Trend News European desk's exclusive interview with Roland Kobia, Head of European Union Delegation in Azerbaijan.

- Q: What are the European Union's priorities in Azerbaijan for 2010? Do you expect more activity in cooperation under the EU Eastern Partnership program?

Exclusive interview of "The Azeri Times" newspaper with Chingiz Abdullayev, the national writer of Azerbaijan and Secretary of the Writers' Union of AR.

The Azeri Times exclusive interview with the owner
of the Crystal owl of the game "Chto? Gde? Kogda?" Rovshan Askerov.

Rovshan Enver ogly Askerov was born on May 04, 1972 in the best, warmest and most charming city of the world - Baku. He studied well and perfectly and became the medalist and the owner of the Red diploma.
He graduated from the history faculty of the Baku State University in 1989. 3 years worked in Institute of History of Azerbaijan. He is the candidate of historical sciences.
Earlier worked as a sports observer in the newspaper "Sports - Express", covered events on ski races, fencing, bicycle sports, art and sports gymnastics, and also some other kinds of sports. He worked as the correspondent on Olympic Games in Athene and in 2006 in Turin. Since 2007 he is the correspondent on NTV+ TV channel. Works on the football channel, but also made comments on competitions on jumps on a ski from a springboard and on Nordic combined. Since 2009 cooperates with "Baku" magazine.
Started to play in Baku club "Ateshgah". In elite club "Ctho? Gde? Kogda?" for the first time played on November 28, 1998. Many times received a prize of the best player of the team. In winter series of 2001, Oles Mukhin's team became the owner of the Crystal owl. Now plays in Alexey Blinov's team which were recognized as the best team of anniversary games of 2005 season, devoted to the 30-anniversary of transfer.
In the Baku version "Chto? Gde? Kogda?" he played for Rustam Fataliyev's team. Since 2009 he is the captain of the team where 5 girls play - Esmer Dashdemirova, Nigar Shikhlinskaya, Gunel Babayeva, Lala Babayeva and the best player of the Georgian club "Chto? Gde? Kogda?" Iya Metreveli.

I. Bayandurlu

Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloghly is in holiday. But, nevertheless, he kindly agreed to answer our questions concerning the Karabakh conflict as the board member the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh.



- Recently some local political scientists estimate the activity of Russia in the settlement of the Karabakh problem as an attempt of the Kremlin to manage to get serious changes from Baku in a vector of foreign policy of Azerbaijani government up to the entry of our country into Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). And how do you estimate Moscow's mode of behavior concerning the Armenian-Azerbaijan confrontation?

The Azeri Times exclusive interview with psychic Alexander Litvin.
Dear Alexander, you are gifted with a special donation. Does it make you happy? - Yes. You know, during the certain moments of my life, it brings me moral satisfaction. When I work, I get the greatest pleasure.
While working you at times see negative events or accidents. Is it so hard during such moments? - Yes, of course. When I see something negative or incident with death, the situation becomes not so good. Not only moral, but also physical sensation of discomfort presents.

The Azeri Times interview with Ross Hunter, Entry Clearance Manager of the British Embassy Visa Services Directorate and Lionel Khoo, vice consul at British Embassy in Baku.
- What about the statistics of Azerbaijani applicants for British visa? Is this figure increased in compare with previous years or not?
- Last year we received 7000 applications for visa here. This figure was increased this year. Most of the applications submitted and resolved within three-five working days and 90 percent of them receive visas. Visa application in Azerbaijan is a process quickly than other countries. The consular sections daily limit of the applications. Earlier we could receive 27-28 applications daily and now we are receiving 45-46.
- Are the visa applicants satisfied with the new system?
- Points-based system has been implemented since last October. It is very successful system, subjective and transparent. Applicants can online assess their eligibility for each category before applying the visa section. We aim to improve this system. There was no serious negative case in the implementation of the points-based system. Points-based system is a global policy by UK Border Service has been introduced for visa operations to every country and applies all applicants.
- You said that there is no significant decrease in the amount of the applications after PBS system has been implemented, are you able to show us some statistic, details before and after?
- We haven't got some exact and specific statistics regarding this, but if you wish you can take it from Press officer here. But I can say that according to the number of visas we have received so far, it seems that this year we will issue more visas than last year.

