InFocus Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan 2018

HUNDRED’S YEAR OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC H.E. FAKHRADDIN GURBANOV

Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan

STJEPAN MJESIĆ

MURAD HEYDAROV

Croatia-Azerbaijan friendship society

SOCAR Balkan

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NIZAMI STREET BAKU

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It is a large pedestrian and shopping street in downtown.

Tourists love to shop here, in fancy, glamorous shops of global brands, and dine in restaurants serving local dishes.

CARPET MUSEUM A real treasure of the Azerbaijani national culture.

The Museum was established in 1967. It was the first specialised carpet museum in the world. It is the only museum that was dedicated to the art of carpet weaving.

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SPEED OF LIFE IN BAKU

A lap of the circuit is 6.003 kilometres (3.730 mi), making it the second-longest circuit on the Formula One calendar.

05 ATESHGAH – THE TEMPLE OF FIRE WORSHIPERS Zoroastrian fire temple, located 30km from the Baku city center. It was built in the 17-18th century by the Hindu community of worshipers.

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KHINALIQ – LIFE ABOVE THE CLOUDS

The highest town in Azerbaijan (2,350 m). Historical studies indicate that the population’s ancestors moved to the town’s current location around 2,000 years ago.

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HEYDAR ALIYEV CENTER

The building was designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. It’s a complex structure that includes a convention center, museum, library and ninehectare park.

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TEA – MORE THAN JUST A DRINK

It keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer and brings together family and friends.

The East is full of mysteries and unique treasures of human history. And tea is one of them.

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QOBUSTAN

The cradle of civilization. Has about 6,000 drawings – petroglyphs, depicting animals and humans. The 12th Legion of the Roman Emperor Domitian came here in the 1st century BC.

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Azerbaijan

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IMPORTANT STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev to Croatia

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BALKANS AS ONE OF PRIORITY DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE

SOCAR

STRONG POTENTIAL FOR MUTUAL COOPERATION

14 BETWEEN ADRIATIC AND A GLORIOUS CHAPTER IN 16 CASPIAN SEAS 08 HISTORY INVESTING IN FUTURE 18 LONG LIVE THE FRIENDSHIP! 10 AZERBAIJAN – THE LAND 20 OF LEGENDS DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL, BUILDING A BETTER 11FUTURE BLESSED LAND UNDER OCCUPATION 22 THE YOUR HUB IN EURASIA The new port of Baku

H.E. FAKHRADDIN GURBANOV Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Economic cooperation

100 Anniversary of Azerbaijan th

SPECIAL THANKS TO

THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

ADA University

STJEPAN MESIĆ

Croatia-Azerbaijan friendship society

Tourism

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EXPO 2025

History: Nagorno-Karabakh

AZERBAIJAN 2018

Visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev to Croatia

IMPORTANT STRATEGIC PARTNERS

“C

roatia considers Azerbaijan to be an important strategic partner". This was the main message which President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović conveyed during the recent official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Croatia.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to the Republic of Croatia (from 5th to 6th September 2018), following an invitation from the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

President Aliyev met with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Speaker of the Parliament, Gordan Jadroković.

During the meetings both sides under-

THE POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IS VERY ACTIVE AND THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT CROATIA AND AZERBAIJAN ARE INDEED STRATEGIC PARTNERS

lined that the relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia were at the strategic partnership level. President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović further stated that Croatia considered Azerbaijan to be an important strategic partner and that it would continue to be a sincere friend of Azerbaijan in the EU. The expansion of cooperation in economy, culture, science and technology, and education were the main topics of the

meetings. The participating sides emphasized the need to intensify trade and agreed that the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation had a serious task to do.

Cooperation in energy field was also one of the important topics during the meetings. President Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan had launched the South Gas Corridor. “In the next two years, Azerbaijan will be ready to deliver natural gas to European markets, which will be an important contribution to the energy security of Europe”, he added. President Grabar-Kitarović noted that Croatia is interested in cooperation in the field of energy as one of Europe’s future natural gas hubs.

President Aliyev also assessed that the relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia were successfully developing. He stated that political dialogue between the two countries was very active and that demonstrated that Croatia and Azerbaijan were indeed strategic partners.

During the visit, the two countries signed two documents - one on cultural and one on agricultural cooperation.

Signing ceremony

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STRONG POTENTIAL FOR MUTUAL COOPERATION The relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia are intensifying and I’m pleased to say that further expansion is under way, along with the excellent political relations and the relations in other segments. I am confident that our cooperation in economy and trade will develop further in the nearest future

INTERVIEW

H.E. FAKHRADDIN GURBANOV

Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan

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hile they are geographically relatively distant, Azerbaijan and Croatia have many similarities and common interests to work together on - says H.E. Mr. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Croatia.

ident Ilham Aliyev to Croatia, we singed the Zagreb Declaration on Strategic Partnership and Friendly Relations. This is the highest level document that two countries can sign.

In 2016, President of Croatia, Mrs Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović paid a visit to

How would you evaluate the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia?

— I was appointed Ambassador to Croatia on December 8th, 2017. Needless to say, Croatia is a very beautiful country and the Balkans a very interesting region for work.

The diplomatic relations between our countries were established in January 1995. Today, the relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia are at a strategic partnership level. In 2013, during the visit of Pres-

CROATIA HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED OUR COOPERATION WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION AND MADE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION

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Azerbaijan. She was accompanied by the business people from Croatia. In November 2017, the first meeting of the Joint Economic Commission was held in Baku.

