(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Fatima Hasanova read more This project of Azernews is designed to cover major
weekly developments in the South Caucasus nations.
HIGHLIGHTS
Azeri-Turkish drills are directed against Armenia and Iran,
Armenian lawmaker warns Armenia maintains that normalization with Turkiye and
Azerbaijan are separate processes Parliament Speaker considers possible Aliyev-Pashinyan
meeting by yearend Georgian government to provide Ukraine with humanitarian
aid, generators European Council adopts decision not to accept Russian
documents issued by Georgia & Ukraine Georgia regional leader of Eastern Europe & Central Asia in
fighting corruption - PM Georgian premier irked about talk on imprisoned
ex-president Azerbaijan, Turkiye host 14th military dialogue meeting in
Ankara Azerbaijani, Turkish defense chiefs observe Fraternal Fist
drills Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian top prosecutors meet in
Moscow Baku, Jakarta mull efforts to increase business
investment
ARMENIA
Azeri-Turkish drills directed against Armenia and Iran,
warns lawmaker
According to ex-defense minister Seyran Ohanyan, a member of
parliament from the opposition Hayastan faction, the ongoing
Azerbaijani-Turkish joint military exercises are aimed at Armenia
and Iran. Ohanyan told reporters that the Azeri-Turkish drills have
several objectives.
“First of all, they are increasing the cooperation and readiness
of the Turkish and Azerbaijani militaries for solving any given
task. If the exercises are held on the borders of Armenia and Iran
and the objective of the participants of the exercises includes,
for example, crossing a river, this means that the exercises are
directed against the countries neighboring Turkiye and Azerbaijan
and that they have problems with these countries. Second, it is a
show of force to Armenia and Iran. It is also obvious that a
conflict between the West and Iran exists in this region, while the
representative of the West in the region and in the South Caucasus
is Turkiye. In conclusion, the Turkish military exercises are
explicitly directed against Iran as well,” Ohanyan said.
The Hayastan faction leader added that this is why the Iranian
leadership has long stated that any change in borders in the region
is unacceptable to them, particularly in the Syunik province
section.
Ohanyan attached importance to the Armenian-Iranian friendship,
stressing that Iran has a very serious role in this region.
According to the lawmaker, the situation in the region is extremely
tense, particularly the security environment surrounding Armenia
and Artsakh (Karabakh), and hostilities could erupt any time.
“Under such circumstances, the Armenian armed forces must draw a
serious conclusion, our country must give a serious assessment of
the military-political situation. Serious work must be done for
supplementing the armed forces and holding similar drills. They
must be of defensive nature, and why not also preventative,”
Ohanyan concluded.
Armenia maintains that normalization with Turkiye and
Azerbaijan are separate processes
Secretary of the Armenian Security Council Armen Grigoryan
stressed that Armenia still maintains that the normalization of the
relations with Turkiye and Azerbaijan are separate processes.
“Armenia's attitude continues to be that the processes of
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkiye and Armenia
and Azerbaijan are separate from each other; we have never viewed,
and will not view them as combined. The normalization of relations
with both countries is a very difficult process. Interconnecting
them with each other is complicating achieving progress. The more
these processes stay separate, the more chance there is for
advancing,” he said.
Parliament Speaker considers possible Aliyev-Pashinyan
meeting by yearend
Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan considers possible a
meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Prime
Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan by the end of the year.
The Speaker also answered questions regarding the possibility
and place of this meeting.
“There is no information where the meeting will take place, but
we are not limited to the option of meeting in Brussels only and
are ready for any meaningful discussion. You know that yesterday a
meeting was held at the level of deputy prime ministers and also an
agreement was reached about the next meeting. I want to state once
again that we have no concrete information yet about the meeting at
the level of leaders of the countries, but there may be a meeting
by the end of the year,” the Speaker said.
GEORGIA
In order to provide humanitarian aid, generators to be
sent to Ukraine – Georgian Government
Government Administration reports that with the decision of the
Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, in order to provide
humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, generators will be
purchased.
“Since the beginning of the war, the Government of Georgia has
never neglected our Ukrainian friends, the population of Ukraine,
and has helped them as much as possible. The proof of this is that
Georgia remains in first place among the countries that have
provided humanitarian aid to this state. I would definitely like to
mention the support that the state continues today. 26,000 people,
citizens of Ukraine, who currently live on the territory of
Georgia, receive appropriate financial support, as well as
appropriate support in the educational and medical direction. 2345
young people are currently studying in different schools in
Georgia, including 1565 in the Ukrainian language. More than 900
people were provided with medical support within the framework of
referral programs in various medical institutions. As of December
1, the approximate support provided by the state to the citizens of
Ukraine amounts to 32 million GEL,” stated Head of the Governmental
Administration Revaz Javelidze.
