From: farid@mem.odu.edu (F. H. Miandoab)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.turkish
Subject: -->>> News - Azerbaijan <<<-- Dec. 21-25
Date: 28 Dec 1992 00:07:59 -0600
Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin
Reply-To: Turkish Cultural Program List <TRKNWS-L%USCVM.BitNet@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU>
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

The following news from Turan News Agency in Baku-Azerbaijan
is brought to you as a service of the:

                  <Azerbaijan Aydinlig Association>
                         P.O. Box 14571
                       Berkeley, CA 94701
                      FAX: (804) 490-3832
                    Email: farid@mem.odu.edu

P L E A S E make a hard copy of the news available to an Azerbaijani near you!
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////



   MEASURES FOR SOCIAL PROTECTION OF STUDENTS AND REFUGEES

   BAKU (21 DEC.) TURAN: The sources close to the presidential
circles informed the turan agency that the edict on the two fold
rise in the students grants is to be signed in the nearest
future. The azeri students will receive 2,500-ruble-grants.
   The same source said that in line with that, assistance for
the unemployed refugees fleeing from karabakh and frontier regions
would be increased by 2.5 Times. Now for the daily nourishment
each unemployed refugee will be given 100 rubles.
    This edict covers about 65,000 refugees. The total
amount of the allotted money makes up 400 million rubles.--0--



   NEW INVESTMENTS TO THE AZERBAIJANI OIL-GAS BRANCHES

   BAKU (21 DEC.) TURAN: The world bank of reconstruction and
development is working on a special program for investments
in the oil-gas branches of azerbaijan, as the presidential
advisor for economic affairs vahid akhundov informed the turan
correspondent.
   The advisor said this program is aimed at technical
re-equipment of the industries. The decision to allow private
persons to invest money in these branches has become the marked
peculiarity of the program.
   The west is interested in reconstruction not only of the
azerbaijani industry but also of its banking, communication,
administrative and other systems. Without bringing into line the
laws of azerbaijan with the international norms, without
privatization and guarantees to the west capital, the west would
not further its investments to azerbaijan, stressed
akhundov.--0--



    IRAN GIVES UP ITS WAIT-AND-SEE POLICY

    BAKU ( 21 DEC.) TURAN: The representative of the iranian
embassy to azerbaijan expressed regret as the chairman of the
azerbaijani supreme soviet isa gambarov postponed his
official visit to iran, scheduled for december 19, due to the
complicated military-political situation, arisen in azerbaijan.
   Tehran considered that this visit was to become a very
important one to iran.  "Iran is going to strengthen its economic
positions both in azerbaijan and in other islamic republics of
the former ussr", the iranian minister of co-operation gulam-reza
shafei said to the turan correspondent during the ceremony of
signing the agreement on goods deliveries to nakhichevan.
   The iranian minister declared iran is ready for large investments
into the economy of these republics. "As for azerbaijan, there,
the potentials of the iranian business will prove themselves
very soon", said the minister.
    The azerbaijani minister of external economic links, rauf
karayev, informed the turan agency that "the iranian share in the
volume of external trade has been constantly growing and now,
this country is one of the main partners to azerbaijan."
    Within the last year, the official baku has been observing,
with irritation, the rapprochement of tehran and yerevan. And
if up to june of this year, the iranian side accentuated the
existence of the friendly rapport with armenia, now the
official tehran has become much more restrained.
    The iranian minister said to the turan correspondent
,clarifying the iranian stand of those days, that " as the armenian
units, just on the next day after the signing of the tehran
peace agreement, captured first the town of shusha, and
then the town of lachin, the authority of iran as a mediator were
gravely shaken. We know, it has damaged the iranian interests in
azerbaijan. And now, we are going to remedy the situation".
   The iranian participation in lifting the transport-energy
blockade from the autonomous republic of nakhichevan and
rendering humanitarian help to the republic prove these words of
gulam-reza shafei. But due to the tehran's assurances, it is only
the beginning.
   The azerbaijani factor has become the new element of the
iranian foreign policy - the factor which, just recently, had been
feared by the iranian government most of all. If earlier, iran had
grown irritated any time the azerbaijani government inquired about
the fate of 20 million azeris, living in iran, now , the iranian
leadership itself stresses the necessity of rapprochement
between the north and south parts of azerbaijan. But, in line
with this, iran stressed its wish to see azerbaijan
following the iranian and not the american suit.
  " In half a year, there will be not only hundreds of the
iranian businessmen in azerbaijan but also hundreds of clergymen",
announced recently one of the leaders of the azeri-iranian
commission for economic links before journalists.
   It could be also supposed, that behind the present-day
activity of iran lies the recent failure of the turkish foreign
policy in transcaucasia, caused by the turkish grain and fuel
deliveries to armenia.--0--