In early September this year, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to Croatia. In May 2018, Croatia decided to open an embassy in Baku.

All in all, the relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia are intensifying and I’m pleased to say that further expansion is under way.

On which international issues can the two countries cooperate the best?

— Well, let’s start with Croatia’s position regarding the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Croatia supports the territorial integrity of

Azerbaijan that is based on international law. As I have already mentioned, in 2013, we signed the Zagreb Declaration on Strategic Partnership and Friendly Relations which contains a paragraph which clearly stipulates that the conflict must be settled, based on the principles of respect for state sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. And these principles have been underlined during the meetings of the heads of our states and other officials.

EU is one of the priorities for Azerbaijan. Our relations with the European Union cover many areas such as politics, economic cooperation, energy cooperation, and the cooperation in the field of transport. The Partnership Priorities document was signed between the European Union and Azerbaijan in Brussels in July this year. Currently, EU and Azerbaijan are working on a new agreement. Croatia has always supported our cooperation with the European Union and made a valuable contribution. Furthermore, I would like to remind that after the meeting with President Aliyev, Mrs Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said that Croatia would continue to be a sincere friend of Azerbaijan in the EU and that it fully supported Azerbaijan’s decision to develop an individual relationship with the European Union.

The cooperation in energy field is very important too. Azerbaijan has initiated the Southern Gas Corridor, a project that unites seven countries and envisages the construction of a 3,500-kilometre gas pipeline from Baku to Europe.

The official opening of the Southern Gas Corridor took place in May this year. In June, we celebrated the launch of the TANAP project. Croatia is interested in cooperation in energy projects and very important negotiations are under way.

How would you evaluate the development of the economic cooperation between the two countries? Which factors contributed to the increase and decline in external trade the most?

— Azerbaijan and Croatia already cooperate in many areas such as shipbuilding, pharmacy, agriculture and chemical industry. Close to 20 Croatian companies operate in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, we can say that Croatian companies engaged in construction, food processing industry and agriculture have a growing interest for entering Azerbaijani market. So, Croatia is

well-represented in Azerbaijani business.

However, the current volume and the value of the external trade between the two countries are not satisfactory and we have to seriously work on it.

I would also like to mention that, as an ambassador, one of my duties is to promote the Azerbaijani business and companies and help them to operate in Croatia. By the way, they are excellent in their fields.

During the visit of President Ilham Aliyev, one of the topics was establishing joint ventures. I am confident that our cooperation in economy and trade will develop further in the nearest future.

After your tenure as the ambassador of Azerbaijan in the United Kingdom and Canada, what was your personal experience of this part of the world? Do you like living in Croatia?

— I was privileged to be an ambassador in Canada and United Kingdom. Every country has its own specifics, culture, and vision. What I can definitely say about Croatia is that you are very lucky, because you have much more sun. From diplomacy’s perspective, I can say that the Balkans has always been a dynamic region and is currently maintaining its position. I am pleased to be an ambassador in Croatia.

WE, THE AZERBAIJANIS AND CROATS, ARE PROUD OF OUR HISTORY, WE LOVE OUR CULTURE AND WE RESPECT CULTURE AND HISTORY OF OTHER PEOPLE

What are cultural and spiritual similarities between the two countries?

— I always say that culture can build bridges that politics cannot. Cultural diplomacy plays a very important role in building mutual trust between people and countries.

Our cultures are similar in some way.

Both Azerbaijan and Croatia are maritime countries. There are similarities in climate, nature, and food. Walking through the narrow streets of Zagreb reminds me the Icheri Sheher (Old Town) in Baku.

We, the Azerbaijanis and Croats, are proud of our history, we love our culture and we respect culture and history of other people.

How much did the establishment of the Joint Economic Commission boost the external trade between the two countries?

— The first meeting of the Joint Economic Commission was held in Baku in November 2017. As I have already mentioned, the current volume of trade shows that that we should continue to work hard. The Joint Commission has serious task to increase trade and the number of bilateral projects.

How familiar are Azerbaijani investors with Croatia? Which sectors are they interested in?

— Azerbaijan is one of the major investors in SİC countries. We are the top investor in Georgia. Our investments in Turkey are very high. SOCAR has been investing in energy projects around the region. Furthermore, we are also investing in infrastructure projects such as resorts and hotels. I have already mentioned the Southern Gas Corridor and the Croatian interest in joining it. And I also mentioned that we should work on helping the Azerbaijani companies to enter the Croatian market.

How can we bolster the mutual cooperation in tourism?

— Tourism industry is becoming very important in country branding and economy.

Tourism in Azerbaijan is developing rapidly.

In 2017, about 2.7 million tourists visited Azerbaijan. Each year we can see the increase in number of tourists. Azerbaijan is becoming a popular destination for tourists coming from Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The increase in the number of tourists is closely related to the launch of the ASAN visa system, shopping festivals, cultural and sporting events and excellent infrastructure. By the way, I can say that any person can obtain an electronic tourist visa in just 3 hours and they even don’t need to come to consular offices for that.

Both Croatia and Azerbaijan have an excellent infrastructure. We should work on our needs and expectations to find the best way to boost cooperation in tourism.

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100th ANNIVERSARY OF AZERBAIJAN

A GLORIOUS CHAPTER IN HISTORY The wise policies pursued under the strategic direction of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev helped to turn Azerbaijan into a country that is today economically dynamic and open, culturally diverse and politically stable

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s a token of respect and gratitude to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), President Aliyev has officially declared this year as the Year of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with celebrations set to take place across Azerbaijan and beyond to highlight the historic significance of this milestone event.

