TM-12-08

CULTURE | BUSINESS | PUBLIC AFFAIRS

AZERBAIJAN STRIKES GOLD Also in this issue: Fire strikes the Heydar Aliyev Centre ‘Elections’ in Nagorno-Karabakh widely condemned Nagorno-Karabakh discussed at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly SOCAR enters Switzerland Prizes for TEAS ‘Azerbaijan through the Lens’ photography competition announced www.teas.eu

08 / 2012

www.teas.eu August 2012

(Sharif Sharafov: Photo – Associated Press)

03 / 2012

Welcome to The European Azerbaijan Society The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) is a pan-European organisation dedicated to promoting Azerbaijani culture, business and public affairs to international audiences. TEAS is also actively involved in helping create a sense of community amongst expatriate Azerbaijanis.

TEAS was launched in November 2008, having initially been established as the London Azerbaijan Society four years earlier. The organisation now has offices in the UK, Belgium, France and Germany, together with a representative office in Azerbaijan.

TEAS has three main façets to its operations: •

•

•

Culture – TEAS raises awareness of Azerbaijan’s rich and vibrant culture to a worldwide audience by organising cultural events and operating as a networking centre.

Business – TEAS supports its membership of European and Azerbaijani businesses. It provides a platform for organisations to establish links and strengthen their existing business relationships via a programme of networking opportunities across the region.

Public Affairs – TEAS works to increase awareness about Azerbaijan amongst key opinion formers, key decision-makers and other political, academic and civil society stakeholders.

TEAS is focused on achieving the following: •

• •

• •

The establishment of strong links between key Azerbaijani and European stakeholders, thereby helping Azerbaijan to integrate fully into the European family of nations.

Strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and key economic, political and social structures across Europe.

The promotion of Azerbaijan as a modern, secular, Western-facing country with tremendous economic opportunities and a strong cultural heritage.

Creating a community spirit amongst expatriate Azerbaijanis in Europe.

Increasing awareness of the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the plight of the 875,000 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Newsletter

TEAS is always bringing the latest news, views and interviews on all aspects of Azerbaijan, and is launching a biweekly free e-newsletter. To find out more, please sign up at www.teas.eu.

Forthcoming Azerbaijani event 25 September Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays Amirov and Stravinsky Cadogan Hall, 5, Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ 19.30hrs (18.15hrs film Mountains of Gabala) This landmark concert will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijani composer Fikret Amirov (1922–84) and will include his Azerbaijan Capriccio and Piano Concerto after Arabian Themes. The soloist in the piano concerto will be Farhad Badalbeyli, the renowned composer and conductor and director of the Baku Music Academy. The conductor will be Dmitry Yablonsky, who co-directs the annual forthcoming Gabala International Music Festival alongside Mr Babalbeyli, for which the Royal Philharmonic was the resident orchestra. Friends of TEAS may purchase the best available tickets on the day of booking for just £15 (normally £15–45). Call +44 (0)20 7730 4500, quoting ‘The European Azerbaijan Society’.

Outreach and Engagement

The TEAS Facebook page is your chance to learn about the latest TEAS news, events, campaigns and other items of interest to the Azerbaijani community. Please ‘like’ the page at http://on.fb.me.

Latest Members

Membership

TEAS offers a range of corporate and individual membership packages, providing such benefits as advertising, networking, travel discounts and assistance with visas. To find out more, e-mail: membership@teas.eu

Media Partner

printed by www.turquoisemedia.eu

Please see website for more members August 2012

www.teas.eu

Politics and News Olympic gold medallist Toghrul Asgarov celebrates victory

(Photo: PTI)

Olympic success for Azerbaijan

Having fielded 53 athletes for the Olympics in London, Azerbaijan twice struck gold on the penultimate day of the games on 11 August, both being achieved in wrestling.

Firstly, Toghrul Asgarov attained victory in the 60kg freestyle wrestling final. In a landslide assault, he swept aside Besik Kudukhov of Russia, the 2011 World Champion, who won bronze in Beijing in 2008. Asgarov did not drop a point, and comfortably won the first two rounds of the three round bout. He commented: “I put everything into being Olympic champion.

It was my destiny to win and I’ve got this medal now.”

Azerbaijan claimed its second gold within an hour of Asgarov’s win, when Sharif Sharifov beat the Puerto Rican outside contender Jaime Yusept Espinal in the 84kg freestyle final. Sharifov had been the favourite after winning last year’s World Championships, and saw off a spirited fight from his opponent to record a 6–1, 2–0 win.

The Puerto Rican’s poor defence enabled Sharifov to throw him twice in the opening period and achieve two simple scores in the second period.

The gold medals came in the wake of other successes earlier in the week. Azerbaijan had claimed its first medal when Valentin Khristov achieved bronze in the men’s 56kg weightlifting. Khristov made a successful start to the competition, achieving a 123kg snatch lift at the first attempt. He then increased the weight to 127kg for his second attempt, and achieved the lift.

However, Khristov failed to snatch 130kg in the third attempt, ranking fourth at that stage of the competition. In the clean and jerk, the Azerbaijani weightlifter started with a 154kg lift, followed by an unsuccessful attempt to manage 158kg. The third attempt saw Khristov lift 159kg, earning him the bronze medal, having achieved a total of 286 points.

Following this, Mariya Stadnik won a silver medal in women’s wrestling in the 48kg category, having been defeated by Khitomi Obare, the seven-time Japanese World Champion. Despite winning the first round with the score of 4:0, Stadnik lost in the www.teas.eu

second part with the score of 0:1. Obare then went on to win the third round, with a score of 2:0. Stadnik previously won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

One of the most courageous athletes proved to be Khetag Gazyumov, a wrestler in the 96kg category, who was taken to hospital after his heart started racing during a quarter-final defeat. Despite this, on the final day of the games, he returned to win a bronze medal in a bout against Rustam Iskandari of Tajikistan. He told reporters: “I clenched my fist, and decided to do the best I could for my country. It’s strange, but it’s sport.”

Another wrestler, Yulia Ratkevich, also won bronze in the 55kg category, achieving victory against Calsey Campbell (4:0, 1:0) of the US, and Valeria Zholobova (6:0, 2:1) of Russia. Wrestlers Rovshan Bayramov and Emin Ahmadov also attained silver and bronze medals, in the 55kg and 74kg categories, respectively.

As expected, Azerbaijani boxers also ably demonstrated their abilities. Magomedrasul Majidov (91+ kg) won a bronze medal in a bout against the Italian contender Roberto Cammarelle. Having won 6:4 in the first round, his opponent won the next two rounds with 6:4 and 3:2. Teymur Mammadov also lost in a 91kg semifinal against Clemente Russo, also from Italy, achieving bronze.

Mammadov won two consecutive rounds (3:2, 6:4), but Russo managed to win the third round by a score of 9:4, and reached the final with a total score of 15:13.

US–Azerbaijan Security dialogue proves positive Araz Azimov, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister

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Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence; William Bryan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy; and other senior US Government officials.

Building on the success of the previous meeting, held last year in Baku, officials focused on a wide range of political and military issues, including co-operation in maritime security, counterterrorism, border security, and countering nuclear smuggling and other aspects of non-proliferation. They also discussed Azerbaijan’s contributions to the Northern Distribution Network and other initiatives supporting international security efforts in Afghanistan.

Mexico and Spain to open embassies in Baku

During a visit to Baku, Senator Francisco Arroyo Vieyra revealed that Mexico will soon open a diplomatic posting in Azerbaijan. He commented: “Azerbaijan is an important state in the region. We will do our best to open our embassy as soon as possible.

Mexico is interested in co-operating with Azerbaijan in various fields, particularly regarding education, culture, oil and gas.”

Meanwhile, Gonzalo de Benito Secades, Spanish Secretary-of-State for Foreign Affairs, has stated that Spain will open an embassy in Baku. He explained: “We advocate the swift opening of a Spanish Embassy in Azerbaijan, following discussions at a series of meetings in Baku.”

