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(Photo: Neale Atkinson)

Culture | Public Affairs Business | Philanthropy

Please see inside for how to win £100 of Amazon vouchers

PHOTOJOURNALIST ED KASHI’S IMAGES OF IDPS AND REFUGEES SHOWN IN LEADING LONDON GALLERY Also in this issue: Five killed on the Nagorno-Karabakh ‘contact line’ 1300 celebrate Novruz in London Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents to meet Shah Deniz Consortium awards contracts worth $841m Shahin Novrasli – a unique approach to jazz-mugham www.teas.eu

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www.teas.eu 04 / 2014

printed by www.turquoisemedia.eu

Welcome to the TEAS Magazine The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) is a UK-registered pan-European organisation dedicated to raising awareness of Azerbaijan and fostering closer economic, political and cultural links between that country and the nations of Europe.

As well as promoting the positive aspects of Azerbaijan, TEAS also highlights the plight of the 875,000 refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the country. These people are unable to return to their homes and lands because of the illegal occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts by Armenia’s armed forces – in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions.

TEAS has three main facets 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 regions.

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

In pursuit of its objectives TEAS: • Organises meetings with interested parties, opinion-formers and decision-makers • Arranges roundtables, seminars, lectures and conferences • Publishes pamphlets, reports, bulletins, books and produces films • Facilitates fact-finding trips by politicians and business people.

Mailing List

TEAS is always bringing the latest news, views and interviews from Azerbaijan. Sign up to our mailing-list to receive the latest information straight to your inbox: www.teas.eu

Facebook

The TEAS Facebook page is your chance to learn about the latest news, events, campaigns and other Azerbaijan-related items. Visit and ‘like’ our page at: http://bit.ly/TEASFB.

Membership and Sponsorship

TEAS offers a range of corporate and individual membership packages, providing such benefits as advertising, trade missions, networking, business sector advice and hotel discounts.

TEAS also offers numerous sponsorship opportunities throughout the year for its events and conferences. To find out more, e-mail: membership@teas.eu.

Win £100 of Amazon vouchers!

Congratulations to Elman Mikayilov, Drilling Engineer, BP, who won the March 2014 competition! To stand a chance of winning £100 of Amazon vouchers, simply answer the following 10 questions, the answers to which will be found in this issue of the TEAS Magazine. In the case of a tie, a draw will be made. Previous winners are ineligible to enter, as are TEAS employees and their families. Please send all entries to editor@teas.eu by 9 May: 1.

Who established the Mosaic Charity?

2.

How much has been spent by the Azerbaijani government on improving the living

conditions for Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees?

3.

Name the photographic agency that was cofounded by Ed Kashi?

4.

Which famous Russian soprano attended the opening of Azerbaijan Through the Lens

Bratislava?

5.

Which international summit did President Ilham Aliyev attend in The Hague?

6.

Name one of the London venues at which Shahin Novrasli has performed?

7.

What is the name of Shahin Novrasli’s new CD? 8.

Which award did the film The Swing of the Coffin Maker win in Bucharest?

9.

When was Charles Hendry MP appointed as Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan,

Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan?

10.

Which rating did Fitch Ratings assign to Azerbaijan’s début Eurobonds?

Winner: Elman Mikayilov

Upcoming Events For full details of all TEAS events, go to www.teas.eu/upcoming-events 16 May Isfar Sarabski: Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris Maison des Cultures du Monde, 101, Boulevard Raspail, 75006, Paris 20.30hrs. Purchase tickets at http://bit.ly/sarabskistgermain

Following their acclaimed concert at the Duc des Lombards club in December, the Isfar Sarabski Trio is set to make a triumphant return to Paris as a part of the famous Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris. Performing a mix of standards and original compositions, this TEAS-supported concert is not to be missed.

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www.teas.eu

Politics and News

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The TEAS banner was prominently featured across much of the television coverage

TEAS supports iconic Oxford–Cambridge University Boat Race

On 6 April, TEAS supported one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar – the Oxford–Cambridge University Boat Race (BNY Mellon Boat Race). This was the 160th meeting between the student rowers from Oxford and Cambridge, and an estimated seven million people watched the race around the world. It was broadcast on a range of channels, including the BBC, Eurosport (over 100 countries), Reuters, EBU, ZDF and ARD. Naturally, television coverage was seen in Azerbaijan, and TEAS was pleased to back this British institution by sponsoring the Tracy Edwards Boat House in Putney.

Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS

From the TEAS Director

The highlight of this month was the launch of the photographic exhibition featuring the work of the world-renowned award-winning photojournalist Ed Kashi. He recently visited and photographed refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in several camps, including some living in very poor conditions. All of the refugees and IDPs are scheduled to move to brand-new accommodation in the near future, but their hearts and souls dwell in their homelands in Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding districts.

We also took the Azerbaijan Through the Lens photographic exhibition to the historic Slovak capital of Bratislava. The event was hosted in the Ministry of Culture building, and Sabina Rakcheyeva and her Deco Ensemble provided the musical accompaniment.

In the UK, TEAS was invited to a dinner at St James’s Palace hosted by HRH Prince Charles for supporters of his Mosaic charity.

This creates opportunities for young people living in deprived communities.

On a more sombre note, five Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and six wounded on the ‘contact line’ around the lands occupied by Armenia. Sporadic fighting is continuing even as the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents prepare to discuss a peace treaty under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, based on the Madrid Principles.

Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS

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A banner reading TEAS – connecting Europe and Azerbaijan was shown during much of the BBC television coverage, notably during an interview with the record-breaking pioneering yachtswoman Tracy Edwards MBE. Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS, said: “We are delighted to support this historic event. The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is a prime example of how tradition and sporting excellence can raise the profile and standing of an institution or country.”

Parliamentary variety show helps those living with cancer TEAS has sponsored the Macmillan Parliamentary Palace of Varieties event at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel. This major fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support – which attracted more than 400 people – raised an estimated £100,000 to ensure that those living with cancer do not face it alone and unaided.

This annual event gives an opportunity for MPs and Peers from the Houses of Parliament to demonstrate their musical or comic abilities. Highlights included former children’s television presenter Baroness Benjamin singing soul music and the MP4 parliamentary rock band, comprising four MPs – Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party, keyboards), Ian Cawsey (Labour, bass

guitar and vocals), Kevin Brennan (Labour, lead guitar) and Greg Knight (Conservative, drums) performing four songs with political overtones – Keep On Running, I Saw Her Standing There, I Should Have Known Better and Don’t Look Back in Anger.

