The protest of Azerbaijani environmentalists on the Khankandi-Lachin road has already achieved certain results, Azerbaijan’s ex-Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in an interview with Hamid Hamidov in the “Let’s talk?” show.

“The environmentalists’s protest has already achieved certain results. First of all, because the exploitation of our deposits – the Gizilbulag gold deposit and the Damirli copper-molybdenum deposit – has been stopped. The logic of the developments suggests that, in parallel with the presence of an environmental mission, it is necessary to set up customs, border and phytosanitary posts on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. The Lachin road is operational, vehicles are moving along it. And Azerbaijan in no way violates the sixth point. After all, the Russian peacekeeping troops ensure the security of the passage, but the road is under Azerbaijan’s sovereignty. So Russian peacekeepers should be responsible for security, just like they should do along the Zangazur corridor,” Mammadyarov said.

Hamid Hamid and the guest also discussed the protests in Iran, the opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel, the war in Ukraine, the future of Russia and Mammadyarov’s friendly relations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Mammadyarov also spoke about what he does after leaving the post of the foreign ministry:

“In any case, I am in touch, a lot of journalists call, ask questions, ask for comments. Through my incomplete 17 years [as a minister], I tried to collect my speeches, interviews, articles, statements. That made more than 3,000 pages. And now I will decide what to leave, and what to not. I think either to make a website, or then I will publish a book for the future generation.”

On March 19, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the leadership of the Ministry visited the Main Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Defense on the occasion of the Novruz holiday, Report informs, citing the Defense Ministry.

First, flowers were laid at the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev erected in the territory of the hospital. The memory of the Great Leader and Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was honored with observing a minute of silence.

Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with the servicemen, who were wounded as a result of the provocation, committed on March 5 by illegal Armenian formations on the Khankandi-Khalfali-Turshsu dirt road, and other servicemen, undergoing treatment in the hospital. The minister enquired about their health, rehabilitation process, and wished them a speedy recovery and return to their places of service.

Conveying congratulations of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev on the Novruz holiday to the military and medical personnel, the Minister of Defense presented holiday gifts.

Speaking about the accomplishments achieved in all spheres due to the successful policy of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the activities of the First Vice-President, Mehriban Aliyeva, the minister emphasized the achievements in the field of military medicine.

The Minister of Defense also met with the military medical personnel and other employees of the hospital sent to Türkiye in accordance with the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to provide medical aid to the injured in the earthquake, and thanked them for their high professionalism.

The staff of the hospital and the treated servicemen expressed their deep gratitude to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense for the conditions created there, as well as for comprehensive care.

Colonel General Zakir Hasanov congratulated the medical staff on the occasion of the upcoming holiday and gave tasks regarding the better organization and improvement of the service provided to servicemen undergoing treatment.

The struggle to expand the use of the Corsican language must be intensified, Paviyoni Shukovin, an inhabitant of the island of Corsica, told Report.

He emphasized the importance of the wide use of the Corsican language: “I support the struggle for the wide use of our language in every field. I am currently retired, but I am still doing my best on this path. I follow the Christian religion and I speak about my religion in our own language, Corsican. Because it is more pleasant to talk in our native language about the being who created us. At the same time, we create more confidence in people when we speak our own language.”

Shukovin noted that although he did not participate in the demonstrations held to increase the role of the Corsican language, he contributed to this struggle with his own means:

“I enjoy promoting my language.”

In order to organize service and combat activities in any weather conditions, the necessary activities are being continued in the Azerbaijani Army Units stationed in difficult and mountainous areas, Report informs, citing the defense ministry.

As a result of the interaction of the Engineering Troops with other state bodies, a total of up to 2,250 km of roads in the direction of Kalbajar, Lachin, and Dashkasan districts were cleared from snow cover from March 1 to 15, 2023, in order to maintain the evacuation roads in constant working order, as well as ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of military vehicle convoys.

Engineering support measures continue in the liberated territories according to the plan.

The issues discussed at the Global Baku Forum turn into recommendations, and recommendations are presented to the international community. The Forum has proved its success over the past decade, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, said in an interview with Haber Global, according to Report.

“There is such a thing as the Davos Forum in the world. Economic problems are discussed there. And the issues discussed here become recommendations, and recommendations are presented to the international community,” Hajiyev said.

NATO will send more tents to Türkiye, Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar said, Report informs.

“NATO continues to set up a tent city in Hatay,” Akar said. “In addition, the alliance will send more tents, which will provide the capacity to shelter 4,000 people.”

Recent events in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan demonstrate the failure of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to fulfill its functions, Director of the Report News Agency Fuad Huseynaliyev said in the program ‘Relevant Today’ aired on the CBC TV channel.

According to him, the continued tension in the region makes it possible for the Russian peacekeeping contingent to assert that the presence of the Russian military here is a vital necessity, which means there is a need to extend their stay, agreed only for five years.

Huseynaliyev said it does not matter what has caused the illegal continuous transfer of weapons, military and militants to Karabakh – the inability, inability or unwillingness of Russian peacekeepers.

