Tm 14 09

Culture | Public Affairs Business | Philanthropy

ALIYEV ATTENDS NATO TALKS IN NEWPORT – ALSO MEETS SARGSYAN Also in this issue: More than 50 UK MPs sign motion in support of IDPs EU–Azerbaijani visa facilitation agreement signed EU Commissioner Fule recognises the importance of energy security Azerbaijan to receive €94m of EU funding 4500 still missing in Nagorno-Karabakh www.teas.eu

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

9 / 2014

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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!

Firstly, congratulations to Ilkin Jamalli, who won the competition in the August issue of the TEAS Magazine. 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 answer, as are TEAS employees and their families. Please send all entries to editor@ teas.eu by 17:00hrs (GMT) on 10 October: 1.

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In what year was the current UN definition of a refugee decided upon?

On what date were the official negotiations between the EU and Azerbaijan on visa facilitation and readmission agreements completed?

What is the current position of Professor Kamal Abdulla?

Which Azerbaijani award has been made to former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali?

Which classical work by Gara Garayev was performed during the concert at the University of Rouen?

In which venue will pianist Amina Figarova perform during the London Jazz Festival?

Which Azerbaijani folksong did Saida Zulfugarova and Elvira Di Bona play as an encore during Voci dalla Montagna festival?

Who is adapting the screenplay for the new film of Ali and Nino?

Where was Professor Veli Aliyev born?

How much will Azerbaijan invest in the Turkish economy during the next eight years?

Upcoming Events For full details of all TEAS events, go to www.teas.eu/upcoming-events 25 September 2014 Business Forum Belgium–Azerbaijan (Brussels) AWEX Offices, Horta Meeting Room (Ground Floor), Place Sainctelette 2, B–1080 Brussels, Belgium 09.00–14.00hrs. Admission Free.

Register by 17 September to Aygun Ismayilova on aygun.ismayilova@teas.eu This business forum is organised by TEAS, l’Agence Wallonne à l’Exportation (AWEX), Brussels Invest and Export, and Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT). It will focus on the construction/infrastructure, environment and agricultural/food sectors.

5 November 2014 TEAS Business Forum – Economic Diversification is the Key (London) No.4 Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7BQ 08.30–14.00hrs. Admission Free. Register via EventBrite at http://bit.ly/teasbusinessforum2014 The annual TEAS Business Forum is acclaimed for its high level of speakers from state and private enterprises and unmatched networking opportunities. This half-day event will be followed by b2b (business-to-business) sessions where those interested in entering the Azerbaijani market can informally discuss their plans with those already active in the country. Themes will include the ICT industry, financial services, energy issues, infrastructure and the European Games.

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Politics and News

03

Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS

From the TEAS Director

There was a time when the summer months were known as the ‘silly season’ and editors and journalists scratched around for stories to fill newspapers. Those days are gone.

The news has been dominated by stories of conflicts and the resultant refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), which has always been a preoccupation for TEAS. With that in mind, we supported a Parliamentary Early Day Motion calling for UN World Refugee Day, commemorated on 20 June, to be renamed as UN World Refugee and IDP Day. More than 50 MPs – from all parties – have so far supported the motion, urged on by the Many Happy Returns campaign (www.manyhappyreturnsidp. com), a TEAS initiative.

As well as the refugees and IDPs, there are also those euphemistically described as the ‘disappeared’. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), there are still 4,500 Azerbaijanis unaccounted for from the ongoing NagornoKarabakh conflict, and TEAS will be campaigning to have their fate discovered and documented.

The whole question of the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani territories of Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions will be raised during the forthcoming OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session and we preview that meeting in this edition of the TEAS Magazine. This edition also covers Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni’s statement at the Council of Europe’s conference in Baku on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue.

Also in this issue, we report on the visa facilitation agreement with the EU, cooperation with CERN, a report on ASAN in Diplomat magazine, and former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali receiving the Nizami Ganjavi award.

Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS

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The widely-supported EDM was tabled by LibDem veteran Sir Malcolm Bruce (Photo: Antony Robbins)

Over 50 UK MPs recognise IDPs’ plight

More than 50 UK Members of Parliament – representing every political party in the House of Commons – have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) proposing that UN World Refugee Day should be redesignated as UN World Refugee and IDP Day. Sir Malcolm Bruce, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party and Chairman of the International Development Select Committee tabled the EDM. This followed his visit to an Azerbaijani IDP camp during a trip to the country organised by the Azerbaijan All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). Other principal sponsors include Conservative former Minister Peter Bottomley MP and Bob Blackman MP, Secretary of the APPG, who has also visited IDP camps in Azerbaijan. The Labour MPs Alan Meale and Anne Begg, Chair, Work and Pensions Select Committee, together with Democratic Unionist Jim Shannon, are also sponsors of the Motion.

Much of this support was attributable to the Many Happy Returns campaign (www. manyhappyreturnsidp.com), a TEAS initiative. This campaign focuses on Azerbaijan, which has one of the highest IDP populations in the world. Postcards and birthday cards showing stark, emotionally-charged portraits of just a few of the men, women and children in IDP camps were sent to all UK MPs urging them to sign the motion.

Altogether, there are more than 875,000 Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees. They are the ongoing casualties of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions, and currently reside in camps spread across Azerbaijan. Commemorated on 20 June each year since 2001, the current definition of a refugee is taken from the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and has never been updated to reflect the impact of post-war conflicts. The proposed redesignation acknowledges that the world IDP population constantly exceeds that of refugees by more than 10m people.

EU–Azerbaijani visa facilitation agreement signed

The official negotiations between the EU and Azerbaijan on visa facilitation and readmission agreements were completed on 1 September. The agreement makes it easier and cheaper for Azerbaijani citizens, particularly frequent travellers, to acquire short-stay visas that enable them to travel to and freely through most EU countries. A short-stay visa covers an intended stay of no more than 90 days per period of 180 days. Under the agreement, visa fees will be reduced from €60 (£47.84) to €35 (£27.90), and some categories of citizens will be exempted from the fees.

For some categories of frequent travellers and under certain conditions, member states can issue multiple-entry visas valid for one to five years. Diplomatic passport holders are exempted from the visa obligation. The agreement also states that the visa handling fee will not be collected for certain categories of applicants, including members of official delegations, children up to 12 years, pensioners, researchers and students.

The readmission agreement also specifies clear obligations and procedures for the authorities in EU member states and Azerbaijan. They regulate when and how to repatriate those who are illegally residing on the territories of the parties. The provisions of the European Convention for Human Rights will be upheld during the application of readmission agreements.

