Samad Seyidov, head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE stated. The issue related to the presidential elections in Azerbaijan will not be discussed at the January session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Samad Seyidov, head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE. He attended the PACE Permanent Committee meeting in Madrid, told APA. Seyidov said on Friday the Permanent Committee discussed the October 15 presidential elections in Azerbaijan in details. PACE Monitoring Committee’s co-rapporteur for Azerbaijan Andres Herkel submitted his report, which was widely discussed at the Committee. PACE President Luis Maria de Puig and 13 others delivered speeches on this issue. The PACE president said Azerbaijani people elected its president and freely expressed its will. “The PACE president said that the elections were realized and principles of the Council of Europe were observed during the voting. If the people freely elected its president, it means the elections were held in accordance with the values of the Council of Europe”. Seyidov said it was reported at the meeting that the presidential elections in Azerbaijan were organized on the basis of democratic principles and the Committee decided not to include the issue in the January session agenda. Seyidov said Azerbaijan-CE relations would be developed further and the organization expressed its readiness to assist our country in the next elections too.

Nicola Sarkozi stated that he was very happy because of the development of cooperation between two countries, President Press service informed Lent.az: “Baku conference of France-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Commission will give a chance to work out broad and rich prospects of international activity and cooperation on economy and trade. I was satisfied with discussions during your visit in November, 2007 and I will happy to receive you in France in 2009. The visit will give opportunity to us to learn all aspects of relations tied the two countries and work for deepening them”.
As a co-chair of Minsk group Sarkozy assured to support Azerbaijan to achieve just and peaceful solution to Daqliq Qarabaq. “You know that I have a personal interest in this issue and considered hopeful results of Moscow meeting with Armenian President Sarkisyan on the initiative of Russian President Medvedev on November 2, 2008. I feel that 2009 is an exceptional and expedient year for solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. France is ready to contribute to positive process and will assist Caucasus to become peaceful and progressive zone,” he said.
In the letter French President stressed that reforms taken under EU for determination of Eastern Partnership within the framework of European Neighborhood Policy are chance for Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe. “I assure you that France will try to work out a document for favor of Azerbaijan,” he said.

The book is called “Garabakh – eternal memory of our heritage” and was published by the initiative of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan. The book contains over 300 colored illustrations and photos of monuments all located in the occupied territories. Not only architectural monuments but also archeological objects and plastic art examples are expressed in the book. The materials are presented following the certain Azerbaijani regions they belong which are under Armenian occupation presently. The book is also provided with illustrative materials about the most grandiose monuments. Finally, the book presents glossary concerning historical personalities as well as the list of historical-cultural monuments described in the book. The book has been published in Azerbaijani and English languages. The book will play great role in acquaintance of the country and international community with the Azerbaijan cultural heritage and will be a very important source for conducting monitoring on the following situation. Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan is planning to publish several books on the same subject in future.

“Amnesty International” made a statement about Azeri law defenders Alirza Sarrafi, Hasan Rashidi, Said Muganli and Mehdi Naimi whose cases were brought into the court in Iran. According to information given by APA based on the organization’s official web site the imprisonment of these people on September 20th and their release for the deposit of 250 000 USD for each on November 8th were criticized in the statement: “These actives are accused of harm to national security. But there is no explanation about their interrogation process”. It is also stated that since Azeri law defenders were imprisoned they have been kept in single-person cells in the 209th building of “Evin” prison. They weren’t provided with the advocates and they weren’t let to have a call or meet with their families. At the same time Alirza Sarrafi held the revolt of the hunger in the prison”. It is stressed in the statement that the organization will control all the events that can happen to Azeri law defenders.

Even if the letter from the parents of the capture was delivered the capture did not reply it yet. International Committee of the Red Cross visited the soldier of Azerbaijani Army Rafig Hasanov, captured by Armenian Forces. At this meeting the letter of his family was delivered to the soldier, ICRC Armenian resresentation informed Baku Office of the ICRC. But Rafig Hasanov did not answer his parents’ letter. ICRC representatives were also interested in the state of health and condition of the captive, Press Secretary of Baku Office of the ICRC Gulnaz Gulieva told ANS-TV. Rafig Hasanov was captured by Armenian Forces s in Kamarli village of Gazakh region on October 8.

Said Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi before his meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.
The visit of the President Ilham Aliev to Italy is going on. Several meetings of the president have been intended today. Mutual relations, energy projects, regional and the other issues will be discussed at the meetings.
In his interview to Trend News, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told about mutual political and economical cooperation with Azerbaijan. He hoped that after the statement signed by the presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia in Moscow Mountainous Karabakh problem would be solved. According to him Azerbaijan plays a vital role in the Caucus and makes efficient decisions.

The current issues were discussed at the meeting the members of local NGOs representatives of Joint Working Group.
The proposals of JWG chairman Kamil Salimov on the project on “Guarantee of ecological security system of Mountainous Karbakh” were discussed.

The Committee is holding a confidential dialog with the family of Rafig Hasanov. Commissioner for Human Rights Elmira Suleymanova received an answer to her letter from the head of International Red Cross Committee Representation in Azerbaijan T.Vandenhova on returning of Azerbaijan Armed Forces soldier Rafig Hasanov who has been captive on Armenian side.

The citizens of the Northern regions blame the representatives of municipalities and regional land departments in corruption.

The project on “State Program on development of Justice Bodies” has been prepared and introduced to the president, the minister of Justice Fikrat Mammadov informed told Lent.az.