A hundred years ago, on 28th May, amid the tumults of the First World War, the people of Azerbaijan took the historic step to establish themselves as a democratic nation, the first Muslim nation to do so in East. Following the declaration of independence on 28th May 1918, a new independent, democratic and sovereign nation was born which opened a new, glorious chapter in the history of the Azerbaijani nation.

The founders of the republic immedi-

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ately embarked on making wide ranging decisions that affected almost every aspect of political, economic and social life. Their

THE YEAR OF THE AZERBAIJAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC WILL BE MARKED WITH CELEBRATIONS SET TO TAKE PLACE ACROSS AZERBAIJAN AND BEYOND TO HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MILESTONE EVENT

achievements include the creation of state institutions such as national parliament and a fully functioning government, issuance of national currency, adoption of Azerbaijani as the official language, creation of the first university - Baku State University, and establishing friendly and balanced diplomatic relations with both neighbouring and European states based on mutual benefits within a very short time span. These measures helped lay a strong foundation for an independent statehood which the modern Republic of Azerbaijan has proudly inherited. Although it existed for 23 months between May 1918 and April 1920, its ideals and measures have had a lasting effect on the future generations. The ideals of sovereignty, independence and democracy were passed down from generation to generation during the Soviet period.

28TH MAY 1918 MADE ITS WAY INTO THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OF AZERBAIJAN AS A GLORIOUS CHAPTER AND THE DAY THAT HAS SINCE BEEN CELEBRATED IN AZERBAIJAN AS THE NATIONAL DAY Declaration of Independence

What makes this short-lived democratic republic stand out is the fact it has instilled in the Azerbaijani nation an everlasting commitment to the ideals of independence, freedom and democratic values. Over the course of two years of its existence, the first parliament, representing not only all political forces but also all ethnic groups in Azerbaijan, was created and has been functioning as the supreme authority in the country. ADR governments pursued progressive policies in social and public spheres and in July 1919, in a landmark decision, they granted full voting rights to women well before most of the established Western democracies. Among the most notable achievements is the recognition of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic by the international community during the Paris Peace Conference in January 1920. Thanks to the tireless efforts and outstanding diplomatic skills of the Azerbaijani delegation at the

Paris Peace Conference, this decision of international recognition was undoubtedly the culmination of its two-year existence. These measures ensured the maintenance and strengthening of the fledgling independent nation for about two years in a volatile and hostile regional and international security environment.

The fact that this milestone achievement was made possible with scarce material resources and lack of experience in government and diplomatic matters makes it all the more significant.

28th May 1918 made its way into the history of the people of Azerbaijan as a glorious chapter and the day that has since been celebrated in Azerbaijan as the national day.

Since the regaining of independence on 18th October 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan has declared itself the successor to the first republic and has made huge strides in transforming itself across all areas while

putting itself on the world map.

In the first years of independence of Azerbaijan, the country which was, on one hand, subject to Armenia’s occupation, and on the other, exposed to the intervention of external forces, thus being placed in the middle of chaos and anarchy. As the territories were being occupied, the national economy was collapsing and the social situation was worsening, the country needed a national leader, a prominent figure that will ensure a good fate for the nation. In the history of modern Azerbaijan, this personality is undoubtedly Heydar Aliyev.

Heydar Aliyev, who always stood by his people, made the crucial efforts to keep Azerbaijan a truly independent country. He preserved the national identity by proclaiming Azerbaijani language as state language after independence was regained. The article 21 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, adopted in 1995, says that the Azerbaijani language is the state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

National language represents the national identity of a country. It creates an environment to preserve your own cultural heritage, traditional values and all the valuable knowledge for next generations The wise policies pursued under the strategic direction of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev has earned Azerbaijan a reputation of a trusted and responsible member of the international community.

These policies have helped turn Azerbaijan into a country that is today economically dynamic and open, culturally diverse and multicultural and politically stable in a relatively fragile and difficult neighbourhood.

Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan's independence permanent, irreversible and everlasting

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COLUMN

Long Live the Friendship!

STJEPAN MESIĆ I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and all the citizens of Azerbaijan on the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

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n the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Stjepan Mesić, the former President of Croatia, took the opportunity to reflect on the relations between the two countries that both cherish their independence.

As the former President of the Republic of Croatia and the President of the Croatian-Azerbaijan Friendship Society, I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and all citizens of Azerbaijan on the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

One hundred years ago, after the collapse of the Russian empire, the progressive forces of Azerbaijan proclaimed the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic demonstrated a desire to establish friendly relations with every country, especially with the neighbouring ones. The Republic guaranteed all civil and political rights to all citizens, regardless of their ethnic origin, race or religious affiliation. Due to different historical circumstances, the independence of Azerbaijan lasted only 23 months. In such a short time, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic has re-affirmed itself as a democratic and regulated country.

In May 1920, Soviet troops entered Azerbaijan, making Azerbaijan part of the Soviet Union. The true independence of Azerbaijan was achieved only after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but Azerbaijan had not yet fully integrated a part

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of its territory, although international law is completely on the Azerbaijani side.

During my presidential mandate, as the head of the Republic of Croatia from 2000 to 2010, a very fruitful cooperation was established between Azerbaijan and Croatia in all areas: economy, culture, sports and numerous others.