Baroness Floella Benjamin at the Parliamentary Palace of Varieties in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support (Photo: James McCauley)

Lord German appointed

as new Anglo-Azerbaijani Society Co-Chair

Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, the Azerbaijani Co-Chair of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society, met Lord German, her new UK counterpart, at the House of Lords, following his election after the passing of Lord Fraser.

H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, and members of the Society’s executive committee, attended

The two Co-Chairs of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society – Professor Nargiz Pashayeva and Lord German

the meeting. The Co-Chairs held an extensive exchange of views on the current activities of the society and prospects for development, particularly focusing on the cultural and humanitarian fields.

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Politics and News

Tale Heydarov, Chairman, TEAS, contextualises the emotionally-charged photos

Photojournalist Ed Kashi explores IDPs’ unresolved dreams New York-based Ed Kashi is one of the world’s leading photojournalists, having worked for the National Geographic, Newsweek, Time and The New York Times.

Co-founder of the VII Photo Agency, he has spent his life documenting areas of the world impacted by human tragedies.

Commissioned by TEAS, Ed has now pointed his lens towards a handful of the Azerbaijani internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees who are the ongoing casualties of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

photojournalist and film-maker, for the first time. In recent years, very few journalists have visited the IDP and refugee camps across Azerbaijan. During the early 1990s, when the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was still ‘hot’, there was some coverage, but it became sidelined to a certain extent, as there were so many new conflicts competing for media attention. The pictures show the difficult lives of the IDPs and refugees, as they cook, eat, study and try to make the best of their lives. It is important for people not to forget the IDPs and refugees who are living under these challenging conditions, brought about by the policies of neighbouring Armenia.

“The aim is to demonstrate that this conflict remains unresolved. During the past decade, around £3.3bn has been spent on improving the lives of the IDPs and refugees by constructing better houses and infrastructure. When they were originally forced from their homes, they lived in tents, old railway trucks and other substandard accommodation, surviving temperatures ranging from –10 to 40°C.

Charting their everyday lives in four displacement camps across Azerbaijan, the startling results were shown at the gallery@oxo – located in London’s iconic Oxo Tower on the South Bank. Organised

by TEAS, the opening of the Unresolved Dreams exhibition took place on 9 April, attended by around 150 people, including fellow photographers, journalists and diplomats.

“Whenever journalists speak to the Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees, they acknowledge the improvements to their lives, but it remains that living in camps can never equate to life in their own homes. More than 20 years have passed, and many of the original IDPs and refugees have passed away without being able to return. A new generation has been born in the camps, but they do not have the same educational opportunities or aspirations of other children. Journalists and photographers, such as Ed Kashi, serve to raise their voice in the west.

Tale Heydarov, Chairman, TEAS, commented: “I am seeing the photographs taken by Ed Kashi, the world-famous

“Ethnic cleansing is occurring in many parts of the world, most notably in Syria.

In Azerbaijan, we do not make a difference

Renowned photojournalist Ed Kashi stands before the Oxo Tower on London’s South Bank

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between nationalities. All humans are the same and deserve respect. TEAS is attempting to provide justice for these people.

Hopefully Azerbaijanis and Armenians can live in peace one day, and the IDPs and refugees can return home.

When they do, Ed Kashi will be invited to photograph their return.”

Ed Kashi recalled: “I aimed to bring the situation down to the human level. I had not previously visited Azerbaijan, and was initially amazed by the development of Baku. I then travelled to western Azerbaijan to see the IDP and refugee camps, which was a stark contrast. I met elderly people who were suffering with arthritis due to damp conditions, and they all expressed a wish to return home. I have never been to Nagorno-Karabakh, but I repeatedly heard that it’s beautiful.

“Generations of children are being born in the camps. They are innocent to this compromised, limbo position, and I note the work of the Azerbaijani government to improve living conditions. By pure chance, we saw young school-leavers celebrating their graduation. They did not behave like IDPs and refugees. They had hope for their future, and we all look forward to their future in their rightful homeland.”

Ed spoke about his experiences in the four IDP and refugee camps

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Politics and News

TEAS supports Mosaic Charity

In recognition of its support for the International Leadership Programme, organised by the Mosaic Charity, TEAS was invited to a dinner hosted by HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, at St James’ Palace in London on 13 March.

TEAS is partnering with Mosaic, a charity established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2007. Mosaic’s mentoring programmes

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Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS (right) and Christopher Pincher, Chairman, Azerbaijan All-Party Parliamentary Group, meet HRH The Prince of Wales (Photo: Paul Burns Photography Ltd)

create opportunities for young people growing up in deprived communities. Its vision is for all young people to be supported so they may realise their potential, and it is anticipated that the programme will be especially useful for Azerbaijan, with its rapidlydeveloping economy and well-educated and aspirational youth.

TEAS’ support of Mosaic forms part of its philanthropic role, which assists the underprivileged in Azerbaijan and across the world.

Azerbaijani role in reducing nuclear proliferation highlighted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was one of 50 heads of state to attend the Nuclear Security Summit 2014 in The Hague, Netherlands. He explained how the Azerbaijani government has demonstrated great commitment towards implementing effective measures regarding the maintenance of nuclear and radioactive security.

President Aliyev outlined that Baku has prevented the use of its territory as a transit route for trafficking nuclear materials and implemented a comprehensive national export strategy.

Together with other countries, it has subsequently developed firm legislation that is commensurate with international standards and ensures safe borders and effective checkpoints.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

e-mail: brussels@teas.eu On 8 April, over 300 diplomats, deputies, journalists and celebrities and that is a great source of sorrow in Azerbaijan. However, this – including famed soprano Anna Netrebko – packed the historic exhibition is more about the beauty of Azerbaijan, and I hope you Dvorana room of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic in will be inspired to find out more on the country.” the heart of Bratislava for the launch of the Azerbaijan Through the Lens exhibition. This was organised by TEAS Belgium under Dr Asim Mollazade, Azerbaijani MP, Chairman, Party for Democratic the auspices of Marek Maďarič, Minister of Culture of the Slovak Reforms, recalled: “When looking at the photographs on display, we Republic. should remember that Azerbaijan was the first Eastern country with European culture. It was responsible for the first opera, ballet and At the opening, Ivan Sečik, State Secretary, Ministry of Culture of jazz band in the Eastern world. The country has great experience the Slovak Republic, commented: “I welcome this unique initiative of multiculturalism. For example, during the dark days in Europe,

by TEAS. There are many commonalities between Azerbaijan and Jews under threat came to Azerbaijan as a place of refuge.

