during the liquidation of the consequences of Chernobyl catastrophe. He was a very democratic person without the sense of supremacy over ordinary workers. Three days after the earthquake, the Minister of Industrial Construction of Azerbaijan Ajdar Aliyev arrived in Linanakan to get acquainted with the situation. After his return from Armenia, a construction team for the liquidation of the consequences of the earthquake in Armenia was established by the decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan. I was appointed the chief of that construction team.
There were about 200 people in our delegation. Our task was to struggle the consequences of the catastrophe in 23 villages settled by the Azerbaijanis in Amasi region of Armenia. Time for preparation was very short: 25 railway cars were sent to Armenia within one week. One of the cars was a HQ where we slept, another one was a messing hall, we stored cereals, oil and tin reserves in the third one, the fourth one was used to transport hardware: excavators, bulldozers and cranes,” Emil Akhundov remembers.
According to him, in spite of the fact that they were going to make a noble deed, the train that transported constructors was stoned by the Azerbaijanis until it reached the border with Armenia. Emil Akhundov thinks that it was the result of a bad propaganda on the part of the state leadership. “The Azerbaijanis living in Azerbaijan’s villages bordering Armenia did not know that we were going to rescue the Azerbaijanis living in Armenia. Actually, we were welcomed with stones and whistlings in Armenia, too,” the honored constructor remembers with grief.
Twenty five railway cars with equipment and the team of the Azerbaijani constructors entered Leninakan. “In spite of the fact that the town was encircled by the Soviet Army troops, no soldier guarded us. We took axes and organized duty on our own. The Armenians were threatening us all the time and were walking around our camp. We moved from Leninakan to Amasi region located in 15-20 km distance from it. Almost all houses in 22 Azerbaijani villages of Amasi region were not damaged seriously. The roofs of some houses moved slightly and cracked. And there was no one under small debris. Our constructors camped and set their tents in Garibjanyan village of Amasi region.
We gave a whole railway car with food, warm clothes, pillows and blankets to the people of Amasi region. But several days later, I have not seen any Azerbaijani in this region. That was the “work” Zori Balayan. His soldiers bought for a very cheap price the cattle that belonged to the Azerbaijanis. From those, who refused to sell, the cattle were stolen or they were killed,” the honored constructor remembers. However at the same time, he also remembers quite well another meeting.
“Once, an old Armenian came up to me in Leninakan. He did not have one leg. ‘Are you from Azerbaijan?’ he asked me. I answered positively. He said that he had lost his leg as result of a round explosion in one of the battles during the Great Patriotic War. ‘I was dying due to bleeding. And an Azerbaijani friend of mine took me out of the battle field. His name was Ismayil. He carried me on his back 10 km till the medical station. I owe him my life. And now, I am suggested to consider the Azerbaijanis my enemies. I life nears it end – I am already old. But every day, I supplicate to the Lord for one thing: to see that geek, who conflicted our people,’ he said. There were tears in his eyes,” Emil Akhundov remembers.
At that time, boards used for making fire were the rarest products in Leninakan because it was very cold. People with many scarves on them were warming themselves near fires. Garlic was the only product imported in Leninakan in large amounts. They ate it much and greased their clothes with it to stifle the smell of dead bodies. “At the same time, I saw more terrible, a really hellish sight in Spitak. No house remained safe in the town. The situation in Leninakan was less good. It is horrible to remember that sight: hands held out for bread, dog barking heard from everywhere. Those, who saw that horror, later had problems with their psychology,” Emil Akhundov says.
From Echo newspaper
(to be continued)
Echo of Karabakh war
In the first days of 2005 – on January 2, the dwellers of Giyamadinli village of Aghjabadi region, brothers Sattar Piriyev and Rahman Piriyev, born in 1988 and 1990 respectively, were injured and hospitalized as result of a machine gun bullet explosion, Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) informed Turan agency. The brothers were grazing sheep between Giyamadinli village of Aghjabadi region and Marzili village of Aghdam region. They made a fire and an undetected machine gun bullet that beside the fire exploded due to heating. The injured Piriyev brothers were taken to the hospital in Guzanly village of Aghdam region.