Our countries are not neighbours, but this does not prevent us from continuing to develop our cooperation. Despite the distance, the two countries and their peoples have a lot in common. We both belonged to different large communities,

COOPERATION

TODAY, WITH ALL THE ELEMENTS FOR A BROADER COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR FRIENDLY COUNTRIES IN PLACE, WE CAN EXPECT AN EVEN GREATER AND RICHER COOPERATION IN ALL AREAS OF OUR CITIZENS' LIVES and by the end of the 20th century, we achieved our full independence. During the war, Croatia achieved its territorial integrity and complete independence.

Today, with all the elements for a broader cooperation between our friendly countries in place, when there is a legal framework and the political will to cooperate, we can expect an even greater and

richer cooperation in all areas of our citizens' lives. Since 1995, and the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Azerbaijan have had very good relations. The mutual visits by the highest political officials are very frequent. As president of the Republic of Croatia, as well as after my term in the office, I visited the Republic of Azerbaijan a dozen times, as a head of state and of an economic delegation. At these meetings, we agreed that the two countries had good political relations and economic cooperation to mutual satisfaction.

The Croatian-Azerbaijani Friendship Society brings together people who help enrich the cooperation between our friendly countries. A lot of work is being done thought the lectures, scientific conferences and exchange of experience on the topics related to today’s life in Croatia, Azerbaijan and other countries.

Thus, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the 100th anniversary of birth of the outstanding Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev, a classical music concert was held in Zagreb with the support of the Embassy of the Azerbaijan Republic in the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian-Azerbaijani Friendship Society. The event took place in the Great Hall of the Croatian Institute of Music, the oldest concert hall in Zagreb. The concert was conducted by Yalcin Adigozalov, accompanied by the symphony orchestra of Croatian radio and television and pianist Farhad Badalbeyli.

DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL, BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE

If Baku wins its nomination, the World Expo 2025 would be the first BIE World Expo to be organized in the region. In that sense, Baku Expo 2025 will be truly universal and beneficial for the development of the whole region

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n May 2017, Azerbaijan officially submitted the candidacy of Baku to host the Expo2025 in period from May 10th to November 10th, 2025.

Azerbaijan has chosen human capital as the theme with “Developing human capital, building a better future” as a universal concern. The bid to host World Expo 2025 in Baku is shaped by the aspirations and inspirations of new generations. Azerbaijan will become the youngest country to host a World Expo and will bring together people from different backgrounds from across the world.

Azerbaijan has been an active member of the EXPO movement for 18 years. Its pavilions received awards in the last three exhibitions in Milan in 2015, where they had more than 3 million visitors, in Antalya in 2016 and in Astana in 2017.

Baku is firmly committed, capable and well qualified to host an exceptional World Expo in 2025. Baku already hosted the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, the first European Games 2015 - 50 nations, 5,900 athletes, the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games 2017 54 nations, 6,000 athletes, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Looking ahead, we will host the European Youth Olympic

Festival in 2019.

Occupying a great geographical location – at the junction of Europe and Asia – the easily accessible, modern, yet historic capital city Baku is welcoming and multicultural.

The whole region of Eastern Europe, the

Caucasus and the Caspian has never hosted World Expos. If Baku wins its nomination, the World Expo 2025 would be the first BIE World Expo to be organized in the region.

In that sense, Baku Expo 2025 will be truly universal and beneficial for the development of the whole region.

10 REASONS FOR WORLD EXPO 2025 BAKU 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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zerbaijan’s economic strength and stability will ensure the success of World Expo 2025.

A Baku is increasingly experienced and expert at hosting high-profile international events.

World Expo 2025 has been designated a national project which is why Baku is the only capital city to bid for World Expo 2025.

New destination and new audience: World Expo 2025 Baku would be the first to be held in the Eastern European region.

The theme, Developing human capital, building a better future is of global concern and has never before been explored at a World Expo.

Powered by youth: one of the youngest demographics of recent World Expo bid cities, over 65% of its population is under 40.

Good connectivity: Baku’s multi-award winning 5-star airport has direct links with 50 international destinations, 100 by 2025.

World Expo 2025 Baku will accelerate the transformation of Azerbaijan and the region, driving market and development opportunities as well as increasing knowledge, in skills and in business.

The 295-hectare site is government-owned, financially guaranteed and ready for development. Not a single person, family or business need be moved to make way for its creation.

Sustainable legacy: a valuable addition to the great Expo parks of the past, the world’s newest urban park will be a place for relaxation, recreation and for the protection of the natural ecosystem.

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SOCAR

BALKANS AS ONE OF PRIORITY DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE

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SOCAR Balkans is active in exploring potential avenues of business opportunities and partnership in the field of energy in the region, including Croatia. We continue our engagement with the regional energy companies in terms of gasification and further development of the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline project

OCAR is the leading national energy company in Azerbaijan which maintains the key positions in upstream developments, petrochemical and oil and gas processing, international marketing and trading operations, as well as retail services. SOCAR has transformed over the last ten years into a significant stakeholder in the European energy sector with substantial infrastructure assets and retail operations abroad.

Azerbaijan plays a fundamental role in providing alternative hydrocarbons, both oil and gas, to Europe thus contributing to the energy security of European countries.

The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is one of the most challenging energy projects in the world from the standpoint of its monetary value and work scope perspectives in the

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last decades. The SGC’s aim is to transport alternative gas from the Caspian region via a brand new transportation system to Europe. It stretches over 3,500km, crosses

AZERBAIJAN PLAYS A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE HYDROCARBONS, BOTH OIL AND GAS, TO EUROPE THUS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ENERGY SECURITY OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

six countries, deals with six regulatory systems, involves twelve investing companies and includes twelve gas buyers. The overall value of the project is around 40bn USD. What makes this project so special is that it is not just another way of re-routing existing supplies. Instead, this is the first project in several decades that will incorporate truly new gas supplies into South East Europe. Azerbaijan is the facilitator of this unique project and SOCAR, along with its international partners, has significantly progressed in the implementation of the project activities. First gas from Azerbaijan will reach the European market in 2020.