- Everyone who has ever read newspapers knows Rasim Musabekov. He is one of the famous people who form public opinion in Azerbaijan. So, what kind of person Rasim Musabekov is?
KAMAL ALI

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HIS LIFE
- Let us begin from the most important thing in any man's life- his family. Tell us about your children.
- I have got an adult daughter. She is 29. She has got her Master degree in Business School of London. I suppose that she will get a job proposal soon and stay there.
She studied political science in Baku but quit it and started study marketing. So, she prepares herself for a different career now. Everyone is an architect of his fortune. In any case she can be an analyst in non-political sphere.
- Where would you like to live?
- I would like to live where I am living now. I mean here and now. I was in 30 countries. I have been living in Moscow for 15 years. Nevertheless I want to spend rest of my life here in Baku in my motherland.
- Does political science bring some feedback?
- Yes, it brings some. But actually this is not a profession which can feed you in the full sense of the word, because our political market is not so big. Political science is low-paid job and many people who have this specialty are trying to find work in public offices, or, if they know English language in international organizations. Sometimes they become journalists. There are not enough vacancies in public offices and international organizations. Journalism, as you probably know is not well-paid business either.
So, I suppose that, there is more political scientist in Azerbaijan than it is demanded.

Nowadays the most discussed theme of the society is financial crisis, and the most popular personality is a banker. So, these days we met with the chairman of board and General Manager of AccessBank - Andrew Pospielovsky, native British, in order to worm some bank secrets out of him. BRITISH WHO SPEAKS
ENGLISH WITH AN ACCENT
- Are you an Englishman?
- No, I consider myself to be British. I was born in London and London is my home, but my parents were immigrants and they moved from one country to another. I grew up in different countries and spent most of my childhood in Canada, so my accent is a little strange and most English people will think I am a foreigner. However, Great Britain has become a multi-ethnic country, with people from many ethnic backgrounds who now consider Great Britain their homeland. So I can not claim to be ethnically English, but I am proud to be British.
- Does it mean that all those British living in Baku keep their money in your bank?
- Not all British and foreigners know about our bank, and many of them do not keep their money in Azerbaijan.
- Is it true that all English are boring people who just love their queen?
- Yes, we are tediously boring. As for loving our queen - in Britain every individual has a right to their own opinion and you will find many different attitudes towards the monarchy and the queen, personally I have a great deal of respect for our queen.

YES, I WORK WITH MONEY, BUT NOT WITH MY MONEY
- In childhood, we, young Baku guys were sure that the richest people in the world- are bank directors.
- Although, I am a bank director, the bank's money is not my money; most of it is not even the money of our shareholders. Mainly, we work with funds entrusted to us by our clients -depositors and international investors. It is a big responsibility to look after other people's money and it is a responsibility that I, as well as every member of our staff, take very seriously.

Zarifa Salakhova is a very famous and respectful person in the country. She has a lot of regalia - owner of unique museum of bibelots, member of executive committee of National Olympic Committee, Chairwoman of Baku association Azerbaijani Women, Committee of reconstruction of released territories, Committee of hostages and lost people and also laureate of many premiums. Zarifa Salakhova is a sister of people's artist of USSR Tahir Salakhov.
Our interview took place in museum of bibelots established by her.Sizes of bibelot
How many exhibit items do you have in your museum?
- Now there are 4650 books in this unique museum of bibelots, published in 64 countries. Overall, there are 6500 books in my collection. It collected by sections: Pushkin, religious books, cosmonautics, and bibelots issued in ex-soviet republics, in Russian federation, rare books, books published in Moscow, books in Russian Empire.
What kind of books is considered to be bibelots?
- In USSR issue with a size of 100x100 mm was considered to bibelot. European standard was 58x76. I issued 120 types of books with a size of 38x53 mm in Baku. By the way such books were also issued in USSR by Adjar Khanbabayev, when he headed publishing house "Yazichi"

Aflatun Amashov - chairman of Press Council of Azerbaijan, the captain of our journalists and, we may say that, the defender of interests of writing fraternity under sharp-sighted eye of the government. He takes all cares and problems, successes and lacks of the Azerbaijani mass-media which is enough. On Monday, after participating in the program of a state TV, he seemed especially tired, but has patiently answered the questions of " The Azeri Times ".By Kamal Ali

- Have you dreamed of making a journalist since your childhood, or like majority came to this profession accidentally?
- No, it is not a case. I dreamed of this profession since my childhood. Journalism is a profession which I respect greatly and I am always glad that I have chosen precisely this profession. Unfortunately, the image of journalists is now impaired strongly by numerous racketeers, but actually they have no relation to our profession.