President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen held a joint press conference in the Alliance`s Headquarters yesterday.

Following President Ilham Aliyev`s and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen`s remarks the press conference featured a question-and-answer session with journalists.

Speech by Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan:

Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary General for your kind words about our country, and thank you very much for your invitation. I`m very glad to be back to NATO headquarters and to discuss important issues of our bilateral relations. Relations between NATO and Azerbaijan have very good history, history of success. And since early 90s Azerbaijan has been very active in its aspirations to integrate into Euroatlantic institutions. And we made a big progress in that respect. We conduct reforms in our armed forces and I`m trying to bring them in accordance with NATO standards.

Therefore this part of our cooperation already has very important impact on the situation on our armed forces. At the same time, participation in NATO operations in various parts of the world also helped our servicemen to increase their capability and to learn from NATO colleagues a lot.

We were from the very beginning in Afghanistan, and as the Secretary General mentioned we provide all flights, land transportation. And I`m very glad that importance of Azerbaijan as a transit country for cargoes to Afghanistan is growing. Today we discussed our future activity in this respect, and we are ready to consider new proposals in order to expand our cooperation in this area.

At the same time we provide our military servicemen to serve in Afghanistan. And this is also part of our commitment as far as the ISAF operations are concerned. Today I also informed Mr. Secretary General that we are seriously considering to contribute to Afghan national army trust fund, and to consider in the future continuation of this financial contribution. At the same time, we provide trainings for Afghan diplomats in our Diplomatic Academy and in our Border Security academy. And we work on demining and other humanitarian issues, and are ready to expand our cooperation.

Today we also discussed the regional security issues, particularly situation with respect to negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. I informed Mr. Secretary General of the current status of these negotiations and once again expressed our hope that the conflict will be resolved as soon as possible and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan will be restored. There is a very good legal basis for that. The United Nations Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding an unconditional and immediate withdrawal of the Armenian troops from occupied territories, and we expect Armenia to comply with these resolutions.

Part of our discussions today was devoted to energy security. This is very important element of national security of countries, both producers and consumers. And Azerbaijan is becoming, and I`m sure will become, a substantial contributor to European energy security, and our consumers in Europe will be member states of NATO. Therefore this is also part of our overall discussions and consultations.

Once again I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Secretary General for invitation, satisfaction with the way how our relations are developing and transforming, and hope that these relations will continue successfully and will be based on mutual interests and shared values.

The weather in Azerbaijan is expected to get even colder this week.

Snow is forecast for Baku and the Absheron Peninsula on Tuesday 7 February and snowstorms on Wednesday the 8th, when a northwest wind is expected.

Overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday temperatures will drop as low as -10 C in Baku, the director of the Ecology Ministry’s Hydrometeorological Bureau, Umayra Tagiyeva, told APA.
“It will snow in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula on 7 February and a north wind will blow. Temperatures will fall. On 7 February, the temperature will be 0 to -3 C at night and in the daytime, -5 C in the evening. The roads will freeze,” she said.
"Overnight on 7-8 February and again on 8-9 February temperatures will be -6 to -10 C. On 8 February, the temperature will be -3 to -5 C and the roads will freeze,” she said.
Umayra Tagiyeva said the snow would gradually stop and the weather grow milder on 9 February.
“The impact of the very cold Siberian anticyclone that can be seen in Europe is still being felt in Azerbaijan. The Siberian anticyclone is causing freezing weather in the whole of Europe and in Azerbaijan,” she said.

On Thursday, the French parliament accepted the bill on criminal prosecution for the denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide", TV channel CNN Turk reported.

The French parliament is set to vote on a piece of legislation that could make denying the 1915 events that took place in Turkey as "genocide" punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros.

Earlier, Turkish President Abdullah Gul stated that Turkey hopes that France will not sacrifice long-term friendship between Ankara and Paris for the sake of petty political settlements.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish-French relations should not depend on third party’s demands, and if the French Senate approves the bill Turkey will respond with all diplomatic means.