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04

Politics and News

UK Ambassador visits Gabala and Sheki H.E. Irfan Siddiq, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, travelled to Gabala on 28 August, where he met Sabuhi Abdullayev, Head, Gabala Executive Committee and representatives from civil society at the Gabala NGO Resource Centre. He went on to visit the Udi minority Christian community in Nij village – descended from the Caucasian Albanians – toured a newly-built camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the occupied regions of Azerbaijan and viewed a Gabala FC training session.

The following day, Ambassador Siddiq visited Sheki, where he exchanged dialogue with Elkhan Usubov, Head, Sheki Executive

Ambassador Siddiq is welcomed into the Gabala FC football team (Photo: British Embassy in Baku)

Authority, and discussed the UK education system with students and teachers at Sheki Teachers’ University and gave an interview

to local television before visiting the office of Uluchay, a local NGO. To see the interview, visit http://bit.ly/shekisiddiq.

Tolerance recognised at COE religions conference Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary-General, Council of Europe, has recognised the extent of Azerbaijani religious tolerance during a press conference in Baku, held during the Council of Europe meeting entitled Intercultural Dialogue: Interaction between Culture and Religion.

Mubariz Gurbanli, Chairman, Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations, explained that Azerbaijan is known as an exemplary country in terms of religious tolerance. He explained that, despite the fact that Azerbaijan is a predominantly Muslim country, numerous religious communities are able to worship without hindrance. Mr Gurbanli also reflected that delegates from the Council of Europe had visited the synagogue in Guba – the only entirely Jewish town outside of Israel.

Mr Gurbanli reiterated that the NagornoKarabakh conflict remains purely territorial and non-religious, explaining that around 30,000 Armenians reside in Baku, and that the fabric of the Armenian Church in the capital has been maintained.

Recalling that religious and cultural forums have been held in Azerbaijan since 2008, Mrs Battaini-Dragoni acknowledged that these events had turned Baku into a place of religious and intercultural discussions.

She said: “Catholics and Buddhists have lived in Azerbaijan for many years, and have engaged in trade. This has resulted in diversity in society.” The discussions were attended by Professor Kamal Abdulla, Azerbaijani State Councillor on Multinational, Multicultural and Religious Affairs and Emin Eyyubov, Head, Azerbaijani Permanent Mission to the Council of Europe, amongst others.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also signed an order to create the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, the objective of which is to protect tolerance and culture, religious and linguistic diversity, and to study existing multicultural models.

Ms Battaini-Dragoni hailed the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for its role in promoting multiculturalism.

Drahoslav Stefanek, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the Council of Europe and Chair of the Rapporteur Group

Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni spoke warmly of her experiences in Baku during the recent Republic Day event at the Council of Europe

on Human Rights expressed satisfaction with the religious situation in Azerbaijan.

He acknowledged: “Today’s event will make an important contribution towards the development of dialogue between different religions. Representatives of many religions and religious communities are in attendance. This is a great opportunity to discuss long-term co-operation between the representatives of various faiths.”

Diplomat hails ASAN The UK-based magazine Diplomat has published a report on the Azerbaijani Service and Assessment Network Service (ASAN), describing it as a “high-tech success story, making state bureaucracy simple and more accessible.” According to the magazine, the main purpose of ASAN is to enhance efficiency and bring 22 government services closer to the people, including those from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Taxes, the State Committee for Property Affairs, and the State Customs Committee. It goes on to describe Azerbaijan as occupying “a leading position among CIS and some European countries regarding the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to assist state agencies.”

The article predicts that ASAN will cover all Azerbaijani regions by the end of 2014, and states that “ASAN service centres currently provide services to more than 500,000 members of the public, and serve around 1000 people each day.” It concludes with a statement from Ambassador Malena Mard, Head, EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, who recently commented during a visit to an ASAN centre in Baku that: “The EU is proud to have been among the first international partners to co-operate with ASAN, and we hope to continue looking into co-operation possibilities for the future, as ASAN continues developing its services.” For full details, visit www.asan.gov.az.

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Politics and News

05

Fule recognises the importance of energy security Stefan Fule, EU European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy has commented that energy security is a key strategic objective for the EU Eastern Partnership. Speaking in Baku at the Fourth Informal Dialogue Meeting of Eastern Partnership Countries’ Energy Ministers, he continued: “For the EU, the Eastern Partnership is the best possible tool to focus on the real needs of the Eastern Partnership members and those of the region. It is time to address the challenges that we face in the region regarding energy and the political situation in the region.

“We have improved our tools, including the neighbourhood investment framework, which provide the leverage funds of the European financial institutions to finance infrastructure projects.”

Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy, replied: “Today, Azerbaijan

(from second left at the table) Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister; Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy; and Helga Maria Schmid, Deputy Secretary-General for the EU External Action Service

has achieved energy self-sufficiency and does not depend on any other country.”

He revealed that the nation produces 41m tonnes of oil and 20bn kV of energy annually, saying: “Today, Azerbaijan has solved the issue of EU energy diversification.

Azerbaijan has four oil and gas pipelines.”

Mr Aliyev made reference to the TransAdriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) that will convey Azerbaijani Caspian gas to Europe from 2018. He said:

“Azerbaijan has its own energy plans and programmes regarding Greece, Austria and other European countries. These will connect Azerbaijan with Europe.”

Mr Fule concluded by stressing that: “The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be based on international law.” He also undertook a meeting with civil society representatives and expressed hope that the platform for civil society activities would be further expanded in the near future.

Security guarantees for all European Games competitors Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sport, has pledged that Armenian athletes will be protected if they participate in the inaugural European Games from 12–28 June 2015, despite the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and recent violence on the ‘contact line’.

Speaking at the end of the fourth European Olympic Committee (EOC) Co-ordination Commission to assess preparations for the Games, he said: “Azerbaijani athletes have participated in competitions held in Armenia. For example, recently our athletes competed in an archery event held in Armenia. There are no restrictions in sports and the safety of athletes at the European Games will be at a high level.”

Spyros Capralos, Head, EOC Co-ordination Commission, recognised the Azerbaijani commitment to the inaugural games, saying: “Significant work has been achieved over the past year and a half and the continued efforts to innovate, particularly with regard to the sports programme, are very impressive. The European Games will make history for European sport, and it is vital that Baku 2015 continues its excellent progress in preparing for Europe’s first continental multi-sport Games. I have no doubt it will be an event that will live long in the memory of European sports fans. We can sense the growing level of excitement and anticipation here in Baku. The European Games represent not only a new era of sporting competition, but also friendship across the entire continent.”

Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sport (second from left) outlines the preparatory work undertaken, to date, for the European Games

Boutros-Ghali receives Nizami Ganjavi award The former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has received the Nizami Ganjavi award, according to the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with the Diaspora. The presentation was made during a meeting between the sixth UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Rovshan Murodov, Executive Director, International Nizami Ganjavi Centre at the central headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an honorary member of the Centre, which is celebrating its second anniversary.

