Animal Of Azerbaijan
Department of State Washington File: Excerpts: USTR's "Super 301" Report on Trade Expansion Priorities
Motor Vehicle Policies: Certain of our trading partners maintain restrictive motor vehicle policies which limit market access for U.S. exporters. For instance, lack of foreign access to the motor vehicle market of Korea remains of significant concern. The United States and Korea concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in October 1998 according to which Korea agreed to undertake a number of specific actions. Although Korea has taken steps to implement specific provisions of the MOU, foreign access remains severely restricted, as evidenced by the tiny foreign share of the Korean auto market, which totaled 0.3 percent in 2000. Korea's high tariffs and cascading tax structure on motor vehicles continue to impair the competitiveness of imported motor vehicles. Moreover, Korean consumers continue to believe they will face public opprobrium for purchasing a foreign car, the legacy of years of government-sponsored anti-import campaigns. Although Korea recently acceded to the 1998 Gl ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
– Visitors are advised to maintain a high level of vigilance and to heighten their security awareness while at Post. American citizens have been victimized by vehicle-borne explosives within the last year. Occasional rocket attacks in the vicinity of the Embassy compound are unpredictable and random. There have been incidents of carjackings and robberies directed against NGOs, journalists and diplomats carried out by aggressive and armed persons. The proliferation of weapons on the street is extensive. Host country and ISAF forces have had some success in making arrests and seizing weapons, however travel outside of Kabul, many places remains extremely dangerous, and travel within Kabul after dark should also be avoided. Due to restrictions on travel and limitations on available resources, TDY travelers should be prepared to expect delays and possible cancellations of events in Kabul and of proposed out-of-Kabul travel. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
American Embassy - Yerevan Post CityLast Updated: 2/24/2004 4:16 AM Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is in the west-central part of the country in the Ararat Valley, a plateau 3,000 feet above sea level. The fertile valley, settled since pre-history, is surrounded by snowcapped mountains, and dominated by view of the famous Mt. Ararat (16,000 ft.). With the exception of the low-lying center city, Yerevan is a town of hills and winding streets. Pockets of old-fashioned charm give way to Soviet-era apartment blocks, with the rural countryside only minutes in any direction. The just renovated Republic Square and Opera House offer the finest examples of the tuff stone ... [Read More]
U.S. Commitment to Women in Europe and Eurasia
Law Enforcement/Training. With U.S. support, the Women’s Rights Center in Yerevan, Armenia, conducted 16 training sessions on domestic violence and 14 sessions on trafficking in women for 225 professionals from law-enforcement, government, NGOs, teachers, doctors, journalists, and psychologists between October 2002 and June 2003. The Center publishes a newsletter on women's issues and broadcasts TV and radio programs on the prevention of trafficking in persons and domestic violence against women. Two members of the Armenian Government’s Interagency Group To Combat Trafficking visited the United States for further training; they had an opportunity to develop concrete approaches to combating trafficking. In Romania, the Regional Anti-Trafficking Best Practice Manual is the culmination of an intensive 2-year cooperation among the U.S., the UN Development Program (UNDP), and Romania’s Ministry of Administration and the Interior. Written for border police officers, speciali ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Literature and music coalesce in the traditional poems of the ashugs who often accompany themselves on the tar (whence “guitar”) or ud, a form of lute. Such ancient instruments are still produced to preserve and promote the musical heritage of the country. The oldest preserved instrument in Azerbaijan, the gal‑dash, is a type of tambourine from the Stone Age. Cave drawings at Gobustan, just south of Baku, date from 5000 B.C.E. and provide early evidence of the significance of music and dance in the lives of tribesmen in Azerbaijan. ... [Read More]
Working for Women, Worldwide: The U.S. Commitment
Reflecting on the growth of U.S. support for microenterprise, Emmy Simmons, USAID's assistant administrator for economic growth, agriculture, and trade, says: "Microenterprises account for a substantial share of total employment and gross domestic product, and they contribute significantly to the alleviation of poverty. They are often the chief economic defense of the most vulnerable households. As the predominant source of income and employment for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the microenterprise sector's influence on individuals, households, and national economies is clear and profound." ... [Read More]
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