Members from the French President’s party "Union for Popular Movement", representing the parliamentary majority, presented the bill to the legislative committee of the National Assembly in early December. It aims to introduce criminal punishment for denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide".

Armenia and its lobby claim the Turkish Republic’s predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, committed genocide against Armenians in Anatolia in 1915. Pressured by Armenian propaganda, the parliaments of a number of countries have recognized the so-called "1915 genocide". Trend

Azerbaijan will approve the Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry’s proposals in the near future to create a regional innovation zone in the country, Deputy Communications and IT Minister Elmir Velizade told.

He said that proposals submitted to the government, include special mechanisms to encourage the development of ICT sector in general and to promote entrepreneurship in this area. "The document is expected to be adopted in the near future," he said.

The creation of a regional innovation zone is defined as a priority for IT industry development. There are five key directions of the project that will play an important role in its implementation. They include creating a data centre for information resources and rendering information services, developing human resources and small and medium-sized businesses, attracting investments and developing our export capacity.

The Archeology and Ethnography Institute under the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) found the walls of a medieval fortress Shatel in the Geranboy region, Head of the Ganja archaeological expedition Institute, Professor Arif Mammadov told Trend.

He said this castle is part of the medieval town of Shatel. The city walls were found when installing water pipes. No damage was caused to the walls during this operation. A large-scale  research in this area will begin in 2012.

He noted that the city was founded in V century BC.  Khazar Kagan Cebi has laid six cities, including Shamakhi, Shirvan, Sheki, Shabran, Shamkir and Shatel, in honor of his son Shata. Mammadov said in some sources the city is referred to as Shutur. Local people called it Shatel.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday received delegation of Russian Federation led by mayor of Astrakhan city Sergey Bozhenov.  Sergey Bozhenov presented "Honourable Citizen of Astrakhan" diploma and medal to the Azerbaijan’s President. Appropriate decision was adopted on Sept. 8, 2011 by the Municipal Duma of Astrakhan.

The similar diploma was recently presented to the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin as well, Bozhenov emphasized. The Head of State expressed gratitude to the Municipal Duma of Astrakhan and city authorities for the decision to award him a diploma.

President Ilham Aliyev praised high level of cooperation between Baku and Astrakhan in the context of successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. President Ilham Aliyev recalled his visit to Astrakhan and inauguration of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s monument there.

Noting that the Azerbaijani businessmen are involved in the reconstruction of urban infrastructure and development of the educational sector of Astrakhan, President Ilham Aliyev stressed that all these measures serve to further strengthening of relations between two countries and two cities.

Bakcell, The First Mobile Operator of Azerbaijan, announced the commercial launch of its 3G services with participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, on November 23, 2011, at Bakutel exhibition. Together with the President was Mr. Ali Abbassov, the Minister of Communications and Information Technologies.

"We wanted to make Bakcell 3G commercial launch a significant and memorable event in the history of the telecommunication market of Azerbaijan. A significant moment for Bakcell and for the development of the Mobile Communications sector in Azerbaijan was when the President "pushed the button" putting Bakcell 3G services in operation. We are pleased to celebrate Bakcell 3G services launch together with the opening of Bakutel and 130th anniversary of telecommunications sector in Azerbaijan. We have great launch offers allowing customers to use and explore the Mobile Internet with Bakcell", Mr. Richard Shearer, Bakcell CEO said.

The decision regarding to awarding of Bakcell a license for provision of 3G mobile communications services, was taken at the board meeting of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies on November 2, 2011. On November 3, immediately after being awarded with the license and signing a protocol regarding testing on those frequencies with B&BTV, Bakcell run the testing phases for the introduction of its 3G service in 62 cities of the country and also outside of the country where there is Bakcell’s roaming partner with 3G coverage. B&BTV and Bakcell have reached agreement on Bakcell’s use of the frequencies to launch its 3G services within Azerbaijan.