Slovakia. It is a privilege that, after being shown in several major European cities, Bratislava has been selected as the first city in the “Azerbaijanis have always experienced and welcomed cultural Central and Eastern Europe region to host those 100 exceptional exchange, and the country is renowned for its tolerance and for masterpieces representing Azerbaijan, its vibrant society, history, creating a partnership with other nations through culture. Jews, art, architecture and people.

Muslims, Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox worshippers all coexist in my country. In these photos, you can see the cultural “During my student years, I travelled around Azerbaijan, and these traditions of Azerbaijan. I hope that a Slovak Centre will soon photos reminded me of my time in the country. I am delighted to be opened at Baku Slavic University, so that young people in open this exhibition in Bratislava and look forward to attending Azerbaijan will come to know Slovakia and its history, that they will further events organised by TEAS in Slovakia.” come to Slovakia to study, and that Slovak students will enrol at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy. I hope this exhibition will herald a Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS, explained: “Azerbaijan and Slovakia spirit of greater co-operation between our two countries.” have some common elements – both have populations below ten million, yet they have beautiful scenery and architecture, and Associate Professor Jalal Gasymov, Azerbaijani Honorary Consul feature a combination of the modern and ancient. Both fell under in Slovakia, said: “I welcome TEAS’ organisation of such a beautiful Soviet influence for many years. exhibition in Slovakia. I am delighted to hear that TEAS regularly organises such events and has come to Bratislava. This will help “However, unlike Slovakia, one aspect is different – almost 20 per to stimulate further understanding and co-operation between cent of Azerbaijani territory remains under Armenian occupation, Slovakia and Azerbaijan.”

www.teas.eu

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Culture

Dilara to ‘start a fire’ in Denmark

The Azerbaijani entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen has been selected and will be performed by Dilara Kazimova in the first semi-final on 6 May. Dilara will sing Start a Fire, which is the “confession of a strong, yet vulnerable, woman”, according to the singer. Speaking during a press conference, she said: “Start a Fire is the best choice for me. The melody is kind of hypnotising, and the story is deep and touching. It is a little tragic, but hopeful. I’m very much into the song and

want to make my audiences feel its deep meaning.”

The songwriting team is Stefan Örn, Alessandra Günthardt and Johan Kronlund.

Mr Örn was previously one of the cowriters for Running Scared, the song that secured Eurovision for Azerbaijan in 2011.

The arrangement incorporates the use of the balaban, a traditional Azerbaijani wind instrument. To see the video of Start a Fire, go to http://bit.ly/startafiredilara.

1300 celebrate Novruz in London

Dilara Kazimova’s dramatic performance has been designed to attract votes from international music-lovers (Photo: Sergey Illin)

A staggering 1300 London-based residents from the Caucasus and Central Asia, together with those interested in the region, attended a TEAS-sponsored celebration of Novruz at the main quadrant of University College, London (UCL) on 23 March. All attendees were provided with TEAS bags containing magazines and information about Azerbaijan, and a tee-shirt bearing the slogan Khojaly 613, reminding wearers of the Khojaly Massacre in 1992, which claimed the lives of 613 civilians during the Armenian invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh.

day, Babek Tabrizli on saz and vocals performed two romantic folksongs – Kuchalara su Sapmisham (I have poured water on the streets), which is best-known in its recording by Rashid Behbudov, and Sevmamak Olmaz (It is impossible not to love). Then members of the UCL Azerbaijan Society donned national dress to perform the dances Yalli and Uzundara.

The latter dance originated in Agdam, a town in Nagorno-Karabakh, which remains under Armenian occupation. The open-air event was followed by a VIP concert and networking.

This vibrant, colourful and familyoriented celebration showcased the traditions, food and national dress of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tatarstan (Russian Federation), Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Food from each of the countries represented was served from their respective tents, and souvenirs and leaflets were distributed.

The organisers were British-Uzbek Society, UCL Kazakh Society, Kazakhstan Student Society in the UK, UCL Azerbaijan Society, Kyrgyz Club UK, British-Tajik Society, and UK Tatar Association.

Highlights included a performance by 19-year-old Fidan Hajiyeva, who was recently the BBC Radio 3 World Routes protégé, performing Azerbaijan, to music by Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Later in the

Azerbaijani art ‘at the Crossroads’ The Art at the Crossroads 2: Contemporary Art from Istanbul to Kabul selling exhibition has been held at Sotheby’s, London, comprising 60 works from contemporary artists. This included iconic pieces by three generations of Azerbaijani artists, demonstrating how they have responded to the shifting political, social and economic landscape and drawn inspiration from Azerbaijani traditions. The paintings were exhibited alongside works from Afghanistan, Armenia, Dagestan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

The Azerbaijani contingent of 10 artists was particularly strong, with Tahir Salakhov’s evocation of the Spanish city of Granada greeting visitors upon entry to the

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gallery, and the recently-deceased Togrul Narimanbekov’s gigantic The Bazaar at Sheki, a joyous work featuring a flurry of activity, dominating the central room. Tofik Javadov’s Oil Worker was something of a rarity, being one of only 50 works to have survived from this shortlived, yet influential artist, who helped found the Absheron Colourists Group in the 1950s, formed to rebel against the prevailing Socialist Realist aesthetic.

The spirit of more contemporary Azerbaijani artwork was showcased with Faig Ahmed’s Hollow, a playful variant on the Azerbaijani carpet; and Aidan Salakhova’s multilayered Kidnapping – comprising an Islamic veil in marble enveloping a sacred black stone. Works by Mirnadir Zeynalov, Aida

Members of the UCL Azerbaijan Society perform for an enthusiastic audience at the Novruz 2014 event

Mahmudova, Javad Mirjavadov, Rashad Alakbarov and Rauf Mamedov were also included. To see the full exhibition, go to http://bit.ly/atthecrossroads2.

One of the rarities in the selling exhibition – Oil Worker (1958) by Tofik Javadov (1925–63)

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Culture

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Irena Bilic, Festival Founder, stands alongside Ulkar Müller, TEAS France

Azerbaijani cinema in the spotlight at Paris festival TEAS in France has organised a screening as part of the ninth annual L’Europe autour de l’Europe film festival – the third collaboration between TEAS and the festival. Shown at the Studio des Ursulines in Paris, 80 cinephiles enjoyed two short films – Vagif Mustafayev’s All for the Best and Elmar Imanov’s The Swing of the Coffin Maker.

Irena Bilic, founder of the festival, opened the screening with a word of thanks for TEAS. Vagif Mustafayev, one of the great names of Azerbaijani cinema, directed the multi-award-winning All for the Best. This unique, yet universal story unfolds during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Notable for addressing a serious subject with humour, the director was awarded the special prize by the international jury at the 44th Oberhausen Short Film Festival for his contribution to peace and humour. Go to http://bit. ly/forthebestazeri to see the film.