The UN Global Forum for a Co-operative Society, to be held in Baku in 2015, was discussed. Mr Boutros-Ghali said that discussions on restoring confidence in Europe now had heightened importance against the background of conflict, intense political processes in Europe and terrorism. Past recipients of the Nizami Ganjavi award have included former US President Bill Clinton and past Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

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Culture

TEAS Photography Competition 2014 To commemorate the hosting of the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015, TEAS is organising the Azerbaijan – Sport in Focus competition for amateur and professional photographers. Those shortlisted will have the chance to see their photography exhibited in the European cities where TEAS has offices – Berlin, Brussels, Istanbul, London and Paris – and prizes will include trips to Baku, iPads, and tickets to the European Games.

Photographs should be submitted by 1700hrs (GMT) on 26 October to competitions@teas. eu (10MB maximum). The judging panel will comprise the world-renowned photographers Ed Kashi (US), Philipp Rathmer (Germany) and Agdes Baghirzade (Azerbaijan). For more information and the Terms and Conditions, go to www.teas.eu/azerbaijan-sport-in-focus.

Khojaly 613 astounds an international academic audience On the evening of 3 September, around 200 international delegates at the 17th International Conference on Turkish Linguistics (ICTL), hosted at the University of Rouen in France, had a rare treat to hear a concert of Azerbaijani, Turkish and French classical music, sponsored by TEAS France. This took place in the Amphithéâtre Philippe Protais, and was given by Azerbaijani violinist Sabina Rakcheyeva, the first Azerbaijani graduate from the Juilliard School in New York and Cultural Advisor to TEAS, alongside French clarinettist Annelise Clément and the Magma String Quartet, also from France.

The concert was the brainchild of French composer Pierre Thilloy, who explained: “Performing and listening to this music helps us understand elements of another culture, yet demonstrates our common humanity. For example, the concert includes my own tribute to Handel, and contemporary Turkish composer Hasan Hüseyin Yilmaz’s homage to Mozart, alongside Gara Garayev’s String Quartet No.2 and my piece Khojaly 613, which incorporates Azerbaijani folksongs. I wanted to show the universality of music, which transcends linguistic and cultural barriers. The selection demonstrates that Turkish and Azerbaijani composers can adopt western musical idioms, using the same musical language as a French composer. Regardless of our cultural background, we can all be touched with this music. This is not a language for the brain – it is for the soul.”

The concert culminated with the chamber music arrangement of Khojaly 613 by Pierre Thilloy, a TEAS commission. This was composed in memory of the 613 civilian men, women and children who were the victims of the Khojaly Massacre on 26 February 1992, the worst single atrocity perpetrated by invading Armenian forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The orchestral version of this evocative work – premiered in Paris on the anniversary of the massacre – was nominated last year for the prestigious Victoires de la Musique Classique award. In Rouen, the work was performed reverently, with the clarinettist initially performing in the wings of the stage, her instrument representing the plaintive cry of a human voice.

Pierre explained the reason for its inclusion in the programme: “I felt it was very important to perform this piece away from the anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. It was particularly appropriate to play it this evening, as the audience is here for

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Azerbaijani violinist Sabina Rakcheyeva and French clarinettist Annelise Clément joined forces with the Magma String Quartet for a moving performance of Pierre Thilloy’s Khojaly 613

a conference on Turkish linguistics. All delegates are aware of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Khojaly Massacre. They understand the purpose of my music.”

The concert began with another of Pierre Thilloy’s works entitled Largo – Lamento funebre. The composer explained: “My point of departure was a quotation from Handel’s opera Giulio Cesare, where a mother is distressed about her son who is going to his death, perhaps in war. This has a universal meaning, and can be related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

The String Quartet No. 2 by leading Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev (1918–82) was written in 1946. Pierre stated: “Garayev was the student of Shostakovich and this is amazing music. It uses western notation, yet cleverly incorporates Azerbaijani mugham modes and represents Azerbaijani culture in a very effective way.

Throughout, Garayev is making reference to his revulsion over the cataclysmic losses of World War II.” Pierre has had a longstanding connection with Azerbaijan and is the founder and organiser of the Syam Festival in Eastern France which, this year, incorporated a vast range of Azerbaijani classical, jazz and mugham music. To see a film on the background and significance of Khojaly 613, shot at the Syam Festival, go to http:// bit.ly/aproposKhojaly613. For a full performance of the work, visit http://bit.ly/khojaly613.

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Culture

07

Celebrating silence in Pescasseroli

The outstanding Paris-based Azerbaijani pianist Saida Zulfugarova has joined forces with the virtuosic Italian violinist Elvira Di Bona for the second successive year for a concert within the Voci dalla Montagna (Voices of the Mountains) festival. They performed amidst the dramatic scenery of the Apennine Mountains in the Abruzzo National Park in Colli Bassi, Pescasseroli, to an audience of around 500 people. Elvira is also artistic director of the festival, which is now in its third year, and is a Doctor of Philosophy. The festival is the only one of its kind in the Apennine Mountains. A range of Italian writers, artists and musicians also participated at the festival, including Dacia Maraini, Erri De Luca and Gemma Bertagnolli.

The theme of the festival this year was that of silence, and the repertoire was selected with this in mind. The opening work was a world premiere of Il Silenzio che non voglio sentire by the contemporary composer Pasquale Filastò, who is bestknown for his work on the soundtracks to the Oscar-winning film Life is Beautiful and for several films directed by Nanni Moretti.

(from left) Elvira Di Bona and Saida Zulfugarova performed amidst the stunning scenery of the Appenine Mountains (Photo: Gianfranco Fortuna)

This was followed by Robert Schumann’s brisk and vibrant Sonata No.2 for Violin and Piano, and the varied moods in the seven movements comprising Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo (piano reduction). The last piece on the programme was the serene Meditation from the opera Thaïs by Jules Massenet.

Following wild applause, Saida introduced the encore: “We would like to play a traditional song from Azerbaijan called Sari Gelin (Blonde Bride). This song speaks of love, which is universal, and concerns

a young girl who leaves her parents to marry. This song is lyrical and a little sad. I am pleased we will play this song amongst these mountains that remind me of Azerbaijan, which is located amongst the Caucasus Mountains.

“I would like Azerbaijan to find peace as it is in a state of conflict with neighbouring Armenia, which continues to occupy around 20 per cent of its territory. I would like peace in the world, and for silence to reign in our hearts – the silence of love.”

For more information on the festival, go to http://bit.ly/vocidallmontagna.