"The mobile internet is about speed and a rewarding and refreshing customer experience. Bakcell has worked hard to ensure its 3G su"r@ service has the best quality connection for its customers providing the best experience. We have designed special packages for smartphones and 3G phone users and unlimited internet packages for dongle users to access the internet from their laptops and tablets. To activate simply SMS "sur@" to 3535" added Mr. Shearer.

If you are a Bakcell customer SMS "sur@" to 3535 to activate Azerbaijan’s best 3G experience.

For more information about Bakcell products and services, please visit www.bakcel.com or call 555. If you are not a Bakcell subscriber, but wish to find out about Bakcell and its services, please call 055 000 05 5.

A presentation of the first edition of the English-language version of the “Baku” magazine yesterday took place at the museum of modern art. The ceremony was attended by First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, MP, UNESCO and ISESCO goodwill ambassadors, officials, MPs, ambassadors and figures of art.
Opening the event, editor-in-chief of the magazine Leyla Aliyeva noted that the magazine, which has been published in Russian during the past four years, has risen to prominence over a short span of time. The magazine publishes interesting stories on the history, culture, past and present of Azerbaijan.
“The aim of the English version of the magazine is to popularize Azerbaijan all over the world,” she said. The participants saw a video on Azerbaijan prepared by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The exhibition of photographs published in the magazine was organized as part of the presentation.
The first issue of the English version of the magazine is also scheduled to be presented in Paris, Rome, Berlin, New York. The presentation was already held in London and Moscow.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received Israeli minister of national infrastructure Uzi Landau.

Minister Uzi Landau conveyed greetings of Israeli President Shimon Peres to the Head of State.

Cooperation in economy, industry and infrastructure spheres was stressed at the meeting. The Head of State asked Uzi Landau to pass on his greetings to the Israeli Head of State.

***

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received today Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Statoil Hydro Company Helge Lund. Statoil Hydro Company`s CEO congratulated the Azerbaijani President on country`s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Lund recalled his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Davos. He thanked the Head of State for the conditions created for the activity of Statoil Hydro Company in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani President praised Statoil Hydro`s successful operations in the country.

The sides exchanged views on joint projects and cooperation prospects. 

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev yesterday received chairman of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Sergei Stepashin. The chairman of the Accounts Chamber of Russia congratulated the Head of State on the 20th anniversary of the country`s independence. He said he was pleased to meet with Azerbaijan`s national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Sergei Stepashin said the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation and the Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Azerbaijan have good prospects for cooperation. President Ilham Aliyev underscored bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia were developing successfully in a variety of fields. The Head of State expressed assurance chairman of Russian Accounts Chamber Sergei Stepashin`s visit to Azerbaijan would contribute to boosting cooperation between the two countries` relevant bodies even more.

***

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev yesterday received the Turkish delegation led by Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin. The Justice Minister conveyed greetings of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Head of State. Sadullah Ergin expressed satisfaction with a fact that as a minister he made his first official visit to Azerbaijan.

The Minister praised cooperation between the two countries` justice bodies. The Turkish Minister expressed hope these relations would continue to expand even more. The Head of State underlined relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey were successfully developing in all fields, including justice one. On Ergin`s first official visit to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said it has become a good tradition between the two fraternal countries.

The Head of State recalled a meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Izmir, stressing the importance of the event for expansion of the relationship even more.

The Azerbaijani leader asked Minister Sadullah Ergin to pass on his greetings to the Turkish President and Premier.

Turkey and Azerbaijan have signed contracts on gas transit, gas supply and gas purchase and sale.
According to APA’s Turkish correspondent, the contracts were signed by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and BOTAS Director General Fazil Shanal.
The contract on gas transit is considered or Azeri gas transportation to Europe within the south Corridor.
Besides, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed intergovernmental energy protocol. The protocol was signed by Minister of Industry and EnergyNatig Aliyev and Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz.
Next meeting which covers economic cooperation – “contract on promotion and mutual protection of investments” was signed by Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev and Zafer Chaglayan.

