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(Photo: Almagul Menlibayeva/YARAT)

Culture | Public Affairs | Business

AZERBAIJAN LOOKS TOWARDS A BRIGHT 2016 Also in this issue: 32 die in Guneshli oil rig tragedy ASAN warmly received in Paris and London Musical legends remember Fiona Maclachlan Azerbaijan’s pivotal geostrategic positioning explored Three killed on the ‘contact line’

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

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Welcome to the TEAS Magazine The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) is a UK-registered pan-European foundation 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.

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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 Frederico Brignolo Ottolini, Assistant Agency Director – Medibrands EMEA, IPG, who won the competition in the November issue of the TEAS Magazine. To stand a chance of winning £100 of Amazon vouchers, simply answer the following five questions, the answers to which will be found in this issue. 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 17.00hrs (GMT) on 8 January.

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Who is the Rector of the Baku Academy of Music?

How many ASAN centres have been opened in Azerbaijan?

Which French Christmas market is hosting an Azerbaijani chalet?

What is the name of the second Azerbaijani communications satellite?

To which Italian company has Norwegian Statoil sold its stake in the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline?

Upcoming Event For full details of all TEAS events, go to www.teas.eu/upcoming events 24 February Khojaly Commemoration (Brussels), BOZAR, rue Ravenstein 23, 1000 Brussels. 18.30hrs. RSVP to brussels@teas.eu Organised under the auspices of the Justice for Khojaly campaign, this event comprises a screening of the independent documentary Endless Corridor (Aleksandras Brokas; US/Lithuania; 2015) and a concert by Azerbaijani violinist Nazrin Rashidova.

25 February Khojaly Commemoration Concert (Paris) Cathédrale St-Louis des Invalides, 6, boulevard des Invalides, 75007 Paris. 20.00hrs. RSVP to paris@teas.eu Organised under the auspices of the Justice for Khojaly campaign in association with the Association des Amis de l’Azerbaidjan and the Ambassade d’Azerbaidjan en France. Features the Orchestre Lamoureux performing Khojaly 613 by Pierre Thilloy.

26 February Khojaly Commemoration Concert (London) St. Paul’s Church (the Actors’ Church), Bedford Street, London, WC2E 9ED. 19.00hrs. RSVP to editor@teas.eu Organised under the auspices of the Justice for Khojaly campaign, this concert features the Deco Ensemble, led by Sabina Rakcheyeva (violin); Nazrin Rashidova (violin); Jamal Aliyev (cello); Ayyan Salahova and Gunel Mirzayeva (pianos); and Seljan Nasibli (soprano).

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Politics and News

03

The fire consumed the rig, leaving an estimated 32 oilworkers dead and scores of injured in hospital

32 oilworkers lose their lives in Guneshli fire

Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS

From the TEAS Director

This issue contains details of the very special concert held in London to celebrate the life of our much-loved colleague Fiona Maclachlan, who passed away in 2013.

Tensions on the ‘contact line’ between Azerbaijan and the Armenian-occupied territories have flared up once again, with Armenian forces targeting Azerbaijani civilians with artillery fire. Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has now announced plans to visit the region in an attempt to de-escalate the crisis. A statement by the Australian government that it supports the restoration of all occupied lands to Azerbaijani control is regarded as being a great coup for Baku, as is the PACE resolution condemning Armenia’s behaviour with regard to the Sarsang Reservoir, which is now a ticking time-bomb, due to its lack of maintenance.

Tragedy struck in the Caspian Sea this month, as a fire on the Guneshli oil rig killed at least 32 workers. An inquiry into the causes of the incident has been launched.

An agreement between Azercosmos and Arianespace has been reached, initiating the programme for AzerSat–2, the second Azerbaijani communications satellite. The ASAN programme of IT-based one-stop shops for public services provision, initiated by the Azerbaijani government, has also been showcased at MEDEF International in Paris, and we interview Kamran Agasi about the latest developments in this trailblazing system.

Finally, it remains for me to wish all friends of Azerbaijan a very happy festive season and a successful 2016.

Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS

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At least 32 oilworkers have been confirmed dead in one of the worst offshore disasters since Piper Alpha. The incident in the Caspian Sea occurred on 3 December on Platform 10 of the Guneshli field. It is believed that severe weather ruptured a gas line causing an explosion and huge fire that engulfed the platform.

Rescue was hindered by 8m-high waves and strong winds, resulting in escaping workers being trapped in lifeboats blown against the platform. Altogether, 42 workers were rescued, although many suffered severe burns. Mirvari Gakhramanly, Head, Azerbaijani Oil Workers Rights Protection Committee, confirmed that the platform fire had finally been extinguished. Around 60 per cent of oil produced by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) passes via the platform where the fire broke out, and it temporarily impacted production.