According to ANAMA, another tragic accident took place on December 30 of the last year. A 69-year-old dweller of Garadaghly village of Tartar region, Chingiz Alimardan oglu Hasanov died as a result of OZM mine explosion in the area called Giziloba.
Since January 2004, 13 people have died and 21 injured in 18 mine and UXO incidents. In September 2001, 38 people have died and 56 injured in 56 such incidents.
At the same time, according to the mentioned agency, the demining of the territories, liberated before 1994, is continuing. For example, on November of this year, 505 202 sq. m of Azerbaijan’s territory were cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). In total this year, as result of demining operations, 1564 UXO were detected and destroyed. Perhaps, there is no need to stress once again the importance of clearing the territories of Azerbaijan mined by the Armenians during military operations. The population of a number of border and front line settlements, including IDPs, looks forward to see the whole territory, stepped by an Armenian soldier, cleared of mines. More than 10 years after achieving cease fire in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the war is still felt. The land is distributed; people want to work and cultivate the land. However mine danger is the main obstacle on the way of the soonest restoration and reconstruction of the territories, damaged by the war.
Despite ANAMA’s security measures that include informing the population about mined areas, mine accidents, as result of which civilians of the country die and get injures, still occur. On November 13 of this year, a mine accident took place in Fizuli region: two villagers were injured as result of an ammunition explosion.
At present, demining operations are conducted in 10 areas of 501 649 sq. m in total. At the moment, 150 450 sq. m need to be demined in that territory. 138 engineers, 15 operators on UXO, 9 field doctors, about 70 additional workers and 15 dogs.
According to ANAMA, the whole mined territory of Azerbaijan is planned to be cleared of mines and UXO by 2007. Of course, for that purpose we need to increase the number of engineers, dogs and demining machines. That is why, the agency plans to increase the number of the machines every year and make it 10.
History will judge the Armenians
Because it witnesses all their actions, and it knows their true face better than all generations of the peoples of the world. As to opinions of persons of different times about the Armenians, they are in abundance. I will only cite a French traveler count De Chaule who said the following about the Armenians hundreds of years ago: “…Nevertheless, in spite of great compassion that their poverty and sufferings caused in me, I could never attach to them, so disgusting is their trickery, so shameful is their meanness and so bewildering is their treachery.”
So, there is nothing here to be surprised at, because the blood circulating in the vessels of this nationality is different. This fact led to the formation of such “nation of peculiar character.” “…It is clear that there is every kind of blood in the vessels of the Armenians,” famous Russian scientists, journalist and historian V.L. Velichko said.
There are many historical facts proving that the Armenians did not have statehood up until recent times. According to different sources, having been expelled from the Balkan region, that tribe was settled in Mesopotamia, and then settled in the Turkic Antalya. And in spite of warm welcome by the Turks, the Armenians betrayed the Ottoman Empire and got their lumps. Consequently, having settled in South Caucasus, the Armenians continued their adventurous actions. And Azerbaijan, on the historical land of which the Armenians created present day Armenia, was harmed most of all because of them. The longer they lived here, the more ambitions they started to have. Gradual expansion by different, mainly inhuman means, the borders of their “state” attracted the Armenians to the notorious idea of creating so called “Great Armenia.” Following this plan, only in the last century, they misappropriated about 25 thousand sq. km of the Azerbaijani lands. In 1989-1994, they occupied 17 thousand more sq. km. These are well-known facts. I would like to point out one aspect. The fact is that having settled in the territories of western Azerbaijan, the Armenians began to oust gradually the local Azerbaijan population and change the Azerbaijani names of the settlements. The territory, where present day Armenia’s capital is located, belonged to the Iravan khanate. Below is the map of modern Armenia with 34 regions indicated on it, which had the Azerbaijani names. By the way, beside the map I list these names, and every person acquainted with the Turkish language can define easily the lexical semantic meaning of these names. Most of Turkic people of these places was deported in the wake of war, the rest till the last person was exiled on the eve of Armenia’s undeclared war against Azerbaijan. Yes, so far 20 percents of our Republic’s territory are under the occupation of the Armenian Armed Forces. Undoubtedly, our affair is right; we will liberate our lands from the Armenian occupation by any means. As to the Armenians, history will judge them, and they will get another scolding.