The Azerbaijan cultural center locating in the precincts of the All-Russia State Library of the Foreign Literature after M.I.Rudomino yesterday opened in Moscow. The Center which became the first cultural center among the CIS countries has been founded with support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the embassy of Azerbaijan in Moscow.

Svetlana Gorokhova, the deputy director for international relations of library, estimated opening of the Azerbaijan cultural center in Moscow as very important and special event. Vice-president of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, having greeted the visitors, thanked the library management for support of realization of the project.

Then, Leyla Aliyeva informed that the same day in foyer of the Library opened was the exhibition of the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and Russia, the holder of the international Diploma of the ambassador of peace Ashraf Heybatov titled “Baku and the Bakuvites 30 years later”. L. Aliyeva underlined that the exhibition will function all the week long and expressed hope that it will be visited by many Muscovites.

Leyla Aliyeva once again thanked participants of ceremony, wished the collective of the Center successful work. The ambassador of Azerbaijan in the Russian Federation Polad Bulbuloglu named symbolical and significant event the opening of Azerbaijan Cultural Center as Azerbaijan these days marks the 20th anniversary of restoration of its state independence.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer met Azerbaijan’s prime minister and the speaker of parliament before completing his visit to Baku on Wednesday.

In talks with Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Heinz Fischer spoke of the prospects for Austrian-Azerbaijani economic cooperation and commented on the existing favourable environment between the business circles of both countries.

Describing his talks with President Ilham Aliyev as highly positive, the Austrian president said he was convinced of the values of reciprocal visits to the development of bilateral cooperation.

The Azerbaijani prime minister briefed Heinz Fischer on the economic reforms conducted in the country and expressed optimism about the development of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Ogtay Asadov, chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament, the Milli Majlis, also spoke about bilateral economic cooperation in his meeting with Heinz Fischer.

He underlined the role of parliaments in expanding bilateral ties and invited his Austrian counterpart to visit Azerbaijan.

Ogtay Asadov briefed the Austrian president on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that the conflict remained unresolved because of Armenia’s unconstructive position.

Mozart

The Azerbaijani and Austrian presidents unveiled a statue of Mozart in central Baku before attending a business forum.

Addressing the ceremony, Ilham Aliyev described the statue as a sign of friendship between Azerbaijan and Austria. He noted that recently a statue of Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli had been erected in Vienna.

"Our relations are developing very rapidly and successfully in both politics and the economy. But of course cultural cooperation makes a robust contribution to overall cooperation," the Azerbaijani leader said.

The Austrian president said he was delighted to attend the unveiling of the statue and welcomed the attention paid to cultural ties between the two countries.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation

Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit Fischer also visited the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

They were welcomed to the foundation by Ilham Aliyev and his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva.

Ilham Aliyev briefed Heinz Fischer on the foundation’s work to study the legacy of his father, former President Heydar Aliyev, and to support cultural and socioeconomic progress.

Austria’s first lady, Margit Fischer, toured Baku’s medieval walled city, the Ichari Shahar, where she visited the Khanagah complex, the 15th-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the 12th-century Maiden Tower.

President Heinz Fischer and his wife were seen off at the airport on Wednesday by First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov and other officials. (AzerTAj)

The first edition of the English-language version of Baku magazine has been presented in London. Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the magazine`s editor-in-chief Leyla Aliyeva attended the presentation. The magazine is published by the Conde Nast publishing company.

Baku`s Russian-language analogue has been successfully published in Russia since 2007.

Baku will familiarize English-speaking readers with both Azerbaijan`s ancient culture, history and traditions and also the modern life of Azerbaijanis. Besides the United Kingdom the magazine will also be available in other countries, including France, the United States and Italy.

Speaking to the launch ceremony, Conde’ Nast managing director, Nicholas Coleridge, said Baku magazine was a very successful project. He said the magazine will contribute to better promoting Azerbaijan in Europe.

Editor-in-chief Leyla Aliyeva said the magazine was going on sale in London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Rome and other big cities. Mrs. Aliyeva said Baku was one of the most rapidly developing cities in the world, adding the magazine features “all positive changes in Azerbaijan`s capital”. “I believe the magazine will help us to show the beauties and rich cultural traditions of our capital city, where the past meets the present and West meets East.”

