April 6 – May 13, 2016 THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

N E W S D I G E S T

Ilham Aliyev met with President of Iran Hassan Rouhani

April 14

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has met with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani in Istanbul.

The presidents hailed dynamic development of Azerbaijani-Iranian bilateral and multilateral relations and cooperation in various fields. They pointed to wide opportunities for developing cooperation, and stressed the importance of intensifying reciprocal visits and such meetings in this regard.

During the conversation, they had a broad exchange of views over the events that happened on the line of contact of the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops in April.

President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan does not want war. "But we had to retaliate the provocative actions of the Armenian military units." The head of state expressed his gratitude to the President of Iran for phoning him and expressing his concerns about the events.

They discussed the activity of the Minsk Group. The issues of cooperation in oil and gas field were also discussed. The importance of continuing the negotiations to determine the legal status of the Caspian Sea was underlined. It was noted that this would contribute to elevating the relations between the two countries in political, security and other fields to a higher level.

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran discussed the development of the relations and cooperation in a variety of areas, including visa regime, tourism, financial and e-banking sectors, fight against extremism, terrorism and radicalism.

Ilham Aliyev received delegation led by European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus

April 15

President of the republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by the

European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber.

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Herbert Salber recalled the last visit of Vice-President of the European Commission, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to Azerbaijan. He said they were concerned about the escalation on the line of contact of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. Herbert Salber said the EU expressed its position on the latest developments on the frontline during the plenary session of the European Parliament, adding that discussions were held on the issue. Herbert Salber said the problem would be discussed by the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxemburg next week. It was noted that the Armenian armed forces regularly committed military provocations on the line of contact throughout the history of the negotiations to find a solution to the Armenian- Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Armenians regularly shell the Azerbaijani settlements near the line of contact, killing civilians, including children, women and the elderly with the aim of perpetuating the current state of the conflict.

They exchanged views over the ongoing processes of settlement of the Armenian- Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the current state and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Ilham Aliyev received delegation led by member of National Assembly of France Jean-Francois Mancel

April 25

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by member of the National Assembly of the French Republic, President of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France Jean-Francois Mancel.

Noting that member of the National Assembly of the French Republic, President of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France Jean-Francois Mancel was a close friend of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev hailed his role in developing the relations between the two countries.

Touching upon the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in , the head of state said the guests from a number of countries had already arrived for the event, and hailed the fact that France was represented at the event by a large delegation.

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President Ilham Aliyev noted that the Forum also created a good opportunity for discussing the bilateral ties. The head of state expressed confidence that Jean-Francois Mancel`s visit to Azerbaijan would be a success.

Member of the National Assembly of the French Republic, President of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France Jean-Francois Mancel said they supported Azerbaijan`s fair position in this complicated situation. He noted that they were working to ensure that the French government demonstrates a fair stance on the settlement of the Armenian- Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the French society knows Azerbaijan better.

Touching upon the interparliamentary cooperation, Jean-Francois Mancel praised the close friendship and cooperation with head of Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary friendship group, Azerbaijan`s first lady .

At the meeting, the sides highlighted the importance of the 7th UNAOC Global Forum, hailed the development of Azerbaijan-France bilateral ties, and expressed confidence that these relations would continue to strengthen.

Ilham Aliyev met with Spanish Foreign Minister

April 26 President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo.

President Ilham Aliyev stressed the successful activity of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which was established on the joint initiative of Turkey and Spain, and hailed Spain`s support for the Alliance. The head of state described the Spanish Foreign Minister`s participation in the Baku forum as an example of this support.

They noted the importance of the Forum in discussing outstanding tasks in complicated international situation and against the background of international relations. The sides expressed confidence that this important event would give a strong positive message to the international community.

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Ilham Aliyev met with French Minister of State for

European Affairs

April 26

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Minister of State for European Affairs of France Harlem Desir.

Minister of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir conveyed French President Francois Hollande`s greetings and good memories about Azerbaijan to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings of President Francois Hollande, and asked the Minister of State to extend his greetings to the French President. Recalling that President Francois Hollande visited Azerbaijan twice, President Ilham Aliyev said this demonstrates the high-level of relations between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev thanked Harlem Desir for his participation in the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Baku, adding the visit was a good opportunity for discussing the bilateral and regional issues.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, the French Minister of State for European Affairs congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on the excellent organization of the Forum. They had a broad exchange of views over the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the latest processes.

Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia

April 26

Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov met with Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia on the sidelines of the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) held in Baku.

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April 6 – May 13, 2016 THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

At the meeting, expressing the satisfaction with the current status of political dialogue, the sides stressed the importance of strengthening the mechanism for consultations.

Mentioning the successful cooperation in the energy sector, the sides noted the importance of increasing contacts among the business circles in order to promote and diversify economic and trade relations by joint efforts.