He noted, their support has never stopped and it is not clear
why a stir was created due to alleged non-consideration of various
proposals that entered various agencies of Georgia, including the
Governmental Administration.
“We are studying all these proposals in great detail, and as the
Prime Minister instructed specifically regarding the generators,
the corresponding purchase will be made by the Ministry of Economy,
and the appropriate support and the requested equipment will be
sent to our Ukrainian friends,” concluded Javelidze.
European Council adopts decision not to accept Russian
documents issued in Georgia & Ukraine
The European Council adopted a decision on the non-acceptance of
Russian travel documents issued in Ukraine and Georgia, reads the
information posted on the official page of the European
Council.
“This decision is a response to Russia's unprovoked and
unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and Russia's
practice of issuing Russian international passports to residents of
the occupied regions. It also follows Russia's unilateral decision
to recognize the independence of the Georgian territories of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008.
“Russian travel documents issued in, or to persons resident in,
Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine or breakaway territories in
Georgia will not be accepted as valid travel documents for
obtaining a visa or crossing the borders of the Schengen area.
“Russian travel documents issued in these regions are already
not recognized, or in the process of not being recognized, by EU
member states. This decision aims to set out a common approach,
ensure the proper functioning of the external border and common
visa policies and safeguard the security of EU member states”,
reads the information.
In terms of fighting corruption, Georgia continues to be
regional leader of Eastern Europe & Central Asia - PM
“Georgia continues to mark International Anti-Corruption Day
with leading positions. Corruption is the prime challenge of any
democracy, economic development, and public stability,” noted the
Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili.
He pointed out, since coming to power, they have been making
great efforts against this malpractice by implementing the reform
of anti-corruption legislation, ensuring openness of the government
and public engagement in the processes.
“Results are impressive, as we have been maintaining our
position among the leading countries of the world for the past six
years. Georgia continues to be a leader in the region of Eastern
Europe and Central Asia, even being ahead of a number of EU and
NATO Member States. Our progress is highly commanded by our foreign
friends and high-ranking political figures. Irreconcilable fights
against corruption remain to be our key priority, by empowering
accountable and open governance in the country,” noted
Garibashvili.
I am done with talking about the prisoner – Georgian
PM
Georgia's Prime Minister refused to answer questions concerning
Mikheil Saakashvili.
“Naturally, we got acquainted with the decision of the
Strasbourg Court. The Minister of Justice will give a detailed
explanation. I do not want to comment at length on this topic. This
is not my prerogative. I told you I had finished talking about the
prisoner and the prisoners. There are a lot of issues, a lot of
problems in the country, and I only talk and concentrate on this
topic,” said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Earlier, before the statement of the Prime Minister, Justice
Minister Rati Bregadze published a post on his Facebook page,
stating the European Court of Human Rights had rejected
Saakashvili's complaint regarding his wish to transfer to a private
clinic and had asked him to end his hunger strike.
AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan, Turkiye host 14th military dialogue in
Ankara
Ankara hosted the 14th Meeting of the Azerbaijani-Turkish
High-Level Military Dialogue, Azernews reports, citing the Defense
Ministry.
Ahead of the meeting, the Azerbaijani delegation paid homage to
the monument of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Turkiye's founder
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
At the meetings with Turkish Chief of the General Staff Army
General Yashar Guler, and Second Chief of the General Staff Army
General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, Lt-Gen Heydar Piriyev discussed in
detail the prospects of the development of cooperation between both
countries in the military, military-technical,
military-educational, and other spheres, as well as topics of
mutual interest.
Azerbaijani, Turkish defense chiefs observe Fraternal
Fist drills
Joint exercises, dubbed as Fraternal Fist, are underway in
Azerbaijan with representatives of the Turkiye military forces,
Azernews reports per the ministry.
The exercises involving servicemen from different types of
troops, combat and special engineer-sapper equipment, as well as
military jets of the Azerbaijani and the Turkish armed forces are
being held in Baku city, as well as Astara, Jabrayil, and Imishli
districts on the border with Iran.