“It also features photos taken by famous photographers,” said Mrs. Aliyeva, expressing hope that the magazine will attract wide readership. On Baku`s hosting next year`s Eurovision song contest, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s vice-president said “it will be a brilliant opportunity to get familiarized with our capital”.

UK Business Ambassador, Lady Barbara Judge, said she believed the magazine would help make Azerbaijan more known to the international reader. She said Azerbaijan was a country of rich culture and natural resources. “The magazine will also contribute to strengthening the relations between United Kingdom and Azerbaijan.”

GQ magazine deputy editor, Bill Prince, said he believed Baku magazine will have wide readership in London. Wife of Russian footballer Andrei Arshavin, Yulia Arshavina, said: “Baku will be hosting Eurovision contest next year, and everybody is wondering what the next host of the contest is like.”

President Ilham Aliyev has today received a delegation led by the UK`s Minister of State for Energy Charles Hendry.

The meeting focused on multilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. The Head of State emphasized the successful cooperation between two countries in energy sector.

He stressed that both Azerbaijan and the UK have good opportunities for cooperation in non-oil sector as well.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the second steam-gas unit with the capacity of 409 MWt at the Shimal power station in Shuvalan district of Khazar region. The Head of State was warmly welcomed by construction workers.

President Ilham Aliyev was informed that the construction of the second steam-gas unit would be funded by the government-guaranteed loan of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in accordance with the Loan Agreement signed into law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 14 June 2005.

The Head of State reviewed a stand showing the master plan of the project, the layout of the combined-cycle unit and the cooling water system. It was indicated that the Shimal power plant occupies a total area of 68 hectares, while the area on which the second steam-gas unit is to be built is 12 hectares.

It was noted that construction operations commenced on 10 December 2010 in accordance with the agreement between the consortium of main contractors, Japan`s Toyo Engineering Corporation and Azerbaijan`s Azenco Open Joint-Stock Company, and Azerenergy Open Joint-Stock Company. The construction of the facility will be completed late 2013.

The President placed a symbolic metal capsule into the foundation and launched the grouting facility. President Ilham Aliyev met with construction workers. The President posed for photographs with the facility constructors.

Azerbaijan`s first lady, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, chairwoman of Azerbaijan-France friendship group, MP Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva yesterday met President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher here.

They underlined cooperation between the Senate and Azerbaijan was continuing.

Mrs. Aliyeva expressed pleasure over her visit to France and meeting with President of the Senate Gerard Larcher. The First Lady noted she was continuing her efforts as chairwoman of the Azerbaijan-France friendship group to develop cooperation and interparliamentary relations between the two countries.

She added France`s hosting cultural events, concerts, conferences, exhibitions dealing with Azerbaijan plays an important role in strengthening bilateral relations. Mrs. Aliyeva spoke of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh problem. The First Lady said the French Senate previously played a significant role in this issue as well and the importance of this role is huge in future as well.

Mrs. Aliyeva invited Gerard Larcher to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. Chairman of the France-Caucasus friendship group of the French Senate Ambroise Dupont and Azerbaijan`s ambassador to the country Elchin Amirbayov were present at the meeting. The First Lady and the President of the French Senate exchanged keepsakes.

Russian air accident investigators say they are examining flight recorder boxes from a plane that crashed this week, killing 43 people and devastating a top ice hockey team.

The Interstate Aviation Committee said on its website Friday that the magnetic tapes holding the flight information were still wet and that work on deciphering them would begin after they had dried out.

Investigators have not yet been able to pinpoint what caused the Yak-42 jet to crash Wednesday into the banks of the Volga River shortly after takeoff from Yaroslavl, 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Moscow.

The crash killed 36 hockey players, coaches and staff of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team, that included former NHL players.

Aviation authorities say they will inspect all Yak-42 jets currently in service in Russia. (AP)

A $44 million Pentagon military aid package included nearly $10 million for Azerbaijan, The Associated Press reported with reference to documents obtained by the agency.