The Swing of the Coffin Maker – by the young and talented German–Azerbaijani director, Elmar Imanov – addresses

the difficult relationship between a father and his mentallyhandicapped son. Elmar was born in Azerbaijan, but has resided in Germany since the age of 13 years. To date, his film has achieved the bronze medal in the Student Academy Awards (the Students’ Oscars) in 2012, the grand prize in the European Short Film Festival in Brest, and the NexT Trophy at the NexT International Film Festival in Bucharest. The film trailer can be seen at http://bit.ly/coffinmakeraz.

The screening was followed by a debate between viewers and Elmar about the making of the film, how the locations and actors were selected, and the genus of the father’s complex personality.

He explained that a directorial approach akin to that of Ingmar Bergman had been applied to the father, whose personality was inspired by that of the coffin maker in Chekhov’s Rothschild’s Fiddle. Elmar said that the selection of Azerbaijan as the location resulted in a subtle blend between styles and cultures. The reception after the screening provided further opportunities for informal discussions on both films.

Fifth anniversary of Baku Process marked in London

Abulfaz Garayev outlines the work undertaken, to date, on the Baku Process

An event marking the fifth anniversary of the Baku Process, which included a session of the Working Group of the Third World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, has taken place in London, hosted by Abulfaz Garayev, Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister.

The meeting had a new composition, as 10 Islamic countries were represented amongst the delegates. Top-ranking officials from 48 countries, eight international organisations and several non-governmental organisations attended the conference.

H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, explained how his country had played an important role in encouraging and promoting dialogue between nations during the past few years. He explained that Azerbaijan remains the only country to be both a member of the Council of Europe and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO). He said: “Azerbaijan has strong, friendly and cooperative ties with both Islamic states and Western countries. Azerbaijan is a tolerant country where people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds have historically lived in friendship and brotherhood.”

“During the meeting, Azerbaijan initiated the signing of the Baku Declaration for the Promotion of Intercultural Dialogue, which gave birth to the Baku Process. With the aim of ensuring continuation of the Baku Process, Azerbaijan invited ten European countries to attend the sixth conference of Islamic culture ministers that took place in Baku in 2009.”

Mr Garayev explained: “The Baku Process was launched in Baku in December 2008 at a conference of culture ministers from European and neighbouring countries.

The roster of speakers included JeanChristophe Bas, Senior Advisor for Strategic Development and Partnerships at the UN Secretariat of the Alliance of Civilisations; Katerina Stenou, Manager and Coordinator at the UNESCO Unit for the Intersectoral Platform on Culture of Peace; Amr Abdel Gaffar, Regional Director for the MiddleEast, UNWTO; and Ahmad Al-Dubayan, Director-General, Islamic Cultural Centre in London.

Erratum – An incorrect photographic credit was printed for those accompanying the interview with Rena Effendi (TEAS www.teas.eu

Magazine, February 2014, pp.8–10). The correct credit is Rena Effendi/INSTITUTE. Our apologies to all concerned.

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08

Personalities – Shahin Novrasli

Shahin Novrasli’s talent is now well-established in Azerbaijan and across the world

Shahin Novrasli – a unique approach to jazz-mugham Shahin Novrasli, aged 37 years, ranks amongst the leading Azerbaijani jazz pianists. Born in Baku, he began playing at the age of three years, and started music lessons two years later.

He gave his first classical concert at the age of 11 years in the prestigious Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall. Despite winning numerous awards and giving acclaimed classical concerts in some of Azerbaijan’s leading concert halls, he became fascinated by jazz music, focusing on the classically-influenced modal work of such pianists as Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. He also became aware of the recordings by the Azerbaijani pianist Vagif Mustafazadeh, who fused jazz and mugham in the 1960s and 70s.

Shahin studied at the Baku Music Academy from 1996–2000, and thereafter focused solely on jazz music. During his career, he has collaborated with some of Europe’s leading instrumentalists, including saxophonists Iain Bellamy and Tim Garland, and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. Shahin has participated in numerous festivals, including the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Black Sea Jazz Festival in Sochi, Russia, and the Hot Summer Jazz Festival in Minnesota, USA. He also frequently performs with his brothers Arslan and Nurlan, who respectively play the Azerbaijani instruments tar and kamancha.

Shahin has an individual approach to jazz-mugham, even emulating the voice of the mugham singer, and has recently released his first commercial CD Bayati, on the Paris-based Bee Jazz label. Shahin has recently been on a brief European tour to promote the release, and TEAS caught up with him at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho to find out more: Was this the first time you have played in a Central London jazz club?

Actually, this is the third time I have performed in a London jazz club. I previously played at the 606 Jazz Club in Chelsea and Charlie Wright’s International Bar in Hoxton. The atmosphere here tonight was fabulous.

How did you feel the London audience received your music?

Which compositions attracted particular applause?

The audience in each country has a unique character, but I definitely think listeners in London enjoyed the music. I have been going on a small tour of Europe, so I first played with the other members of my trio at the Unterfahrt Jazz Club in Munich and the Duc des Lombards in Paris. This was followed by a solo concert at the Azerbaijani Cultural Centre in Paris. In London I am giving two gigs – one here at the Pizza Express Jazz Club and another in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, both with the trio.

Predominantly, I am focusing on compositions from my Bayati CD, but the solo concert comprised completely different repertoire. In Munich and Paris, I performed with two Americans – the bassist Nathan Peck and drummer Ari Hoenig, but in London I am collaborating with the British drummer Chris Higginbottom for the first time, who has worked with Nathan. Chris seems very skilled

Shahin’s new CD, entitled Bayati, has received critical plaudits

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Personalities – Shahin Novrasli and at ease with all the compositions. I have been working with Nathan for at least a decade.

Do the western musicians with which you collaborate experience any challenges performing jazz-mugham?

It is true that I fuse jazz and Azerbaijani mugham, but when music is interesting, and comes through the prism of purity, the genre is immaterial to musicians.

If the music is beautiful, good and performed professionally, it does not pose a challenge. Despite the fact that mugham contains microtones and uses different scales to western music, there are no issues.

Nathan Peck has been coming to Baku for at least a decade, so he has a good understanding of the music. We have

This is really dependent on the requirements of the organiser. I can give solos, perform in a trio setting, or collaborate with soloists on national instruments. Concerts that include traditional instruments necessarily have a different character. Solo concerts have a more classical and mugham bias, and those played in the trio format have more of an identifiably ‘jazzy’ feel.