Rauf MUSA
Master of Arts
Map of western Azerbaijan – modern Armenia
The names of the numbered regions in the territory of Armenia
Amasiya
Gizil Goch
Vorontsovka
Allahverdi
Bakaja
Gumri
Jalaloglu
Khamamly
Karvansaray
Tovuzgala
Boyuk Garakilsa
Molla Goycha
Ertik
Abaran
Akhta
Yelenovka
Girmizikand
Talin
Ashtarak
Ellar
Kavar
Ashaghy Garanlig
Basarkechar
Sardarabad
Uchkilsa
Zangibasar
Gamarli
Vedi
Keshishkand
Soylan
Garakilsa
Gerus
Gafan
Mehri
Protest actions of the Azerbaijanis living abroad
The activity of different public and diaspora organizations of the Azerbaijanis living abroad has recently intensified. And this is a natural process related to the occupation by the Armenian military formations of the Azerbaijani territories and dragging out the process of the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. According to Eldar Namazaov, the president of the forum “in the name of Azerbaijan,” on the initiative of the international charitable fund “Karabakh” and Federal national cultural autonomy of the Azerbaijanis in Russia a meeting was held at Slav square of Moscow on November 15 with the participation of more 500 people including hundreds of the Azerbaijanis, arrived at the capital from Volgograd and Saint Petersburg. The protest participants accused the official Kremlin of carrying out the policy of double standards emphasizing that at present the Russian military bases are still located in Armenia, which has occupied one fifth of Azerbaijan’s territory.
Private protests are held by the movement “In the name of Azerbaijan” (MINA), headed by Ilgar Gasimov. For example, at the end of October, MINA conducted a protest action in Moscow on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the occupation of Zangilan. At the same, the action’s aim was to protest against conducting of the Armenian event organized by so called “International Partnership Visit” in Khankandi. The action under the slogan “No Azerbaijan without Karabakh!” that started with the performance of “Koroglu” overture was held at Theatrical square of Moscow near the State Duma of the Russian Federation (RF). The residents of Moscow, Tula, Dmitriyev and other cities of RF, the members of the All-Caucasus National Association, intelligentsia and mass media representatives. It was pointed out that the Azerbaijani people would never agree with the fact of the occupation of the country’s territory. The fact that international organizations did not blamed Armenia, which occupied 20 percents of the Azerbaijani lands, was also criticized.
In the middle of November, MINA organized an action in front of the embassy of Armenia in Moscow as a protest against conducting international forum in Khankandi without the permission of the Azerbaijani authorities. Granting visas by Armania’s president Robert Kocharyan to the participants of this forum, which is held in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan without the permission of official Baku, is in contravention of all international legal norms. It was said in the statement of MINA presented to the Armenian embassy in Moscow during the action.
I. Gasimov notes that the Azerbaijanis use all means in the name of the liberation of the country’s occupied territories. By the way, the statement was also presented to all representatives of international organizations and diplomatic corpse accredited in the Russian capital.
It should be mentioned that MINA held protest actions in Feierbah (USA), Istanbul, Izmir, Tbilisi, during which hundreds of our countrymen blamed perfidious policy of Armenia and stated that the Azerbaijanis would never resign themselves with the occupation of their territory.
On December 27, MINA held a protest action in front of the Armenian embassy in Russia within the framework of “Karabakh” world protest on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the occupation by the Armenians of Khankandi and the Day of Solidarity of the world Azerbaijanis. The participants of the meeting under the slogans “No Azerbaijan without Karabakh!” and “Liberation of Karabakh through national reconciliation!” sent a protest statement to Armenia’s president Robert Kocharyan. The document directly stressing that the actions of Armenia’s president contradict international norms states that the Azerbaijani people will never agree with the lost of Karabakh and demands immediate liberation of the occupied territories. The address to the Azerbaijani people states that it is important to use all available options, hold protest actions in all countries of the world, where the UN offices are located, to deliver the whole truth about Karabakh conflict to international community.
A protest action of MINA was also held in Birmingham (UK), on the same day.