We consider Croatia as a direct and important participant in the Southern Gas Corridor and appreciate very much Croatia’s contribution to the Ministerial Meet-

ings of the SGC Advisory Council held in Baku in 2017 and 2018.

South East Europe and Western Balkan region are one of the priority destinations for SOCAR. SOCAR Balkans is a project management company established by SOCAR in 2014 to coordinate corporate strategies and business agenda and mobilize corporate resources for projects execution in that region.

Since its establishment, SOCAR Balkans has explored potential avenues of business opportunities and partnership in the field of energy in Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and, of course, Croatia. We continue our engagement with the regional energy companies to explore both commercial and technical feasibilities for gasification of Albania and Montenegro, gas distribution operations and technical services in Bulgaria, and further development of the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline project (IAP).

In February 2018, SOCAR Balkans and Albgaz have signed a Letter of Intent on the provision of front-end engineering design (FEED) for the transmission pipeline from Fier to Vlora. The pipeline connecting TAP exit in Fier with the Vlora thermal power plant was identified as the first Priority Investment Project as per the Gas Master Plan of Albania. SOCAR continuously supports the Government of Albania in the implementation of its plans to establish a gas market in the country.

Following the request from the Government of Bulgaria, SOCAR Balkans began exploring opportunities for commercial investments in the development of a gas

distribution system in Bulgaria. We are completing the preparations for the full scale feasibility study which would identify the best business solutions for our commercial presence in this sector.

IAP project continues to muster support from the Balkan countries and the European Commission as a project which will expand the borders of the Southern Gas Corridor deeper into the South East Europe. IAP is a project of the cross-European significance as its ulti-

WE HIGHLY VALUE THE LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND CROATIA AND BETWEEN SOCAR BALKANS AND PLINACRO IN PROMOTING IAP mate goal is to provide alternative gas to the region, to facilitate further strengthening of the energy security in South East Europe and Western Balkans, and to incorporate a new important element into the energy interconnectivity paradigm which is being built across Europe.

Another fundamental role of IAP is its constituent nature for the successful implementation of gasification projects

in Albania and Montenegro. We can say that IAP and Gas Master Plans of Albania and Montenegro represent one integrated business value chain.

We highly value the level of partnership and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Croatia and between SOCAR Balkans and Plinacro in promoting IAP. In 2013, SOCAR and Plinacro signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation. In 2016, the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between Albania, Croatia, and Montenegro was signed in Dubrovnik and the IAP Project Management Unit (IAP PMU) was established with the representation of Ministries and TSOs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, SOCAR Balkans and Energy Community. SOCAR Balkans has an observer status in the IAP PMU and plays a technical consultancy role in the project. The last meeting of PMU was held in Baku in February 2018 which resulted in signing of the Letter of Intent stipulating the establishment of the IAP Project Company towards the end of 2018. Once operational, the IAP Project Company will have a landmark importance in terms of meeting all required preconditions to move forward the pre-execution stage. The IAP project is currently is in the project execution stage.

We are confident that the energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Croatia and their energy companies will give additional impetus for to further expansion of areas of mutual interest and harmonization after the visit of His Excellency President of Azerbaijan to Croatia in September 2018.

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THE NEW PORT OF BAKU

YOUR HUB IN EURASIA

Baku International Sea Trade Port is anticipated to be the largest logistics zone in the Caspian region and operate as a major regional transportation distribution hub within Azerbaijan’s Grand Hub Vision

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or centuries, the Port of Baku has served as a link between East and West, alongside the ancient Silk Road, as well as a North-South transport corridor that connects North Europe and Russia with the Middle East and South Asia. Azerbaijan has worked to strengthen and redefine the historically important Silk Road in the region by increasing its connectivity through new road, rail and port projects such as the Southern Gas Corridor and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway. In 2007, due to a limited expansion capacity of the port at its original site, the Government of Azerbaijan decided to move the Port to a new

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AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT PHASE IN 2018, THE PORT OF BAKU HAS A TOTAL THROUGHPUT CAPACITY OF 15 MILLION TONS OF GENERAL CARGO, INCLUDING 100,000 TEU IN CONTAINERS

location near Alat, in the township of Baku, 70km south of downtown. Alat is a part of the Greater Baku area and located at the strategic crossroads of the East-West and North-South transportation corridors.

MISSION

To contribute to sustainable growth and diversification of Azerbaijan’s economy through the development of a world-class port.

VISION

To become the major intermodal port and logistics hub in the heart of Eurasia.

free economic zone expansion from 400 hectares to 2,000 hectares. It will help to promote Azerbaijan as a strategic destination between major markets such as China, Turkey, Iran and Russia and dramatically reduce product transit times. Cargo will be transported from China to Europe, via the Port of Baku, in less than two weeks. This is the shortest and fastest trade route available today between China and Europe.

FUTURE PLANS ENTAIL AN INCREASE IN THE CAPACITY IN LINE WITH THE PORT AND FREE ECONOMIC ZONE EXPANSION FROM 400 HECTARES TO 2,000 HECTARES PHASE II With the realization of the second development phase, the total throughput capacity of the Port of Baku will increase to 25 million tons of general cargo, including 1,000,000 TEU in containers.

