Sanctions initiated against the Soviet Union by Congressmen Jackson and Vanik in 1974 provided for limitation of Soviet export to the U.S.A. After the collapse of the USSR the sanctions applied to all CIS countries.

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia has denied reports in the Republic mass media that two criminal suits were filed against former Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian, who was killed as a result of the terrorist act in the Armenian Parliament in October 1999.

"Temporary waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act will positively tell on the process of Karabakh conflict settlement," - US National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack stated today.

Elizabeth Jones stayed in Baku for only four hours.

The meeting of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and head of the clerical department of the Moslems of the Caucasus Sheik-Ul-Islam Allahshukyur Pashazade was fixed in the middle of December, but did not take place.

According to the law high rank statesmen have to present income and property declarations not later than February 1.

The events of 1915 were noted in Great Britain for the first time on the Holocaust victims memory day.

Taking into consideration that censorship allows Baku newspapers printing Aliyev's photos taken at least ten years ago and prohibits TV cameramen taking close-up of the President, it can be concluded that he is obviously out of form.

As it is known, Congress has given the President the authority to freeze the Section 907 for only a year.

Recently there is a great interest towards private and public initiatives aimed at Karabakh conflict's settlement in Azerbaijan. Evidently, the leaders of Azerbaijani NGOs have perceived too literally the statements of the international mediators saying that a settlement for the Karabakh problem should be found in capital cities of the states, which are conflict sides. Without coming to an agreement with anyone, Baku's public figures have started to elaborate schemes of settlement and have put them for discussion of the society. Officials engaged in settlement of Karabakh problem are watching this strange process with bewilderment, but prefer not to intervene, while the initiatives become more and more active.