Ali and Nino to be filmed in 2015 The Hollywood adaptation of Ali and Nino, written by an Azerbaijani author under the pseudonym of Kurban Said, will be filmed in 2015. The story tells of an Azerbaijani young man who falls in love with a Georgian princess. Published in 1937, Ali and Nino has now been translated into 37 languages with nearly 100 reprints. The script was presented at the Cannes Film Festival to film industry executives, the rights having been acquired by PeaPie Films, founded by Kris Thykier.

The actor Adam Bakri, best-known for playing the leading role in Omar, directed by Hany Abu-Assad – shortlisted in the 86th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film – will play the major role of the Azerbaijani hero Alikhan Shirvanshir. British screenwriter Christopher Hampton will adapt the script. He won an Oscar for the Best Adapted Screenplay in 1988 for Dangerous Liaisons and went on to write Atonement and A Dangerous Method.

The director will be Asif Kapadia, who is equally renowned as a documentary and feature film-maker and is best-known for the film Senna, which tells the story of Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna.

Christopher Hampton said: “I am delighted to be working on this project” and Asif Kapadia commented: “Ali and Nino is such a poignant and timeless novel and I am thrilled to be collaborating with such a talented screenwriter as Christopher Hampton to bring it to life.”

Kris Thykier explained about the production: “We are delighted to have attracted one of the world’s finest writers to bring this captivating novel to the screen. Ali and Nino is one of the great works of the 20th century, as evocative of the exotic desert landscape as it is of the passion between two people pulled apart by culture, religion, and war.”

Amina Figarova to headline at the 606 Club

The leading Azerbaijani jazz pianist Amina Figarova is to headline the 2014 London Jazz Festival with a concert at the 606 Jazz Club in Chelsea on 19 November. Born in Baku, Amina and her flautist husband Bart Platteau lived in Rotterdam for many years, but moved to New York some three years ago, which inspired her acclaimed album Twelve. Jack Massarik, the late jazz critic for the London Evening Standard, described her as “a major artist” when she supported Ravi Coltrane during a series of gigs at Ronnie Scott’s Club, and she has just returned from a tour of the US, Canada and Belgium. To place your booking, go to http://bit.ly/ amina606.

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The artistry of Amina Figarova and flautist husband Bart Platteau is set to amaze London’s jazz cognoscenti in November (Photo: Bruno Bollaert)

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Personalities – Veli Aliyev

Since the regaining of Azerbaijani independence, Professor Veli Aliyev has sought to rewrite the history of the Turkic peoples

Veli Aliyev – digging for the truth Professor Veli Aliyev has been an archaeologist for over 50 years.

Focusing on Azerbaijani civilisation dating back nearly 5000 years, his excavations have proven that urban civilisation in the Caucasus first manifested itself in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR).

During the Soviet period, historical chronology was determined by the state authorities in Moscow, and Professor Aliyev put himself at risk for violating these restrictions and publishing his findings.

Professor Aliyev has played an integral role in writing and publishing the books The History of Azerbaijan, Ancient History of the World and the multivolume work Folklore Anthology of Azerbaijan, together with many other monographs, articles and reference works. Amongst other positions, he is Professor of General History at Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, a member of the Advisory Council for the World Azerbaijani Congress and sits on the Presidium Board of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS). Professor Aliyev has been commended for his scientific works by ANAS. TEAS spoke to Professor Aliyev in Baku to find out more on his remarkable life, motivation and the findings arising from his archaeological excavations: What are your memories of Sheki in the 1940s?

In the South Caucasus, Sheki has a long and ancient history. The present-day city is located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountains in the Zangezur region. It was the capital of a khanate during the ancient and early medieval period of Azerbaijan.

Although my motherland is Nakhchivan, I spent my childhood until 1949 in the Shikhlar village near Sheki. I have unforgettable memories of the nature and historical monuments. However, the Zangezur region was subjected to a great deal of pressure and injustice when ceded to Armenia.

What happened during the deportation of your family from Zangezur during 1948–49?

It is clear that, in 1918, a falsified Armenian Republic was created on the western historical lands of Azerbaijan. At that time, independent Armenia had not made an official application to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) to gain Yerevan as the capital. However, the ADR showed great humanity by deciding to cede Yerevan to Armenia. An Armenian separatist group then decided to take Western Azerbaijan, killing and deporting Azerabaijanis and taking

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their land, supported by the Soviet Union in three phases during 1918–20, 1948–53 and 1988–91.

During the 1948–49 period, the Sovet Union permitted members of the Armenian diaspora from Iran and other foreign countries to be resettled in Armenia. In the meantime, unfair policy decisions were made about the resettlement of the indigenous Azerbaijani population from Zangezur, Western Azerbaijan and Armenia to Azerbaijan. There were deportations of the majority of the Zangezur population, including my family.

What prompted you to study archaeology?

During my studies in the history faculty of Azerbaijan State University, Salekh Qaziyev and Teymur Bunyadov, my teachers, provided an invaluable insight into the use of archaeology as historical evidence.

They made particular reference to Nakhchivan and Zangezur, and this inspired me to study archaeology. I began my archaeological research in 1959 at the Institute of History at ANAS, and have been studying the archaeological monuments of Nakhchivan since that time.

What were the challenges in studying specifically Azerbaijani archaeology during the Soviet period?

At this time, all archaeological digs were organised by the Moscow Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. However, the technical equipment available for archaeological digs in Azerbaijan was of very poor quality. There was a complete absence of appropriate vehicles to lead largescale studies and of sufficiently equipped laboratories to study archaeological discoveries. There was negligible investment in training experts to the necessary level.

During the Soviet period, one of the greatest challenges was that Turkic identity was prohibited, and it was impossible to use Turkic terminology regarding history, archaeology and culture. I wrote an article about the catacombs, which I discovered and studied in the valley of the Akstafa River in the Kazakh region. I was unable to publish the findings for many years, having been put under pressure by the authorities.

What originally interested you in the prehistory of Nakhchivan?

Is it a plentiful region for archaeological discoveries? Why was

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Personalities – Veli Aliyev the region such a rich cultural centre?

Nakhchivan is of great interest, due to the ethnology of its ancient population, its ethnic composition, and the history of Nakhchivan in the years immediately after the birth of Christ. It also gave birth to the Kura-Aras culture, and this was where it evolved and developed. Early urban culture, including state institutions and ancient pictographic writing, developed in Nakhchivan, and an exploration of the petroglyphs of Gemigaya have played an integral role in my own scientific research.

Archaeological excavations have also taken place in many regions, including South Azerbaijan, Karabakh, Mil, Mugan and Shirvan, in addition to the southern foothills of the Great Caucasus mountains (Guba, Sheki, Gabala, Oguz, Sheki, Ganja and Barda), coastal areas (Astara, Lankaran and Lerik) and the Absheron Peninsula.