The aid aimed at improving the counterterrorism capabilities of the naval special forces includes small boats, engines, diving gear and training.

The Pentagon is sending more than $25 million in military equipment, small boats and other support to Tunisia and Malta. Lithuania and Hungary were also included in the funding plan.

The funding was recently approved by Pentagon officials and sent to Capitol Hill as part of a notification process before the equipment can be delivered.

Up to $350 million in military aid can be distributed this year to support counterterror operations in other countries. The Pentagon routinely releases the military aid in three or four installments each year.

The first package approved earlier this year was for about $43 million and was directed at NATO and other allies in the Afghanistan war. A second package for $145.4 million was directed largely at North African nations struggling to battle al-Qaida-linked terrorists.

Initially, military leaders have planned to spend at least $150 million of the fund on aid to Yemen. So far, none of the assistance has gone there, as the embattled government struggles with internal uprisings and an increasingly threatening al-Qaida affiliate.

Azerbaijani MFA instructs embassy in Russia over publication in ‘Nezavisimaya qazeta’ newspaper.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry investigates information published in Nezavisimaya newspaper, where the separatist regime of Nagorno Karabakh is fixed as an independent state, 1news.az reports citing the spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Elman Abdullayev.

“The Foreign Ministry has given an instruction to the Azerbaijani embassy to Azerbaijan to bring the resentment of the Azerbaijani side about the publication to the attention of the Nezavisimaya qazeta publishing house”, Abdullayev said.

The newspaper has published the interview of the head of the separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh.

In the publication, the occupied territories of Azerbaijan are fixed as ‘an independent state’ and their head  as ‘a president’. Also, it provides a false information.

A $44 million Pentagon military aid package included nearly $10 million for Azerbaijan, The Associated Press reported with reference to documents obtained by the agency.

The aid aimed at improving the counterterrorism capabilities of the naval special forces includes small boats, engines, diving gear and training.

The Pentagon is sending more than $25 million in military equipment, small boats and other support to Tunisia and Malta. Lithuania and Hungary were also included in the funding plan.

The funding was recently approved by Pentagon officials and sent to Capitol Hill as part of a notification process before the equipment can be delivered.

Up to $350 million in military aid can be distributed this year to support counterterror operations in other countries. The Pentagon routinely releases the military aid in three or four installments each year.

The first package approved earlier this year was for about $43 million and was directed at NATO and other allies in the Afghanistan war. A second package for $145.4 million was directed largely at North African nations struggling to battle al-Qaida-linked terrorists.

Initially, military leaders have planned to spend at least $150 million of the fund on aid to Yemen. So far, none of the assistance has gone there, as the embattled government struggles with internal uprisings and an increasingly threatening al-Qaida affiliate.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul will discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh problem with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the Zaman newspaper reports.

Gul will visit Russia within participation in the upcoming Global Policy Forum to be held in Yaroslavl on Sept. 7-8.

The forum, to be held under Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s patronage, will be also attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Latvian President Valdis Zatlers.

The newest version of Apple Inc’s popular iPhone has already hit the Chinese market - the fake market that is.

The ‘hiPhone 5’ is selling for as little as 200 yuan ($31) on China’s top e-commerce platform Taobao, which is owned by Alibaba Group.

But one has to pay around 800 yuan for a more "genuine" one, according to some shop clerks at a mobile phone market in Shanghai.

"Look at this. It’s not the same as the 300-400 yuan ones," Shanghai-based daily Metro Express quoted a clerk as saying, pointing to one originally priced at 850 yuan.

The ‘hiPhone 5’ is based on leaked images of the yet-to-be-launched iPhone 5 and is thinner and with less rounded edges than the existing iPhone 4, according to the newspaper. However, it is extremely light, almost like a plastic toy, like most pirated mobile phones, it said.

Western governments have repeatedly criticized China for widespread violation of intellectual property rights, but pirated goods from branded watches, to bags and computer software can be easily found in shops.

