Karen Donfried, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, gave an interview to the Azerbaijani media.

Answering the questions of journalist Vafa Aghabalayeva, the US official said she believes that the administration of Joseph Biden is an opportunity to achieve peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Emphasizing that the prime ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia met for peace in Washington in November of last year, Donfried also pointed out that she is committed to the obligations of the United States.

Everyone, including President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, is ready to do everything to ensure that Azerbaijan and Armenia do not miss this opportunity, she said.

Donfried reminded that on November 7, the US Secretary of State received the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington to promote negotiations on progress regarding the peace agreement. According to her, this topic remains in spotlight and the United States believes that this is a crucial topic not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia but also for future generations of both countries.

Donfried thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his contribution to the peace process.

The Russian-Ukrainian war and Iran’s continued actions as a terrorist country were also touched upon in the interview.

The Azerbaijani Army’s engineer-sapper units continue fulfilling their tasks in the liberated territories, Report informs, citing the Defense Ministry.

As a result of the activities of the engineer-sapper units, up to 200 hectares of area have been completely cleared of mines in the liberated territories this month. To date, engineer-sapper units have cleared more than 30,890 hectares of mines and unexploded ordnance in the liberated territories.

Moreover, as a result of the Azerbaijani Army’s engineer-sapper units with other state bodies, up to 9 km of new supply roads were built over the current year, and up to 38 km of existing supply roads were repaired in order to ensure the safe movement of vehicle and military equipment convoys in difficult terrain, including difficult-to-pass rocky areas.

The main efforts are aimed at demining settlements, sowing plots, roads, and infrastructure facilities in the liberated territories.

Necessary measures for engineering support are underway in the liberated territories in accordance with the plan.

In accordance with the training plan approved by the Minister of Defense for 2023, training-methodical sessions were held with the artillery chiefs of the Army Corps and formations of the Land Forces.

Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense, that first, officers’ theoretical knowledge on conducting modern combined arms combat was checked.

During the sessions, classes were held on the deployment of control points in conditions close to combat, conducting the necessary estimation, determining the target coordinates by means of optical devices, maintaining interoperability between units, fire control, as well as on other issues.

At the end of the theoretical classes, conducted at nighttime and in the daylight hours, the units professionally fulfilled the tasks of firing at imaginary enemy’s targets.

It should be noted that the main objective of the training-methodical sessions is to improve the fire control abilities of artillery officers, as well as further increase their knowledge and skills.

Motorist along CENTURION, GAUTENG Centurion, Gauteng in South Africa were in for a shock when they drove by billboards in urging Ramaphosa to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the training plan for 2023 approved by the Defense Minister, live-fire tactical exercises of one of the military units were held on the combined-arms range, Report informs, citing MoD.

According to the exercises’ plan, the activities of the units related to the accomplishment of the tasks were clarified on the map, and the reports on the decisions made by the commanders were heard.

The units carried out tactical redeployment in different ways, advanced in the direction of the area where the imaginary enemy is supposed to commit provocation, and carried out practical shootings from small arms.

During the live-fire tactical exercises, motorized rifle units successfully accomplished the tasks on detection and neutralization of imaginary enemy targets.

The exercises focused on improving the combat capability of the units, including the development of the field and practical skills of the military personnel.

Live-fire tactical exercises held with Azerbaijan’s Rocket and Artillery Troops’ units on combined-arms range continue in accordance with the training plan of the current year, according to the Defense Ministry.

The military attachés of foreign countries accredited to the Republic of Azerbaijan visited the Azerbaijan Naval Forces.

Report informs citing the Ministry of Defense that in the assembly hall of the headquarters building the visitors were first presented an extensive briefing about the history and activities of the Naval Forces.

Then, in the warships the military attachés got acquainted with the conditions created for the military personnel, visited the mariners’ dormitory, canteen and other facilities, and signed the “Book of Honor”.

In the end, the sides exchanged presents and a photo was taken.

In accordance with the training plan of the Land Forces for 2023, practical shooting exercises on firing from sniper rifles were carried out, Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

First, the military personnel worked out the regulations on taking the firing position and bringing the weapons into the state of combat readiness.

Tasks to detect and destroy imaginary enemy targets in the training area were professionally accomplished by snipers.

The objectives of the practical shooting exercises are to increase the capabilities to destroy targets with accurate fire by following the right targeting rules.

Thanks to the current President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the stability of the political system reigns in the country, said political scientist Ilgar Velizade, who became a guest of the Let’s Talk podcast by Hamid Hamidov, Report informs.

“Erdogan’s achievements can be assessed in two directions. In domestic policy, it is stability. In foreign policy, it is confidence. Stability means that all actors of the political system adhere to common rules,” he said.