   FIRE EMPLACEMENTS SUPPRESSED

   BAKU (21 DEC.) TURAN: The press-service of the azerbaijani
defence ministry reports that early in the morning, the azeri
sub-units conducted a successful operation on suppressing
the fire emplacements of the armenian army, based in the village
of david bek. Armenians, from the positions in this village,
have constantly shelled the district center of gubatli on the
south-west of azerbaijan.
   The same source reports on heavy armenian casualties.


    FRIDAY SCHOOL AT "TAZA-PIR"

   BAKU (21 DEC.) TURAN: The friday school to help the azeris to
study the principles of islam has been opened at the baku's main
mosque - taza-pir.
   Under the program, within the first 9 lessons, the
parishioners will study the arabic alphabet, then they are to
start the study of the koran.
   There are no age restrictions, anyone, a child or a
pensioner, wishing to become aware of the islamic religion, can
visit the taza-pir's friday school.--0--



   THE DRAFT OF THE PROGRAM FOR ECONOMIC REFORMS IN
   AZERBAIJAN WORKED OUT

     BAKU (23 DEC.) TURAN: The presidential apparatus has
finished the work over the draft of the program for basic
orientations of economic reforms, which is going to be submitted
for the nation's consideration in the nearest future.
     "The document assigns the central part to privatization,
pricing and external economic activity", said the state
secretary panah huseynov to the turan correspondent.
    The document regards the processing industry as the branch
with higher priority for investments.
    The state secretary stressed that azerbaijan would pay
special attention to development of private property and is
going to conduct an encouraging credit policy towards owners.
   Regarding the present-day situation in azerbaijan, the state
secretary has admitted that sharp industrial recession is under
way in the azerbaijani economy, and all efforts to stop it
have turned a failure so far.
   "Up to now, we have been following the policy of "expensive
market", and that has led to the disturbance of balance between
production and wages. The next task of the government is to
to close this gap", said the state secretary.
   But in line with that, as huseynov believes, the policy of
" expensive market " should result in inflow of additional
billions of rubles, with the help of which the government is
going to stabilize the republic's economy.--0--



    AZERI AGRICULTURE IN SHAMBLES

    BAKU ( 23 DEC.) TURAN: Within the past several years, the most
disastrous recession in the azeri agriculture has been observed
this year.
   For 11 months of this year, 9.9 Thousand tons of meat was
produced against 14.5 Of the same period of the last year,
poultry -  10.1 Thousand tons against 19.3 Of the last year,
milk production - 74 thousand tons against 147.4 Thousand tons.
   Today a kilogram of beef costs about 400 rubles at the
azeri market, and butter is sold at 1,000 rubles a kilogram,
and within this month, these products never appeared at the
state-owned shops.
   The administrative board of the presidential body pins its
hopes on the purchasing of food-stuffs in the countries of the
cis. A number of the appropriate agreements were signed with
the ukraine, latvia, moldova and turkmenistan on
food-deliveries, mainly through barter - azerbaijan will deliver
fuel and production of the chemical industry to these countries.
   But the turan correspondent was informed by the
representative of the state machinery that it is impossible to
meet the food requirements of azerbaijan without additional
overseas deliveries. The situation has been aggravating by
the shortage of the foreign currency in azerbaijan.
   At present, azeri leadership has advantage of the turkish
credits to the amount of 300 mln. Dollars, which were allowed to
president abulfaz elchibey in the course of his official visit
to turkey in november of this year.--0--