ALAT FREE ECONOMIC ZONE On 17 March 2016, President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree on the creation of the first-ever Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ) in and around the new Port of Baku. On 18 May 2018, the Government of Azerbaijan adopted the most liberal legal framework ever drafted in support of the free trade zone, which envisages a new international seaport and infrastructure for the rapidly-expanding capital city and encourage international businesses to set up headquarters on-site.

The new Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ) will contribute to the implementation of the "Azerbaijan 2020: A Look into the Future" programme and its objectives are in line with the vision of this economic development concept. The main objectives of AFEZ include: 1. Stimulate diversification of the economy 2. Increase exports 3. Bring best practices and global companies to Azerbaijan 4. Increase human development by presence of global companies in the economy 5. Generate GDP impact and create additional employment 6. P romote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – attract international industrial companies or foreign investments into local firms.

QUICK OVERVIEW

As the major transport and logistics hub in the centre of the Alat Free Economic Zone, the development of the Port of Baku is projected in 2 phases.

After the completion of the first development phase in 2018, the Port of Baku has a total throughput capacity of 15 million tons of general cargo, including 100,000 TEU in containers.

The first phase comprises a ferry terminal, general cargo berths, Ro-Ro berths, a service berth, railway lines, an administrative building, customs holding area, an open storage yard, warehouses, a container yard, rail and road access to berths, Ro-Ro ramps, a heavy lift landing area and a truck amenities area. The completion of the first development phase assumes that all intermodal operations will be done in the Port of Baku.

Future plans entail an increase in the capacity in line with the port and

Latitude

39.977132

Longitude

49.440925

Total Area

400 hectares

Number of Berths

12

Total Lengths of Berths

2254 meters

Max Depth

7 meters

Ice Free, Year Long Navigation Total Cargo Capacity:

15 million tons/ year

Container Handling Capacity:

100,000 TEU/ year

Ferry Terminal

6,2 million tons/ year

General Cargo

7 million tons/ year

Ro-Ro Handling Capacity

60,000 vehicles/year

1,8 million tons/year

7 meters

Open Storage Area:

34,660.2 m2

Covered Storage Area:

10000 m2

Container Storage Area

9,316 m2

Passenger Capacity:

150,000/year

Intended Vessel Length:

150-160-meter vessels

Intended Vessel Capacity:

10,000 tons

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ECONOMIC COOPERATION

BETWEEN ADRIATIC AND CASPIAN SEAS

For a long time world economy were dominated by super states and nowdays the time has come to open the doors for multi-directional economic cooperation

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hile this was going on, a new power was emerging half way between Europe and Asia, times have changed and now it is time for our country to discover another important partner after Russia, Turkey, China, the United States and the EU. Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev visited Croatia to meet with his Croatian counterpart, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović to talk about the economic cooperation, energy and bilateral relations. What was the cooperation between the two countries like in the past? Well, it was both good and bad but with a huge potential for growth. Namely, the economic cooperation between Croatia and Azerbaijan has been developing without any open issues, but the two sides agree that the current results do not match the potential and they expect the cooperation to grow.

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NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Looking at the relevant figures, we can see that the external trade between the two countries in 2017 amounted to only €226.1 million which is quite modest.

But a 3.4% increase has been recorded relative to the previous year. The Croa-

TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR CROATIA TO DISCOVER ANOTHER IMPORTANT PARTNER AFTER RUSSIA, TURKEY, CHINA, THE UNITED STATES AND THE ENTIRE EU

tian exports to Azerbaijan amounted to only €698,000 and fell by 53%, while the imports amounted to €225.4 million, which is a 3.9% increase. Croatia recorded a deficit of €224.6 million in the external trade with Azerbaijan. The export is quite low. To remind, Azerbaijan has a huge market and the country is one of the few that, in the period between 2008 and 2010, did not record a drop in the gross domestic product, but only a slightly lower growth. Unfortunately, Croatia also had no embassy in Azerbaijan only until recently. In order for the cooperation between the two countries to become more direct and more intense, Government of Croatia decided to open the Croatian embassy in Baku in May this year. Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Zagreb seven years before, in 2011.

After the meeting, the two presidents

said that Croatia and Azerbaijan were friendly countries, and that they were also important strategic partners, especially after the joint Declaration on strategic partnership and friendly relations was signed in 2013 in Zagreb. This sounds quite promising, especially given the fact that the Croatian President went on an official visit to Azerbaijan in October 2016.

On the occasion, the President said that her visit to Baku and the talks with President Aliyev and other officials, as well as the fact that 35 Croatian companies participated in the economic forum there together with hundreds of Azerbaijani companies, would contribute to the concretization of many forms of cooperation, from trade and investments to joint cooperation in the fields of energy, technology, food industry, shipbuilding, transport and tourism.

For years, Azerbaijan has been recording excellent economic growth and has been working on developing different economic branches, while trying to improve both investment and business climate. The Croatian President did admit that Croatia should “increase its visibility”. Bearing in mind that the value of the Croatian exports to Azerbaijan is under EUR 1 million, it is clear that Croatia can be “a window” for Azerbaijan in the EU, considering the country’s wealth of oil and natural gas reserves.

The industrial production of oil in Azerbaijan started in the 19th century, when the country was the oil centre of the two big countries - the Russian Empire and the USSR. The demand for oil is huge and the market is hungry. So, if Croatia is not willing to take an advantage of this, somebody else will, and many countries are already ahead of us.