When you sing, are you attempting to emulate the sound of the khanende (mugham singer)?

I often sing a short piece of mugham during my concerts – this may be Bayati Shiraz, Segah or Rast, and the verses can be by such Azerbaijani poets as Fuzuli.

I do not regard myself as a mugham singer, but I know I am introducing mugham to audiences who may have never previously experienced this musical

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elements. It already sounds very different when performed on piano, bass and drums, instead of the national instruments.

In his four-star review of Bayati, critic John Fordham of The Guardian erroneously states that Azerbaijan ‘is still relatively unfamiliar to jazz’, whereas actually the first jazz bands appeared in the 1920s. What can be done to ensure that Azerbaijani jazz is heard more widely?

Jazz came to Azerbaijan around a decade after it was developed in the US. However, it was very difficult to play jazz for at least 50 of the 70 years of Azerbaijan’s existence as part of the Soviet Union.

Since the regaining of independence in 1991, many jazz festivals have been organised in Azerbaijan. In particular, there are many great young pianists in the country, and I believe that Azerbaijani jazz will become even more well-known during the next few years.

How do you see your career progressing?

The recording of Bayati is very important, as it is my first commercially-released CD, and the Bee Jazz label is well-recognised and has excellent distribution across Europe.

Shahin’s entire physical being is engaged by the music

played at jazz festivals in Baku and around the world. Sometimes he plays in the mugham style and enters into the spirit of the music. Nathan originates from New York, which is home to many nationalities.

Audiences – particularly in Baku – love his style. His playing cannot be categorised as solely jazz, but as something distinguished and exceptional than transcends genres.

He actively urges me not to play it safe by keeping to the standard jazz repertoire.

Nathan understands that audiences like something that it is new. I met Ari in New York, and he’s one of the best drummers in the business.

During your last London concert in 2010 as part of the Buta Festival of Azerbaijani Arts, your band included your brothers on tar and kamancha, and the repertoire was heavily influenced by mugham. Are you still giving such concerts?

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form. I greatly appreciate the work of Vagif Mustafazadeh, who played a major role in the development of jazz-mugham, but my music is very different.

I began to integrate this in my performances after participating in a concert that opened with Alim Qasimov, possibly the most famous khanende on an international level. I then realised that solely playing the piano was insufficient. Naturally, I sing on my new Bayati CD. How did you decide on the pieces to perform during your European tour?

I have been trying to perform the tracks from the Bayati CD. There is one classical piece – Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor. The other tracks are my compositions, plus one mugham – Bayati Shiraz. My version contains all the parts of the mode, but I have added some jazz and avant-garde

Shahin gives an interview to TEAS following his energetic performance at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London (Photo: Dr Ali Atalar)

I particularly appreciate having the opportunity to play and jam with musicians from across the world to hear different approaches and techniques for playing jazz.

To order a copy of the Bayati CD, go to http://bit.ly/bayatinovrasli.

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Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Doubt cast upon the potential for peace during 2014 Dennis Sammut, Director, LINKS, was cautiously optimistic about the possibility of effective peace talks between the Presidents

Despite the forthcoming meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting has cast doubt upon the possibilities for peace this year. Some experts predicted that 2014 could provide a rare window of opportunity for the two governments to engage in dialogue. This year, neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia is going to the polls, so political leaders on either side could potentially discuss concessions without being denounced as unpatriotic by the opposition.

Kenan Guluzade, Editor, Baku Post, remained sceptical about the chances of limited progress this year. He said: “There have been plenty of these windows. This is not about windows – it’s about the lack of any will to resolve things. I think that, in the run-up to 2015, when Armenia will mark the anniversary of the tragic events during the Ottoman Empire, the likelihood of a compromise on Nagorno-Karabakh is going to be very slim.”

Dennis Sammut, Director, LINKS, described the Presidential meeting as a “positive and useful development”, but was cautious about the possibility of empty rhetoric. He said: “There is a difference between talking and negotiating. You can talk around in circles for decades without actually being engaged in a constructive process of negotiation to resolve a problem.

Certainly, now is the time not only to talk, but also to negotiate in good faith. The situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains volatile, and we must not underestimate the potential of an incident triggering more serious consequences. The year has not started well – there have been too many incidents on the ‘contact line’.”

Farhad Mammadov, Director, Centre for Strategic Studies under the Azerbaijani President, commented: “Removing snipers is not a solution. It would benefit the Armenians, since they want to freeze the conflict and maintain the status quo.”

Five young soldiers killed and six injured on the ‘contact line’ The situation has remained volatile on the ‘contact line’ with five soldiers being killed in the Fizuli district, according to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry. The first of these deaths occurred on 17 March when Armenian sniper fire claimed the life of 20-year-old Elvin Hasanov, who was subsequently posthumously awarded the medal ‘For Distinguished Military Service’ (third degree). His death was followed on 1 April when Akif Bakhshiyev, another soldier, was shot dead. Armenian snipers also wounded a civilian villager.

However, the worst single killing occurred on 7 April when a landmine explosion claimed the lives of three Azerbaijani soldiers and injured six more. The dead servicemen were

Novruz Abdullayev, Seyfeddin Karimov and Captain Jeyhun Orujaliyev. The soldiers Bahruz Musayev and Emin Talibov were severely injured and airlifted by helicopter to military hospital in Baku. Four more soldiers were treated at the military hospital in Ahmedbeyli village in the Fizuli district. Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, Azerbaijani Defence Minister, visited the site of the explosion.

The situation has remained tense since mid-January due to frequent ceasefire violations by the Armenian armed forces.

According to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, the majority of ceasefire violations have occurred in the Fizuli, Agdam, Terter, Goranboy, Khojavend and Jabrayil districts.

Swiss OSCE Chair ready to provide OSCE Minsk Group support

Angelo Gnädinger, Special Representative, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, has commented that Switzerland, as OSCE Chair, is ready to provide the necessary support to the OSCE Minsk Group, tasked with establishing a negotiated peace to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Responding to questioning from Trend News, he outlined the result of his recent meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, saying: “I underlined the importance of the OSCE Minsk process from the perspective of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, since we consider this conflict to be a continuing cause of suffering for the many people affected, and to represent a threat to the whole Caucasus region. When addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 16 January, Didier Bürkhalter, Chairperson-

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in-Office, OSCE and Swiss Foreign Minister, clarified that it is not an option for Switzerland to simply “wait and see”.

