News Digest

BTC construction at 1km a day
The constriction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan moves forward 1km a day, while a 7 km-long pipe has been welded and laid in the 2-meter deep trench, a source from the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) has told AssA-Irada.
Land treatment work has been carried out in the area of 25 km along the corridor, with 700 pipes welded.
The construction of the BTC was launched near the Sangacal terminal as 39,000, 11 meter pipes will be used for the construction of 445km-long pipeline in Azerbaijan.

EU, Azerbaijan launch energy dialogue
"During the period of Greek chairmanship, the European Union (EU) made a decision to hold primary dialogue with Azerbaijan on ensuring the access of Central Asian countries to the West through the South Caucasus states, as seven routes will be determined for this purpose," Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Ioannis Magriotis has told journalists. According to the diplomat, the routes envision the export of Azerbaijan's natural gas to European countries via Turkey and Greece.
Stating that Greece has launched dialogues with Azerbaijan on energy, Mr. Magriotis said his country has also signed agreements with Italy and Baltic states for this purpose, underlining that Azerbaijan will become a gas exporting country in the region in prospect.

Iran is not another Iraq, says FM
Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev refuted the local and foreign media reports on repetition of the Iraqi developments in Iran. Mr. Quliyev has told Azernews the military operations in Iraq evolved due to existence of Saddam Hussein's dictatorial regime.
"This regime was a source of danger for all nations of the region. However, there is a government elected by and won the confidence of the people in Iran and I am sure, this government will be able to resolve the problems of the country," Mr. Quliyev stressed. Noting the development of definite inter-country processes within Iran, the Minister said the Iranian people are quite mature to resolve the internal problems in case there is no interference from outside.

Baku welcomes restoration of Turkmen embassy
"The Turkmen embassy in Baku may restore its activities any time and we have repeatedly notified official Ashgabad on our standpoint. Turkmenistan itself made a decision on recalling its embassy to Ashgabad and we will only welcome the resumption of Turkmen embassy in Baku," Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev has told Azernews. He went on saying that there is no problem with the activities of the Azerbaijani embassy opened in Ashgabad a few months ago. The embassy assists the Azerbaijanis residing in Turkmenistan, who face with problems of state registration, as well as obstacles due to the economic difficulties existing in this country. Noting opening of Azerbaijani embassy in Italy in the near future, the Minister said the Italian government has approved a candidate presented by official Baku.

A taste of Austria in July
The days of Austrian culture will open in an official ceremony at the Chamber and Organ Music Hall on July 25.
The Society of Vienna-Baku Cultural Relations has told AssA-Irada Austrian musicians Donna Ellen, Erik Bukhma, Lazalo Miklos, and Andreas Malnar will give concerts, with several exhibitions to open within the event that is to last until July 31. Under mutual accord reached between Culture Ministers of the two countries, Azerbaijani culture days will be organized in Vienna this September.

Hamlet in a new production
Yug Theater will welcome the visitors to a new building in July with a first night of the play, Hamlet, Aphelia and autodafe, based on "Hamlet" tragedy by William Shakespeare. A source from the Theater has told AssA-Irada the play produced by Irada Gozalova of Azerbaijan and Rasim Hasim of Turkey will be staged on an absolutely new plot with different ending.