Day: October 10, 2023

Israel has concentrated tens of thousands of troops on the border with Lebanon, Jonathan Conricus, an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) spokesman said, Report informs.

Council of Europe Venice Commission in its follow-up opinion to previous opinions concerning the Organic Law on Common Courts welcomed some of the amendments to the Organic Law adopted in June 2023 as well as some of the September 2023 draft amendments, but it noted that “important previous recommendations have not yet been addressed.” The Commission invited the authorities to “pursue the reform strategy without unjustified delay.”

The Commission assessed the implementation of its five key recommendations of the March 2023 Opinion. The implementation of the first key recommendation concerning the comprehensive reform of the High Council of Justice (“the HCoJ”) has not been addressed by the Georgian authorities, said the Commission neither by the Jue 2023 amendments of the September 2023 draft amendments.  The Commission noted that “a comprehensive reform of the HCoJ means addressing effectively the persistent allegations of lack of integrity of the HCoJ; reconsidering its powers, functions, decision-making procedures, and the manner of election of members.” The opinion stressed that “minor or technical amendments to the law would not meet this recommendation” adding that the process of the reform should be thorough and inclusive, involving all the relevant stakeholders.

As for the other key recommendations: the second recommendation circumscribing the wide powers of the HCoJ when transferring or seconding judges, remains outstanding, despite the amendment of the relevant provision and further draft amendments; the third recommendation on revising the procedure for suspension of judges from office, has been followed; the fourth recommendation on restricting the grounds for a judge’s disciplinary liability based on the violation by a judge of the principle of “political neutrality” been followed partly, as per the Commission’s assessment (however, in case of the adoption of the proposals contained in the September 2023 draft amendments, they would be sufficiently addressed); and the fifth recommendation concerning the enhancement of the binding nature of Supreme Court decision, has been followed in part and further amendment could be made to expressly provide that the HCoJ should comply with the decisions of the Supreme Court adopted following an appeal.

The Commission Opinion stated that the June 2023 amendment and September 2023 draft amendments don’t address the remaining recommendations, in particular, stricter age criteria for candidate judges to the Supreme Court; anti-deadlock mechanism in the nomination procedure to the Supreme Court; adding specific requirements (including specialization) in the procedure for the so-called “reallocation” of candidates; reduction of the term of office of the Supreme Court President.

Irakli Kobakhidze, the ruling party chairman, announced on September 19 briefing a set of last-minute measures to meet the EC conditions for Georgia’s candidacy in the European Union. Among the measures were additional draft amendments to the law on common courts, which would also be sent to the Venice Commission for review.

Also Read:

• 19/09/2023 – Ruling Party Announces Flurry of Measures to Meet EC Conditions
• 14/03/2023 – Venice Commission: Proposed Bill “Does Not Provide for Holistic Reform of the Judiciary”
• 29/04/2021 –  Venice Commission Welcomes Court Law Changes, Repeats Outstanding Recommendations
• 01/07/2022 – Georgian Dream Unveils Plan to Meet EU Recommendations
• 21/06/2022 –  Venice Commission Slams Changes to Court Law

The agenda of the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, approved on Monday, included the issue “Humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh”, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Turan.  The debate will take place on October 12 at 16.00 Central European time (18.00 Baku time).

Croatian MP Domagoj Hajdukovic will make a report on the topic.

The post On October 12, PACE will hold a debate on the topic: “Humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh” appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

As part of his working visit to Germany, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan’s Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) Orkhan Mammadov has met with the Chief Executive Officer of the German Eastern Business Association Michael Harms, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.

The meeting focused on the expansion of trade relations, promotion of innovations as well as opportunities for cooperation.

The head of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) Yusif Abdullayev also attended the meeting.

The post Azerbaijan’s KOBIA, German Eastern Business Association discuss expansion of trade relations appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has met with U.S. Department of State Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Louis Bono, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries, the current situation in the region, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the steps taken by Azerbaijan towards reintegration of the Armenian residents living in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the anti-terrorist measures carried out in response to the provocations of the Armenian armed forces, who continued to exist illegally in the territory of Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the so-called smear campaign of Armenia, aimed at misleading the international community, does not reflect the realities in the region.

The minister underlined that the departure of Armenian residents from the territory of Azerbaijan is their voluntary and individual decision, adding that it has nothing to do with forced relocation, which was confirmed by both the Prime Minister of Armenia and international organizations. The FM recalled the visits of UN officials to the region and statements made by the mission that took place after 30 years.

FM Bayramov noted that the statements about the so-called “ethnic cleansing” made by the Armenian government are aimed at disrupting the process of reintegration of local Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed other issues of mutual interest.

The post FM Bayramov, US Department of State Senior Advisor discuss normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

Azerbaijan joined China’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on its official website on Monday, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac, citing China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Space agencies of China and Azerbaijan signed a joint statement on cooperation on the ILRS program during the 74th International Astronautical Congress held in Baku, Azerbaijan from October 2 to 6.

According to the joint statement, the two sides will carry out extensive cooperation in the demonstration, implementation, operation, and application of the program, including mounting scientific instruments, providing training to personnel, and conducting scientific and technological experiments.

The signing of the joint statement is of great significance to promoting scientific and technological progress, advancing economic and social development, and consolidating cooperative relations between the two countries, said the CNSA.

The ILRS program, jointly initiated by China and Russia in 2021, aims to build a lunar base and carry out lunar research and exploration.

Before Azerbaijan, several countries, organizations, and institutions joined the program, including Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, South Africa, and Swiss company Nano-SPACE, according to the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory under the CNSA.

China unveiled its plan for the construction of the ILRS earlier, with the lunar station carried out in three phases.

The basic model of the lunar station is expected to be completed by 2028 and used to conduct lunar environment exploration and resource utilization verification.

It is set to undergo improvements by 2040, when scientists will make new discoveries about the sun, Earth, moon, and space environment, and a satellite constellation be developed to provide services for manned lunar landings and deep space exploration.

After that, the base will be upgraded from a scientific research-oriented experimental station to an application-oriented and multifunctional one.

During the process, China’s Chang’e-6, -7, and -8 lunar probes will be launched.

The Chang’e-6 lunar probe will be launched around 2024 to collect samples in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon.

The Chang’e-7 probe will be sent around 2026 to implement resource exploration of the lunar south pole and the Chang’e-8 around 2028 to conduct experiments on lunar resource utilization and to build the basic model of the lunar station, according to the CNSA.

The post China, Azerbaijan ink agreements on international lunar research station program appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

Azerbaijan says almost all of its cultural monuments on liberated …  Trend News Agency