The geopolitical position of Nakhchivan has played an important role in the development of economic and cultural relations between the ancient Near East, Asian cultural centres, eastern cultural centres of the Caspian Sea, Middle Asia, the Far East (Siberia), and the Indus River valley. Due to its ancient culture, Nakhchivan differs from the neighbouring regions.

Where have your archaeological digs been undertaken?

In order to determine the position of

Nakhchivani ancient culture between the South Caucasus cultures, I led archaeological digs on Bronze and Early Iron Age sites to Karabakh, Dashkasan, Sheki, Gabala, Oguz, Kazakh, Absheron, Gobustan and other regions.

Some important aspects of Azerbaijani ancient history remain unwritten. Recent archaeological finds have formed the basis for rewriting the history of the primitive communal structure from the 12th–5th centuries BC. These finds encompass the evolution of Kura-Aras culture, the art of Nakhchivani coloured ceramic plates, the civilisation of Khojaly–Gadebey (4th–1st centuries BC) and the development of the first large tribes, early urban conurbations and state organisations.

Did you know Thor Heyerdahl? Do you believe that his theory over Azerbaijanis migrating to Norway has any credence?

I knew Thor Heyerdahl as a famous Norwegian traveller and researcher who led expeditions in the footsteps of ancient cultures, including those to Egypt and India.

I came to know him well during his visits to Azerbaijan in 1999 and 2002. He had a great interest in the Gobustan petroglyphs that depicted ships, and claimed that they would enhance understanding of the development of civilisation.

Thor Heyerdahl developed a theory about the migration of Azerbaijanis to Norway.

However, his view is devoid of any scientific proof.

How has the study of ceramics affected your understanding of the country?

My archaeological studies have particularly focused on the study of coloured ceramic plates. During 8th–1st centuries BC, Urmia, Nakhchivan, and Karabakh ranked amongst the earliest Azerbaijani ceramic production centres. The plates indicates that, by the end of the 5th century BC, ancient Azerbaijani tribes had achieved a high level of economic and cultural development.

During the 4th–2nd centuries BC, the population significantly increased, resulting in the increased production of ceramics carrying the symbols of Kura–Aras culture.

Production spread to the South Caucasus and large southern areas around the Aras River and Southern Asia. Manufacturing of ceramics was a product of this culture.

Professor Aliyev oversees extensive excavations of ancient dwellings in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

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Those families involved in ceramic production tended to produce beautifully painted ceramics, being due to the economic, sociopolitical, and cultural development processes and traditions that evolved in the 4th–1st centuries BC.

The finding of ancient ceramics has borne testament to the nature of ancient civilisations in Nakhchivan

How important was the Karabakh region in producing ceramics during the Bronze Age? How would you describe ceramics from that region?

The population of Karabakh played an integral role in developing Azerbaijani culture during the Bronze Age. The fertile soil provided a plentiful source of cattle feed, but also the plants in the meadows of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains provided a rich source of raw materials for artists, resulting in the development of many artistic modes of expression, particularly focusing on pottery and ceramics.

In Karabakh, during the period from the 4th–1st centuries BC, the first pottery production centres were established in the Garakopektepe and Uzerliktepe provinces, near Agdam, where many types of ceramics for economic and household purposes were produced. Coloured plates were widely manufactured at this time, and became emblematic of the Kura–Aras culture.

Although the pottery wheel had not been developed, the use of various clay types and introduction of such new technical methods as grinding, stamping, polishing, painting and drawing resulted in high-quality ceramic production with artisinal characteristics.

Ceramic decorations by artisans in Karabakh and metal products became wellknown across the Caucasus, Middle-East and Southern Asia. The technologies of ceramic production also had a considerable impact on the development of ceramics in the neighbouring regions. For example, ceramics in Khojaly were beautifully glazed and featured a range of designs, including geometry, people, animals, birds and pictographic symbols.

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Personalities – Veli Aliyev

What do you feel has made Azerbaijan such a fertile ground for Bronze Age discoveries?

During my archaeological digs, I found the remains of many monuments, including settlements; burial sites and petroglyphs; flora and fauna; various grain types, including wheat, barley and millet; fruit seeds and the remnants of fine art. These all prove there was an ancient, developed civilisation in the area during 5th–2nd centuries, having set up home on the fertile land in river valleys, close to water sources. For thousands of years, the rivers Kura and Aras, the sources of which are in Eastern Anatolia, have carried mineral-rich sediment, thus making the land ideal for agricultural production.

Which archaeological discoveries and historical monuments were lost due to the Armenian invasion of Karabakh, and particularly of Shusha, in 1992?

During the night of 8 May 1992, Armenian troops, supported by 400 armoured vehicles from Soviet Motor-Rifle Regiment No.366, seized the city of Shusha. Following an extensive battle, the city was occupied by Armenian forces.

Armenia has been subsequently recognised as an occupying force by international organisations across the world, but it has continued to erase all traces of the Azerbaijani nation from the occupied territories. They went about systematically destroying all historical monuments and the national architecture of Shusha, formerly the capital city of Karabakh khanate.

Shusha, formerly known as the ‘Caucasus Paradise’, was left in ruins – its unique historical and architectural buildings, ancient monuments, religious buildings, houses, and cemeteries were destroyed – and museums and libraries were plundered. Altogether six centuries of Azerbaijani civilisation were affected, including the Panahali Khan Palace, Friday Mosque, Lower Govhar Aga Mosque and the house of poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan, in addition to the Historical Museum, a branch of the State Carpet Museum, the Karabakh Government Historical Museum, resort areas and the main musical instrument factory of the East Caucasus. The statues of such historical figures as Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Bulbul and Natavan were riddled with bullets.

Altogether, an estimated 5000 exhibits were stolen from the museums, in addition to over 300 items from the house of Uzeyir Hajibeyli and more than 400 items from the house of Bulbul, the renowned opera singer.

These actions by the occupying Armenian forces contravene The Hague Convention (1954) entitled On the Protection of Cultural Property during Armed Conflict and the

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One of the petroglyphs in Gobustan depicting a boat that inspired Thor Heyderdahl to develop his theory

UNESCO Convention (1972) titled On the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

To what extent is archaeology valued and appreciated by Azerbaijani academia?

The ANAS Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography is the most important scientific research centre in Azerbaijan. This has undertaken archaeological investigations into monuments from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Medieval periods.

The excavations conducted in Azikh, Damjili, Taglar, Buzeyir, Gobustan and other camps from the Stone Age are indicative of the evolution of primitive man.

The archaeological investigations have formed a basis for the study of economic, sociopolitical, lifestyle, trade and cultural relations with neighbouring countries during the ancient and medieval periods.

