Summary of Azeri ANS TV programme “Otan Hafta” at 1600 gmt 01 May 05
ANS TV, Baku
1 May 05
1. 0000 Headlines
2. 0055 In a “sensational” statement on CNN-Turk, the former Turkish
envoy to the OSCE, Yalim Eralp, said that the Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders had reached a preliminary agreement on the Karabakh conflict,
ANS said. Under the agreement, which will be not a peace accord but
an agreement towards a phased settlement, Armenians will vacate five
of the occupied Azerbaijani districts. ANS quoted the envoy as saying
that the agreement is expected to be made public at a Council of Europe
summit on 15 May in Warsaw. Video showed library pictures of officials.
3. 0349 ANS quoted Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili as
saying that Russia is the main reason why conflicts in the post-Soviet
area have not been resolved. Video showed the minister speaking in
English with overlaid Azeri translation about Russia and the USA’s
positions on conflicts in the region and about Georgia’s ties with
the USA and Azerbaijan.
4. 0752 Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev said he is sure
steps taken by Azerbaijan and Moldova towards the resolution of the
separatism-based conflicts they are experiencing will yield results
in the near future. Video showed the prime minister speaking to ANS
in Russian with overlaid Azeri translation.
5. 1032 In an interview with ANS in the studio, the head of the
Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE), Samad Seyidov, said a provisional committee for
the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict had been set up
at PACE’s recent session. The first meeting of the committee will
be held in June, Seyidov said. He added that while the Azerbaijani
authorities and opposition have a single position on the resolution
of the Karabakh issue, this is not the case in Armenia.
6. 2002 A PACE statement has criticized the situation in Azerbaijan
ahead of the parliamentary elections. Video showed Eldar Namazov,
captioned as one of the founders of the Yeni Siyasat (New Policy)
electoral bloc, and Ali Karimli, captioned as one of the founders of
the Musavat – People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party – Democratic Party
of Azerbaijan electoral bloc, speaking about changes that should be
made to the electoral legislation. In an interview with ANS in the
studio, Ali Hasanov, head of the public-political department of the
presidential administration, said the authorities were ready to accept
“any” proposals from the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission
and the Azerbaijani public only provided that the election process
is not disturbed and the election is held objectively. He said exit
polls would be allowed to be held by foreign organizations during
the election. He also regretted the “extremely subjective” approach
of Freedom House to the situation in Azerba! ijan.
7. 3356 Commercials.
8. 3927 President Ilham Aliyev visited Samaxi. Aliyev told journalists
that his recent anti-inflation and anti-monopoly instructions would
yield results in the near future. Video showed the president hearing
complaints from people, visiting a market.
9. 4750 Flat prices in Baku have increased by 45 per cent in the past
year because of growing demand for apartments, monopoly in construction
industry and increase in prices for land, ANS said. Video showed
pictures of Baku.
10. 5410 Mortgages will start to be issued before the end of the
year. Video showed Sahmar Movsumov of the National Bank saying that
the duration of the loan will be 10 years.
11. 1:0118 Commercials.
12. 1:0619 People who have installed water meters in their flats pay
for water less than those who have not installed them. Video showed
people speaking about their water bills.
13. 1:1315 The president of the Barmek electricity company “declared
war” on owners of villas on Baku’s outskirts as they illegally do
not pay in full for electricity they use. Video showed villas.
14. 1:1517 ANS says some advertising companies face
“discrimination”. Video showed presidents of advertising companies
complaining that their applications to place adverts on billboards
in Baku were rejected and somebody else’s approved.
15. 1:2139 The central hospital in a district forged documents to
give illegal maternity leaves to thirty-six employees. As a result,
22m manats (4,569 dollars) were embezzled. Video showed hospital,
documents.
16. 1:2539 Presenter signs off.