He went on to reveal that Spain would be closing its embassies in some African and European countries.

NEWS IN BRIEF Morningstar sworn in as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan The new US Ambassador to Az e r b a i j a n , Richard

Mor ningstar,

took

his

oath

during a ceremony in Washing t o n D . C . , according to the US State De p a r t m e n t .

Following this, he met Hillar y C l i n t o n , US Secretar y-of-State. The ina u g u r a t i o n follows the confir mation by t h e U S Senate on 30 June of Mor n i n g s t a r ’s

The US Department of State hosted a meeting in Washington D.C. with Araz Azimov, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister and other Azerbaijani government representatives for talks on US–Azerbaijan Security Dialogue.

Andrew Shapiro, Assistant Secretary-of-State for PoliticalMilitary Affairs, led the US delegation, which included Eric Rubin, Deputy Assistant Secretary-of-State for European and Eurasian Affairs; Celeste Wallander,

nomination. He was previous l y t h e U S Secretar y-of-State’s

Specia l

Envoy

for Eurasian Energy. His inv o l v e m e n t with Azerbaijan began in 19 9 8 , w h e n he was assigned as a Specia l A d v i s o r to the US President whilst he w a s t h e Secretar y-of-State for Caspi a n B a s i n Energy

Diplomacy,

during

which

he promoted the advantage s o f t h e Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan

(BTC)

pipeline.

August 2012

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Politics and News Mercifully, the blaze caused minimal damage to the iconic new Heydar Aliyev Centre

Fire strikes Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry for Emergency Situations, ten fire brigades battled a blaze at the Heydar Aliyev Centre, which is currently under construction in the Narimanov district of Baku. The UKbased Zaha Hadid Architects designed this innovative, undulating building. Costing $250m (£159.6m) to construct, this striking building features fluid, flowing lines, acres of glass, and an all-white exterior, clad in glassfibre-reinforced plastic tiles. Many of these tiles were destroyed during the blaze.

Three workers – Kaya Ihsan Umit, Omar Sharif Omar Karahan and Vedat Halit Shimshek – were subsequently arrested in connection with violating fire safety legislation, and various items of welding equipment were taken away for examination. It is alleged that Karahan undertook welding work on the building, and that Umit and Shimshek failed to ensure that adequate precautions had been implemented.

Igor Lukšić, Montenegrin Prime Minister, stresses the need for bilateral economic co-operation between Azerbaijan and his country

Montenegrin–Azerbaijani ties on the up

Yagub Eyyubov, Azerbaijani First Deputy , Prime Minister, met Igor Lukšic, Montenegrin Prime Minister, in Baku. During the meeting, Eyyubov explained that the visit would give greater impetus towards developing economic relations between the two countries. He explained: “Last year, commodity turnover between the two states amounted to $4m (£2.6m). It is expected that work by an intergovernmental economic commission will begin in the near future.” , Lukšic went on to outline Azerbaijan’s role in a tourism project in Montenegro, to be constructed on a former military site. He also commented on the ongoing role of the August 2012

Montenegrin–Azerbaijani Interparliamentary Friendship Group. In turn, Eyyubov commented on the role of Montenegro’s vote in an election that tipped the vote towards Azerbaijan’s election as a non-permanent member of the , UN Security Council. Lukšic also outlined the benefits of economic co-operation between the two countries, including the elimination of double taxation. Documents were signed to facilitate implementation of a customs system that will play an important role in developing economic relations.

David Harris, Executive Director, AJC, recognised the development and dynamism of Azerbaijan

American Jewish Committee delegates meet President Aliyev

A delegation from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) has concluded a twoday visit to Baku. This was the third AJC visit since 2008, and the fourth meeting with President Aliyev. In addition to the hour-long meeting with the President at his dacha, the delegation was received by Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister; Nazim Ibrahimov, Chair, Azerbaijani State Committee on Diaspora Affairs; Michael Lavon-Lotem, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan; Adam Sterling, Chargé d’Affaires, US Embassy, Baku and Lieutenant-General Vahid Aliyev, Chief Military Advisor to the Azerbaijani President, amongst others.

David Harris, Executive Director, AJC, commented: “Unless and until you visit Azerbaijan, and see the country first-hand, you cannot imagine the complexity and strategic importance of this nation – to the US, to Europe, and yes, to the State of Israel.

Sandwiched throughout much of its history between the Persian, Ottoman and Russian empires, the independence, development and dynamism we witnessed in Baku is truly something to behold.”

cent of total project costs. The loan criteria specify that there should be 250 or more employees in each company, foreign investors must be included amongst the shareholders, and a professional manager must be employed. Grants are made for a range of activities, including business planning, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of enterprises, together with environmental and energy efficiency.

Direct investments in Azerbaijani oil grow by 28 per cent The latest figures from the Azerbaijan State Statistics Committee (SSC) indicates that, in June, direct investments in the Azerbaijani oil sector accounted for 20.3 per cent of all investments in the country. The oil sector also amounted to 28.6 per cent of all investments during the first six months of 2012. In 2011, these represented 23.2 per cent of all capital investments.

The SSC reported that, during January– June, AZN1.7bn (£1.4bn) was invested in the oil sector, which amounts to an increase of 28.3 per cent on the 2011 figure. Overall investments in the extraction sector totalled AZN1.7bn during the same period, equating to an increase of 30.6 per cent on the same period in 2011. Another area of growth has been real estate operations, which reached AZN615.6m (£500.1m) in this timeframe, amounting to an increase of 42.2 per cent, including housing construction investment, which rose by AZN610m (£496m), equating to an increase of 43.7 per cent.

See the new TEAS website at www.teas.eu

EBRD offers grants to Azerbaijani entrepreneurs

According to the Azerbaijani Economic Development Ministry, the Business Advisory Services (BAS) department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is offering grants to entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan. The BAS offers grants of up to €10,000 (£7,848), ranging from 25–75 per www.teas.eu

TEAS AROUND EUROPE: GERMANY During the past three years, TEAS has opened branches located in Baku, Berlin, Brussels and Paris. Each has different strategic objectives and is experiencing challenges that are specific to their political environment. This piece takes a glance at TEAS Germany, where TEAS Magazine spoke to Shahin Namati:

Germany is not one of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, although the politicians are most receptive to developing their knowledge of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and understanding the Azerbaijani perspective. They are able to form their own opinions and act independently regarding the issue. In addition, the sizeable Turkish diaspora in Germany has resulted in many politicians giving a positive reaction to our message.

What are the main objectives for your office?

Naturally, our political objectives are paramount, as we wish to raise the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh at the highest possible level on the German foreign affairs agenda.

TEAS must win support for its cause, and increase understanding of Azerbaijan’s relevance to Germany and across Western Europe. This is being achieved by developing awareness of Azerbaijan’s role as a secure supplier of energy to Europe for the future. Currently, Germany is largely dependent on Russian Gazprom for its gas resources, which places it in a vulnerable situation. Two of the major players in the Nabucco Consortium are German – RWE and E.ON. Joschka Fischer, the former German Foreign Minister, was a staunch proponent of the Nabucco project. Hence, Azerbaijan’s potential role in the future supply of energy to Germany is well-known amongst politicians.

It is an important topic, and gives us chance to make the connection between this and the swift resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The major concepts are becoming increasingly understood, and give German politicians an extra perspective on the cause.

What are the challenges to be overcome in Germany?

Unfortunately, German media reports on

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The launch of the KarabakhAzerbaijan range from EDSOR Berlin attracted around 500 people (Photo:Henrick Jordan)

Why was it important for TEAS to establish an office in Berlin?

Germany continues to play an integral role in determining the foreign policy agenda of the EU. Azerbaijani–German business relations are also important – not just in terms of the oil and gas industry, but in such areas as equipment for generating alternative energy. Germany leads the way in terms of developing and manufacturing this, and has been supplying to Azerbaijan for the past two years. German heavy industry has also played an integral role in Azerbaijan’s recent development.

