June 26, 2009: Azerbaijani Armed Forces mark its 91 years. The first military unit – the special corps was established by the decision of the government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on June 26, 1918. After the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Bolshevik Russia in April 1920 and fall of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the National Army was abolished by the Bolshevik government. 15 of 21 army generals were shot dead by Bolsheviks. 71 years later, when Azerbaijan restored its independence, the Defense Ministry was established on September 5, 1991. (APA)
May 17, 2009: Azerbaijani/Iranian duo AySel and Arash ranked third in Eurovision Song Contest 2009. Alexander Rybak won the 54th Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Fairytale". Norway is followed by Yohanna from Iceland and Azerbaijan’s AySel & Arash. (Today.Az)
April 30, 2009: A young man armed with an automatic pistol and clips of ammunition rampaged through a prestigious institute in the Azerbaijani capital Thursday, killing 13 people and wounding others before killing himself as police closed in, the government said. The suspect, Farda Gadirov, entered the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy in Baku and climbed five floors of the building, shooting everyone he met along the way. (msnbc)
April 22, 2009: Commemorative event of Azerbaijani Turks killed by Armenian Dashnak committees in Igdir in 1915-1918 has been held today in Alican village of Igdir, 1km far from Turkey-Armenia border. Head of Society for Struggle against Groundless Armenian Genocide Claims, Goksel Gurbey made a keynote speech at the event. He said that Armenians committed genocide in various regions of Anatolia in 1915-1918. “One of the places, where they committed slaughters more, is Igdir. 16 mass burial sites were found here. Mass burial sites in Oba, Hagmehmet, Gedikli and Tashburun were opened, genocide was proved,” he said. (APA)
April 22, 2009: Caspian littoral states - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Russia - have drawn closer to reaching agreement on a document defining the legal status of the basin, a Russian official has said following another round of talks on the issue that has long remained unresolved. (AzerNEWS)
