News Digest

Turkish, Georgian presidents coming to launch Sah-Daniz
Presidents Ahmad Necdet Sezer of Turkey and Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia are due on a short visit to Baku, to participate in the official ceremony sanctioning the Sah-Daniz project, at the Gulustan Palace on March 27. A Georgian official told AssA-Irada that the ceremony will start at the residence of President Aliyev, where the three heads of state are to witness the document, and will pass on to a ceremonial party at Gulustan Palace to be attended by 500 officials from the project-involved countries.

Iraq war may delay BTC construction
SOCAR President Natiq Aliyev has told journalists that possible US action against Iraq could affect the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) main oil export pipeline. According to him, pipes are transported to Baku by rail from the Isgandarun port of Turkey. And the opening of the "North front" may cause delays in transportation.

Islamists to picket US embassy
The Japan-based Women's Movement for Peace has pleaded with the world community to prevent killings of innocent people in possible US war against Iraq. A spokesperson for the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) of Azerbaijan has told AssA-Irada that the IDP also stands by the plea and for this purpose, will picket the US embassy in Baku at 15:00 on 25 March.

French ambassador refute PM rumors
French ambassador Chantal Poiret denied newsreports claiming that Ilham Aliyev, son of Azeri President, met Jacques Chirac to obtain approval by France for his alleged future appointment as Prime Minister, but in his role at the Coucil of Europe. "Ilham Aliyev met President Jacques Chirac not as a future Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, but in his capacity as PACE Vice President. I refute rumors alleging that Ilham Aliyev recieved approval from France to take up the post of Prime Minister".

Romania stands by US in Iraqi standoff
Romanian ambassador to Azerbaijan Tasin Jamil has confirmed in Baku last week his nation’s full support of the US over Iraq. The ambassador told an AssA-Irada correspondent that a 3,000 strong US contingent has been deployed in a military base near the Black Sea port of Constanza, with further military build-up planned. He said these forces are not heading for Iraq since the US is currently moving its military bases in Germany to Eastern European countries including, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria.

Pakistani, Greek embassies cancel national holiday celebrations
Pakistan and Greece will mark their National Independence days on 23 and 25 March. The embassies in Azerbaijan of both nations had planned to celebrate the national holiday at the Hyatt Park in Baku.  The Pakistani embassy even issued invitations to the ceremony. A spokesperson for the Hyatt Regency Hotel has told AssA-Irada these ceremonies will not be held due to the current situation around Iraq and the orders for the holiday parties were cancelled.