The Nakhchivan branch of the ANAS Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography has undertaken considerable collaboration with archaeologists from the US, France, Germany, Russia and Turkey. The historical museums in Baku, Mingachavir, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Sheki, Ordubad, Zagatala and other locations are actively preserving archaeological remains.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict reduced all the mosques in Shusha to ruins (Photo: Thomas Alboth)

Did former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev express any interest in archaeology?

Former President Heydar Aliyev highly appreciated the science of archaeology.

Throughout his career, both in Soviet times and in independent Azerbaijan, he was constantly aware of maintaining the material and spiritual cultural heritage of his country.

From 1970, he created all the necessary conditions to undertake studies of this kind.

The approach of Professor Aliyev remains resolutely ‘hands-on’

What can be done to further promote international knowledge of Azerbaijani history and archaeology?

From the second half of the twentieth century to the present day, scientific information about the history and archaeology of Azerbaijan has been disseminated across the world through books and websites. In order to increase overseas awareness of the history and archaeology of Azerbaijan, it is necessary to translate the historical and archaeological literature of the country into foreign languages, complemented by short films that may be distributed through international channels. In addition, Azerbaijani historians and archaeologists should be encouraged to participate in international conferences and symposia.

The article Pictographic Inscriptions – the Annals of Gamigaya by Veli Aliyev, published in the November/December 2011 edition of Visions of Azerbaijan, can be read at http:// bit.ly/velialiyev

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Business News

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Business Forum London on the horizon

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H.E. Matthew Bryza, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, delivered a keynote speech at the TEAS Business Forum in 2013

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Senior figures from the private and public sectors will participate. At the time of going to press, the list of speakers included H.E. Tahir Taghizadeh, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK; H.E. Irfan Siddiq OBE, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan; Lord Risby, Vice-Chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Group for East Asian Business; Rufat Mammadov, President, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO); Zaur Hasanov, Director, Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) Project and Kamran Agasi, Director of the Innovations Centre, Azerbaijani State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovation.

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The event will also serve to: • outline the investment and business potential of Azerbaijan • highlight existing projects in the country and provide the latest information

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identify sectors of potential growth in the Azerbaijani economy operate as a platform for representatives of business and government to deliver key messages to potential investors and partners.

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Designed to act as a platform for developing business networks and to showcase the wealth of business and investment opportunities that exist in Azerbaijan, topics will include the: • ICT industry • financial services sector • energy issues in the region • large-scale infrastructure projects sector • European Games 2015 in Baku.

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The fourth annual TEAS Business Forum will take place at No.4 Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7BQ – the historic home of the Royal Aeronautical Society – on 5 November. With the subheading of Economic Diversification is the Key, the event is timed to reflect the role of 2014 as the Year of Industry in Azerbaijan.

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French nuclear giant to build reactor Ali Abbasov, Azerbaijani Communications and High Technologies Minister, met a delegation of experts from the French company Areva, which is involved in the development and production of equipment for the nuclear power industry. The meeting came in the wake of the visit by French President François Hollande to Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani–French Business Forum in Baku, where the French President emphasised the potential for collaboration in the nuclear energy and renewable energy sectors.

Mr Abbasov explained that the Azerbaijani National Nuclear Research Centre, established by the Azerbaijani Ministry of

Communications and High Technologies, would use nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. He added that the country had already initiated co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Mr Abbasov referred to the research nuclear reactor, which will be built in Azerbaijan in the near future by Areva. He also discussed the possibility of its use by scientists in the region and added that he wished to see the transformation of Azerbaijan into a regional centre.

Turkish–Azerbaijani ties at a new high Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baku.

Speaking about the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) Project, which will bring Azerbaijani Caspian gas to the Greek–Turkish border, he said: “Today, TANAP – our joint project – is drawing the attention of the world, and our working groups will ensure timely delivery. I am sure this historic project will be implemented according to schedule. TANAP is, of course, a project that requires extensive international co-operation, given the great number of participating countries and companies.”

President Aliyev continued: “Large investments have been made by

both Turkey and Azerbaijan in recent years. Even more Azerbaijani investments, about $17–20bn (£10.5–12.3bn), will be invested during the next five or six years in the Turkish economy. I am also delighted that the Turkish side is increasing its stake in our energy projects. This is the way it should be – the stronger Turkey is, the stronger we will feel.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed that construction of TANAP, part of the Southern Gas Corridor, would begin on 20 September. He commented: “Turkey’s energy relations with Azerbaijan and, accordingly, the TANAP project are of the utmost importance.”

Swiss Stadler to build carriage-producing plant The Swiss company Stadler Rail – one of the leading international carriage, locomotive and tram manufacturers – is to open a manufacturing facility in Azerbaijan. This follows the ratification of a joint venture between the Swiss Stadler Rail Group and the Azerbaijani company Railway International Distribution.

Located in Ganja, the factory will have an initial annual output of 50 carriages, constructed using the latest Swiss technology. It is anticipated that orders will be received from Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran, in addition to Azerbaijan.

Stadler currently has plants in Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Italy and the US, amongst other countries.

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Business News

GoldenPay issues the first ever Azerbaijani IPO Shareholders of GoldenPay, the Azerbaijani provider of online payment services have organised the inaugural Azerbaijani initial public offering (IPO). This was announced during an extraordinary meeting of GoldenPay shareholders on 5 September. In a statement, the company said: “The meeting discussed the company’s development strategy for the next five years and the mechanisms for its implementation. The shareholders decided to source part of the financial support, required for implementation of this strategy, through an initial public share offering (IPO).”

The GoldenPay management board was granted authority to sign an agreement with the Azerbaijani Pasha Bank to define the IPO terms, and to obtain other investment and banking services.

Jeyhun Hajiyev, Director, Pasha Capital, stated that the dates for signing the agreement and the volume of shares in the IPO remain unknown. He said: “Neither the signing date, nor the volume of the IPO, have been defined. Currently, we are negotiating with GoldenPay, which must itself determine the amount of the offering.”

GoldenPay was established in 2007, and enables local companies to receive payments using credit cards from any bank, due to its co-operation with Visa and Mastercard.

The GoldenPay online payments platform is hesab.az, created on

Farid Ismayilzade, Founder and Chief Executive, GoldenPay, spoke passionately about the concept of his company at the TEAS Business Forum 2013

the basis of its payment technologies. This facilitates the payment of bills for utilities, mobile and fixed communications, internet services, and cable TV. Users of the website can also repay bank loans and undertake payments for online insurance services.

There are currently over 103,000 registered users for hesab.az, all of whom can open their own accounts on the website.

Government support for e-commerce development The Azerbaijani Communications and High Technologies Ministry is to support the development of e-commerce. These include customs and tax exemptions for businesses engaged in the sector. It is also proposed that customs duties could be eliminated for goods purchased outside of the country through e-commerce platforms worth up to AZN1000 (£785), whereas the previous threshold was AZN200 (£157). The volume of the e-commerce

market in Azerbaijan amounted to AZN2.6m (£2m) in 2013, which is 1.6 times more than in 2012, according to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee.