Nadir MINBASHIYEV
Voice of Karabakh
IDP families complain to European Court
They demand the restoration of their rights violated by the Armenians during occupation…
According to the information received from ANS TV channel, 4 IDP families temporarily settled in Barda region sued Armenia. They demand from the European Court the restoration of their rights violated during the occupation of their inhabitancy by Armenia.
Sadi Shirinov is a native of Gullija village of Aghdam region. He worked as the engineer in winemaking factory, had his own home and farmland of 0,16 ha before the occupation of the region by the Armenian bandit formations, but now he is unemployed and lives refugee life with a 5-member family. Occupation made Saleh Shirinov from the same village to leave his native land. His 2 floor house was destroyed in front of his eyes by the rocket shell. Now, his family is “living” in hovel made by clay.
The complaints of the IDPs to the European Court sent to France from post-office in Barda.
We should note that 2 Azerbaijani IDP families applied to the said court.
8 IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh lodged a complaint with the European Court. “Olaylar” was informed about this by the Appeal Center. The documents are collected and the complaint will be sent to the European Court one of these days. The people, whose rights are violated, will demand compensation from the Armenian Republic.
It should be noted that the European Court has not considered the complaints from Azerbaijan. The Center informed that the European Court and The Republic of Azerbaijan are in correspondence with each other and complaints are on the eve of investigation.
The UN can rehabilitate its reputation by just settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
There was much fuss over the question of discussing the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the UN General Assembly (GA) at the end of the year.
As soon as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our Republic stated that Azerbaijan had addressed the UN GA with a request to discuss the issue of the situation in its occupied territories, the Armenian side immediately went into hysteric crying out that “by this step Azerbaijan harms the process of negotiations on the settlement,” that it was a rejection of the OSCE assistance and so on and so forth. Even some of the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the above mentioned organization could not hide their “grievance” about the fact that “the Azerbaijani side appeals for the UN support over its head.” And some of them even reacted in a certain threatening manner. For example, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE MG Yuri Merzlyakov stated that the discussion of the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan would seriously harm the peacemaking process. Mr. Y. Merzlyakov said that the initiative of the official Baku, which resulted in including this question into the agenda of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly, was not reasoned by any necessity (we will explain this necessity below – ed.). Touching upon the speech of the French representative against including the issue into the agenda of the General Assembly, Y.Merzlyakov stated that the French diplomat expressed the position of not only his government, but also the position of Moscow and Washington: “Today, when we are all waiting for the sides to resume talks, there was no necessity to raise the issue. On the other hand, the UN is not a proper organization to discuss the Karabakh issue because the OSCE is dealing with that. That is why the French representative, having consulted the US and Russian representatives spoke against it. The discussion of this issue in the UN will not help, but harm peaceful negotiations.” We will not talk much, meaning that we always concentrate the reader’s attention on the history of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and еру reader has already gained some knowledge about it. We will just remind some moments of principal importance.
So, the last tide of the historical Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict took place in late 1980s – early 1990s and in its basics had part of the adventurous idea of creating so called “Great Armenia.” According to Yerevan’s scenario, the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh began to protest with yet unclear for themselves motivation: on one hand, they demanded to unite Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous region (NKAO) of Azerbaijan to Armenia and on the other hand, they wished this “formation” full independence. And it started.
At the beginning, the Armenians exiled 250 thousand Azerbaijanis from western Azerbaijan, presently called Armenia; then, the Azerbaijani population from NKAO, and after that they launched undeclared war against Azerbaijan. The world already knows the result of this separatism: about 20 thousand Azerbaijanis became martyrs, hundreds of thousands wounded, missed in action and taken prisoners of war. More than 900 settlements ere destroyed, a large damage was caused to the economy, culture, infrastructure and nature of the country. More than a million of Azerbaijanis became refugees and IDPs, which live in humiliating conditions now. No, of course, it is impossible to count all damage caused by the Armenians to Azerbaijan…
On 12 May, 1994, a cease fire was formally introduced by the mediation of several states. We say “formally” because hundreds of our military men and civilians have been killed either by snipers, or died as result of mine explosion since then.
For the same period of time, the Armenians have turned the occupied territories into a main narcotraffic route connecting the drug dealers of the eastern and northern countries of Eurasia. The Armenians exploit rich natural resources from the occupied territories and at the same time, they bury radioactive fallout in these territories. In addition, ignoring all international norms, they settle the occupied Azerbaijani regional centres with the Armenian families, that is to say they armenianize historical Azerbaijani lands.