    AZERBAIJAN RE-ESTABLISHED ITS CONTROL OVER THE HEIGHTS IN
    THE REGION OF KEDABEK

   BAKU (23 DEC.) TURAN: The press-center of the azerbaijani
defence ministry reports that the whole day of december 22,
azeri sub-units were conducting operation on suppressing the
armenian fire-emplacements along the north-west borders of
azerbaijan.
    In the successful attack, azeri sub-units captured a
number of strategic heights, from where the armenian artillery
used to shell the villages in the region of kedabek.
    According to the defence ministry, 5 pieces of ordnance, a
lorry and a  number of armenian soldiers have been destroyed
in the attack.
    Having captured the heights, azeri sub-units delivered blows
to the military objects of the armenian troops, based along the
state border.
    In other parts of the combat zone, azeri troops have
destroyed a tank and a bmp with their crew.--0--



   THE HEAD OF THE MOSLEMS OF THE CAUCASUS IS READY FOR A
    MEETING WITH CATHOLICS OF ARMENIA

   BAKU (23 DEC.) TURAN: The head of the moslems of the caucasus,
pashazade has announced in paris on his readiness for a
meeting with the catholics of the armenian church vazgen first.
   In an interview with the french journalist he said that
he had suggested to carry out such kind of meeting not once.
In pashazade's opinion, this meeting could help bring the peace
in the region nearer.--0--



    THE AID OF THE UN FOR THE AZERI REFUGEES

   BAKU (23 DEC.) TURAN: Yesterday 30 tons of humanitarian loads
were delivered by a special air maiden trip to the baku
airport from turkey. This is the first lot of the international
aid, sanctioned by the commission of the un for the refugees.
   This lot of the humanitarian loads, which includes
food-staffs, clothes and bed clothes totaling 2 mln dollars,
is intended for the azeri refugees from the nagorno-karabakh
and the frontier with armenia regions of the republic.--0--


    RESTORATION WORKS IN AGDERE

   BAKU (23 DEC.) TURAN: The press-service of the azerbaijani
cabinet of ministers informs that the government of the republic
has allowed 35 mln rubles for the restoration of the economic
units ruined in the war in agdere (formerly mardakert).
   The restoration and putting into operation of two stone
quarries and cognac plant are planned as the nearest tasks.
   At present, several thousands of azeris and russians, forced
to leave their native places four years ago by the military
actions, have already returned to these places.--0--


    FROM BAKU TO NAKHICHEVAN THROUGH THE TERRITORY OF IRAN

   BAKU (23 DEC.) TURAN: The 57 km. Railroad section, linking
nakhichevan to the rest part of azerbaijan through the territory
of iran can be put to use by the end of 1993, - said the deputy
of the chairman of the supreme soviet of azerbaijan, afiyaddin
jalilov to the turan correspondent.
  The sides are going to negotiate the final agreement on
building in the nearest future.
   Putting into operation of this railroad section will
help break the blockade of the nakhichevani autonomous republic,
to which, during nearly a year, industrial loads for population
can't be delivered through the armenian overlapping of the
megri section of the railroad.
   At the same time, the works to widen 220 km. Motor road
along the river of arakas, running through the iranian territory
will take place. Presently, two motor roads link baku and
nakhichevan for transporting passengers and industrial loads for
population along this road.--0--


    WAGES OF TEACHERS WILL BE INCREASED ONLY BY 50 PERCENT

   BAKU (23 DEC.) TURAN: The wages of the workers of the
education department of the republic will be increased not by 2.5
Times as it was pointed in the draft resolution of the milli majlis,
but only by 50 percent from january 1, 1993- the correspondent of
turan was informed by the azeri minister of the public education,
firudin jalilov. Otherwise, the budget of the education department
would take approximately two thirds of the budget of the republic.--0--