Last month, an American blogger set off a media storm after she posted pictures of an elaborate fake Apple Store in Kunming, selling genuine if unauthorized iPhones, Macbooks and other widely popular Apple products.

Reuters also uncovered a look-a-like of the Swedish furniture giant Ikea in the southwestern Chinese city.

Apple, which is expected to roll out the latest version of the iPhone 5 smartphone within a few months, sold a record 20.34 million iPhones during the last quarter, even though its newest model is over a year old.

($1 = 6.431 Chinese Yuan)

(Reuters)

Yesterday, RIM announced plans to launch 5 new BlackBerry 7 Smartphones. New BlackBerry phones! That kind of news would have elicited lots of excitement back in 2006, when BlackBerry’s manufacturer Research In Motion made the fanciest phones out there. Now, not so much. The company hasn’t had such a hot month, as we reported; they announced big lay-offs a few weeks ago due to lackluster sales and a sad stock price. BlackBerry really hasn’t been able to compete with the iPhone or popular Android phones and unfortunately it doesn’t look like these new phones will turn things around for the ailing company.

The latest BlackBerrys are stacked with all sorts of cell-phone bells and whistles, improving over their previous devices of yester-decade. They forgo their clunky past, but maintain their beloved keyboard, explains ZDNet’s James Kendrick. "The new BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 are the thinnest BlackBerry phones yet, and combine a touch screen with a QWERTY keyboard." The devices will also feature faster OS 7 software and feature the biggest screen ever on a BlackBerry phone. But Kendrick doesn’t think these improvements will keep the fleeing customers, "While BlackBerry enthusiasts will like these faster phones with the better web browsing experience in BB 7, they will not likely stem the desertion of existing customers RIM is undergoing." 

Others don’t find the phones themselves that impressive. "The specs of the new phones are modest, as BlackBerry is a bit new to the whole "performance phone" bracket," explains Ars Technica’s Casey Johnston. The battery life isn’t that long, at just under 7 hours of talk time, and the phones don’t have access to the 4G network, which could be a "tripping point," add Johnston. These sad phones certainly won’t bring RIM back to mobile phone greatness, argues AllThingsD’s John Paczkowski, "RIM’s in quite a predicament, and, sadly, it’s one that may not be easily solved-certainly not by the decidedly unexciting new handsets the company announced this morning."

And even if the phones wow customers, BlackBerry’s latest efforts are too little, too late. "The late arrival punctuates what has been a jarring collapse this year of the formerly beloved BlackBerry maker. RIM missed a crucial turn in the smartphone market and management has been seen as ineffective in its response," says The Street’s Scott Moritz. They might fill a product void for RIM, but it’s nothing more than a placeholder until the next big thing comes along, explains Moritz.

"A man whose hands are stained with blood and whose career is based on a number of crimes has neither moral nor intellectual right to comment on another head of state’s statement," Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said.

Polukhov was commenting on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement at a joint press conference with the Polish President in Yerevan.

"A man, who drove Armenia to economical and political impasse for the sake of himself and his personal interests, and who does not care about problems of its own population, discusses the values of humanism and democracy forgetting to look at himself," Polukhov said.

***

The Armenian leadership does not even want to cover its dirty, illegal actions and intentions with the diplomatic rhetoric, and shows its immoral face with this statement. Unfortunately, international community made no response and assessment of the aggressive statement, which calls for conquests, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said.

The Korean school was chosen ahead of the second-placed IED of Turin in the final with London`s Royal College of Arts finishing in third position. Following the prize-giving ceremony, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo commented: “Nurturing the creativity of young people is a fundamental strategy in every walk of life. The Ferrari World Design Contest represents a window that we want to keep open on the world and the creative energy of the next generation. I saw at first hand the many genuinely innovative ideas that these talented youngsters sent us and could feel the enormous passion and commitment that had gone into them. I am certain that some of these suggestions will come to light in the Ferraris of the future”.

A great work has been done to develop ICT sector in Azerbaijan, said President Ilham Aliyev.