All these unlawful actions and anarchy have been taking place for the last 10-12 years, i.e. mainly in the period when the issue is dealt by such reputable international organizations as UN, OSCE and EU. And everything happens right in front of them. For the period since cease fire was established, none of the above mentioned organizations reached positive results either both in the settlement of the conflict, return of the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, and in the prevention of the above mentioned actions of the Armenians.
If it takes place unalterably and the OSCE that has a mandate for the activity in the field of settling conflicts is inactive, what should Azerbaijan do? Now, dear readers, it is probably clear for you, too, the necessity that reasoned Azerbaijan’s request to include the above said issue into the agenda of the 59th session of the UN GA.
Yes, the question was included into the agenda of the UN GA and discussed in spite of zealous protests of the Armenian side and discontent of the OSCE MG co-chairmen. And the effect of those discussions is the subject of another talk.
The fact is that after the report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on the issue and discussions, the UN GA in fact should have held a voting on the issue, after which a respective resolution should have been adopted. And how surprising it may be, this has not occurred yet. It is not known why. Perforce we have some doubts: maybe, the OSCE MG co-chairmen affected GA, or another Armenian fraud worked? In both cases, this is an absurd reason.
We all know the fate of four UN General Assembly resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) related to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, adopted in 1993 and speaking bluntly remained on paperю And this time, we have the case with the last discussion of the UN GA…
Isn’t it all an impact on the reputation of the reputable international organization as the UN? I am afraid it is.
And first of all, the organization itself should worry about such situation. I think the UN can, more exactly should, rehabilitate its international reputation by its firm and just position in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. We hope it will be so…
Nadir ABDULLAYEV
Professor, chairman of PA
Food distribution freeze looms over displaced Azerbaijanis – this will be a threat to the Azerbaijanis, who became internally displaced persons
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that due to a nearly 50 percent shortfall in resources, food distribution for 140,000 Azerbaijanis displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict a decade ago, will come to a complete halt starting January.
“We have tried everything, even halving the rations last month, but we just don’t have enough food stocks left to go around. Most of the displaced are so poor they don’t have the means to buy food. It’s a dreadful situation, especially in winter, when temperatures drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius [-4 Fahrenheit],” said Rahman Chowdhury, WFP’s Country Director in Azerbaijan.
WFP is facing a US$10 million shortfall, out of a total of US$21 million, for the three-year humanitarian operation, which started in January 2003.
“It’s tragic that 75 percent of WFP’s beneficiaries are women and children, who are extremely food insecure. A large number of them continue to live in makeshift shelters like railway cars and dugouts,” he added, expressing concern that the suspension of food rations will seriously undermine the already precarious nutritional status of the displaced.
Only WFP’s school feeding program, that feeds 5,300 primary school children, will continue, albeit on a limited scale; one essential ingredient of the take-home rations provided to school children five days a week, is vitamin fortified wheat soya blend, whose stocks will also run out in January.
“The nutrition of these children has improved considerably in recent months. But all that will be lost if we do not continue this program,” said Chowdhury.
Most of the displaced live in remote areas of western Azerbaijan, such as Agjabedi and Imishli regions, where employment possibilities are extremely limited.
Since 1994, WFP has been pivotal in assisting hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis displaced by the armed conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 600,000 Azerbaijanis fled the region to other parts of Azerbaijan.
“Until peace comes to this region, the people affected by this conflict will be living under very difficult circumstances and soon we will no longer be able t o help them,” lamented Chowdhury.
At the end of January, WFP will issue the results of its first food security and nutrition survey on the displaced population of Azerbaijan. The study will provide key information on the needs of the population, and will assist WFP in formulating its strategy beyond 2005.
The donors to WFP’s Azerbaijan operation include the United States (US$6.3 million), Sweden (US$2 million), Japan (US$1 million), Netherlands (US$1 million), Denmark (US$261,000), Norway (US$162,000), and Switzerland (US$148,000). Luxembourg (US$119,000).
Ayten ALESKEROVA,
employee of the PA