Mr Gnädinger pointed out that Switzerland is fully committed towards mobilising support for the process within the OSCE community, contributing to the creation of an environment that is conducive to the process, and enabling dialogue between those involved in diplomatic efforts and working with civil society in both countries.

He stated that Switzerland pays particular attention to those projects that enable people-to-people dialogue, and initiatives aimed at rebuilding confidence between the parties.

Gnädinger stressed that the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship is ready to provide any support to the OSCE Minsk Group CoChairs, and encourages the parties to

intensify their dialogue.

With regard to regional priorities, he explained that his country aims to support and strengthen existing formats, encourage intensified contacts between civil societies in the South Caucasus, and provide expertise.

Angelo Gnädinger has pledged added impetus for the OSCE Minsk Group

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Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in The Hague

Presidents meet Minsk Group Co-Chairs

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – Igor Popov (Russian Federation), Jacques Fauré (France), and James Warlick (US) have met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan separately in The Hague, considered to be a precursor for a presidential meeting. James Warlick commented on Twitter: “We met the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. An agreement was made to hold a meeting at the level of the Presidents to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The dates will be clarified.”

The move comes in the wake of the meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Vienna on 19 November 2013. This resulted in the Foreign Ministers from both countries being instructed to continue meetings aimed at resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Meeting with Foreign Ministers

Warlick references Ukraine against

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are preparing for a meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents. The statement came in the wake of a meeting in Moscow on 4 April between the OSCE Minsk Group and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian, his Armenian counterpart. According to an OSCE Minsk Group statement, the ministers “discussed the possibility of holding a summit in the near future, and stressed the importance of achieving progress on specific issues.” It also called on both sides to “make serious steps to reduce tensions in the region, and continue the process of peace settlement.”

Writing on his Twitter page, James Warlick, US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, commented: “While the US cannot accept Russia’s actions in Ukraine, there are areas where we can continue to work together – peace in Nagorno-Karabakh.” He continued: “We should consider what can be learned from the events in Ukraine regarding the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

precedes Presidential meeting

Nagorno-Karabakh

A referendum was held in Crimea on 16 March, regarding the annexation of the autonomous republic to Russia. The G7 countries and the US did not recognise the results, regarding it as ‘illegal’.

Book by Swiss journalist launched in Los Angeles A book by Swiss journalist André Widmer entitled Forgotten Conflict: Two Decades after the Nagorno-Karabakh War has been presented in Los Angeles, USA. The journalist is a frequent contributor to some of the most important German-speaking newspapers, and has regularly travelled to the region since 2008. The Azerbaijani Consulate-General in Los Angeles explained that the book provides comprehensive information on the background to the conflict, its consequences, current status and prospects for resolution.

and the inviolability of state borders.

Opening the event, Nasimi Aghayev, Consul-General of Azerbaijan, spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reminded all those in attendance about the four outstanding UN Security Council resolutions that stipulate the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territory.

Mr Aghayev stressed the importance of upholding the principles of territorial integrity

Mr Widmer explained that his views on the conflict were formulated when he visited the occupied territories for the first time in 2008. He noted that the previously Azerbaijani-populated cities and villages had been destroyed, and that that the city of Aghdam, which had an Azerbaijani population of 50,000, had been virtually razed to the ground. Mr Widner went on

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He went on to outline the measures taken by the Azerbaijani government to improve the living conditions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. To date, more than $5.4bn (£3.2bn) has been spent on improving basic utilities. Mr Aghayev noted that, unlike the traditional Western mainstream media, Mr Widmer focused on the Armenian occupation of the region and its humanitarian impact, particularly in such regions as Shusha and Aghdam.

to highlight the destruction of Shusha, and noted that these actions were both moral crimes and breaches of international law.

During his frequent visits to the region, Mr Widmer regularly met Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees living near the ‘contact line.’ He commented that the international community had repeatedly failed to pay sufficient attention to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, and this had been the catalyst behind the book.

Professor James Coyle, University of California and former US Diplomat then commented on the geopolitical aspects of the conflict. The presentation was followed by a photographic exhibition entitled Hiroshima of the Caucasus, dedicated to the destroyed city of Aghdam. This comprised a comparison of photographs of historic buildings and monuments in Aghdam, taken both before and after the conflict.

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Personalities – Charles Hendry Charles Hendry MP speaks during a reception organised by the British Embassy in Baku alongside the Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference in 2013 (Photo: British Embassy in Baku)

Charles Hendry MP – spreading the good news on Azerbaijan

Charles Hendry (Conservative) was first elected as an MP in 1992.

He became the MP for Wealden in 1997, and has held several highranking positions, including Conservative Party Vice-Chairman, becoming Minister for Energy and Climate Change from 2010–12.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron appointed him as Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in November 2012, reflecting the developing importance of that region for UK interests. Since then, he has visited Azerbaijan on numerous occasions, and TEAS caught up with Charles when he came to speak at the Azerbaijan: Country Market Briefing at the National Liberal Club in London:

Prior to your appointment, what was your experience of Azerbaijan as the Minister for Energy and Climate Change?

During my time as a Minister, the issue of European gas security became top of the agenda, and it became apparent that Azerbaijan would play an integral role in the future of European energy security.

When I left the government 18 months ago, the Prime Minister asked me to take on my current Trade Envoy role. I requested to focus on the Caspian, as this area is of particular interest to me. I had already visited the region, where I met some of the key players, and felt I was in a good position to take this forward.

UK–Azerbaijani trading relations extend back to the first oil boom of the late 19th century, and there is a very strong UK involvement in the country. One of the key aspects is that, even in the burgeoning non-hydrocarbons sector, UK companies are playing a key role as investors. Currently, the UK accounts for almost 50 per cent of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Much of this comes on the back of BP’s operations, and UK companies are ideally positioned to expand this relationship into other sectors.

Is the relationship between Azerbaijan and the UK solely related to the energy markets?

The relationship is undeniably heavily oriented towards energy. Last year, I accompanied representatives from several UK companies to the Caspian International Oil and Gas Exhibition in Baku. Inevitably, the oil and gas sector plays a very large role in our operations. When I last visited Baku, I undertook a meeting with AZPROMO to learn about some of their priority sectors. Due to the enormous amount of building and construction work currently being undertaken, there are

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a plethora of opportunities for UK surveying, civil engineering and related companies.

The inaugural European Olympic Games in Baku in 2015 will generate scope for those UK companies who were involved in the London Olympics to participate and take a role in constructing stadia and other facilities. UK businesses need to explore how to further collaborate with Azerbaijan in such sectors as agriculture and IT. We are considering all areas in which the Azerbaijani government has said it wants to see greater engagement.