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Azerbaijan are frequently negative, as they concentrate on issues related to Azerbaijan’s position as an evolving democracy in an overly biased way. TEAS is working to persuade the German media to report on the plight of the 875,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, who are the casualties of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

However, the situation with German politicians is rather different – they understand the issues. TEAS Germany must persuade them to become more vocal supporters of the Azerbaijani cause in the European Union (EU), Council of Europe, and other institutions. A number of Azerbaijani organisations are active in Germany, with which TEAS has close links.

These include the German–Azerbaijani Coordination Diaspora Co-ordination Centre in Berlin (KAD); the German–Azerbaijan Forum (DAF); and the Society for the Promotion of German-Azerbaijani relations (GEFDAB).

What type of events are you organising to alter existing conceptions of Azerbaijan?

TEAS Germany has been hosting numerous events, concentrating on different aspects of the country. The jazz events in Berlin, featuring the young Azerbaijani pianist Isfar Sarabsky, winner of the Jazz Piano Prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2009, have proven extremely popular, and are now held in both Summer and Winter. Most recently, TEAS Germany collaborated with EDSOR Berlin, the long-established fashion house, to develop the Karabakh-Azerbaijan range of ties, pocket handkerchiefs (pochettes) and scarves.

The ties and pochettes featured designs derived from the Karabakh school of carpet design, whereas Karabakh horses were depicted on the scarves. The fashion items were launched at a major event in the Hotel de Rome in Berlin, attended by more than 500 people, including representatives from the German and Azerbaijani media.

TEAS Germany is currently in the process of organising a photographic exhibition in Berlin, depicting the plight of the IDPs and refugees, featuring recent works

by European photojournalists. Political roundtable events are regularly organised so that German politicians can pose questions

about Azerbaijan. TEAS Germany has also organised large-scale diaspora and political events.

To what extent are the realities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict fully understood in your country?

To reiterate, politicians in Germany are far more receptive to our position than those in the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries.

However, as the country is not a Co-Chair, it is more difficult for Germany to have a political impact. The country’s politicians must become more actively involved in raising awareness in the European institutions.

The German media has not assisted in this – there have been hardly any stories about the impact of the illegal occupation. The portrayal of Azerbaijan in the German media needs to change, and Azerbaijan’s relevance to Europe, through energy security, must be widely highlighted. The German people need to understand that it is necessary to resolve the conflict in accordance with international law.

How strong is the Armenian diaspora in your country’s parliament?

There are a few anti-Azerbaijani members of the Bundestag, but they have not been influenced by the Armenian diaspora – the impact has been from the negative reporting of the country in the German media. Very few German politicians have an overly proArmenian viewpoint, and none are hardliners.

The probable reason for their allegiance is ignorance of the Azerbaijani perspective.

How do you see the Azerbaijani–German relationship evolving in the future?

The outlook is very positive, and TEAS Germany has achieved a great deal during the past two years, having an impact at the highest level of German politics. In my opinion, Germany will start to play an important role in conveying the Azerbaijani message during the next four to five years.

It is unrealistic for the country to become an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, but it will certainly have heightened influence.

To contact TEAS Germany, e-mail: germany@teas.eu

August 2012

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Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan will control the unrecognised occupying régime for a further five years

‘Elections’ held in Nagorno-Karabakh provoke widespread condemnation

The unrecognised ‘presidential elections’, organised by the occupying force in NagornoKarabakh, has resulted in Bako Sahakyan being appointed for a second five-year term.

Results indicated that he had attracted over 66 per cent of votes. His nearest rival was Vitaly Balasanyan, Deputy of the National Council, who secured 32.5 per cent of votes. Experts responded by pointing out a new feature in the ‘elections’ – a significantly decreased gap between the winner’s votes and those of his main opponent. In 2007, Sahakyan won by 85.1 per cent, whilst Masis Mailyan, his main opponent, scored only 12.5 per cent.

Around 80 observers from Armenia, together with other CIS and Western countries, observed the vote. The non-Armenian observers represented non-governmental organisations or acted in a personal capacity, as the region has not been officially recognised by the international community. The European Parliament also sent two observers, although it does not recognise the framework in which the vote was held.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned the poll as “illegitimate”, and threatened to declare foreigners observing the voting as personae non grata. It commented in a statement: “The so-called ‘elections’ are held with the aim of concealing Armenia’s policy of annexing Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.”

Elman Abdullayev, Spokesman, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, commented: “This is completely contrary to the efforts of Azerbaijan and international organisations regarding peaceful resolution of the conflict.”

Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission, condemned the elections: “On 19 July, ‘presidential elections’ will take place in Nagorno-Karabakh. I would like to reiterate that the EU does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework in which they will be held. These ‘elections’ should not

August 2012

prejudice determination of the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiated general framework of the peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

hinders the settlement of a climate that could lead to good neighbourhood ties and cooperation between the countries of the South Caucasus.”

Baroness Ashton reiterated the need for EU support of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs from the US, France and Russia, commenting: “I call upon the parties to step up their efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict on the basis of the Madrid Principles, which would allow progress beyond the status quo. I reiterate the EU’s readiness to provide further support for efforts in this direction.”

Philipp Missfelder, German MP and Foreign Policy Spokesman, CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group and Member of the German Commission on Foreign Affairs, stated: “The international community considers Nagorno-Karabakh to be an inseparable part of Azerbaijan, according to international law. The position of Germany and the EU is that solution of the NagornoKarabakh conflict can only be resolved in a peaceful manner. Neither Germany nor the EU recognise the ‘parliamentary elections’ held in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Leon Cook, Director of Communications, TEAS, welcomed “this important statement of the EU’s position”, that serves to acknowledge that the occupied region is internationallyrecognised Azerbaijani territory. He also praised the increased attention to the conflict that Baroness Ashton and the EU institutions have demonstrated in recent months. Cook stressed his support for the redoubling of EU efforts to help solve this conflict, which threatens regional stability, adding: “We remain committed to co-operating constructively with the European institutions in order to achieve this goal.”

NEWS IN BRIEF Azerbaijani officer killed by an Armenian sniper The Azerbaijani Defence Min i s t r y h a s revealed that an Ar menian sn i p e r s h o t dead

Jafar

Jafarov,

an

Azerbaijani

Senior Lieutenant, near the ‘ c o n t a c t line’ in the direction of the A l i b e y l i village of the Tovuz region of Az e r b a i j a n .

He noted Baroness Ashton’s support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, but said: “Unfortunately, the OSCE Minsk Group has not yet achieved any success in its efforts towards settlement of the conflict, which is continuing to destabilise the whole region. We believe strongly that peaceful conflict resolution is the only guarantee for the economic and social stability of the South Caucasus.”

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs likewise condemned the provocative move, stating that they: “noted reports about the conduct of ‘elections’ that took place yesterday in Nagorno-Karabakh”, but emphasised that “none of their three countries, nor any other country, recognises Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent and sovereign state.”

The ‘elections’ attracted worldwide condemnation.

Alexander Lukashevich, Spokesman, Russian Foreign Ministry, commented: “We, together with other world countries, do not recognise NagornoKarabakh as an independent state. We do not regard the so-called ‘elections’ as determining the future course of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.” The Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry reiterated this, saying: “Turkey will not recognise the results of this so-called ‘presidential election’, which it considers illegitimate and invalid in terms of international law.

The Nagorno-Karabakh dispute continues to be the biggest obstacle before the establishment of peace, stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus. Moreover, it

The shooting took place on 2 0 J u l y.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS On 20 July, TEAS welcomed the main points in a statement from the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the ‘presidential elections’ in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Leon Cook, Director of Communications, TEAS, said: “As the Co-Chairs rightly point out, Nagorno-Karabakh does not exist as a legitimate sovereign entity.

