On May 17-21 the 19 th session of the UN Economic and Criminal Justice was held in Vienna city in Austria. Under the leadership of the Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, customs service Lieutenant-General Aydin Aliyev the delegation of our republic took part in the session. Side by side with the representatives of the State Customs Committee the employees of the Supreme Court, the General Procurator`s Office of the Republic, the Ministry of Foregin Affairs, the Diplomatic Representation of the Republic in Austria represented at the session as well.

The Vice-Secretary General of the UN, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Antonia Maria Costa, the Ministry of Justice Judgement Portugal the Vice-Ministry of Justice of China, the representative of the Ministry of Justice of Croatia, the Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan Aydin Aliyev and other people made speeches in the opening ceremony of the session.

The Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan in his speech first of all emphasizing the importance of the discussed issues in the session of the UN of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, specially spoke about the existance of the close cooperation relations among the UN corresponding organizations. Then the Committee Chairman continuing his speech with the presentation on «Struggle against smuggling: experience, possibilities, development perspectives» gave information on the main duties of the customs authorities in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the legal-protection activity in the illicit trafficking, the statistics of the discovered legal violations, material-technical opportuities, the directions of the customs coperation, the activity of the functioning Cynological Centre and WCO Regional Training Centre and slides about shown matters in the electronic video format were demonstrated. Side by side with these matters, information about implemented activities connected with the creation of the European Regional Office for WCO Potential Strengthening which can give a special gift to the activity of the security in the struggle sphere against criminality in customs services trade trafficking of the European countries and the situation of the same Office in Baku city by the support of the country president was given to the participants. At the end of the speech the organized exhibition on «Azerbaijan customs on guard and cultural heritage» by the State Customs Committee in the UN Vienna department started and the partisipants were intvited to the exhibition.

After the opening part of the session the comission continued its work. After the consideration of the organizational issues, the discussions on protection of the cultural resources from the illicit trafficking were started. During discussions the information on implemented activities in this sphere was given by representatives of these countries. About increase of interest in stealing of cultural resources, and illicit trafficking of them, during armed conflicts robbery of cultural resources by organizational criminal groups was spoken with anxiety. For liquidation of this kind appearances, and cases further expansion of the mutual cooperation, application of crime justice in all forms, joining the international conventions existing in the struggle sphere against criminality, importance of their application in the national level and the implementation of exchange of information among countries were moved out as a main matter.

Before the session the short meeting was held between the chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev and the Vice-Secretary General of the UN, the Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime Antonia Maria Costa. The SCC Chairman Aydin Aliyev expressed his gratitude to Antonia Maria Costa for the created high condition for holding exhibition on «Azerbaijan customs on guard of cultural heritage» in the administrative building of the UN Vienna Department in warmly held meeting. He also spoke on existing relations between Azerbaijan and UN.

The Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Antonia Maria Costa remembered his visit to Azerbaijan with pleasure. He specially emphasized that the familiarization with the Regional Training Cenre of the World Customs Organization situating in Baku city specially having super possibilities and the Cynological Centre of the State Customs Committee made pleasant impressions.

At the same time the exchange of opinion on the cooperation opportunities between Azerbaijan customs and the UN the future perspectives were discussed at the meeting.

At the end of the first day of session activity the opening ceremony of the exhibition on «Azerbaijan customs on guard of cultural heritage» was held in Rotunda hall being the main entrance hall of the administrative building of the UN Vienna Department/. Daily 4-5 thousand people visit to the same hall.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Austria and the permanent representative attached to Vienna Department of the UN Fuad Ismialov, the Chief of the sector for treaty of the Office of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime John Sandage, the Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Alyev told their opinions on interesting historical information. The Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev speaking on the organizational goals of the exhibition said that Azerbaijan having deep historical culture and Azerbaijan people as a creative people playing an important role in the formation of the national cultural heritage always gave gifts to the world culture. Side by side with all spheres of life of our country being in focus of centre, reception of corresponding programmes by the country leader for making rich, supporting branching of it and having an important role of our republic in the world civilization were noted. In this important activity customs authorities also implement important duties. About cultural examples belonging to Azerbaijan people and other people of the world determining, taking out of them from illicit trafficking and returning them to people were spoken. As a result of this kind activity for demonstrating a small part of determined cultural samples, informing the world community about carried out activities, occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia, destruction of the cultural monuments there, transporting them to foreign countries this kind of exhibition was organized.

It was noted that in the protection sphere of the world cultural heritage customs service would continue its further activity as well.

It would build a shield against any illegal transportation of cultural samples through borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

After opening of the exhibition participants familiarized with the exhibits, listened to national music parts and tasted the national kitchen of Azerbaijan. After the opening ceremony bilateral meetings with some delegations were held.

About the economic-trade relations between our country and Austria were spoken in the held meeting with the Director for Bisuness development of Austria -Azerbaijan Trade Chamber Nickolas Shmitsmayer and the comprehensive development speed of our Republic was highly appreciated.

Nickolas Shmitsmayer said that he returned from Baku not long ago. He specially emphasized that Azerbaijan has wide investment opportunities.

At the same time he emphasized the importance of the organization of this kind exhibition in the recongnition of our culture, art, history. He also gave information that he had his own picture-gallery as a person being interested in art.

The Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev also met with the adviser of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Austria, the Representative of the Federal Service in the struggle against Drugs Alexander Fedulov. About the existing relations between customs authorities of Russia and Azerbaijan were spoken with satisfaction in warmly held meeting. Specially jointly implemented measures of the corresponding organizations of the two neighbour countries in the struggle direction against illicit drugs trafficking were highly appreciated.

One more meeting held with the Ambassador, Deputy Head, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Vienna of Vietnam Nguyen Ba Son.

The Ambassador remembered with pleasure his first higher education and his student years in Azerbaijan. He was interested in today`s development of our republic. About it a detailed information was given to the Vietnamese diplomat. The Ambassador Nuguyen Ba Son also spoke about the future perpectives of the relations in the customs sphere. He expressed assurance that the participation of the Vietnamese customs officials in the organized seminars and trainings in the Regional Training Centre of the WCO in Baku and the familiarization with the Cynological Centre of the State Customs Committee would give a push to the mutual cooperation.

The books by name «Azerbaijan customs history in the fine art», «Azerbaijan customs on guard of cultural heritage», «Azerbaijan customs: historical traditions and contemporancity» and «Azerbaijan customs museums» were distributed to the exhibition participants.

The next day of the 19 th session of the UN Economic and Social Council of Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice the discussions on the protection of cultural resources from illicit trafficking were continued. Then joining of efforts of the UN organization and coordination issues in the crime prevention and criminal justice sphere were discussed. There mainly the discussions on the ratification of the UN Convention against Transnational Organizational criminality, and its protocol, the Convention against Corruption, prevention of terrorism and for struggle against it international documents and other issues were carried out. During discussions representatives of some states gave information on the implemented activities in this sphere and told their opinions about implementation of them in the national level. Then the discussions on the use and application matters of the determined standards on crime prevention and criminal justice sphere were started.

According to the work graphic of the session, for consideration of the prepared resolution projects by some country groups in the UN Economic and Social Council were discussed. On the whole 17 resolutions were introduced. They are: with the object of liquidation of violence against women crime prevention, strengthening of measures in the criminal justice sphere, behaviour with condemned women, reorganization of UN Office functions for Drugs and criminality, strengthening of partnership relations between governments and business circles in the struggle sphere against drugs and criminality, strengthening of the analitic activity in the criminality sphere, holding of the next sammit of the procurators-general in the Republic of Korea, the 20 th congress of the UN crime prevention and criminal justice, prevention of illicit cultural resources trafficking and protection of cultural resources, the international cooperation in this sphere, struggle measures against speculation of a man, the international cooperation forensic medical expert, support in implementation of complex programmes of the Drugs and Crime Office, struggle against the sea piracy, strengthening of measures in the prevention sphere of counterfeit and piracy etc. matters. During discussions opinions expressed to noted resolutions. Their parts were approved and the introduction decision for consideration of them in the UN Economic and Social Council was supported.

During the session budget and administrative management issues were also considered. As the last matter the account of the session was prepared and attitude was expressed to it.

On May 18 the Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev gave the interview to one of the most authoritative journal «Society». In the held meeting by the initiative of the editor of the journal Stefan Khofshtatter given questions were answered comprehensively. The wide information about the present development of Azerbaijan was given. As a result of successful continuation of implemented successful economic reforms for the sake of development of our republic of the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev today by our honourable President Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan turned into the leader state in the region for the development tendency was informed with pleasure by A.Aliyev. The Committee Chairman said that our republic integrating into Euroatlantic space assumes special importance to relations with European countries. He spoke on the importance of the cooperation in all spheres.

The SCC Chairman Aydin Aliyev speaking on today`s development of the Customs Service of the Independent Azerbaijan said that thanks to the attention and care of the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev the start was given to the fast development strategy in the customs system. He spoke on the role of the customs authorities in the strengthening of the legislation basis, formation of budget incomes and in the provision of the economic security. The Committee Chairman also spoke on implemented measures in the direction of the customs system modernization and strengthening of the material-technical basis.

During holding period of the 19 th session of the UN Economic and Social Council of comission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on May 20 the meeting between the state secretary heading the customs sphere Mr Raynhold Lopatka and the Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev was held in the Ministry of Federal Finance of Austria. The mutual exchange of opinion was implemented at the meeting. Mainly about expansion and deepening issues importance of the economic relations between the two states were spoken. Expansion of trade and investment opportunities, humanitarian relations and tourism possibi;ities were characterized. The main matter was related with the customs cooperation. The Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev gave information on the creation of the European Regional Office for the WCO Potential Strengthening and implemented activies in this sphere. The participation of Austria customs service representative in the office activity was also appreciated as being importance case.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Austria and the permanent representative attached to Vienna department of the UN Fuad Ismailov participating in the meeting also spoke on existing relations between Azerbaijan and Austria. He emphasized the importance of the bilateral cooperation expansion. He said that the organization of Baku-Vienna, Vienna-Baku flight would give a new impulse to relations between our people and our countries.

On June 22 the ambassador noted with pleasure the start of the activity of the Embassy of Austria in Azerbaijan. He expressed his assuarance that this important event would be a gift for our development relations.

During discussions each side in their turn noted that the further expansion perspectives of the cooperation opportunities in the customs sphere are existing. Signing in future «Understanding Memorandum on cooperation in the struggle sphere against customs legal violations between the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Federal Finance of the Republic of Austria» will give a push to development of these matters.