    AZERBAIJAN IS NOT GOING TO END THE BLOCKADE AGAINST THE
    AGGRESSOR STATE

    BAKU (24 DEC.) TURAN: Foreign minister of azerbaijan, tofig
gasimov, gave a press-conference on the outcome of his
three-week-tour, in the course of which he participated in a
number of international forums, held in south-east asia, the
near and middle east and europe.
    Regarding the situation arisen in the balkans, the minister
said that the azerbaijani delegation has joined in the resolution
by the csce to solicit the un for dropping the embargo against
bosnia-herzegovina and that he himself did appreciate such a
step of the azeri delegation.
    Gasimov outlined that both iran and turkey remained the most
important foreign partners of azerbaijan. In line with that,
regarding the summit of the black-sea-region's foreign
ministers, held in istanbul at the beginning of december, he
stressed that azerbaijan could give up its participation in this
association any time, if it starts to turn into a political
body.
    The minister informed the press about his meeting with
the u.S. State secretary, eagleberger, in the course of which the
sides considered the karabakh conflict too. " I did not agree
with the arguments of the state secretary, who tried to link the
beginning of the peace negotiations with armenia to lifting
of the blockade against this country."
   " We shall never allow the cargo for this aggressor state go
through our territory", said the minister.
   Gasimov said we should go on with looking for peaceful
solution to the azeri-armenian conflict within the bounds of the
csce.  But according to the minister's words " the csce's
mechanics of settlement of such conflicts has not been adjusted
as yet and needs improvement".--0--



    POSITIONS OF THE AZERI GENERAL PROSECUTOR STRENGTHENING
    BAKU (24 DEC.) TURAN: The milli mejlis has inserted the
amendments into the constitution of the republic of
azerbaijan to widen the powers of the general prosecutor and to
afford him protection against the executive power, in particular
against the administrative board of the president.
    The new amendments changed the former state of things, when
it was the president who appointed or dismissed the general
prosecutor. The adopted amendment to the article 4, clause 13
stipulates that the general prosecutor should be appointed or
removed only by recommendation of the president and with
approval of the milli mejlis.
    The next amendment, inserted to the part 2, article 7, has
sufficiently strengthened the positions of the general
prosecutor within the judicial system. He has been granted the
sole powers to appoint and to depose the chief prosecutors within
republic and also the prosecutor to the autonomous republic of
nakhichevan. In the past, such personnel changes had to be approved
by the parliament.
    One of the amendments provides the liquidation of the board
of the prosecutor's office of azerbaijan.--0--



     IRAN STRENGTHENING ITS POSITIONS IN THE TRANSCAUCASIA

    BAKU (24 DEC.) TURN: Islam and economy are the means with
the help of which iran is going to strengthen its clout in the
islamic countries of the by gone ussr and first of all, in
azerbaijan - such was the leading idea of the press-conference of
the iranian ambassador to azerbaijan ali asker nahavendian, held
in baku on october 23.
    Regarding the priorities of the iranian foreign policy, the
diplomat stressed that azerbaijan "is the state, in which iran
is especially interested". Behind this interest stand "the six
centuries of common history of these two nations, whom the enemy
has managed to separate 179 years ago", outlined the ambassador.
   More than once the diplomat stressed that the iranian help to
the autonomous republic of nakhichevan is the prime example
of the attitude of his country towards azerbaijan. But, as the
ambassador believes,"it is the foes of these two nations who
are eager to minimize the iranian role to prevent rapprochement of
the two states-brothers." Judging by everything, these foes are
"zionists, americans and europeans, striving to undermine
the process of rapprochement of the world's moslems".
   Regarding the azeri-iranian economic co-operation, the
ambassador avowed readiness of his country to render azerbaijan
any needed help to overcome the economic crisis in the republic.
   Responding to the question whether iran has initiatives to
settle the azeri-armenian war, nahavendian announced that his
country pinned hopes that both republics would realize in the
nearest future the lack of any prospects in this war, and that
would give a chance to resume the mediatorial efforts. And he
stressed again that "the islamic country would render much more
help to azerbaijan, if the latter proves that he abides by the
islamic principles not by words but by deeds".
   The majority of observers links the changes in the attitude
of iran towards azerbaijan to the changes taken place in the
tehran's tactics towards its northern neighbor. Many do
remember the statement of the foreign minister of iran ali
akbar velayati made in moscow at the beginning of 1991, running
that iran would never, on no grounds, recognize the independence
of azerbaijan. At present, the iranian officials are not tired of
repeating that iran welcomes the re-establishment of the
azerbaijani sovereignty, stressing the religious, ethnic and
spiritual closeness of these two countries.
   The threat of the azerbaijani separatism, which might have
led to collapse of iran, should turn into the opposite process,
as the iranian politicians think. That is, into the strengthening
within the north azerbaijan of the pro-iranian sentiments.
   The near future will prove whether the tehran's tactics has
any success.--0--