This being the case, it is illogical and unhelpful for the Co-Chairs to accept the need for the ‘de facto authorities’ to “try to organise democratically the lives of their population.” Any support – no matter how tangential – given to the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani soil has the effect of slowing down the glacial progress towards a negotiated settlement, and further delays the return of 875,000 Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes and lands.” The Co-Chairs also emphasised that the so-called ‘presidential elections’ held yesterday “in no way prejudge the final legal status of NagornoKarabakh or the outcome of the ongoing negotiations to bring a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

E-mail: belgium@teas.eu

www.teas.eu

Nagorno-Karabakh

OSCE Minsk Group CoChairs demonstrate concern The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – Ambassadors Robert Bradtke (US), Igor Popov (Russian Federation) and Jacques Fauré (France) – together with Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) – travelled to Baku, Nagorno-Karakakh and Yerevan from 10–13 July.

In Baku, the Co-Chairs met Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani President, and Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister; in Nagorno-Karabakh they spoke to the authorities of the occupying force in the unrecognised republic; and in Yerevan, they exchanged dialogue with Serzh Sargsyan, Armenian President; Edward Nalbandian, Armenian Foreign Minister, and Seyran Ohanyan, Armenian Defence Minister. On 11 July, they crossed the ‘contact line’ on foot, and the following day travelled from Nagorno-Karabakh to Yerevan via Kelbajar, being their first visit to that region since October 2010.

The Co-Chairs reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as emphasised by the Presidents of the three Co-Chair countries in their statement in Los Cabos, Mexico, on 18 June.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs also continued discussions from their meeting in Paris on 18 June with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers. They expressed their concern over recent incidents along the ‘contact line’, and reiterated that the sides’ political will regarding the achievement of peace should be demonstrated by respecting the 1994 ceasefire agreement, and abstaining from hostile public rhetoric.

With regard to reports relating to the controversial planned opening of an airport in Nagorno-Karabakh, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs received renewed assurances from both sides that they would reject any threat or use of force against civil aircraft, pursue the matter through diplomatic steps, and refrain from politicising the issue. They reaffirmed that operation of this airport does not signify any change in the status of NagornoKarabakh, and urged the sides to act in accordance with international law that is consistent with current legislation regarding flights over their territory. The Co-Chairs are to meet the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers separately in order to prepare for a joint meeting of the Ministers in September.

www.teas.eu

Vilija Aleknaite condemns the continuity of the status quo in the occupied regions

Nagorno-Karabakh discussed at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting

The report OSCE – Region of Change, by Vilija Aleknaite, Lithuanian MP, has been discussed at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Azay Guliyev, Azerbaijani MP, commented: “The unresolved nature of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will cause the continuation of tension along the ‘contact line’. In his speech, Guliyev agreed that the rapporteur had touched on the existing unsettled and protracted conflicts in the OSCE region. He explained: “As the first important step, Mrs Vilija Aleknaite suggests that snipers should be withdrawn to maintain the ceasefire agreement. She has also requested that detailed research should be undertaken following incidents along the ‘contact line’. Azerbaijan agrees with establishing such a mechanism. However, this mechanism can only logically have an effect after the withdrawal of Armenian troops from our lands. If it happens, there will be no need for snipers.”

Guliyev requested that the MP should inform Armenia that it would not accept the continued current status quo and legalisation of the occupation. He commented: “Armenia seriously violates all international conventions and legal norms by holding Azerbaijani areas under occupation. We desire the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the international norms, and await the same attitude to be demonstrated by the opposite side.”

Vienna forum in Baku to concentrate on Nagorno-Karabakh

The Vienna forum for Azerbaijani students studying across the EU will focus on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during a conference in Baku on 26–27 October.

The event is organised by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Youth and Sports; the Centre for Strategic Studies under the Azerbaijani President (SAM); the

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Azerbaijani Embassy in Austria; the Youth Fund, under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports; the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Public Union; and the Azerbaijani Students and Alumni International Forum (ASAIF).

During the forum, Azerbaijani officials and experts will undertake discussions on the historical aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and legal, humanitarian and other aspects of the negotiation process.

Azerbaijani students studying in the EU at all levels can apply to participate by visiting http://bit.ly/ViennaForum.

The cover of the French edition of Professor Zeynalov’s work, published last year

Book on the NagornoKarabakh conflict published in Paris

Paris-based L’Harmattan has published an English version of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Just Peace or Imminent War?

by Professor Fazil Zeynalov, Baku State University. The book highlights the historic roots of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the author stresses that thousands of Iranian and Turkish Armenians were resettled in the Nagorno-Karabakh, Nakhchivan and other Azerbaijani lands by the Tsarist Russian Empire, following the signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay between the Russian and Persian Empires in 1828.

Numerous French, English, Russian, Turkish and Azerbaijani sources were used during the writing of the work, which covers the historical, geopolitical and legal basis of the conflict. Professor Zeynalov initially details historic sources from the Caucasian Albanian and Middle Ages; the work of the Russian Orientalists in the 19th–20th centuries; and outlines the discoveries of prominent Azerbaijani historians.

The author also discusses the régime in Nagorno-Karabakh that was imposed

by Armenia, following the regaining of Azerbaijani independence in 1991. The book mainly focuses on the achievement of a peaceful, negotiated conflict resolution, based on international law and following mutual agreement of the parties.

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Personalities Ulvi Azizov’s performance in Le Corsaire provided the opportunity to demonstrate his athleticism

Ulvi Azizov – a graceful exponent of classical ballet Ulvi Azizov, Principal Dancer, Prague State Opera, was born in Baku in 1985, beginning his career in 2003 when he graduated from the Baku Choreographic School. He has received numerous awards for his undeniable contribution to the development of ballet as an artform. He participated in the 16th Rudolf Nureyev International Ballet Festival in 2004, and in the World Ballet Stars gala concert at the Hungarian National Opera. Ulvi has now danced in many countries, including Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia and Ukraine. TEAS spoke to Ulvi in Prague to hear more about his life and career:

What or who initially stimulated your interest in ballet?

My parents were definitely the catalyst behind my passion for ballet. When I was a child, I was particularly interested in sports, and I had many varied hobbies, including singing, karate, and football. I was extremely energetic and active, and my parents decided to channel this energy in one direction – ballet.

Were your parents involved in dance at all?

Yes, my father was a famous folk dancer, and received the award of People’s Artist of Azerbaijan. He could always provide invaluable advice, and demonstrate how to make movements beautiful and elegant. My mother is

a doctor, and is very supportive of my dancing career. She understands a great deal about ballet, and loves it.

How long did you study at the Baku Choreographic School? What was the focus of your studies?

I studied at the Baku Choreographic School for 12 years, and my class was experimental in many ways. One of the main differences with my class was that previously all pupils had been accepted in the school from the third grade, whereas my class started from the very beginning – the first grade. We studied such subjects as classical ballet, folk dance, and music. Thanks to this, I learned to play the piano.

Where did you give your first performance?

What role did you perform?

My very first stage performance was very challenging – I performed the Azerbaijani traditional dance Gaytagi at the Muslim Magomaev State Philharmonic Hall. My first classical stage performance was a leading role in the Francesca da Rimini ballet, to music by Tchaikovsky, at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. I enjoyed dancing it so much!

In which companies and countries have you danced?

I have participated in ballet galas, festivals and performances as the guest principal dancer in France, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and Finland, amongst others.

Ulvi’s strength and grace were fully employed in Giselle

Have you solely performed in classical ballet, or have you also danced in modern ballet?

I have also danced in modern ballets, such as Der Sandmann, choreographed by Christian Spuck, after the novella by Ernest Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann. In addition, I have performed in Tango+Voyage by Mauricio Wainrot, which is an emotionally-demanding, intense work. Altogether, 25 companies in the world have performed Wainrot’s work during the past decade. Both ballets are very interesting, and I am delighted that I had such a great opportunity to work with these choreographers and to gain important experience.

Many of the ballets in which you have performed, such as Le Corsaire, La Bayadère and Don Quixote were strongly associated with Rudolf Nureyev during the 20th Century.

