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Day: February 9, 2024
On 8 February, Irakli Kobakhidze and his new cabinet won a vote of confidence from the parliament with 84 votes to 10. Eleven out of twelve cabinet ministers retained their ministerial positions. Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani is the only new cabinet member, replacing Juansher Burchuladze in this post.
President Salome Zurabishvili, whom the ruling Georgian Dream party considers a member of the radical opposition, signed a decree appointing Irakli Kobakhidze as prime minister. According to the president, her prompt signature on the appointment of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was due to the fight against natural disasters in western Georgia, which claimed the lives of 11 people.
As Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze will make his first foreign visit to Brussels, already scheduled for February 20-21. “A visit to Brussels is already scheduled for February 20-21. I will have meetings both in the EU and NATO. So my first foreign visit will take place in Brussels,” PM Kobakhidze told journalists.
Besides Brussels, PM Irakli Kobakhidze pledged to visit the occupation line, something he had not done so far in his previous posts, prompting ongoing criticism from the opposition representatives. “Due to my new status, I will have to visit the occupation line and get acquainted with the on-the-ground situation and the needs of the local population,” said Kobakhidze.
Interior Ministry’s emergency response teams continue to deal with the consequences of natural disasters in the western Georgian regions of Imereti and Adjara, claiming the lives of 11 people. Nine people were killed by a landslide in Imereti, while two others were reported dead in Adjara.
The de facto leader of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, visited Moscow, where he met with high-ranking Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Putin’s First Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Deputy Secretary of Security Council Rashid Nurgaliyev. According to Bzhania’s office, during the visit, the parties discussed “bilateral cooperation” between the occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia and Russia in the socio-economic, energy, and other fields.
Upon his return from Russia, the leader of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, submitted a so-called draft law “On non-profit organizations and individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent” to the de facto legislature of Abkhazia. According to the draft law, non-profit organizations and individuals can be recognized as foreign agents if they receive foreign funding, with the exception of Russia, Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru.
National Communications Commission announcement indicates a considerable increase in commercial TV advertising revenues of pro-government TV channels – TV Imedi, Rustavi 2, and POSTV, while opposition-minded media outlets such as Mtavari TV, Formula TV, and TV Pirveli experience a decrease. According to the Commission, advertising revenues of the ruling party’s principal mouthpiece, TV Imedi, increased by GEL 8.6 million from 2022 and amounted to GEL 33.7 million.
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The Daily Beat: 8 February
On 8 February, Irakli Kobakhidze and his new cabinet won a vote of confidence from the parliament with 84 votes to 10. Eleven out of twelve cabinet ministers retained their ministerial positions. Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani is the only new cabinet member, replacing Juansher Burchuladze in this post.
President Salome Zurabishvili, whom the ruling Georgian Dream party considers a member of the radical opposition, signed a decree appointing Irakli Kobakhidze as prime minister. According to the president, her prompt signature on the appointment of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was due to the fight against natural disasters in western Georgia, which claimed the lives of 11 people.
As Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze will make his first foreign visit to Brussels, already scheduled for February 20-21. “A visit to Brussels is already scheduled for February 20-21. I will have meetings both in the EU and NATO. So my first foreign visit will take place in Brussels,” PM Kobakhidze told journalists.
Besides Brussels, PM Irakli Kobakhidze pledged to visit the occupation line, something he had not done so far in his previous posts, prompting ongoing criticism from the opposition representatives. “Due to my new status, I will have to visit the occupation line and get acquainted with the on-the-ground situation and the needs of the local population,” said Kobakhidze.
Interior Ministry’s emergency response teams continue to deal with the consequences of natural disasters in the western Georgian regions of Imereti and Adjara, claiming the lives of 11 people. Nine people were killed by a landslide in Imereti, while two others were reported dead in Adjara.
The de facto leader of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, visited Moscow, where he met with high-ranking Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Putin’s First Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Deputy Secretary of Security Council Rashid Nurgaliyev. According to Bzhania’s office, during the visit, the parties discussed “bilateral cooperation” between the occupied Georgian region of Abkhazia and Russia in the socio-economic, energy, and other fields.
Upon his return from Russia, the leader of occupied Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, submitted a so-called draft law “On non-profit organizations and individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent” to the de facto legislature of Abkhazia. According to the draft law, non-profit organizations and individuals can be recognized as foreign agents if they receive foreign funding, with the exception of Russia, Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru.