They exchanged views on the establishment of cooperation between the diplomatic academies of the two countries, the issues on student exchange and tourism development.

The sides also discussed the issues of cooperation within international organizations.

Indonesian Deputy Minister noted that the Forum was organized at high level and mentioned that pressing issues has been included in the agenda of the forum.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov informed about the settlement process of the Armenian- Azerbaijani conflict and the latest escalation on the line of contact of the armed forces as a result of Armenian provocation.

Press release by MFA Press Service on recent escalation of situation

April 28

We share the concerns of the US Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on the deterioration of the situation at the line of contact (LoC) of the Armed Forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Starting from the late hours of April 27 until April the 28th, the Armed Forces of Armenia using large-caliber weapons, mortars and heavy artillery shelled the densely populated civilian areas, state owned and private properties in Tartar and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan, and the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

As a result of irresponsible and targeted shelling of heavy weapons by the Armenian side against civilian Azerbaijani population in flagrant violation of the international humanitarian law, one civilian was killed, seven others were wounded in Aghdam region.

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April 6 – May 13, 2016 THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA As a consequence, on the night of 27-28 April alone more than 20 properties and social objects in Tartar and Aghdam regions were severely damaged. Overall, due to similar acts by Armenia starting from 2 April, public and private properties located in the settlements adjacent to the LoC have been severely damaged. Cluster munitions used by the Armenian troops against the civilian Azerbaijani population living densely along the line of contact aimed at intentional destruction of manpower, do not bear any military goal and serve solely to perpetrate mass killings among the civilians. Unexploded cluster ordinances are source of threat for the lives and property of civilians for a long period of time.Attempts of the Armenian Armed Forces to repeatedly carry out killings of civilians by inhumane means, is not an exceptional case, but rather an integral part of a planned and systematic state policy of terror implemented by the Republic of Armenia against Azerbaijan. The claims of official Yerevan on the damage inflicted upon civilians and properties in the territories along the line of contact controlled by Armenia are false. As a result of ethnic cleansing of Armenia against Azerbaijani population in the occupied territories, there are no civilians in the line of contact controlled by Armenia. The Republic of Azerbaijan urges the international community to strongly condemn the Republic of Armenia for disregarding the ceasefire agreement reached between the chiefs of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia on 5 April 2016 by such provocative actions as deterioration the situation, deliberately targeting the civilians, the private and public property and by rejecting the negotiations on the peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict. The responsibility of the responsive (retaliatory) actions that would be taken by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces against the Armenian military targets in order to ensure the safety of the civilian population living along the LoC, fully lies on Armenia. The Azerbaijani side has comprehensively informed and warned the international community of Armenia’s preparations of new provocations. Foreign Minister participated at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership countries

May 5 Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov visited Czech Republic to participate at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership countries held in Prague on May 4, 2016.

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April 6 – May 13, 2016 THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Minister Elmar Mammadyarov delivered a speech at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership countries. In his speech he talked about the relations between European Union and Azerbaijan within the Eastern Partnership and touched upon the importance of partnership with Visegrad Group. He stated that the growing number of strategic partners among the EU member states inspires Azerbaijan to advance the dialogue with the EU on the same premises. It is also mentioned that Azerbaijan has introduced a draft EU-Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership Agreement in Riga Eastern Partnership Summit, this agreement will upgrade our bilateral relationship to qualitatively new level of strategic partnership and provide a better platform for the future of EU-Azerbaijan cooperation. Elmar Mammadyarov held bilateral talks with the Foreign Ministers of Czech Republic, Hungary, , Moldova and Belarus, as well as Minister of the State of Sweden and Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Netherlands. At the meetings Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, regional security issues, various aspects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU were discussed. Foreign Ministers of Czech Republic and Hungary stressed their support for the EU- Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership Agreement and expressed their willingness to support our country within the Visegrad Group and the Eastern Partnership platform. Center nominated for Riba International Prize 2016

May 10 Royal Institute of British Architects-RIBA has announced in Baku that was designed by as one of the nominees for its International Prize. The RIBA’s International Prize has been three years in the making. The RIBA used to award the RIBA Lubetkin Prize, which was open to RIBA members building outside the European Union. They have selected 30 schemes from around the world to be visited by an Awards Group member and an architect from the region local to the building. The Group will then announce up to 20 RIBA Awards for International Excellence and the winner of the RIBA International Emerging Architect of the Year.

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April 6 – May 13, 2016 THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The first ever International Prize will be presented in December 2016 to the architects of the building thought by the judges to be the most significant and inspirational of the year, demonstrating visionary, innovative thinking and excellence of execution, while making a generous contribution to society and to its physical context – be it the public realm, the natural environment or both.

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