TAP Decision to build the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP), which is the best option for supplying gas to South East Europe, was an extremely important one. The official Brussels did admit that the TAP, as one of the joint interest projects, was crucial for diversification of supply routes and improving the security of gas deliveries. To remind, the agreement on the construction of the TAP, which is supposed to supply Caspian gas to South East Europe, was signed in Baku, in 2013.

In February 2018, the fourth ministerial meeting of the Advisory Council of the

South Gas Corridor was held in Baku. The South Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU since it transports 20 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea via Georgia and Turkey to Europe. Azerbaijan, Turkey, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Albania, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro are participating in

THE CURRENT ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN CROATIA AND AZERBAIJAN IS FOCUSED ON THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND ENERGY the project. A Letter of Intent on the establishment of the Adriatic-Ionian Gas Pipeline Project (IAP) project was also signed. This gas pipeline will stretch through Albania and Montenegro and connect to the TAP and further to the Croatian gas system in the town of Split.

PHARMACEUTICALS AND CENTRAL ASIA A Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between the two countries was established recently, with the aim of promoting the development of economic cooperation, which was assessed to be inadequate. Also, there is the need to bolster the trade parallel with the implementation of bilateral projects.

The current economic cooperation between Croatia and Azerbaijan is

focused on the pharmaceutical industry and energy, but a deeper cooperation between the Croatian and Azerbaijani pharmaceutical companies is needed, which, according to the Croatian president, "would open the door to the Croatian pharmaceutical companies in the Central Asian market, the entire Caspian basin and

wider, including the countries with which Azerbaijan has free trade agreements”.

We should not forget that Azerbaijan have good relations with neighbouring and Central Asian countries as well.

"Croatia is one of the future European gas hubs with certain important future energy corridors begining exactly in Azerbaijan, such as the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline. Croatia wants to become a gas supplier for Central Europe via the Ionian-Adriatic gas pipeline along the Adriatic coast, the majority of which has already been built in Croatia," Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said. The LNG Terminal project in Krk could also be of interest to Azerbaijan as an entry point for the Central and South East European market. "Azerbaijan is engaged in the development of a corridor that will unite seven countries, which extends 3,500 kilometers, starting in Baku, and transports natural gas,” said Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev. It is also important to mention that Azerbaijan has a central role in the Chinese initiative ‘One Belt, One Road’ and the development of the railway across this country, as well as in connecting Croatia with Asia along the existing corridors via Ukraine and Belarus.

We hope to see in the near future growth in figures and about Croatia being the most important EU partner of Azerbaijan.

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ADA UNIVERSITY

INVESTING IN FUTURE

ADA University is a vision of future brought to life and driven by innovation, global leadership and responsible citizenship. The University nurtures a culture of collaboration, teamwork and puts a strong emphasis on analytical thinking, critical reasoning and strategic planning

A

DA University is a world-class education institution. The University is dedicated to preparing innovative global leaders and promoting useful collaborative research in diplomacy, public and inter-

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national affairs, business, humanities and sciences, information technologies and system engineering.

ADA offers the perfect setting for conducting academic and policy research on regional and international topics. It plays

a significant role in developing a productive research climate and in stimulating a forum for innovative ideas in Azerbaijan.

The focus on a variety of fields, an innovative model of learning, a unique setting for collaborative research makes ADA

University a unique centre of learning in an increasingly strategically important region of which Azerbaijan is part.

Studying in a unique cultural environment where teamwork, initiative, critical reasoning and analytical thinking are encouraged and developed, bringing innovation in the education system and a new mentality to Azerbaijan and the surrounding region and fostering useful research in a variety of fields and disciplines are all facets of the University’s main mission.

In addition to training a new generation of leaders and helping resolve many difficult problems in the region, ADA University also promotes innovation in Azerbaijan’s higher education system and a new mentality among its people.

ADA University is a vision of future brought to life. This vision is driven by innovation, global leadership and responsible citizenship.

Students at ADA University are learning not only from professors, but have a unique opportunity to also learn from their diverse group of peers. The University fosters a culture of collaboration and teamwork with a strong focus on analytical thinking, critical reasoning and strategic planning.

Through its innovative learning model, ground-breaking research and dedication to giving back to the community, ADA University is fast becoming a potent force for training new minds and developing new ideas critical to the development of the young democracy.

Members of the ADA University faculty are recognized experts in their fields and are dedicated to the study and practice of business, public and international affairs, humanities and science. ADA world-class faculty has extensive scholarship and wide-ranging real-world experience, which

ADA UNIVERSITY OFFERS A UNIQUE AND VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE COMPLEXITIES OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS brings breadth and depth to classroom discussions.

At ADA University, instructors engage students in substantive academic discussions and become mentors, advising students from a position of experience and understanding. A key to ADA University's success is in internationally respected faculty, many of who are at the forefront of their respective fields.

Faculty at ADA University conduct research that equips policymakers with

both the information and the challenging questions needed to wisely formulate the broader path of Azerbaijan's foreign policy and international relations. Each year, ADA University identifies a set of issues to research, provides funding through grants, and reviews recommends papers for publication.

ADA University offers executive education, undergraduate and graduate degree programmes in various fields. It also offers a unique and valuable insight into the complexities of business, economics, international affairs and more. ADA students are distinguished by their analytical thinking, critical reasoning, strategic planning and ability to work in a team.

The ADA University Executive Education an important tool for government agencies and businesses to nurture junior, mid-career and top leadership talent. The Executive Education Programmes foster dialogue between government and business and provide excellent networking opportunity among all participants.

The Executive Education is continually evolving to meet the growing needs of businesses and government by creating new tailor-made programmes. The goal of ADA University is to meet students’ needs quickly, flexibly and effectively as possible.