Does this present any particular challenges when performing these roles? Nureyev was an outstanding dancer.

I believe that I have successfully developed my own dance style, and this is continuing to evolve. In my opinion, it is important to be faithful to yourself and not copy anyone.

When did you become Principal Dancer at the Prague State Opera? How has this assisted you in the development of your art?

I was invited to perform in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ballet in the role of Prince Siegfried at the Prague State Opera, as the guest principal dancer, in 2009. My complete transition to the Prague State Opera happened just one year ago. I have now performed three leading roles in the ballets Swan Lake, Don Quixote and Giselle. Prague is a perfect point in the world, being located at the crossroads of Europe. It takes a matter of hours by train to reach many European capitals. Such a location is extremely important to my career development, as is knowledge of the full range of ballet styles and choreography.

Are you currently involved in undertaking any choreography?

During the next season, there will be a première that combines choreography by George Balanchine, William Forsythe and Jerome Robbins – three of the pre-eminent 20th Century choreographers for ballet and musicals.

How do you see your career developing?

I would love to perform in the ballet La Dame aux Camelias, choreographed by the legendary John Neumeier, to the music of Frédéric Chopin. This unique ballet was premiered at the Staatstheater Stuttgart in 1978. I also intend to continue performing across the world and to further develop my art.

For more information on Ulvi Azizov’s work, and to see vidoes of his dancing, go to www.ulviazizov.com

August 2012

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Corporate Profile – Hardy Marketing Solutions Hardy Marketing Solutions was launched to develop business opportunities in Eastern Europe. Jurate Hardy, Director, Hardy Marketing Solutions, recently returned from a trip to Baku to launch a popular train-based children’ television programme to Azerbaijan, entitled Chuggington, produced by Ludorum plc. The show follows the exciting adventures of three young trainees – Wilson, Brewster and Koko – as they learn to ride the rails in Chuggington Town. TEAS spoke to Jurate to find out more: What is your company’s specialisation?

Hardy Marketing Solutions specialises in launching established concepts from Western to Eastern Europe.

What are the special strengths of Chuggington and Ludorum plc?

Ludorum’s roots began in 2006, having been founded by a former Executive Chairman at Learning Curve International, and two former members of the management at HIT Entertainment, the creators of such successful children’s programmes as Bob the Builder, Barney the Dinosaur, and Thomas and Friends, another famous locomotive-based show.

Chuggington is a popular brand across the international market, and is already a daily flagship show on the BBC CBeebies channel, being well on its way to success in the international market, including Azerbaijan. A CGI series, the show is aimed at viewers aged 2–6 years, and provides its viewers with a train programme that is suitable for both girls and

boys, with both female and male characters featuring heavily in every series. It teaches simple, yet important, personal, social and emotional moral lessons, and can be easily adapted to different cultures worldwide, making it the perfect international product.

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Jurate Hardy, Director, Hardy Marketing Solutions LLP

Are you experiencing any competition from outside of Azerbaijan?

This is not the case. The toy market in Azerbaijan is relatively underdeveloped. When visiting distributors during her trip, I was surprised to find that there is a big gap in the Azerbaijani market for children’s toys and television series.

Chuggington, as an already well-established product, is therefore offering solid investment opportunities to those who are interested. Over 15m toy trains have been sold worldwide within 18 months of its launch, and Ludorum has just announced a further $10m (£6.4m) investment in producing another TV series.

Why Azerbaijan?

The Azerbaijani market is a very proactive, fastgrowing market that is currently unexposed to many English toy brands. This reason, together with the growing expat community, made it a very lucrative opportunity for Ludorum to further expand its successful brand. I set my sights on Azerbaijan after undertaking extensive business experience in Eastern Europe, working closely with markets in Russia, the Baltic States, Kazakhstan and many other Eastern European countries.

Chuggington official merchandise has proven popular across Europe

What do Hardy Marketing Solutions have to offer?

Hardy Marketing Solutions LLP is a UK business, based in London, specialising in finding distributors and retailers for UK firms willing to expand their businesses into Azerbaijan and other countries in Eastern Europe. Hardy Marketing Solutions also successfully operates in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, the Baltic States, Georgia, Hungary and Kazakhstan. I have extensive knowledge of these markets and their consumer behaviour – I lived in the Soviet system for 21 years – before moving to Australia to study and live and then moving to London more permanently in the last two years. This enables the company to apply Western business philosophy to former Soviet markets, which is not easy to achieve.

My personal history enables me to offer a ‘bridge between the East and West’, helping UK businesses with sales and marketing strategies, merchandising, public relations, media planning and product launches.

One of the many accessories that have transformed Chuggington into an international success

Hardy Marketing Solutions are looking for distributors and a TV platform for Chuggington – can you help? Are you looking to market a product in Azerbaijan? If so, please e-mail: jurate.hardy@gmail.com; tel: +44 (0) 7789 462 271.

For more information on Chuggington, go to www. chuggington.com or visit www.az-magazine.com for articles and updates.

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August 2012

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Personalities Much of Günay Mirzayeva’s work is inspired by the natural world and her Azerbaijani heritage

Günay Mirzayeva – a composing career on the ascendance

Günay Mirzayeva, aged 27 years, grew up in a musical family in Baku, Azerbaijan. She began her pianistic studies at the age of six, going on to study musical theory at Baku Music College, whilst simultaneously studying composition at the Baku Music Academy under Professor Khayyam Mirzazadeh and Professor Ismayil Hacibeyov. During this period, she wrote for a range of musical permutations, including variations, romances, sonatas, and string quartets.

Having won a scholarship under the Presidential State Programme for Azerbaijani Youth Studies, Günay studied composition at

the State Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany, under Professor Caspar Johannes Walter, and graduated in 2011. She is now studying for a Ph.D in composition at the Karlsruhe Music Academy under composer Dr Professor Wolfgang Rihm, whilst also studying in Rome at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory. Mirzayeva has recently premiered her First Symphony at the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijani State Philharmonic Hall, and has now returned to Stuttgart.

You last gave an interview to TEAS Magazine in April 2011. How has your style developed since that time?

The most important piece of music that I have written since the last interview is my First Symphony, the second being Sübh (Dawn), which is a concerto for three soloists and orchestra that was performed at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. Subsequently, my style Günay’s piece Aus der Ferne was written for Eduard Brunner, the Swiss clarinettist

has further evolved, exemplified in my piece entitled Mugham Impulses. Most importantly in this piece, the rhythm, and mugham mode, incorporating microtones, are synthesised and become one.

Soon after the interview, your new work, Mugham Impulses, was featured at the International Congress on Microtonality at the State University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart. How did this fit into the overall theme of the festival, and how was it received by the audience?

I believe that the piece was very interesting for the audience. In contemporary music, it is quite unusual for a composer to incorporate the folk music of their homeland in compositions, synthesising this with microtonal elements and using the result as a basis for the composition.

Following this, you moved to Rome to study at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory. How has this move affected your music?

Despite moving to Rome, I am continuing my doctoral studies at the University of Music in Karlsruhe. I have always been interested in vocal music, and during my time at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, I composed a cycle of romances dedicated to the ancient city of Rome, setting text by Giosuè Carducci. This piece was written for violin, clarinet, tenor and cello, and has been performed by the famous Italian singers and musicians Cesare Ruta Stoch (tenor), Luca Cipriano (clarinet), Giuliano Cavaliere (violin) and Luca Peverini (cello), under the baton of conductor Tonino Battista. Since then, I have composed other romances in Azerbaijani, German, and other languages.

Your piece Aus der Ferne was written for the Swiss clarinettist Eduard Brunner. Was this the first time you had written a piece for a specific instrument? Did this present any unusual challenges?

This was the first piece that I composed specifically for the solo clarinet, although I have previously written for the solo violin, guitar, flute and cello. This piece is a very special, and uses a diverse range of performance techniques, including contrasts between the sounds, rhythm, and the use of ritardando and accelerando. By using the title Aus der Ferne (From Afar), I wanted to express the internalised nostalgia that I feel when far from my homeland. I was most fortunate that Eduard Brunner, the famous clarinettist, performed my piece.