    BRANCH TRADE-UNIONS BOOST FOR CONFERENCE

   BAKU (24 DEC.) TURAN: The extraordinary plenum of the
council of the azeri trade-unions took place today in baku.
   24 Branch trade-unions, practically left the council
of the trade-unions on the eve of the conference and have
appealed to the presidium of the council to abandon the former
centralize system of governing of the trade-union's
organizations and to create the confederation of the azeri
trade-unions.
   The appeal blames the passive activity of the leadership
of the trade-union's council, which is responsible for the
fall of the living standard of the population and the loss
of the trust of workers for trade-unions.--0--



    THE HEAD OF THE MOSLEMS OF THE CAUCASUS CONGRATULATES POPE
    ON CHRISTMAS

   BAKU (24 DEC.) TURAN: The chairman of the administration of the
moslems of the caucasus, sheykhulislam haji allahshukur pashazade,
has sent a telegram to pope ioan pavel ii, in which he
congratulated him on christmas.
   The head of the moslems of the caucasus has expressed his
regret that the day the whole world celebrates the birth of
the great peace lover, the mankind becomes a witness of the fall
of cost of human's life and the spreading of the violence.
   Sheykhulislam mentioned that the armenian gregorian church
does not avoid blessing of the violence against azerbaijan,
which has become the blood target, where one could observe
bloodshed, death of children, women and elderly.
   "In the holy day for christians and moslems I hope that my
words will be echoed in your heart and I believe that you will use
your high authority for re-establishment of peace and justice on
the soil of azerbaijan", with these words the head of the moslems
of the caucasus has concluded his appeal.--0--



    AMBASSADOR OF IRAN REFUTES

   BAKU (24 DEC.) TURAN: The ambassador of the islamic republic of
iran to azerbaijan, ali asker nahavendian, in the course of the
interview with the turan correspondent has classified the
information, spread by armenian mass-media that the azeri
artillery has shelled the territory of iran as the "goebbels
propaganda".
   According to the armenian sources, it was the settlements
in north iran that suffered gravely from the most mighty blow as
the result the azeri shelling of the south regions of armenia
in the middle of december. That blow, as armenians insisted,
led to death of many and serious destructions in the settlements.
   The ambassador has also denied the information of the snark
agency on the agreement of iran to deliver fuel to armenia.
'Such kinds of figments are aimed at embroiling iran with
azerbaijan" - has marked ali asker nahavendian.--0--



    COORDINATOR OF THE HELSINKI CIVIL ASSEMBLY ARRESTED

    BAKU (25 DEC.) TURAN: This afternoon, azerbaijani police
arrested the picketers, protesting, in front of the building
of the supreme soviet, against the recently passed law on the
state language of azerbaijan.
    The picket was arranged by the azerbaijani social-democratic
party (asdp). A member of the asdp's board abil huseynov said to
the turan agency that the participants of the picket wanted to
show their discontent in connection with the acceptance of the
law, which, in their mind, can lead to destabilization of the
situation in azerbaijan and provoke the discontent of the
national minorities living in the republic.
   According to the huseynov's words, in all, police has
arrested 26 ralliers, among them the deputy of the azerbaijani
supreme soviet, chairman of the asdp, araz alizade, the laureate
of ulof palme prize of 1992, coordinator of the national
committee of the helsinki civil assembly, arzu abdullayeva,
and others.--0--