“But there are armed groupings here, weapons and personnel are imported here. And all this is done with the full connivance, and possibly with the assistance of the Russian military,” Huseynaliyev said.

Meanwhile, it is quite obvious that if the Russian peacekeeping contingent had fulfilled the function assigned to it, there would have been no shootings, no escalation in Karabakh.

Moreover, the main goal of the deployment of peacekeepers in the region – the creation of conditions for rapprochement, and in the future – the integration of the Armenian population of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan with the Azerbaijani society – remains unresolved.

Speaking about the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Fuad Huseynaliyev noted that it is beneficial, first of all, to the latter.

“It is not normal to live in enmity with neighbors, and Armenia is at enmity with two at once – Azerbaijan and Türkiye,” Report’s chief said.

3,016 quake-affected people have received high-level medical service in Türkiye, the Press Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) said, Report informs.

MES mobile field hospitals sent to the brotherly country in order to support the removal of the consequences of the strong earthquake under the order of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, continue to operate in Türkiye.

Hospitals provided high-level medical services to 3,016 people, including 655 children.

Mobile field hospitals with all kinds of examination and treatment facilities operate without interruption.

In accordance with the combat training plan for 2023, approved by Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov live-fire training classes are being held to further improve the practical skills of the Azerbaijani Army’s infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) crews, according to the Defense Ministry.

A quiz dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the founder of the modern Azerbaijan state, genius statesman, was held in one of the military units, Report informs, citing MoD.

First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and Shehids (Martyrs), who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Motherland, was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan accompanied by a military orchestra was performed.

A video about the life and activities of the national leader was shown.

Speakers at the event emphasized that the declaration of 2023 as the “Year of Heydar Aliyev” in Azerbaijan by the relevant Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev is the embodiment of nationwide love and deep respect for the great leader.

The team “Gunners” took the 1st place, the team “Commando” – took the 2nd, and the team “Tankmen” – took the 3rd place and were awarded with honorary diplomas, cups, and medals.

In the end, a group of servicemen who distinguished themselves in combat training were also presented with valuable gifts.

Baku is an example of how a city can change beyond recognition, Russian blogger Ilya Varlamov told journalist Hamid Hamidov in the show ‘Let’s talk?’, according to Report.

“Baku, as a city that has changed a lot, is of great interest in terms of observing how a city can change beyond recognition. When you get here, there is little left of the Soviet architecture. There are some individual monuments that have been restored and preserved, but in general the city is absolutely not Soviet and least of all resembles the post-Soviet history,” he said.

During his interview, the blogger also spoke about the reason of his arrival in Baku, the war in Ukraine, the position of Russians on this issue, as well as the attitude of the West.

In addition, Varlamov also expressed his opinion about the possible “disintegration of Russia”, about “what will happen after Putin” and his desire to “recreate the USSR” and much more.

Combat training sessions of the Azerbaijan Army’s mortar units were held in accordance with the combat training plan for 2023, approved by the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Report informs, citing MoD.

The mortar units fulfilled the tasks on shooting exercises and destroyed the designated targets with high accuracy.

The tasks set in the classes, which were conducted by taking into account the advanced combat experience, were successfully accomplished.

In accordance with the training plan of the current year, events were held to inspect the combat readiness of the Azerbaijan Army’s tank units, according to the Defense Ministry.

On March 1, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the leadership of the ministry visited the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev, Report informs, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

First, flowers were laid at the bust of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the territory of the military institute and tribute was paid to his memory.

The leadership of the ministry, officers, cadets, teaching staff of the military institute, as well as families of the Martyrs attended the opening ceremony. The Memorial complex was erected in memory of military institute’s servicemen, who lost their lives in the Patriotic War.

In the beginning of the ceremony, the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Shehids, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

Speaking at the ceremony, Colonel General Z. Hasanov emphasized the historical significance of the glorious victory gained in the Patriotic War under the command of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev. The Minister pointed out that the Martyrs are a source of pride for the Azerbaijani nation, and expressed his gratitude to parents for bringing up such decent children.

The Military Institute’s 549 servicemen took part in the Patriotic War. Ten of them became Martyrs, and one person was awarded the honorary title of “Hero of the Patriotic War”, in accordance with the relevant order of the head of state.

The family members of the Martyrs expressed their gratitude to the state’s leadership for the attention and care shown. They expressed their pride for the heroism and bravery of their children, which are an example for the entire generation.

After the opening ceremony, the Defense Minister talked to the families of Martyrs, inquired about their concerns and answered their questions.

In the end, a photo was taken.

In accordance with the combat training plan of the current year, practical shooting exercises from grenade launchers and sniper rifles were carried out.

Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense, that before the shooting, safety rules were delivered to the military personnel, and the servicemen practiced the regulations on taking the firing position and bringing the weapon into the state of combat readiness.

Then, the military personnel of various categories successfully accomplished the task of detecting and destroying imaginary enemy targets.

The main purpose of conducting exercises is to improve the combat readiness of the units by improving the practical capabilities and firing skills of the servicemen.