According to the political scientist, a possible change of power in Türkiye should not worry Azerbaijan.

“For example, we have the Shusha Declaration signed with Türkiye. Even if the opposition [Kilicdaroglu] comes to power, he will also have to fulfill the conditions of this declaration, just like anyone else who comes to power,” Velizade said.

The political scientist emphasized that this is connected with the long-term interests of states.

In conclusion, Velizade suggested that Erdogan would still win in the second round, since he had more chances.

Military personnel of the Separate Combined Arms Army, who participated in the exercises dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, successfully completed combat missions and showed good results.

The Naval Forces held tactical exercises in accordance with the training plan for 2023 approved by the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov.

Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense, that according to the exercise plan, the ships left the basing site on alert and accomplished combat tasks on protection and defense of energy infrastructure in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

Naval Forces units also fulfilled the tasks on destroying terrorist-sabotage groups at sea and organizing underwater anti-sabotage defense.

The military personnel of the Naval Forces demonstrated high professionalism in the exercises focused on improving the skills of commanders and headquarters on working out joint activities with naval commandos, organization of combat activities, and management of forces in combat during the execution of tasks on the assignment of ship tactical groups in various conditions.

The military pentathlon championship, which was held in the Azerbaijani Army in accordance with the training plan approved by the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan for the 2023 training year, ended, Report informs, citing the Defense Ministry.

The participants of the championship demonstrated high professionalism on overcoming the obstacle course, 200-meter gun shooting, grenade launching, 8-kilometer cross, and swimming races.

The importance of maintaining the physical readiness of the servicemen at a constant high level was noted at the awarding ceremony. Thanks to such competitions held in the army, a healthy competition atmosphere is created among the servicemen, and the interest in sports among the youth is increasing.

According to the results of the competition, which took place in the conditions of intense competition, the teams of “The Military Institute”, “Land Forces” and “Air Force” took first, second, and third places, respectively.

In individual competitions, cadet Ravan Katanov was awarded first place, extended serviceman Sergeant Eyub Eyubov second, and cadet Toghrul Hasanov was awarded third place.

In the end, the winners were awarded diplomas, cups, and medals.

On Saturday, US president Joe Biden shushed a journalist who tried to ask him a question while he was answering another one during a meeting with the media, Report informs via Marca.

As he met with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit being held in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, Biden was answering a question about negotiations with the Republican opposition to suspend the debt ceiling.

When another journalist tried to intervene, Biden got fed up.

“Shush up, okay, thank you,” Biden stated.

The president has had incidents with the press in the past, for example responding to reporters with the phrase “give me a break” when asked tough questions.

The CBC TV channel has prepared a documentary about France’s ongoing colonial policy in African countries, Report informs.

The relationship between France and Mali (former French Sudan) is a clear confirmation of this strategy.

The film emphasizes that the colonization in Mali was brutal, bloody and without any compromise.

“We [the Malians] are by nature very warlike and attached to our land, language, culture. Therefore, the resistance was the most severe,” one of the locals shared his thoughts.

According to another respondent, despite the fact that many Malians didn’t live at the time of colonization, they still feel its detrimental effects.

“The colonial system still exists. All African countries are the same, we are not moving forward yet. Year after year our population is increasing, but the situation is getting worse. The French are starting to take over key segments of our economy. There is an outflow of intellectuals, educated people who are lured, are invited to conferences and are awarded medals, while saying to them ‘it’s good that you have become French’,” he said.

The CBC TV channel has prepared a documentary film about the French crimes committed in the Algerian city of Reggane, Report informs.

Ballali Abdelkerim Benali is one of the residents of Reggane, whose father, while working in a French military base, stole secret documents. The papers, among other things, contained the facts of the French military conducting nuclear tests on humans and animals.

“Father told us how the French tortured the Algerian resistance fighters and experimented on them like on rats. My father even had photos of some French soldiers, but they were subsequently destroyed,” he said.

In 1960-1966, France conducted at least 17 nuclear tests in the city of Reggane. As a result, the health of the local population was seriously harmed, and the number of oncological diseases has sharply increased there.

The documentary contains interviews with residents of the city who are still suffering from the consequences of these nuclear tests and are demanding compensation from Paris.

The weapons, combat, and special equipment have been transferred into the summer operation mode in all types of troops, military units and subunits of the Azerbaijan Army in accordance with the training plan for 2023, Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense.

To ensure the uninterrupted and stable operation of weapons and equipment in the summer season, seasonal maintenance of the equipment was carried out considering the features of the climatic conditions at the technical service points operating in the military units.

It should be noted that due to the transfer of weapons and equipment into the summer operation mode, all the necessary measures were implemented in a planned manner to further increase the combat capability of the units, as well as to maintain a high level of combat readiness.