Do you see many opportunities for UK businesses in the financial services sector?

This is undeniably true – it is apparent that many Azerbaijani businesses wish to develop closer links with the City of London, as it is the pre-eminent global centre for financial services. This could assist Azerbaijan in developing the financial services market in its nascent stages. Azerbaijan is already home to some excellent banks, such as Pasha Bank, but none offer the complexity of products that are available in London. We find there is great interest in understanding how UK reporting and transparency standards might be applied in Azerbaijan.

Currently, the agricultural sector accounts for 60 per cent of the Azerbaijani workforce, yet generates just six per cent of GDP. Is there any opportunity for Azerbaijani produce to be exported to the UK?

Charles Hendry MP sits alongside H.E. Irfan Siddiq, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Aliyev (Photo: British Embassy in Baku)

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Personalities – Charles Hendry

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Charles Hendry MP speaks to the press during one of his visits to Baku (Photo: British Embassy in Baku)

During my last visit, I met a major Azerbaijani food producer who was very keen to export to the UK. The UK buys its food globally, so there is every opportunity for good-quality Azerbaijani products. My role is concerned with looking at which UK companies have expertise in optimising farming efficiency, such as initiating irrigation and rotation practices, and there are some biopharma and biotechnology opportunities. Azerbaijani farmers are willing to work with international companies to improve yields.

We have recently witnessed the signing of the $45bn (£26.9bn) deal between the Shah Deniz Consortium and the Azerbaijani government. This means that Azerbaijani Caspian gas will come direct to Western Europe. Will this increase Azerbaijan’s relevance to the UK and the remainder of Western Europe?

The development certainly makes the country more relevant to Europe as a whole. Clearly the UK is right at the end of this pipeline infrastructure, and it is currently unclear if any Azerbaijani gas molecules will ever make their way to the UK. However, this will make an immensely important contribution to the overall energy security of Europe, which is good for us all.

Are Azerbaijani businesspeople receptive to British ideas and concepts?

Many of the Azerbaijan’s new generation of businesspeople are familiar with the UK – they may have studied here and frequently visited, and London is a city where they feel very comfortable. If they have worked with overseas investors, the chances are that they are already working with UK companies, and will have discovered that UK businesses deliver on time, on budget, and to a high standard.

They will want to further develop this relationship. I meet as many Azerbaijani businesspeople as possible during their visits to the UK and my travels to the country.

It is important to remember that Azerbaijan does not solely comprise Baku. We need to persuade UK businesses to travel into the regions to places like Ganja where there are significant commercial opportunities.

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What are the challenges surrounding trading with Azerbaijan?

One of the main issues is persuading UK businesspeople to visit the country. When they visit, they discover that Baku is a very comfortable European-style city with outstanding hotels. However, many westerners have preconceived notions about the country. I am personally always looking to take businesspeople to see Azerbaijan.

What can be done to raise awareness of the opportunities in Azerbaijan?

Trade events are immensely important, but I noticed very few UK companies exhibiting at the Caspian International Oil and Gas Exhibition this year. We need to make people aware of where there are valuable door-opening opportunities, such as the TEAS presence at the UK political party conferences. People need to know the sheer scope of opportunities in the country. It’s a country that is looking to do business, and the UK presence is long-established – there is an active UK business community in Baku and around 5000 expatriates.

To what extent is Azerbaijan’s importance fully understood in the UK Parliament?

It is true that there is great scope for enhancing further awareness in the UK Parliament. Numerous MPs and Lords have an excellent understanding of the country and the opportunities it represents, and TEAS has played an essential role in raising awareness by taking MPs there and also introducing them to Azerbaijani businesspeople during their visits to the UK. I have now visited Baku on numerous occasions, and hope to visit the regions during the course of this year. I never miss an opportunity to tell people about the country, and hope that more MPs and Peers will take the time to visit. The greater engagement between the countries, the more scope there is for political and commercial relations to be further developed.

To find out more about Charles Hendry, go to www.charleshendry.co.uk

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Business News

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BP-led consortium awards $841m of contracts

The BP-led Shah Deniz Consortium, undertaking exploitation of the Shah Deniz II gas field in the Caspian Sea, has awarded construction and engineering contracts worth $841m (£502.3m), according to a press release. This includes a $528m (£315.4m) contract for the construction and commissioning of support facilities in Georgia, including an access road and compressor stations. The contract was award to a Bechtel Enka joint venture, comprising Bechtel International and ENKA İnsaat ve Sanayi.

Another contract worth $174m (£103.9m) for pipeline and facilities engineering and project management has been awarded to Chicago Bridge & Iron UK (CB&I). Four more contracts worth a total of $139m (£83m), for subsea and pipeline engineering, procurement and construction of the shaft, tunnel and offshore platform living quarters

One of the existing Shah Deniz platforms in the Caspian Sea (Photo: Shahin Abasaliyev: Statoil)

and drilling, were awarded to Wood Group Kenny (WGK), Apply Emtunga, DrillTec and CSM Bessac.

In December, the Shah Deniz Consortium signed a $974m (£581.7m) contract with another consortium, including Turkish construction firm Tekfen Insaat, to build two offshore platforms. Gordon Birrell,

UK remains the largest FDI contributor Figures from the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee indicate that foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Azerbaijani economy during January–February 2014 amounted to AZN589.8m (£448.4m), remaining virtually unchanged from the figure during the same period of 2013.

During the opening two months of the year, 91.1 per cent of investments, amounting to AZN537.5m (£408.6m), were accounted for by investors from the UK, US, Japan, Norway, Turkey and the Czech Republic.

Of these, the UK continues to occupy the leading position, amounting to 55.5 per

President: Azerbaijan–Georgia–Turkey, BP, commented: “The timely awarding of the contracts, and the quality of the companies working with us on the Shah Deniz field, the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), make us confident that these important projects can be delivered on time and on budget, allowing first gas in late 2018.”

cent, or AZN327.1bn (£248.7bn). This was followed by the US with AZN75m (£57m) (12.7 per cent), and Japan with AZN59.7m (£45.4m) (10.1 per cent). In addition, the World Bank invested AZN25.1m (£19.1m) and the Asian Development Bank allocated AZN16m (£12.2m).