The Head of State spoke at a Cabinet meeting to discuss outcomes of the country`s socio-economic development in the first half of 2011.

“We attach a particular emphasize to the information and communication technologies sector. A great work has been done in this regard both on the CIS and world scale.”  The President highlighted Azerbaijan`s project to put its first satellite into orbit.  “Now we have experience in this regard, we have invited foreign experts. We are working with leading companies, and we will create a strong space industry.”

President Aliyev also praised the development of mobile communication and internet services in the country.

“Azerbaijan is a country where internet is free, where there are no internet restrictions. Not all the countries have this. There are countries where internet is not free, where there are internet restrictions.” The President added: “And this proves how much importance we attach to the freedom of press, which is fully ensured in Azerbaijan.”

Lawyers for Dominique Strauss-Kahn said the former IMF chief would not plead guilty to any charges in his sexual assault case and there had been no discussion with prosecutors of a plea bargain, The New York Times reported.

"Mr. Strauss-Kahn will not be pleading guilty to anything," defense attorney William Taylor told the Times late on Wednesday after a two-hour meeting earlier in the day with New York prosecutors.

Strauss-Kahn was forced to resign as head of the International Monetary Fund after being charged with sexually assaulting a 32-year-old hotel maid from Guinea in his room in a Manhattan hotel.

But revelations that the accuser had lied about being raped in Guinea in a U.S. asylum request and changed details of her story about what she did after the incident in Strauss-Kahn’s hotel suite undermined her credibility and left prosecutors struggling to make a case.

Prosecutors left in place sexual assault charges against Strauss-Kahn after Wednesday’s meeting, pledging to further investigate a case that appeared to be falling apart.

Strauss-Kahn’s next scheduled court appearance is on July 18, and speculation is building that prosecutors may have to drop the charges against him.

If convicted of the charges, which include sexual assault and attempted rape, Strauss-Kahn, once seen as a top contender for the French presidency, would face up to 25 years in prison. (Reuters)

Samsung asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban the importation of Apple’s iPhones, iPads and iPods, ratcheting up its dispute against Apple.

The filing, dated Tuesday, says Apple’s iPhone, iPod digital music player and iPad tablet infringe on five of Samsung’s patents involving telecommunications standards and user interface inventions.

Samsung also filed a new patent lawsuit against Apple in a Delaware federal court on Wednesday,

The complaints are the latest salvo in a growing legal battle between the two consumer electronics giants.

In April, Apple sued Samsung in a California federal court, claiming the South Korean firm’s Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets "slavishly" copies the iPhone and iPad.

Samsung then countersued in California, and Apple last week filed another lawsuit in South Korea. An Apple spokesman could not be immediately reached on Wednesday.

As well as its own phones and tablets, Samsung manufactures microchips for Apple’s gadgets, a business that brought in about $5.7 billion in revenue for the South Korean company last year.

Before banning the importation of Apple’s popular devices, the ITC would first have to agree to look into Samsung’s allegations, a process that could be quite lengthy.

Apple is one participant in a web of litigation among phone makers and software firms over who owns the patents used in smartphones, as rivals aggressively rush into the smartphone and tablet market which the U.S. company jump-started with iPhone and iPad.

Samsung is one of the fastest growing smartphone makers and has emerged as Apple’s strongest competitor in the booming tablet market but it remains a distant second in the space. (Reuters)

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended “Azerbaijan: The European advanced lighthouse toward the orient” session of the Crans Montana Forum in the Belgian capital.

From 15 June, a one-way ticket Baku-Ganja will cost AZN 40 ($50), Baku-Lankaran AZN 25 ($31) and Baku-Zagatala AZN 35 ($44).

The previous prices were Baku-Ganja AZN 56 ($71), Baku-Lankaran AZN 41 ($52) and Baku-Zagatala AZN 52 ($66).

AZAL has introduced the new tariffs as its contribution to the Year of Tourism in Azerbaijan.

The lower prices will remain in force until 31 December. (APA)