The pace of e-commerce development in the country is aligned with ICT sector enlargement. Altogether, over 36m users have used the services of e-commerce portal www.b2b.az since 2008.

Azercosmos takes control According to Ali Abbasov, Azerbaijani Communications and High Technologies Minister, negotiations between Azercosmos, the Azerbaijani Space Agency, and the French company Airbus Defence and Space, regarding the transfer of control for LEO satellite SPOT-7 have reached their final stage. Airbus Defence and Space launched the SPOT-7 remote sensing satellite on 30 June, following the signing of an agreement between the two companies in May.

According to Mr Abbasov, the satellite launch is an important step in strategic co-operation with Azercosmos, which involves the joint use of satellites in the geoinformation sector.

Azercosmos, established in 2010, is the first satellite operator in the Caucasus. It aims to provide a basis for the use of outer space for peaceful and commercial purposes.

The first Azerbaijani telecommunications

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Solar panels being integrated into the SPOT-7 satellite during construction in France (Photo: Airbus Defence and Space)

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The European Commission (EC) in Brussels has outlined its priorities for the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood during 2014–17 as part of the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). Quoted in an EC Press Release, Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, said: “Ambition and commitment to reforms will guide the massive EU funding to our neighbours in the coming years. Priorities for support have been established through close dialogue with our partners, involving

satellite, named Azerspace/Africasat1a, was launched in February 2013, and currently provides digital television, data transmission, and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) multiservice networks.

It covers Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa. Some 80 per cent of the resources of the satellite are being used for commercial purposes.

Azerbaijan will launch its second telecommunications satellite later this year.

e-mail: brussels@teas.eu all the relevant stakeholders, in the spirit of ownership and partnership. The funding will help them address the key challenges their societies are facing.”

During this five-year period, the €77– €94m (£61–74.9m) allocation to Azerbaijan will be awarded to support regional and rural development (approximately 40 per cent); justice sector reform (approximately 20 per cent); and education and skills development (approximately 20 per cent).

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Business News

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Gold output up by over 50 per cent Anglo-Asian Mining, the main Azerbaijani gold producer, has revealed that gold output increased by 54.6 per cent during the first half of 2014 and would reach 62,000–67,000oz. (1.8–1.9 tonnes) in 2014, amounting to an increase of 28.7 per cent on the 2013 figure. In a statement, London-listed Anglo-Asian Mining explained that the main Azerbaijani mine, Gadabey, produced 27,054oz. (766.9kg) during this period, whereas output during the same period last year amounted to 17,497oz (496kg).

Reza Vaziri, Chief Executive, Anglo-Asian Mining, said: “We believe that with our cost-saving initiatives, such as reductions in cyanide costs and increased processing capacity at Gadabey, our second half of 2014 performance will be even stronger.”

Gold is produced at Gadabey and other Azerbajani mines under a productionsharing agreement with Anglo–Asian Mining, in which the Azerbaijani government owns a 49 per cent stake. The company began extraction at Gadabey, located 350km west from Baku, in July

Part of the gold extraction facilities in Gadabey

2009. It plans to extract a total of 22 tonnes of gold from the mine.

The company constructed an agitation leaching plant at Gadabey in June 2013 and installed a Knelson concentrator in March this year, the objective being to isolate the copper sulphides that impacted gold recovery in the leach tanks in 2013.

Silver production during the first half of 2014 was 21,924oz (621.4kg), whilst

copper production totalled 369 tonnes.

Anglo-Asian Mining plans to develop seven mines in western Azerbaijan with estimated gold reserves of 430 tonnes. In May, the company announced that it had signed a three-year contract with Industrial Minerals, an integrated trading, mining and logistics group, to become its exclusive partner for sales of copper concentrate produced at Gadabey.

$15m loan for energy efficiency projects The Green for Growth Fund (GGF) is to provide a $15m (£9.2m) loan to AccessBank so it may substantially increase its financing of energy efficiency projects and develop its role as a pioneer in energy efficiency financing in Azerbaijan. Kenan Agayev, Executive Director, AccessBank said: “We see particular opportunities for equipment and machinery investment by micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).”

AccessBank has a wide network of branches in Azerbaijan

designed to service its MSME clients. These investments are expected to result in annual energy savings of over 43,500MWh, reducing CO 2 emission reductions by more than 21,000 tonnes.

Christopher Knowles, Chairman, GGF Southern Europe, commented: “We are thrilled to launch our work in Azerbaijan in collaboration with the market leader in MSME financing. As AccessBank is clearly focused on this sector, this investment will quickly have an impact on the energy consumption of this country.”

Double taxation to be eliminated with ten countries Azerbaijan is preparing to eliminate double taxation with another ten countries.

Speaking to the press, Alakbar Mammadov, Advisor to the Azerbaijani Taxation Minister, stated that one of the important conditions regarding the investment environment in the country is to reach an agreement on eliminating both income and property tax and preventing tax evasion.

Mr Mammadov commented: “At the moment, agreements on eliminating double taxation have been signed with 48 countries, including most countries of the EU, South East Asia, Middle East, CIS and both Canada and Japan. Of these, 43 have been implemented, and talks with six countries are underway regarding the finalised texts of the agreement. Negotiations with another

10 countries are currently in their initial stages.”

He stated that agreements on eliminating double taxation cover the key trade partners of Azerbaijan. Work is also underway to expand the network of agreements on information exchange, which play an integral role in tax regulation issues.

Oil investments up by over 30 per cent According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, around AZN3.5bn (£2.7bn) was invested in the Azerbaijani oil sector during the first half of 2014, equating to an increase of 30.4 per cent on the same period last year. Altogether, over AZN4.9bn (£3.8bn) was invested in 2013, amounting

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to a 24.2 per cent increase over 2012.

During the same period, total capital investments in the industrial sector of Azerbaijan amounted to AZN4.2bn (£3.3bn), which is 5.4 per cent more than the same period in 2013. Of this, AZN3.4bn (£2.7bn)

was invested in the mining industry, which is 29.5 per cent more that that the previous year. Altogether, the total volume of capital investments in the industrial sector of Azerbaijan in 2013 amounted to AZN7.1bn (£5.6bn), which is a 16.4 per cent increase on 2012.

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Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict John Kerry, US Secretary of State (centre) called upon Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to work towards achieving a lasting peace

Nagorno-Karabakh discussed during NATO summit John Kerry, US Secretary of State, met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at the NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, where he expressed his strong concern over the recent violence along the ‘contact line’.

Secretary Kerry said that the US believes that the cessation of hostilities and the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan would bring peace and prosperity to the people of both countries, and contribute towards stability in the South Caucasus.