The tragedy follows an incident on another SOCAR platform earlier in the day. In that case, an accommodation module on Platform 501 of Oil Rocks is reported to have collapsed at sea, and it is believed that three people were killed. The Caspian has recently been battered by some of the worst weather in recent years, with reports of 12m waves in areas.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared 6 December to be a day of national mourning for the victims.

Speaking at a press conference, Salim Muslimov, Azerbaijani Minister for Labour and Social Protection declared that insurance payments to the families of deceased oilworkers could reach over AZN140,000 (£88,150) each. SOCAR will also pay compensation to other staff affected by the incident.

Mr Muslimov revealed that his Ministry had established two commissions – one for the incident on the Oil Rocks, and the other for the fire at the Guneshli field – and compliance with labour safety regulations would be investigated, with information being passed to the law enforcement authorities. He said that officials from his Ministry were present at the hospital where the injured were taken, and a special headquarters had been established in connection with the Guneshli platform fire.

Elman Mehdiyev, Chairman, Azerbaijani State Social Protection Fund, said that families with minors, who lost the head of the family in the tragedy, would receive an appropriate pension, and those who became disabled would be provided with disability pensions.

EU’s Mogherini to visit Azerbaijan amidst escalating tensions Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will visit Azerbaijan early next year, according to Mahmud Mammadguliyev, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister. The focus of the meeting will be the development of EU– Azerbaijani bilateral relations, reflecting the burgeoning Azerbaijani role in ensuring the future of pan-European energy security via the development of the Southern Energy Corridor. This $45bn project will initially see around 6bn m 3 (bcm) of gas piped to Turkey from June 2018, and an additional 10bcm going to Europe from 2020, with the potential to operate as a transit route for

supplies from Central Asia and Iran.

Meanwhile, speaking during the OSCE Ministerial Council in Belgrade, Mrs Mogherini commented that the EU is concerned about rising tensions related to the ongoing Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, together with the situations in Transnistria and Georgia. She urged all parties involved to work towards political solutions that respect OSCE principles and commitments, and added that the EU is resolute regarding active involvement in conflict resolution.

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04

Politics and News

ASAN successes hailed at the French Business Confederation in Paris

On 23 November, the achievements of the groundbreaking Azerbaijani Service and Assessment Network (ASAN) were unveiled during a seminar at the headquarters of the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF International) – the largest business federation in the country – a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower. The event was organised by MEDEF International in collaboration with TEAS France, and came in the wake of ASAN winning the UN Public Service Award in June. Representatives of numerous French companies working in the spheres of security systems, technology, infrastructure and public transport were in attendance.

Marie-Ange Debon, Chairperson, France– Azerbaijan Business Council, MEDEF International, commented: “In France, public services provision is dependent on the region. France is a country of large physical size, and certain parts of the population are disenfranchised by their location. The application of such concepts as ASAN to the French context could have a major benefit. ASAN has the potential to change the mentality of public services provision for the benefit of all.”

H.E. Elchin Amirbayov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to France, stated: “This is an important opportunity for information exchange, and I am glad many representatives of French enterprises have been able to attend, despite the tragic events in Paris just over a week ago. Azerbaijan remains a very important partner for France, hence the hosting of this event in the headquarters of MEDEF. “Azerbaijan is undergoing very swift modernisation, and there is great political will to change. ASAN has the potential to become a great Azerbaijani export – alongside oil and gas – and I am delighted that it is in the focus of MEDEF International.

ASAN has already been presented across Europe, including the European Parliament in Brussels and the British Parliament. This is a great opportunity to exchange best practice information, and ASAN is looking to co-operate with partners across Europe.”

Marie-Laetitia Gourdin, Director, TEAS France, said: “The development of ASAN in Azerbaijan has been a great transformational experience. After the Soviet collapse, it was necessary to completely reconsider systems for the provision of public services.

The main tenets of ASAN are transparency and innovation, and it has enormous potential for overseas applications.”

Azad Jafarli, Head, International Relations Department, Azerbaijani State Agency for

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The benefits of the pioneering ASAN service attracted plaudits from H.E. Elchin Amirbayov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to France

Public Service and Social Innovations, delivered the keynote speech: “Today is a very important opportunity to exchange the experience of ASAN with France – we are already in the process of exporting the systems to other former Soviet, African and South American countries. There are currently nine ASAN service centres in Azerbaijan. ASAN is a national mechanism of public service delivery in Azerbaijan that provides a single space for more than 350 services from 10 ministries, and is completely different to any systems available in other countries.