One of your most momentous achievements this year was the inaugural performance of your First Symphony. Where did you write this, and how long did it take to compose?

Which instrumentation was used?

My First Symphony for full orchestra was written for my bachelor’s degree at Baku Music Academy, and I achieved my diploma with

August 2012

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Personalities Günay’s First Symphony was premièred at the Muslim Magomayev Azerbaijani State Philharmonic Hall

full honours. It took six months to compose all three symphonic movements, and the orchestration took another two months. In 2012, the symphony was premiered by the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Symphony Orchestra under the baton of young conductor Fuad Ibrahimov at the Baku Philharmonic Hall.

Does your First Symphony incorporate any themes derived from mugham or ashiq music?

Mugham modes are included in the main themes of all movements.

In April, your setting of Bahar Yagishi (Spring Rain) by Ramiz Abdullayev was premiered at the Donizetti Theatre, Bergamo. How did the form and content of this poem affect your music?

In the composition Bahar Yagishi, both the

text and music are connected to nature. The orchestration depicts the raindrops and the sound of thunder. It was performed by the Orchestra Sinfonica Italiana, under the baton of Italian conductor Stefano Miceli, and received a Donizetti theatre award.

In early July, Tanz der Tulpen was premiered in Karlsruhe-Baden. Can you describe this work?

The piece entitled Tanz der Tulpen (Dance of Tulips) was premiered on 6 July at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe by the Badisches Ensemble under the baton of director Ulrich Wagner. It was performed during the Nachtklänge festival, held each year at this theatre. The 2012 festival was dedicated to Igor Stravinsky, so I decided to compose a piece in his style, yet using a mugham mode. The piece was fascinating to

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write, and resulted in a new synthesis of music language and styles, which is quite different to my other work.

Which of your pieces will be performed at the EstOvest Festival in Turin?

There will be a première, setting a text by Italian writer Guido Barbieri to an accompaniment for string ensemble and balaban. The renowned Italian Xenia Ensemble will perform this, alongside Rafael Asgarov on balaban. In addition, Francesco Maggio, the Italian composer, is writing a piece for this ensemble and balaban to perform that will be dedicated to Azerbaijan. Masterclasses will also be held alongside the festival, which are supported by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Italy and the Intesa San Paolo Goup.

Are any broadcasts or CDs of your work planned?

In May, clarinettist Eduard Brunner recorded Aus der Ferne, and this will be soon be released.

Does jazz have any influence on your style?

Do you admire any jazz performers?

Jazz is part of my life and has definitely influenced my style. I appreciate unusual rhythms and improvisations. I admire many jazz musicians, including Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, George Duke, and Vagif Mustafazadeh, who developed jazz-mugham.

There are currently many talented Azerbaijani jazz performers, but I particularly like the work of pianist Isfar Sarabsky.

To contact Günay, e-mail gunaymirzazeva@hotmail.com.de

Azerbaijan Through the Lens – prizes announced TEAS has announced the launch of a photography competition for professional and amateur photographers from across the world, entitled Azerbaijan Through the Lens.

All types of photographs are most welcome, from portraits and landscapes to action and architectural – the only criterion is that they relate to Azerbaijan. The closing date for entries is 15 October.

Prizes: • 1st prize – £2,000 (€2,526) worth of travel vouchers or a 15” Macbook Pro • 2nd prize – £1,000 (€1,263) worth of travel vouchers or a 13” Macbook Air • 3rd prize – £500 (€631) worth of travel vouchers or an iPad

The winning photos will be selected by a panel of internationally-recognised experts. For more information and Terms and Conditions, go to http://teas.eu/photography-competition.

In addition to a selection of fantastic prizes, the winners will be exhibited at the prestigious La Galleria Pall Mall, London in November 2012, to which the international media and public will be invited. The exhibition will then be presented at galleries in Paris, Berlin, Brussels and other European cities during late 2012–early 2013.

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August 2012

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Business News Tajik President Emomalii Rahmon gave the green light to a new AzerbaijaniTajik joint venture

also finance the construction of such a refinery in Kyrgyzstan independently, the fate of this project is dependent upon the result of negotiations between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Sources in Bishkek have spoken of a volume of 3m tonnes per year, which would be sufficient to satisfy demand in China and Uzbekistan, after fulfilling domestic demand.

More drilling required Azerbaijan to build in Azerbaijani sector Central Asian refineries Azerbaijan has announced plans to extend of the Caspian Sea its upstream oil and gas activities into Central Asia by signing two deals to build oil refineries in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

This agreement was signed between Azeraluminum and the Tajik Aluminum Co. (TALCO) during a state visit to Baku by Tajik President Emomalii Rahmon, and will enable Azeraluminum to construct an oil refinery in the country. TALCO already manages a similar plant in Tursunzade, located 60km west from Dushanbe, the Tajik capital. This is reported to have an annual production capacity of 517,000 tonnes, of which 99 per cent is exported. During his visit to Azerbaijan, President Rahmon travelled to an industrial plant, close to Baku, that uses 50 tonnes of aluminium per year for the production of electric cables and other power sector equipment.

It is anticipated that the oil refinery will be built in southern Tajikistan. Its construction will follow a feasibility study that will probably be commissioned from the US firm Foster Wheeler, with which the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) has already established a Baku-based joint venture. Earlier this year, SOCAR agreed to construct a $250m (£159.5m) oil refinery in Kyrgyzstan with an annual capacity of 2m tonnes per year, equating to about 40,000 barrels per day. This would reduce and possibly even eliminate Kyrgyzstan’s dependence on Russia, upon which it relies for imports of about 1.4m tonnes per year, representing three-quarters of its oil and oil products consumption.

When the deal was announced, Natiq Aliyev, Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister, explained that refinery construction would finish by the end of 2013 or early 2014.

However, its finalisation remains dependent on Kazakhstan agreeing a barter deal with Azerbaijan. The most effective arrangement would be for Azerbaijan to transport oil across the Caspian Sea for importing into northwestern Kazakhstan. Following this, Kazakhstan will export the equivalent amount to Kyrgyzstan on its southeastern border. However, since Kazakhstan can

August 2012

SOCAR has revealed that Azerbaijan will need to construct four new modern floating rigs in the Caspian Sea during the next 20 years. The source revealed that two of the drilling rigs will be necessary to facilitate the development of fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea and to undertake future drilling on Azerbaijani offshore structures to exploit new deposits.

SOCAR will start construction of a new rig in the autumn, and begin building a second in 2013. The company has also announced that the Istiglal and Dada Gorgud floating drilling rigs, which are currently used in the Caspian Sea, will require replacement in the near future. The cost of constructing each new drilling rig is estimated at $700– 800m (£450–£510m). SOCAR previously revealed that its new generation of rigs had been designed to drill exploratory and development wells to a depth of 8000– 10,000m in water depths up to 1000m.

Edgar Bachmann, formerly of Shell, is heading up the new SOCAR Energy Switzerland venture

SOCAR goes Swiss

On 1 July, SOCAR acquired all of the shares in Esso Schweiz from ExxonMobil.

The SOCAR brand will now be gradually phased in across Switzerland during the course of 2013. Consequently, SOCAR has developed a new logo and an independent brand for the service station and energy business. The first rebranded service station will open at the end of Summer.

Swiss-born Edgar Bachmann, CEO, SOCAR Energy Switzerland, has several decades of international experience, including 23 years at Shell, and will

head the new venture. He commented: “We want to develop a widely-accepted premium brand within a short period. This brand promises top quality, outstanding customer service, high safety standards and exemplary operational management.”

Last November, SOCAR announced that shares in Esso Schweiz would soon be acquired, following a transitional period. Work to finalise this has been underway over the past few months, and SOCAR Energy Switzerland now has sole responsibility for the former Esso Schweiz.