Faculty at ADA University conduct research that equips policymakers with both the information and the challenging questions needed to wisely formulate the broader path of Azerbaijan's foreign policy and international relations. Each year, ADA University identifies a set of issues to research, provides funding through grants, and reviews recommends papers for publication.

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TOURISM

AZERBAIJAN – THE LAND OF LEGENDS 20

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With its historical and cultural sites, many of which are included in UNESCO World Heritage List, natural spas and modern ski resorts, Azerbaijan is a paradise for tourists and adventurers. Also, the country’s enormous effort to boost tourism definitely makes it more attractive for travellers

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ith its natural reserves of oil and gas, Azerbaijan is often called “the Land of Fire”. The burning gas surface outlets were seen as a divine mystery back in the day. From the time of Prometheus, fire was associated with brightness, knowledge and comfort, as a gift from God. Marco Polo wrote about the mysterious fires that burned all over on the Absheron Peninsula in the 13th century.

The 17th century Turkish traveller, Evliya Chelebi was also impressed with Baku’s mysterious fires.

The Absheron Peninsula is a perfect site for fire researchers. The sides of the Yanardag hill (“the burning mountain”) have been on fire for hundreds of years.

This eternal fire is attracting more and more tourists from around the world.

If this does not intrigue you enough to come here, don’t worry, because just about 60 kilometres south of Baku you will feel as if you are walking on Mars. Azerbaijan has more mud volcanoes than any other country on the planet with volcano eruptions creating a spectacular landscape. The mud, clay and erupted water are used for medicinal treatments, but what makes it really special is that the mud is not hot as initially thought.

Located at the crossroad between North and South / East and West, Baku has a plethora of historical sites. Icheri Sheher (the old town) is the UNESCO site, written about back in the Roman and Greek times

LOCATED AT THE CROSSROAD BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH / EAST AND WEST, BAKU HAS A PLETHORA OF HISTORICAL SITES. THE SHIRVANSHAHS PALACE, IN ICHERI SHEHER (THE OLD TOWN), A PROTECTED UNESCO SITE, IS ONE OF THE HIDDEN GEMS HERE as one of the political and cultural centres of the region. The Shirvanshahs Palace is one of the hidden gems of the old town.

Its history starts from the time when fairy tales became true.

Walking through the narrow streets of the Icheri Sheher, on the shore of the

Caspian Sea, lies the mysterious Maiden Tower, as a silent witness of the hustle and bustle of modern life.

One of the oldest cities in the region – Sheki - lies on the slopes of the Great Caucasus Mountains. Merchants and traders along the Great Silk Road stayed in in Sheki Karavansaray. The city is famous for its silk production. In 1872, Sheki silk was awarded a medal at the World Expo in Lyon.

Sheki is filled with numerous historical and architectural monuments. The Palace of the Sheki Khans was built without a single nail used, while the village of Kish has an Albanian temple.

Medical tourism in Azerbaijan is becomingg very popular. Thousands of people visit the Naftalan and Duzdag (salt mines) for treatment. The town of Naftalan is famous for its oil therapy which the proven medical effectiveness. Numerous spa and recreation centres provide therapeutic oil bath treatments.

If you have allergies, especially bronchial asthma, then Duzdag, located just 10km from the centre of the town of Nakhchivan is what you need. The salt therapy administered at the DUZDAG Physiotherapy Center is an effective method of non-specific treatment of bronchial diseases.

VOLCANOES

AZERBAIJAN HAS MORE MUD VOLCANOES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY ON THE PLANET WITH VOLCANO ERUPTIONS CREATING A SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPE AZERBAIJAN 2018

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HISTORY: NAGORNO-KARABAKH

THE BLESSED LAND UNDER OCCUPATION “Karabakh won’t be forgotten”

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ith its ancient history and cultural heritage in literature, art and music, Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan. World’s famous museums such as the Victoria and Albert, the Louvre and many others in Berlin, Rome, Istanbul and Cairo have exhibited the pieces of the Karabakh folk art.

The region of Karabakh is famous for its music and mugham. The music of Karabakh, which has enriched the music culture of Azerbaijan with its rare gems of music, has centuries-old traditions. Mughams, popular songs, dances, and ashuq have their special place in Karabakh’s music art.

A selection of Azerbaijani mugham, played on the Azerbaijani wind instrument balaban, was included among many cultural achievements of humanity on the Voyager Golden Record, which was attached to the Voyager spacecraft to represent world music.

In 2003, UNESCO recognized mugam as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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The carpets woven in Karabakh and the carpet–making schools of Azerbaijan from different periods fascinate people with their beauty. Most of them are protected in popular museums of the world.

Today, however, the cultural heritage of the Nagorno-Karabakh is being deliberately destroyed by Armenian occupants.

Architectural monuments and pieces of the

THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE NAGORNOKARABAKH HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY DESTROYED

BY ARMENIAN OCCUPANTS. ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS AND PIECES OF THE WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE ARE NOW DESTROYED OR FORGED

world cultural heritage are being destroyed or forged. 1,891 material and cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories have been looted and vandalized by Armenia, including 738 historical monuments, 28 museums with 83,500 exhibits, 4 photo galleries, 14 memorial complexes, and 1,107 cultural facilities The land, which was blessed with ancient history, the land of music and art is under Armenian occupation.

The United Nation Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan to ensure the return of the Azerbaijani IDPs. Despite the fact that the entire international community recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan and supports its territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, Armenia continues, through the use of force, to violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan by ignoring the will and position of the international community.

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