The US Department of State said: “With these goals in mind, Secretary Kerry urged the Presidents to strictly respect the ceasefire and take additional steps to prepare their publics for peace.” Secretary Kerry encouraged the presidents to work with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, tasked with assisting the sides in achieving a negotiated peace. He also applauded the Presidents for agreeing to continue their dialogue on the key elements of a settlement.

Novruz Mammadov, Deputy Head, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration and Head, Azerbaijani Foreign Relations Department, said that this previously unplanned meeting was organised at the suggestion of Secretary Kerry. Mr Mammadov explained that President Ilham Aliyev had reiterated the Azerbaijani position at a meeting, commenting: “Azerbaijan’s

position is just, and based on international law. The Head of State proposed the most constructive option, aligned with the spirit of modern international relations to achieve conflict settlement, whilst Armenian President Serzh Sargysan, as usual, expressed the position of his country in a manner unrelated to the situation.

“It was interesting that John Kerry approached the matter seriously. I came to the conclusion that the US Secretary of State accepts the Azerbaijani position. From his words and statements, I concluded that he would place much emphasis on the NagornoKarabakh conflict. When compared to earlier meetings, Secretary Kerry made it clear that the US was seriously interested in conflict settlement.”

Speaking at the same summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also reminded NATO of its promises to Azerbaijan. He said: “The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is of great importance, and this conflict should be resolved.” His statement served as a reminder to NATO about the ongoing conflict and to the OSCE Minsk Group about Turkish interest in the conflict.

In the wake of the NATO Summit, French President François Hollande announced plans to convene a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents on 10 October in Paris.

Ambassador Siddiq meets IDPs in Gabala, recently rehoused in a new settlement (Photo: British Embassy in Baku)

UK Ambassador visits new IDP camp H.E. Irfan Siddiq, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, visited a newlybuilt settlement for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gabala on 28 August, where he met members of the community. The settlement provides accommodation for 300 families displaced from the occupied regions of Azerbaijan. The Ambassador listened to the stories of suffering and loss from the IDPs and conveyed the support of the UK Government for a swift and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that would enable them to return home.

Reflecting on the visit during an interview with Trend News, he said: “The UK’s position is one that supports the efforts of the international community, led by the OSCE Minsk Group, to reach

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a just and peaceful resolution as soon as possible. As part of that resolution, we strongly believe it means that there needs to be a return of the occupied territories, assigning Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, and that there should be a free expression of will about the status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“It’s a great shame that we have not seen progress on this issue in recent years. I think that is down to the political will needed by both parties to face the difficult comprises that everybody understands is not going to be easy, but are necessary to reach a resolution. There is not going to be any imposition of a solution from the international community on one side or the other. There needs to be an agreed compromise to try to end this longstanding and painful conflict.”

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Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict ICRC – 4500 ‘missing’ in Nagorno-

The families of these Azerbaijani soldiers are able to grieve at their graves, but more than 4,500 of their compatriots remain ‘missing’

Karabakh The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has registered more than 4,500 persons as being euphemistically described as ‘missing’, due to the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over NagornoKarabakh. In 2014, the Azerbaijani government and ICRC inaugurated a new project for gathering data about ‘missing’ persons.

During a commemorative event for the ICRC International Day of the Disappeared, Nicolas Lambert, Head, ICRC Delegation to Barda said: “Marking the International Day of the Disappeared on 30 August, the ICRC is calling on the international community to show greater awareness of the tragedy of people who have gone ‘missing’ and the plight of their families. Hundreds of thousands of people in all parts of the world have disappeared as a consequence of an armed conflict,

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natural disaster or migration.”

Mr Lambert continued: “The ICRC is continuing to support the authorities on their efforts to clarify the fate of the ‘missing persons’ for their families, who are still anxious for news. Providing support to the families of ‘missing’ people is a priority for the ICRC, which strives to make sure that their needs are met.”

Minsk Group question to be raised German delegation expresses at OSCE session

solidarity on Nagorno-Karabakh

Geneva will host the autumn session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in early October, according to Bahar Muradova, ViceSpeaker, Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament). She added that the exact date and agenda of the session remain unclear. Ms Muradova added that the Azerbaijani delegation would also seek to achieve a solution to the issues raised during the Baku session related to the OSCE Minsk Group. She also revealed that Ogtay Asadov, Speaker, Milli Majlis, had proposed that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs should report at the session.

Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, has received a delegation led by Hanns-Eberhard Schleyer, Chairman, German– Azerbaijani Forum and Karin Strenz, Chair, German Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with States of the South Caucasus.

Karin Strenz stated that further protraction of the Armenian– Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is inadmissible. She stressed that Germany supports the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with international law.

Thomas de Waal – peace not currently possible During the meeting in Sochi between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan – brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin – both sides declared their readiness for a peaceful settlement of the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The meeting came in the wake of the worst spate of fighting since the ceasefire was declared in 1994.

Renowned Caucasus specialist Thomas de Waal, Senior Associate, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, commentated on the current situation in an interview with Voice of America. He said: “The most powerful influence on both sides is in Russia’s hands”, adding that he hoped the level of violence would diminish, but this would be unlikely to lead to long-term peace, as the positions between the parties are currently too far apart.

Mr de Waal emphasised: “It is very difficult to find reliable figures

of losses in the conflict zone. However, it is clear that at least 30 soldiers were killed during a ten day period – this is more than the whole of last year.”

Despite this, Mr de Waal said it would be an exaggeration to talk about this escalating into a fully-fledged war. He stated: “I think that each side just wants to prove its strength to the enemy – to prove that it can fight. But there are objective reasons as to why Azerbaijan will not go to war – it’s too risky. Azerbaijan has built a new country, a rich country due to oil and gas, which may disappear if there is a conflict. So I do not expect a new full-scale conflict. But, unfortunately a real peace is currently not possible.”

When asked about the causes of the current escalation, Mr de Waal said: “I think that there is a connection with the events in Ukraine – the world is not paying attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the parties feel that the peace process is exhausted, so they go for more provocative actions on the front line.”

Nagorno-Karabakh study published in Moscow The book Nagorno-Karabakh – History Read Through Sources has been published in Moscow. The book examines the history of the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and is written by Ramiz Mehdiyev, a member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration.

The book investigates historical and contemporary sources to determine the causes of the conflict and clearly shows the origins and history of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. The study

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spans the period since establishment of the first state in the South Caucasus, and examines the history of the region until the present day.

The book proves that Armenian presence in the territory only emerged in its present form in the early 19th century. The author reiterates that Azerbaijan will never accept the status quo and expresses hope that the Armenian national elite, as the most educated group of the nation, will take initiatives to work towards a solution that will bring a better future for all in the region.

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