Headquartered in Zürich, the new division employs around 900 people directly and in wholly-owned subsidiaries. The takeover will not have a detrimental effect on the employee numbers or on their working conditions. In fact, SOCAR will be creating new jobs, as some support functions that were previously undertaken overseas will be relocated to Switzerland.

These support functions are also represented in the newly-formed six-person Executive Management team, which comprises industry and management personnel previously employed by Esso Schweiz. The other team members are Rüdi Häsler (Business Services), Peter Hadley (Aviation), Reto Hürlimann (Distribution), Jabar Salamzade (Finance) and Silvan Weiss (Commercial).

SOCAR to share TANAP stake with gas partners only

SOCAR has said that it will only share its stake in the Trans-Anatolian pipeline (TANAP) with companies involved in Caspian gas projects. The comments were made during a press conference with Rovnag Abdullayev, President, SOCAR. He explained that a decision would soon be made regarding which companies would receive SOCAR’s 80 per cent stake in the pipeline project, estimated at $7bn (£4.5bn).

The remaining 20 per cent is held by BOTAS, the Turkish state-owned pipeline and trading company.

Abdullayev explained that partners in the Shah Deniz project, including BP, Total, and Statoil, had shown an interest in participating in TANAP. On 26 June, Azerbaijan and Turkey agreed to build the 2000km pipeline, which will facilitate the transportation of Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field to Turkey. This will then link with either the Nabucco West or Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which will deliver the gas to the EU.

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Business News

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The full-field development of Shah Deniz is expected to raise SOCAR’s ranking amongst the world’s oil companies

One of Wartsila’s 50 SG lean-burn engines in the factory

(Photo: SOCAR)

384MW gas power plant to be supplied to Azerbaijan

The Finnish manufacturer Wartsila, a leading global power station manufacturer, has been awarded a contract to supply a 384MW gas power plant to Azerbaijan. In terms of output, this is the largest single order that Wartsila has received. After commissioning, the Boyuk Shor station, near Baku, will be operated by Azerenerji JSC, the state-owned utility. The power station will contain 21 Wartsila 50SG engines, running on natural gas, related auxiliaries and processing equipment. The plant is scheduled to become operational in autumn 2013, and will supply electricity to the Baku regional grid.

According to the manufacturer, the Wartsila 50SG engine is the world’s largest gas-powered generating set. It features a four-stroke, sparkignited gas engine operating on the Otto cycle, applying the lean-burn principle. The engine is able to achieve an exceptionally high power station net electrical efficiency rating, with minimal emissions, as it operates on natural gas.

Vesa Riihimaki, Group Vice-President Wartsila, said: “Azerbaijan and the Caspian region is an important and growing energy market. Wartsila has been present in Azerbaijan since the mid1990s, and has already supplied seven power plants to the country, producing over 860MW of power generating capacity altogether.”

Gas project feasibility nears completion

The German company E.ON has signed an agreement with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) to undertake the reconstruction and modernisation of the gas network for Baku and the Absheron Peninsula. A SOCAR spokesman explained that a feasibility study had been undertaken and submitted to SOCAR, which presented feedback and recommendations, after which the document was amended and supplemented.

He commented: “The works are nearing completion, and E.ON will present an edited

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version of its feasibility study before the end of this month, after which it will begin work on the construction documents. Some work can commence in parallel with the design work.”

SOCAR requested that all possible variants (lines) of gas supply to the capital should be assessed. SOCAR previously revealed plans to construct a new plant for oil and gas processing and the production of petrochemical products.

It is intended that gas losses will be minimised and that the existing distribution system will be expanded. The reconstruction and renewal will be able to take into account population growth and sustainable development of the industry, meeting the increased future demand for gas. The gas system for Baku and the Absheron Peninsula is the largest in the country, covering around 650,000 customers. SOCAR has estimated that 90 per cent of the existing infrastructure should be reconstructed and modernised. The estimated value of the project is €800–900m (£630–£707m).

SOCAR expected to enter Top 25 oil companies’ ranking

It is expected that the SOCAR will become one of the world’s leading oil companies, as published in the Forbes report The World’s Biggest Oil Companies. According to the criteria of the previous report, in order to qualify, it is necessary for the company to produce around 1.4m barrels per day (bpd), taking gas extraction into account. On average, Azerbaijan produces less than 900m bpd, but once natural gas production develops in 2018–22, following the advent of Shah Deniz 2, the total production of hydrocarbons is expected to equate to 1.5m bpd. However, the proportion to be controlled

by SOCAR at this future point remains to be decided.

Azerbaijan comes closer to the WTO

According to an Azerbaijani government spokesman, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is to hold consultations with the WTO Working Group and bilateral negotiations with WTO member states. The source noted that bilateral talks with the US and Canada had been

confirmed, coming in the wake of consultations with the US, EU, Norway, Canada, Ecuador and Japan. The Azerbaijani delegation held meetings with several officials of the WTO and UN experts during their visit to Geneva.

The source went on to reveal that negotiations with Turkey, the Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Georgia have been completed, and protocols have been signed. The country is in the process of signing the protocol with Moldova, which is still considering the document. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is working to implement WTO requirements, improving its current trade régime. To date, around 40–50 legislative acts have been passed to meet WTO requirements. Azerbaijan has held WTO ‘Observer’ status since 1997.

Azerbaijani budget surplus exceeds $1.3bn during first half of 2012

The Azerbaijani Finance Ministry has revealed that income from the Azerbaijani consolidated budget reached AZN11.4bn (£9.3bn) during the first six months of 2012, with expenditure of AZN8.1bn (£6.6bn). The revenues of the state budget amounted to AZN8.1bn, with expenses of AZN7.1 (£5.8bn), resulting in a surplus of AZN1bn (£812m).

State budget revenues added up to 106.2 per cent during this period, equating to revenue growth of 45 per cent, when compared to the same time last year. Around 55 per cent fell to the non-oil sector, exceeding the figure for the same period last year by 15.8 per cent, amounting to AZN222m (£180.3m). Investment expenditure during this period increased by 1.9 times, when compared to the same period in 2011.

Altogether, AZN514m (£417.5m) was spent on the construction and reconstruction of scientific, education, health, sports and other facilities. Around AZN1.5bn (£1.2bn) was used for the construction and reconstruction of water and gas supply infrastructure, of which around AZN405m (£329m) was allocated to road and transport infrastructure, and AZN150m (£121.9m) was spent on works related to the State Programme on Socio-Economic Development of the Regions 2009–13.

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Culture and Sport Amina Figarova at home in New York

(Photo: Zak Shelby Szyszk)

New CD from pianist Figarova pays tribute to New York

Born and raised in Baku, Amina Figarova has been making waves on the European jazz scene for 18 years, being based in Rotterdam for much of that time. In collaboration with her husband and musical partner, the flautist Bart Platteau, she has toured extensively, developing a tight-knit ensemble with a unique voice, concentrating on original repertoire. Collaborating with numerous US and European musicians, the Amina Figarova Sextet has triumphed on the main stage of the Newport Jazz Festival, been invited repeatedly to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and won critical and audience acclaim in Chicago, Detroit, Paris, Amsterdam, and New York. In 2010, they moved to the Queens area of New York, and this provided the inspiration for the compositions on Twelve, her new CD, being her twelfth release since 1994. The compositions celebrate jazz as international music and New York City as a locale where jazz musicians from across the world feel at home.

On the CD, Amina and Bart perform alongside Marc Mommaas (tenor/soprano saxophones), Ernie Hammes (trumpet), Jeroen Vierdag (bass) and Chris ‘Buckshot’ Strik (drums). From the late night groove of NYCST to Maria’s Request, a bass-pianoflute trio of exquisitely tender intimacy, Amina’s pieces employ genuinely beautiful harmonics.

