BAKU HOSTS MEETING OF CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 6 2007

The meeting of the CIS Council of Interior Ministers started today
in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, APA reports. Armenian Interior
Minister Hayk Harutyunyan is attended the meeting as well.

Head of President’s Executive Office Ramiz Mehdiyev made a keynote
speech and informed attendees on the current state of Azerbaijan.

"Active development of Azerbaijan is obviously underway, Azerbaijan
is successfully integrating into the international union. Our country
is pursuing foreign political course based on peace. Azerbaijan is
enjoying the fastest growing economy in the world," official of the
president’s office stressed.

Ramiz Mehdiyev underlined that conflicts, particularly the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict impedes the development of the cooperation between
the CIS countries, "Azerbaijan backs peaceful solution of the conflict,
the conflict has to be solved within the framework of territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, and IDPs should be brought back to their
motherland."

Mr. Mehdiyev touched upon organized crime related issues.

Following this, latest chief of the Council of Interior Ministries,
Kazakh Interior Minister Burjan Muhamedjan reported on the activities
carried out during his tenure, and handed his authority over to
Azerbaijani Interior Minister Ramil Usubov. Ramil Usubov in his turn
extended gratitude to Burjan Mukhamedjan for a successful activity as
a chief of the CIS Council of Interior Ministers and presented him with
"Struggle Cooperation" medal on behalf of President Ilham Aliyev.

Ramil Usubov making a speech as a new chief of the Council said that he
would do his best to further develop the cooperation between the CIS
member states. The meeting of the Council of CIS Interior Ministers
continues now.

11 issues will be discussed at the meeting of the Council of Interior
Ministers.

The meeting will be focused on the strengthening combat against current
challenges and threats, draft agreement on the exchange of information
in the sphere of IT (information technology) and fighting crimes,
cooperation in the sphere of personnel training at Interior bodies,
confirmation of action plan on the establishment of single automated
information bank, location of the Council’s next meeting and other
issue.