Category: Politics

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) have discussed more cooperation on agriculture sector.

H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of MAFF and Mr. Rik Overmars, Team Leader of CHAIN Project at SNV in Cambodia, held the discussion at the ministry on April 5.

Mr. Rik Overmars presented SNV's project supporting private sector and SMEs to promote Cambodia's agriculture and improve the people's livelihood.

H.E. Dith Tina spoke highly of the project and underlined the ministry's priority especially in promoting cashew nut supply chain to international markets.

Other priorities include the improvement of the livelihood of people along the Mekong River in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces and management of the use of reservoirs in Kampong Cham province for agriculture purpose.

The minister asked SNV to implement the project creatively and effectively in line with the ministry's policy and in close cooperation with the ministry's technical officials.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev was on a working visit to Mauritania on March 16-17 to participate in the 49th session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Rzayev met with Foreign Minister of Mauritania Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso Olivia Ruamba, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Safety Yerlan Baidaulet, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman for Diplomatic Affairs Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Bin Isa al Harty, as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, Abshir Omar Khuruse.

During the meetings, prospects for bilateral cooperation, issues of interaction within the framework of international organizations, including the Non-Aligned Movement, were discussed. The importance of increasing the intensity of high-level official contacts and bilateral political consultations was emphasized.

The sides were informed about the initiatives on the issue of post-pandemic global recovery put forward by Azerbaijan within the framework of its chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Deputy Minister highly appreciated the constant support provided to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during the period of our country's membership.

Detailed information was provided on the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan over a period of almost 30 years, the current state of the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the post-conflict period, as well as provocations, the mine threat of Armenia in the region.

The sides were provided with detailed information about the restoration and construction work carried out by the Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation, transport and communication projects implemented in the region.

Source: Trend News Agency

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Morocco Nazim Samadov presented ISESCO Director General Salim al-Malik with a letter of accreditation as a permanent representative of this organization, Azerbaijan's embassy told Trend.

The ambassador conveyed the greetings of the head of the Azerbaijani state to the Director General of ISESCO and expressed gratitude for the contribution to the cooperation between Azerbaijan and ISESCO.

Samadov noted that in the course of his diplomatic activity he would spare no effort to further expand and deepen Azerbaijan's ties with this organization.

Source: Trend News Agency

Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic on Thursday issued a decree dissolving the parliament, paving the way for a new parliamentary election in the Adriatic country months after he refused to give a mandate to a new government, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The acting government of Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic lost a no-confidence parliamentary vote in August, in the second such motion last year. The president must dissolve parliament if a new prime minister designate is not confirmed three months after such a vote, and call a new parliamentary vote the next day.

Djukanovic has refused a new prime minister-designate proposed by the parliamentary majority, citing procedural errors.

Djukanovic, who has held high-ranking political posts in Montenegro for the last 30 years and is seeking a third term in a presidential election on Sunday, must set a date for a new parliamentary vote to be held 60 to 100 days after his decree.

Djukanovic led Montenegro to its independence from the Serbia-Montenegro state union in 2006, secured NATO membership and put it on the road towards joining the European Union, but opponents accuse him and his DPS party of corruption and links to organised crime - charges he denies.

Source: Trend News Agency

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has arrived in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Deputy Foreign Minister Teimuraz Janjalia welcomed him at Tbilisi International Airport, Trend reports citing 1TV.

The parties reviewed the meetings and events planned within the framework of the two-day visit.

James Cleverly will meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Georgian counterpart Ilia Darchiashvili.

Source: Trend News Agency

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking about the right to return of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia at his press conference, showed an unconstructive position that is contrary to fundamental human rights, Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community Aziz Alakbarli told reporters, Trend reports.

"The prime minister's attempt to refute the fact of the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Armenia is of particular regret. He’s well aware that in 1988 the Armenian government expelled hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis on the basis of ethnic discrimination, using physical violence and depriving them of education, medical and social services,” Alakbarli said.

According to him, the fact that the vast majority of these people fled within a very short period of time (November 24 - December 5, 1988) testifies to the degree of systematic organization of this crime.

“The expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Armenia is a crime against humanity. We would like to emphasize to the prime minister that the denial of a crime against humanity is a continuation of this crime,” the community’s head noted.

Moreover, the fact that the prime minister considers the right of the expelled Azerbaijanis to return solely in the context of the territory speaks volumes, Alakbarli further said.

“According to the head of the government of Armenia, the compact residence of an ethnic group is understood only as a territory. Such thinking explains why Armenia has become a mono-ethnic territory. This also explains the territorial claims of Armenia and the occupation policy towards Azerbaijan,” he pointed out.

The return of Azerbaijanis to native homes in accordance with the international mechanisms of guarantees and verifications is their inalienable and fundamental right, the head of the community stressed.

“Our right of return is not a topic for discussion. As a Community, we would like to realize our right to a peaceful return through dialogue. We once again call on the prime minister to respect the rule of human rights and stop obstructing our return," Alakbarli added.

Previously, the Western Azerbaijan Community sent a letter to Pashinyan, calling on him to start a dialogue on the issue of return.

Source: TREND News Agency

Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov of Russia and Hossein Amirabdollahian have reiterated plans to continue close coordination ahead of offline contacts, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday after their telephone talks, Trend reports citing TASS.

Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said earlier that the Iranian top diplomat is expected to visit Russia in March.

"The two foreign ministers exchanged views on current regional and international topics. The sides reiterated their interest in continuing close coordination, including as part of upcoming offline contacts between the two ministers," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, Lavrov and Amirabdollahian hailed "the positive dynamics of the development of Russian-Iranian comprehensive cooperation." "The ministers expressed satisfaction with the record-breaking trade indices achieved in spite of the illegitimate unilateral sanctions against our countries," it added.

Source: Trend News Agency

Last 20 years was the years of rapid economic growth, mainly driven by energy sector. Now the target is to work more on diversification of our economy, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with heads of Germany’s leading companies in Berlin, Trend reports.

“Because with respect to the structure of GDP, most part of the GDP is now produced in non-energy sector. But still, our export mainly is oil and gas,” President Ilham Aliyev emphasized.

Source: Trend News Agency