National Communications Commission announcement indicates a considerable increase in commercial TV advertising revenues of pro-government TV channels – TV Imedi, Rustavi 2, and POSTV, while opposition-minded media outlets such as Mtavari TV, Formula TV, and TV Pirveli experience a decrease. According to the Commission, advertising revenues of the ruling party’s principal mouthpiece, TV Imedi, increased by GEL 8.6 million from 2022 and amounted to GEL 33.7 million.
The Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has reached out to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan for dialogue and cooperation. A formal appeal has been made by the Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation Committee of the Verkhovna Rada in this regard, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.
The appeal highlighted the circumstances surrounding the PACE winter session of 2024 and the failure to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani Parliament’s delegation. An appeal for both sides was adopted at the meeting of the Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on February 7, 2024.
In its appeal, the Committee calls on PACE and the Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan to resume the negotiation process and seek opportunities through a constructive dialogue. The appeal emphasized the importance of resolving the issues guided by the principles of democracy and the rule of law, despite the current challenges.
The post Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine calls for dialogue between PACE and Milli Majlis appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.
TURKSOY (International Organization of Turkic Culture) Secretary General Sultan Rayev has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his confident victory in the presidential election, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Trend.
The post Secretary General of TURKSOY congratulates President Ilham Aliyev appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.
Swiss SRF Radio and Television has broadcast an extensive reportage about the snap presidential election held in Azerbaijan and the region’s economic and transport infrastructure potential, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.
The report highlighted the presidential election in Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev`s landslide victory.
“Azerbaijan is located along vital transport and trade routes in the South Caucasus, but regional conflicts and geopolitical complexities hinder the full realization of this potential. The strategic partnership between Türkiye and Azerbaijan is pivotal, especially considering the significance of the land route passing through Azerbaijan`s Nakhchivan region, extending to the Caspian Sea and Central Asia,” the reportage mentioned.
The film crew visited Nakhchivan and engaged in discussions with businessmen and truck drivers about the challenges they face. They highlighted how transporting goods through the territory of Iran incurs additional customs payments, time loss, and complicates trade turnover in the South Caucasus. Therefore, the revival of the road infrastructure, known as the Zangazur corridor, is crucial. Azerbaijan, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, is making efforts to reopen this corridor.
Citing to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the report underscored the importance of Nakhchivan in the economy, transport, and energy sectors, emphasizing the potential for enhancing regional transport and communication opportunities.
The reportage features that the transport corridor passing through the territory of Nakhchivan not only connects Türkiye with Azerbaijan but also with the Central Asian countries.
It pays special attention to the growing influence of Türkiye in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, with strong support from businessmen in the region.
A Turkish businessman interviewed by the film crew hailed the ongoing processes as a revival of the historic Great Silk Road, suggesting that a small portion of this road should be included in modern infrastructure. He expressed confidence that the Azerbaijani government`s astute foreign policy would address these challenges.
The SRF`s report mentions that Armenia has not supported these road initiatives, and the border zone between Nakhchivan and Armenia remains a closed military area. However, there is hope that instead of weapons, diplomats should talk about these territories located at the crossroads of three countries.
The post Swiss SRF Radio & Television airs reportage on snap presidential election in Azerbaijan appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.
“We resolutely reject and condemn the statement targeting Azerbaijan that was delivered by Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, during the ceremony dedicated to the accession of Armenia to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 8 February 2024,” said MFA spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada as he commented Ararat Mirzoyan’s speech, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.
“This speech once again demonstrates that Armenia’s accession to the Rome Statute is yet another attempt to exploit such institutions for its groundless allegations, malign actions, hate propaganda, disinformation and misinterpretation of international law.
The failure of the international community to prevent and end Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan and its occupation of our territories for almost 30 years, mass atrocities and crimes against humanity, continuing warmongering statements and actions by Armenia, have only contributed to this country’s sense of impunity.
Armenia’s continuing claims against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, as well as inciting and promoting racial hatred against Azerbaijanis, not only contravenes the international law norms and principles, but also the commitments of Armenia under the provision order of the International Court of Justice of 7 December 2021 in the case Azerbaijan v. Armenia.
It is important that the international community remember and insist on accountability for the war crimes committed by Armenia during its aggression, the tens of thousands of civilians brutally killed, large-scale ethnic cleansing that it carried out and thousands of cities, towns and villages that it razed to the ground with the sole purpose of fulfilling its unlawful territorial claims based on fabricated historical narratives and racist ideology.
Azerbaijan will continue its efforts to end impunity for serious violations of international law, promote the rule of law and build, strengthen and sustain peace, security and stability in the region,” Aykhan Hajizada emphasized.
The post Aykhan Hajizada: We resolutely reject Ararat Mirzoyan’s statement targeting Azerbaijan appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.
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