An agreement on diplomatic property between Azerbaijan and Russia which will be signed in Moscow on Thursday, will be a good debut for further development of the legal framework between the two countries in 2012, Russian trade representative in the AR Yuri Shchedrin said.

"It is a very serious agreement, involving the transfer of property where the diplomatic mission of Russia and Azerbaijan is located and I believe that it is the first, but not the last agreement which will be signed during the year between the two countries" Mr Shchedrin said.

The agreement will be signed during the visit of Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov to Moscow.

The State Insurance Supervision Service at the Azerbaijani Finance Ministry during 2011 ensured payment of about 245 manat. The insurance companies unreasonably refused to pay, said the head of the department in the State Insurance Supervision Service Mahir Abdullayev.

Dominant influence of one of the superpowers or an alliance of states is needed to restore peace and stability in South Caucasus, Member of he Russian State Duma Sergei Markov said today. He stressed perspective of Russia and Turkey's alliance.

"If to leave the region to itself it will lead to destabilization of the situation and global long-term confrontations," Markov said.

According to Markov, the regions themselves are interested in the appearance of one global geopolitical power. For the time being, it is not clear who will be this power in the South Caucasus.

Markov believes that Russia is too weak, the EU has too many internal problems, and the U.S. is bogged down in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"In my opinion, Turkey and Russia's alliance will have influence on the region, which is now greatly developing," Markov said. "This alliance will not include Iran, as its scope of interests mainly focuses on the Middle East."

Of course, time will show how effective the Russian-Turkish alliance will be in the restoration of stability in the Caucasus.

Azerbaijan will improve its tax legislation, tax minister Fazil Mammadov said at the forum Tax System in Azerbaijan: realities and prospects, held in Baku on 09.02.2012.

In its decision in the case of "Chiragov and Others v. Armenia" the European Court of Human Rights, sitting as a Grand Chamber, has by a majority declared the application admissible.

The Azerbaijani Parliament adopted a law on establishment of the embassies in the Republic of South Africa, Brazil, Iraq and Vietnam at the meeting on Friday.

The parliament also approved the 'Joint declaration of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Mauritania', 'Agreement on cooperation in the field of energy between the governments of Azerbaijan and Mauritania', ' Agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Mauritania', 'Agreement on cooperation in the veterinary field between the governments of Azerbaijan and Mauritania' and 'Agreement on cooperation in quarantine and plant protection between the governments of Azerbaijan and Mauritania'.

Amendments made to visa procedure are linked with Azerbaijan's approaching to European standards, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said speaking at the opening of 'The South Caucasus in a Changing World "Annual Symposium of International Relations Scholars in Baku today.

Citizens arriving in Baku from the countries where Azerbaijan lacks embassy, can obtain a visa directly in the country.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed on Tuesday a decree "On introducing amendments to Presidential Decree No.326 dated Sept.13, 2010 " On some issues relating to registration of visas to foreigners and stateless persons arriving in the Republic of Azerbaijan ".

"Transition to European standards is being observed in many industries in Azerbaijan, such as education. The country's transition to Euro-2 standards on emissions of harmful substances may be cited as example," he said.

'The South Caucasus in a Changing World "Annual Symposium of International Relations Scholars is running in Baku from Oct. 22 to 23.

By enhancing regional cooperation and networking, the Symposium aims to contribute to the growing community of scholars in Azerbaijan and the region who are interested in regional politics, economics and international relationships.

The symposium is attended by over 150 foreign and local experts.

The symposium will discuss the topics such as "Global challenges in the regional context," "Problems of regional security - conflict and post-conflict development", "The emerging economic trends in the South Caucasus - the development of information technology and energy" and "Foreign Policy in the Caucasus: strategies and choices".

It is planned to publish a book including papers delivered at the Symposium by participant-scholars. Publication will be distributed to the scientific and think tanks around the world.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has approved changes to the Law on Amendments to the Law on Automobile Transport, AzerTAj state news agency reported.

The following changes and additions have been made to article 27 of the Law on Automobile Transport: the words "from 21 years" in article 27.1 were added the words "having a driver's license confirming the right to drive vehicles of category "DE", "from 24 years"; the words "category "B" in article 27.2 were changed with the words "category "B" or "BE".

I was very keen to come to Azerbaijan to develop further the bilateral relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said at a news conference in Baku.

She explained the importance of making sure that the EU-Azerbaijani relationships are templated to the needs of support.

"I also know what an important member of the Security Council of the United Nations Azerbaijan is going to be," said Ashton.

The Azerbaijani State Committee on Standardisation, Metrology and Patents brought more than 100 national standards in line with European ones during the year, the state committee chairman Ramiz Hasanov told media on Friday.

"The state committee plans to bring all standards in the country, including those adopted in the Soviet period, GOST standards, in line with European ones," Mr Hasanov said. He said that this process depends on the readiness of the economic sectors.