Some of the ideas and images that prompt Amina’s writing are conceptual – such as her

August 2012

aerial vision of the earth in Another Side of the Ocean. Other inspirations are as tangible as the Sneaky Seagulls, darting around the bench she and her husband share at the beach. Leila is the name of her grandmother, the director of a medical institute, who had an impish, yet stern, personality. Throughout, Amina’s performance is natural, graceful and articulate. Amina commented: “It’s always been difficult to keep the members of a jazz band together. It takes strength, stubbornness and sacrifice, some of which is financial. I’m very lucky to have this ensemble ready for whatever I put before them, because they understand my music, they are loyal, and they each give what they do 100 per cent.” To order a copy of Twelve and to learn more about Amina’s extensive European tour, go to www.aminafigarova. com.

Azerbaijani culture in Washington D.C.

Thousands of visitors to the US National Mall – the stretch of land between the US Capitol Building and the Washington Monument – experienced Azerbaijani culture in June and July. During the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Smithsonian Centre for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Karabakh Foundation, presented Azerbaijani food, music, and culture.

one million visitors each year.

The Azerbaijani food tent served such cuisine as dolma and toyuq shish kabab, washed down with such beverages as dyushes, (Azerbaijani pear lemonade) and tarkhun (Georgian tarragon soda). Visitors included H.E. Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the US. During the festival, there were two mugham concerts, performed by kamancha virtuoso Imamyar Hasanov and Pezhham Akhavass, master of the tombak, a Persian goblet drum. The performances, entitled Music from the Land of Fire and Undiscovered Treasure: The Kamancha of Azerbaijan, each attracted a crowd of several hundred people.

NEWS IN BRIEF Azerbaijani music at the Festival d’Avallon The

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this year’s Festival d’Avallo n i n t h e Savoie region of France, w h i c h r u n s from 17–26 August. Taking p l a c e a t the

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par ticipate

Ling in

Institute,

the

she

openin g

will

event,

where she will collaborate w i t h D a v i d Myriam, the remarkable sand a n i m a t i o n ar tist. His work will be ins p i re d b y

Around 35 people of both Azerbaijani and US descent worked to connect visitors from all over the world with Azerbaijani culture.

Visitors included policymakers, cultural professionals, filmmakers, and others.

NBC, ABC, and several other media outlets covered this prestigious and popular outdoor cultural event, which is attended by up to

the music, which will inclu d e M a rc h

by Vagif Mustafazadeh and T h e S e a

by Farhad Badalbeyli. The f o l l o w i n g day,

Zulfugarova

will

de l i v e r

an

illustrated talk on the classi c a l m u s i c of

Azerbaijan

and

Turkey.

To

find

out more, go to http://bit.l y / Av a l l o n .

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Culture and Sport

Cello transcription of Rzayev’s Violin Concerto: special price for TEAS friends

The co-directors of the Gabala International Music Festival, Farhad Badalbeyli and Dmitry Yablonsky, are set to take centrestage on 27 September in London’s Cadogan Hall to celebrate Mr Yablonsky’s 50th birthday. Mr Badalbeyli is one of the leading Azerbaijani composers and pianists, also being the director of Baku Music Academy. Mr Yablonsky is a revered Russian cellist and conductor, who defected from the Soviet Union to study in the US in 1977.

This rare performance of duets will include a transcription for cello of Bach’s famous Arioso from Cantata (BWV156); Schumann’s lyrical Adagio from his Fantasy Pieces, (Op.73), originally written for clarinet and piano; and Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata in D Minor (Op.40). However, the focal point of the evening will be the première of Mr Yablonsky’s transcription of the evocative Violin Sonata by the Azerbaijani composer Azer Rzayev (b.1930), written in 1999. TEAS’ friends are able to book all tickets for £7.50.

Simply call +44(0)20 7730 4500, citing ‘The European Azerbaijan Society’. Two days earlier, Mr Badalbeyli and Mr Yablonsky will collaborate with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a concert that includes Fikret Amirov’s Azerbaijan Capriccio and Piano Concerto after Arabian Themes. See page 2 for more on the special ticket price for TEAS’ friends.

About Stendhal, a vibrant triptychal glass painting by Ulvi Pepinova

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Adalat Valiyev, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism; and the Festival director, Farhad Badalbeyli, Director of Baku Music Academy and Dimitry Yablonsky, cellist and conductor.

Musical tribute to Khojaly premiered in Gabala A remarkable representation of African Motifs

Chairman, Russian Artists’ Union; Zurab Zereteli, Sculptor and President, Russian Academy of Arts; and Victor Gluhov, Chairman, Moscow Artists’ Union were also in attendance, amongst others.

Several other Azerbaijanis displayed their work, including the artists Asker Mamedov and Yunan Mamedov, sculptor Zaur Rzaev, graphic artist Jemma Sattar, and ceramicist Garanful Gurbanova. To see more of Ulvi’s works, go to www.ppaintings.com.

70th anniversary of Muslim Mogamayev’s Azerbaijani artist birth celebrated in based in London Gabala The Gabala International Music Festival has opened with a ceremony to commemorate exhibits in Moscow

Two major works by the London-based Azerbaijani artist Ulvi Pepinova have been exhibited at the Central House of Artists in Moscow, Russia’s largest contemporary art gallery. Ulvi specialises in painting directly on glass, using special pigments, achieving bright and dramatic effects. The two works emphasised the vibrancy of her work – About Stendhal and African Motifs – and were shown alongside 115 other artists in an exhibition entitled Vertices – In the Hands of the Sky. This was organised by the World of Caucasus Regional Fund, the main sponsor being the Ministry of Culture and Communications for North Ossetia-Alaniya.

Additional sponsors included the Russian Academy of Fine Arts and the World Azerbaijan Congress. Andrei Kovalchuk,

15

the 70th anniversary of the birth of Muslim Mogamayev, known as the King of Songs.

Mogamayev, who passed away in 2008, was phenomenally popular across the Soviet Union, and received the People’s Artist of Azerbaijan and People’s Artist of the USSR awards, amongst others.

The commemoration opened with Azerbaijan, his own composition, and the concert featured other pieces written or associated with Mogamayev. The event was also attended by Fattah Heydarov, MP; Abulfaz Garayev, Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister; opera singer Tamara Sinvanskaya, the singer’s widow and People’s Artist of the USSR; Murad Adigozelzade, Director, Azerbaijan Philharmonic Hall;

This year’s Gabala International Music Festival has featured the premiere of a powerful new piece by the Russian composer Aleksandr Tchaikovsky simply entitled Khojaly, dedicated to the 613 civilians killed

by Armenian and Soviet forces in February 1992. The piece was performed by the Moscow Soloists Group, led by viola player Yuri Bashmet, alongside pianist Farhad Badalbeyli, cellist Dmitry Yablonsky and tar-player Sahib Pashazade. Throughout, the tar was predominant, the mugham elements permitting improvisations around such traditional themes as Lachin. The piece attracted a four-minute standing ovation, and will be recorded in the near future.

Vogts to Azerbaijan contract

see out football

Berti Vogts, former manager for the German national football team and current manager for the Azerbaijani team has revealed that has no immediate plans to leave his post. The comments were made amidst speculation that he could succeed Franciszek Smuda, who stepped down as Polish national team manager, following their early Euro 2012 exit.

Speaking to reporters in Baku, he explained: “I still have a two-year contract and, at the moment, I plan to fulfil this.” He followed this with the caveat: “But in football, anything can happen.”

Polish radio station RMF had previously reported that Grzegorz Lato, President, Polish Football Association, had confirmed the choice would be between Vogts or Waldemar Fornalik, who currently manages Ruch Chorzow, a Polish side. In the Euro 2012 Tournament, Poland finished last in Group A, only achieving two points, after draws with Greece and Russia, before losing their decisive final match against the Czech Republic. The 65-year-old Vogts played for West Germany in the 1974 World Cup winning team, before guiding Germany to the 1996 European Championship crown, their last major title victory. Prior to his current position, he managed the national sides of Kuwait, Scotland and Nigeria.

August 2012

August 2012

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