Under the scenario, units of the Land Forces, Air Forces,
Special Forces, Engineering Troops, Rocket and Artillery Troops of
the Azerbaijani Army jointly with the Turkish servicemen are
performing various combat training tasks.
In the military drills, various tasks on using modern combat
methods, applying artillery, aviation, and other types of troops in
military operations, organizing their activities in
interoperability mode, building pontoon bridges to open a passage
over rivers, landing paratroopers into the depths of the imaginary
enemy are also being accomplished.
The focal point of the exercises is to ensure combat
coordination during the interoperability of troops, improving
control, sharing experience, and increasing the professionalism of
military personnel.
In the course of the Fraternal Fist drills, various tasks were
also fulfilled at nighttime and in conditions of limited
visibility.
At this stage of the exercises, tasks on destroying an imaginary
enemy's equipment and manpower in conditions of direct contact were
accomplished.
Servicemen of both fraternal nations are demonstrating high
professionalism during the military exercises designed to ensure
combat interoperability during the troops' interaction, improve
control, exchange experience and increase the professionalism of
the military personnel.
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, Turkiye's National
Defense Minister Hulusu Akar, and other top officers observed the
Fraternal Fist drills at the training ground.
They were informed that according to the scenario of the
military exercises, the Ground Forces, Air Forces, Special Forces,
engineering troops, units of the rocket and artillery troops of the
Azerbaijan Army, in cooperation with the servicemen of the Turkish
Armed Forces, are performing various combat training tasks with
high professionalism.
Zakir Hasanov and the Turkish delegation headed by Hulusu Akar
watched through special monitors the performance of tasks in the
military exercises being held in Azerbaijan's Astara, Jabrayil, and
Imishli Districts.
In conclusion, the tasks completed in all directions were
analyzed together with the command staff via video link.
Highly appreciating the joint exercises, the defense ministers
gave appropriate recommendations for better organization of the
exercises and improvement of the personnel's professionalism.
Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian prosecutor generals meet
in Moscow
Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian prosecutor generals held a
meeting in Moscow on December 8, Azernews reports, citing
Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office.
During the meeting, Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev
outlined the importance of minefield maps to protect the life and
health of people. He also condemned illegal visits paid to
liberated Karabakh, as well as illicit exploitation of Azerbaijan's
natural resources.
He stressed the importance of continuing the process of joint
activities to find Azerbaijanis who went missing after the first
and second Karabakh wars.
Moreover, Kamran Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan's full compliance
with the trilateral statements of November 10, 2020, January 11,
and November 26, 2021.
The officials also discussed the implementation of statements
signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders, as well as
mechanisms for further cooperation in the legal field.
Baku, Jakarta mull efforts to increase business
investment
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov and Head of
Indonesian Foreign Policy Agency Strategy Yayan Mulyana discussed
efforts to increase business and bilateral investment, Azernews
reports.
The discussion took place during the 3rd Political Planning
Dialogue between the foreign ministries of the two countries in
Jakarta on December 6.
Further, the sides discussed the current state of relations
between the countries, prospects for the future, political,
economical, trade, cultural, educational, consular, and other
issues. The prospects for cooperation within the UN, the
Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC),
and ASEAN/AIPA were also mulled.
Noting that 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of establishing
diplomatic relations and all-inclusive cooperation between the two
countries, Mammadov stressed the great potential for further
development of relations between the two countries. He thanked
Indonesia for the constant support of Azerbaijan, including during
the 44-day second Karabakh War.
The minister updated on the new regional realities in the
post-Karabakh conflict period, reconstruction activities in
Azerbaijan's liberated territories, the normalization of
Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, and Azerbaijan's peace efforts to
open communication routes. He stressed that the provocations
committed by Armenia are posing a threat to the regional
stability.
During the discussion, the sides agreed to take all necessary
steps to arrange business meetings for businesspersons from the two
countries.
Mammadov said that currently, there are 90 Indonesian companies
registered in Azerbaijan. Some of these companies have applied for
projects which will be implemented in the regained territories in
Karabakh.
Meanwhile, on the amount of trade turnover, Mammadov said that
the trade between the two countries had reached around $500 million
this year.
Indonesia recognized Azerbaijan's independence on December 28,
1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were
established on September 24, 1992.
The two countries actively cooperate in international
organizations and always support each other in the UN, OIC, NAM,
and other international organizations.
Both countries recognize and support their territorial integrity
and sovereignty within their internationally recognized borders.
Around 12 documents were signed between the two countries.
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