     LAW ON STATE LANGUAGE GIVES EQUAL RIGHTS TO ALL ETHNIC
     GROUPS IN AZERBAIJAN

   BAKU (25 DEC.) TURAN: The first deputy chairman of the
azerbaijani parliament tamerlan karayev classified the
proclamation of the turkic language as the state language of
azerbaijan as the re-establishment of historical and logical
justice.
   Karayev thinks, that the notion "azerbaijani language",
forced into being by the stalin's regime in 1938, is not quite
correct as the geographic name had been taken for its foundation.
"More correctly, to my mind, to call it not the azerbaijani
language, but the azerbaijani dialect."
   "Our return to the appellation of turkic language also implies
the re-establishment of the historical name of the nation -
- azerbaijani turks", said karayev to the turan correspondent.
    Karayev believes that this decision of the milli mejlis would
not lead to the split or estrangement between the ethnic
groups in azerbaijan. "Having re-established their historical
name, the turks equalized themselves in civil rights with all
ethnic groups living within azerbaijan. And in this case, all
nations and nationalities may call themselves the azeris to
convey the idea of not national but civil belonging".
   "If we do really wish to build the democratic state we have
the only way - all citizens of azerbaijan are the azeris, and
the usa's experience shows a brilliant example of it", stressed
the speaker.
   But being a lawyer karayev said that from the legal point of
view the bill would be invalid till the appropriate alternations
be inserted to the constitution, which could take place only
after a national referendum.--0--



   KARIMOV'S REGIME FEARS BAKU'S INFLUENCE

    BAKU  (25 DEC.) TURAN: Several days have elapsed since the
flights connecting baku and tashkent were canceled.
    The administrative board of the azerbaijani civil aviation
informed the turan correspondent that the tashkent's authorities
have refused to accept azeri planes, alleging the absence of
fuel.
    In line with that, the uzbekistan's authorities gave no
affirmative answer to the azerbaijani offer to deliver the
needed fuel to the tashkent's airport to refuel the azeri
planes.
    The well-informed sources within the azerbaijani leadership
said to the turan correspondent that the true reason for the
flight's abolishment was the wish of the tashkent's rulers to
cut off all the links with the regions, representing the
potential danger to political stability in  uzbekistan.
   As it is known, earlier, a number of political dissidents
from uzbekistan and other republics of the central asia, who more
than once have announced that it was baku backing up the
democratic movements in the central asia, have found political
asylum in baku.--0--


    THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR ARRANGEMENT OF THE WORLD
    CONGRESS OF AZERIS IS SET UP

   BAKU (25 DEC.) TURAN: By the order of president of azerbaijan
abulfaz elchibey, the organizing committee for arrangement of the
world congress of azeris has been set up.
   It is supposed that in the congress, scheduled for the
beginning of the next year in baku, the representatives of the
azeri associations of countrymen from many countries all over the
world will take part.
    According to various estimations, the total number of azeris
in the world alternates between 30 and 36 millions, with the
majority of them - more than 20 millions, living in iran.
    In a number of countries the azeris have rather strong
positions in business and political circles. But the greater
part of them has no established contacts with their motherland.
     The main aims of the future congress is to consolidate the
azeri associations of countrymen, scattered all over the world and
to enlist their co-operation for restoration of the independent
azerbaijani state.
    The idea of the all-out azeri consolidation is paid a
great attention in the plans of the current azeri government.
The president himself more than once has stressed the necessity
of the quickest creation of the azerbaijani lobby in the most
advanced and influential states of the world.--0--