Fitch: Azerbaijani Eurobonds rated BBB– Fitch Ratings has assigned the début Azerbaijani ten-year Eurobonds, worth $1.25bn (£745.3m), with a five per cent interest rate and a ‘BBB–‘ rating, in line with the country’s foreign currency long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR). The rating reflects the following key drivers: •

•

• • •

oil output is stabilising after a 15 per cent decline since the 2010 peak, improving the short-term outlook for growth and public finances. a strong sovereign balance sheet, with sovereign assets held in the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), equating to 49 per cent of GDP at the end of 2013. The 2014 budget calls for reduced reliance on oil revenue in the form of transfers from SOFAZ. a current account surplus, amounting to 17 per cent of GDP in 2013, predicted to achieve record surpluses. a weak banking system relative to ‘BBB’ rated peers. governance indicators and the business environment below the ‘BBB’ median.

Meanwhile, speaking in Baku, Raja Almarzoqi, Head, International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission on Article IV of the IMF Articles of

Agreement, welcomed the move. He explained that investors remained confident in the balanced management of oil revenues. Mr Almarzoqi continued: “At the same time, the main challenge facing the country is to reduce dependence on oil revenues, and boost the private sector as the driving force of diversified economic growth.

The country’s short-term economic prospects are favourable.

“The non-oil sector is expected to grow by up to eight per cent of GDP, and one-digit inflation will be maintained during 2014–15. The main risk is a possible reduction in oil prices. The IMF supports the tougher tax-budget policy specified in the Azerbaijani State Budget for 2014. The aim is to consolidate the budget, reducing dependence on oil revenues by a further decline in transfers from SOFAZ. The state budget revenue generated by the private sector must increase. This will all create a strong buffer for the national economy, in case of an oil price decrease.

“It is necessary to reduce state spending – this can be achieved by increasing the efficiency of state investments and by prioritising the various large-scale projects. If the business climate continues developing in this context, economic growth will be healthier in Azerbaijan.”

Cumbrian specialists to lay European Olympics pitch The main pitch surface for the inaugural European Olympics is to be supplied by the UK-based firm SIS Pitches for installation in the Baku Olympic Stadium. The stadium is currently under construction, and will be handed over early next year. SIS will construct a training and stadium pitch. Both will comprise natural grass, although the stadium pitch will use 20mm turf from Germany.

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The venue will host games for the Azerbaijan national football team, in addition to concerts. The Baku Olympic Stadium will fulfil the high technical requirements of FIFA and UEFA regarding football stadium construction. The country will automatically qualify to host European Football Championship tournaments and qualification games.

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Business News

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SOCAR secures $500m loan to construct Turkish oil refinery The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) has sourced a $500m (£298.2m) loan from Denizbank, Turkey, to construct the Star Oil Refinery in the Aliaga settlement of Izmir, Turkey. According to Kenan Yavuz, Chief Executive, SOCAR Turkey, quoted in Turkish media reports, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), which initially announced their participation in the construction, unexpectedly pulled out.

SOCAR then went on to approach Denizbank, (a subsidiary of Sberbank, Russia), which covered 65 per cent of the construction costs. Of the $5.5bn (£3.3bn) required, $2bn (£1.2bn) will be paid by internal sources and $3.5bn (£2.1bn) will come from exports, international and local banks.

The signing of Turkey’s first incentive certificate between Zafer Caglayan, Turkish Economy Minister, and Rovnag Abdullayev, SOCAR President, led to the Star Oil Refinery construction plan

$97m investment by Switzerland The Swiss government has invested over CHF85m (£57.7m) to facilitate transition processes in the Azerbaijani economy, including reforms in the finance sector.

The comments were made by Matthias Feldmann, Deputy Regional Director, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs for the South Caucasus (SECO), during the

opening of a training centre for capital market practitioners in Baku.

He commented: “We also co-operate with the World Bank and Azerbaijani state structures on a permanent basis under the project for modernisation of the capital market. Switzerland has considerable

experience in this sphere, and this project is an important part of our support for developing the country’s finance sector.”

Mr Feldmann recognised: “Implementation of these reforms is not an easy process, and requires time. The opening of a training centre will assist with implementing reforms in the capital market.”

Azerbaijani–Russian rolling stock factory to be launched UralVagonZavod, the Russian rolling stock giant, is to launch a joint venture with Azerbaijan Railways during 2015, according to Oleg Sienko, Chief Executive, UralVagonZavod. He commented: “There is a steady demand – moreover, the Azerbaijani government is building the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway. The existing rolling stock is outdated, and 1500 carriages have to be replaced annually.”

A railcar undergoing tests in the main UralVagonZavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia

Double-taxation agreement signed with Slovakia

Natig Amirov, Azerbaijani First Deputy of Taxes, has met a delegation led by Vazil Hudak, State Secretary of the Slovak Finance Ministry. During the meeting, Mr Amirov provided detailed information about the Azerbaijani tax system, including tax administration and the application of information technology, VAT deposit accounts, e-services for taxpayers, the implementation of e-government systems, and the work being undertaken by the Azerbaijani Taxation Ministry on the switch from e-government to mobile government.

Mr Amirov explained that both Azerbaijan and Slovakia are currently undertaking talks to eliminate double taxation. He underlined the importance of co-operation between the tax bodies from the two countries, explaining the need for mutual visits to study developments in the field of tax administration.

Azerbaijan–Turkey–Iran rail link under discussion

The Azerbaijani, Turkish and Iranian Foreign Ministers have discussed issues relating to the possible connection between the BTK and Nakhchivan–Julfa–Tabriz railways. It is anticipated that this move will facilitate the construction of an efficient connection between Beijing and London – and comes in the wake of opening the tunnel beneath the Bosphorus, which connects Europe with Asia. It is anticipated that the BTK railway will be completed by mid-2015.

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He explained that the factory would produce six types of rolling stock, including gondolas, cisterns and hoppers.

These will be marketed in Azerbaijan, and possibly in Georgia and Turkey.

Non-oil sector increases by around 9 per cent

Azerbaijan’s GDP reached AZN8.5bn (£6.5bn) during January–February, equating to an increase of 1.6 per cent, when compared to the same period during 2013, according to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee. During the reporting period, 61.3 per cent of Azerbaijani GDP was attributed to manufacturing, about 50 per cent to industry, 8.8 per cent from construction, and 2.5 per cent to agriculture, forestry and fishing. The service sector equated to around 38.7 per cent of GDP. The non-oil sector grew by 8.8 per cent, when compared to the same period of 2013, amounting to 53.9 per cent of GDP.

New hydroelectric

power station for NAR

The new Arpachay-2 hydroelectric power station is to be constructed in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR).

Altogether, AZN4m (£3m) was allocated from the Azerbaijani Presidential Reserve Fund to the NAR Cabinet of Ministers. The Azerbaijani Finance Ministry has been tasked with allocating the funding.

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