IRAN HURTS HER “NOT SO” CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS NEIGHBOR AZERBAIJAN

Iran has temporary recalled its Ambassador to Azerbaijan as a protest to the visit of Israeli president Mr. Shimon Perez to the Azerbaijan territory. The Iran officials have based its reason for the withdrawal on an inflammatory statement made by the Israeli president towards Iran.

Prior to Perez visit to the Azerbaijan territories, the Iranian chief of staff was in Azerbaijan to persuade the Azerbaijan government on a need to block the visitation the Israeli officials. No concrete reason was provided by the Iranian chief of staff other than Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president wants the meeting to be called off. It is also on record that Mr. Ahmadinejad had once called for the arrest of his opposition in the last contested election simple because Mr. Hossein Mousavi had question his judgment over Israel. The reason given then was nobody has the permission to insult a president.

The Israeli president was in Azerbaijan on his tour to some selected nation around Asia and Eastern Europe. Since Mr. Ahmadinejad became the president of Iran, the relationship between both nations Iseal/Iran has become so tensed that Mr. Ahmadinejad has in so many occasion voiced outright hatred towards Israel.

Azerbaijanis in Iran is estimated at about 60% of the total Iranian population. The Iranian government has never strongly supported Azerbaijan with its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. A vast number of the Azerbaijani population living in Azerbaijan views this as Iranian support towards the Armenians.

AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT PASSES A BILL OF IMPROVEMENT TO THE EDUCATION SECTION

Last week the Azerbaijan parliament passed a bill of improvement with the education system of the country. The bill was initially passed in December of 2008 but was considered for slight changes before it is finally passed into law.

The particular aspect of the new bill that was considered for improvement was on establishment of educational institutions especially by foreigners. Foreigners and foreign entities are allowed begin schools, colleges and institutes, but licenses are granted for only 3 year period upon which the beneficiaries of license must re-apply. The foreigner or foreign entities must have a legal domestic agency that has to jointly coordinate the entire process of applying. Furthermore, upon the grant of license to operate, staff of the institute must comprise at least 85% of locals.

Another aspect in the improved bill is geared towards the moderation of private institutes. Whereas state run institutes operate with no duration in focus, institutes created by private citizens are granted license for duration of 5 years. Upon its license expiration, these private institutes are to re-apply for license.

Other aspects of the education law remains, for instance, the secondary duration remains 9 compulsory years, and 2 optional years wherein a person can decide to opt for a 2 year vocational school.

The Azerbaijan educational system hasn’t change much and is still largely based on the soviet system of education. But some government universities such as Baku State University and most private universities are beginning to introduce the Bologna system as is practiced in Europe. It should be said that teachers did not have it so good during the communist USSR, and as such, even today, the teachers and lectures are still not well paid. Despite the tremendous positive improvement in their financial status, but a lot still need to be done in other to keep them in bracket with other sectors of the economy.

AZERBAIJAN GOVERNMENT REVIEWS ITS MIGRATION LAWS

The Azerbaijan immigration laws are undergoing a major review recently and come 1^st July, a new set of laws would be put in place for all persons coming into Azerbaijan for different purposes.

Monitoring the UK website Azerbaijan, migrants will observe that UK citizens will now require obtaining VISA from the Azerbaijan embassy in London before they are granted entrance into the country. This has not been the case before, as VISA can previously be granted from the point of entry.

The same new measures also apply to the US citizens and the EU citizens. Irrespective of purpose of entry to Azerbaijan, all migrants are expected to be dully granted entrance permission from respective country embassies. Additionally, the VISA durations is fixed for no more than 30 days, and can only be extended upon prove that persons need to stay beyond the 30 days.

Other nations, such that has not fallen into EU, UK or US, who had not in the past enjoyed the privilege of obtaining VISA at point of entry, the situation remains unchanged as they will still be required to obtain VISA from the nearest Azerbaijan Embassy to their country of origin or resident.

It should be noted that over time, the Azerbaijan government continues to review its general laws. The reason is because at the commencement of its democracy in 1992 so many loopholes were created due to the haste at which the government of that time seeks to stabilize the nation. The war with Armenia over the Azerbaijan occupied territory was also a big diversion.

There are various other measures to be implemented with the new migration law. Areas such: as work permit, number of extension of VISA, total years permitted to reside in the country, mode of VISA renewal, etc.

However, not all foreigners presently residing view the law as very favorably. There is a school of thought among expert workers that the laws are means to discourage more migrants into the nation. Whatever is the case, the issue is that the new migrations laws would be a more stringent process than the previously existing laws.

Azerbaijan located in the Caspian shores is a striving nation due to the large revenue derived from the sales of its large deposit of Oil and Gas. The total population of the nation is estimated at approximately 8 million persons.

AS IRAN DISINTEGRATES, THE WORLD COMMUNITY MERELY WATCHES?

Iran is witnessing a protest its leader had not foreseen, not even in the distant future. The protest is a show of displeasure over the election between the current president Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country former prime minister, Mr. Hossein Mousavi. Mr Ahmadinejad who is everything about the Islamic revolution and also an anti-Israel has the support of the ruling council made up of mullahs and headed by supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but Mr. Mousavi, a reformist has rallied the support of youths including a large portion of the women.

Suffice it to say that the protesters are largely made of youths and are outrage about the election result that has Ahmadinejad winning the election with as high as 64% of the total vote.

The protest has taken the mullahs unawares because they probably might have thought that the hard path that has been the approach of the leadership and the subjugation of the peoples will and freedom over time should have discouraged this type of scenario. The protest is an indication that the people and not the government have the ultimate and final say over the direction of the nations. Over the years in Iran, the youths, including women have watched as their freedom was taken away from them. Women were compelled to hijab even against their wish, satellite cables were confiscated as such depriving youths access to the global events; entertainment, a thing for the youths was clamped down, and the people were pressed towards taking the hard lines. Furthermore, the continuous disgust of Ahmadinejad towards Israel was also seen as unwarranted by the youths who think it wise that the world presently desire to be at peace with one another.

So as Iran disintegrates, the Iranians look up to other nations for help. The US president Obama has come up with the strongest statement on the issue, stating that the world is watching. However the brave Iranians desire more from the world community besides just watching. The totalitarian government of Iran will implore any means, including very harsh measure to silent the voice of these protesters. This is why the world community must come up with emphatic statement about the issue and not just stand by and watch as innocent people get punished for demanding their God given right to all mankind.