   OSTANKINO REMAINS IN AZERBAIJAN

    BAKU (25 DEC.) TURAN: From january 1 there will be no
broadcasting of the russian television channel for
azerbaijan.
   First deputy chairman of the state broadcasting concern, safar
alishrli, explained this forced step by the necessity of granting
the second channel to independent television associations, which
have been setting up in azerbaijan.
   As it is known, azerbaijan has a limited number of the
broadcasting channels.
   At present, azeri television is broadcasting  the local
program, the channel of ostankino and of russian television and
the first channel of the turkish television. On sundays, from
21:00 local time the russian television's channel is given by
azerbaijan to the turkish company of zaman.
   The representative of the national broadcasting company also
added that the channel of ostankino would remain in the azeri
broadcasting.--0--


    THE AZERBAIJANI OIL IS THE BASIS OF THE RUSSIAN-AZERBAIJAN
    CO-OPERATION

   BAKU (25 DEC.) TURAN: On december 22 the summit of the
new russian premier, victor chernomirdin, and the azerbaijani
first vice-premier vahid ahmedov took place in moscow.
   Ahmedov after home-coming from moscow has informed
journalists that the visit was non-official one. Nevertheless,
the vice-premier considers that its results will have a great
importance for commercial and economical relations of
azerbaijan.
   Ahmedov said that during the meeting the main attention was
paid to re-establish of the broken links between both
countries in the sphere of the oil engineering industry and the
processing of oil-products.
   It is known that at the time of the ussr's existence,
azerbaijan was a monopolist in the production of oil-field equipment
and production of certain oil based chemicals. Besides,
the great share of the russian oil was processed at baku's
enterprises - in the region of sumgait.
   One can consider the need of the russian military/industrial
complex in the azeri oil, unique by its quality, which has been
remaining for long years the inexhaustible source of fuel for
the military and cosmic branches as the definite factor of the
co-operation.--0--


    DROPS IN PRODUCTION

  BAKU (25 DEC.) TURAN: The governmental statistics informs
that according to the totals of 11 months of the current year,
the situation in the azeri power industry remains difficult.
   The level of the benzine production for this period has
constituted 67 percent in comparison with the same period of the
last year. The production of the other kinds of fuel in
comparison with the last year has dropped : diesel fuel -
88 percent, mazut - 77 percent, autobenzine - 86 percent.
   The total volume of oil output in azerbaijan within this
period reached 10.2 Mln tons, which constituted 95 percent
against the level of the last year.
   The situation in other branches of power is not better. The
volume of the natural gas output for 11 months constituted
91 percent against the level of the last year.--0--



   ATTACKS IN THE REGION OF ZANGELAN DO NOT STOP

  BAKU ( 25 DEC.) TURAN: The press-center of the republican
defence ministry informs that the whole day of december 24
battles in the region of zangelan in azerbaijan went on.
There sub-units of the armenian army have again violated the
frontier of azerbaijan and attacked the villages of gyyudara
and youkhariyemezly. In the undertaken counter measures, the
enemy was hurled back from the territory of azerbaijan,
leaving on the field of battle about 50 soldiers.
  The situation in the neighboring region of gubatli, the
territory of which is subjected to shelling from the positions
in the armenian region of kafan, remains complicated. Last night
in this region the village of geyal was shelled. The counter
fire was opened to suppress the fire positions of the
enemy.--0--


    TRADE-UNIONS DETERMINED TO REFORM

   BAKU (25 DEC.) TURAN: The extraordinary plenary session of
the council of the azeri trade-union has ended with the
resignation of its chairman, ex-communist-functionaire kamran
agagyseynov.
   The plenary session, representing 30 branch trade-unions, has
passed a resolution on the calling of the extraordinary congress
for february 5.
   On the eve of the plenary session, 25 branch trade-unions
avowed the necessity of the confederative reconstruction of
the trade-unions movement in azerbaijan.
   By the confession of the leaders of the trade-unions, the
trade -union's council in its present-day form is not able to
provide the security of the social rights of workers. --0--


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                    Fax: (8922) 66-2009
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