“Corruption is completely impossible, due to the effective service delivery process system that a priori excludes any negative conditions conducive to corruption. By providing a space for the delivery of public and private services through single locations called ASAN service centres, ASAN successfully promotes the concept of Public–Private Partnerships.

The average age of employees is 25 years, so they are all IT-literate. Each centre handles around 2,500 enquiries each day, and is open from 10am to 8pm, seven days a week. Appointments can be booked in advance, queuing is minimised, and many transactions can be taken in one visit. The five main pillars of ASAN are accessibility, accountability, efficiency, transparency and innovation.”

He continued: “ASAN centres have now transformed from being a one-stop-shop for government services through to becoming a general hub for services, including banks, insurance and medical services. We have also developed the mobile ASAN service comprising high-tech buses that deliver the services to rural areas of the country. These have now served over 350,000 people.

We can also come to you – services can

be conducted at your home. An extra fee is payable for this, but this subsidises the provision of the same services for disabled people.

“The population of Azerbaijan is 9.7m, and in just over two and a half years, we have served around 6m people, and each centre serves around 2500–3000 people a day. Our exit polls indicate there is 98 per cent satisfaction with our services. ASAN services have achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification, which guarantees the quality of the system, and it holds a British Safety Award. When Azerbaijan was head of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe, ASAN was presented, and it was lauded as embodying a major aspect of Human Rights and Good Governance.”

The presentation on ASAN by Azad Jafarli (second from left) stimulated a great deal of discussion and debate amongst the select group of French business leaders

The enthusiastic question-and-answer session covered such aspects as the synergies between biometric passports and ID cards and those supplied through ASAN Centres; opportunities for the presence of public businesses in ASAN Centres; and data security, and was followed by business-to-business meetings. To find out more on ASAN, see the interview with Kamran Agasi, Director of the Innovations Centre, State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (pp.6–7).

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Culture

05

Azerbaijani chalet opens at Mulhouse’s legendary Christmas market

Jean Rottner, Mayor of Mulhouse, opened his city’s famous Christmas market on 20 November – an important annual tradition in the Alsace region of France – which attracts many tourists from France and overseas. Braving heavy rain and wind, many people came to hear the Mayor’s opening speech, whilst sipping warming mulled wine and eating locally-produced seasonal confectionary.

The city of Mulhouse, the second largest in the Alsace region, is twinned with the ancient Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh, and participation was facilitated by TEAS France, in conjunction with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism and companies from Gilan Holding of Azerbaijan, notably the FMCG Group and Gilan Hospitality Group, represented by Elgun Mammadov, its Deputy Director.

Mr Rottner started his speech by asking the crowd to pay tribute to the victims of the recent Paris terrorist attacks. He stressed that, although France continues to grieve for its dead, it is important to demonstrate that the country is maintaining its longstanding traditions, particularly in the light of Christmas, which is a time of peace, family, and goodwill.

Representatives of other cities and countries were present, including a delegation of Mayors from New Caledonia. The Mayor of Mulhouse warmly welcomed the Azerbaijani delegation, which will host the colourful Azerbaijani chalet and present their country’s produce.

During six weeks, visitors are able to enjoy Azerbaijani hospitality and taste top-quality Azerbaijani wine, paklavas, cay tea,

(from left) Ayaz Gojayev, First Secretary: Cultural Affairs, Azerbaijani Embassy to France; Eliza Pieter, Head, TEAS Strasbourg; Marie-Laetitia Gourdin, Director, TEAS France; Jean Rottner, Mayor of Mulhouse; Elgun Mammadov, Deputy Director, Gilan Hospitality Group; Vanessa Raine, Director: New Business, UEI Holding; and Shukufe Karimova, Co-host, Azerbaijani Chalet at the Mulhouse Christmas Market

and pomegranate juice. They will also be able to extend their knowledge of Azerbaijan and one of its most historic cities, Gabala, by reading the books and brochures available in the chalet.

The Mayor thanked Ayaz Gojayev, First Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Azerbaijani Embassy to France, for representing the Azerbaijani Ambassador to France at this event. He acknowledged the richness and diversity of Azerbaijan, focusing on its religious tolerance.

Such concepts, enshrined in the Azerbaijani constitution, are particularly important during these dark days.

Soon after his speech, while touring the market, Mr Rottner stopped at the Azerbaijani stand where he was warmly received with a glass of pomegranate juice, fresh paklava, and gifts.

FC Garabag struggle against Spurs Despite valiant endeavours, FC Garabag was beaten 1–0 on 26 November in their UEFA Europa League Group Stage match against leading British club Tottenham Hotspur, hosted at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium.

The match saw England international Harry Kane score his ninth goal in six games as Tottenham secured their spot in the Europa League last 32, nodding in the ball from a yard when Heung-Min Son flicked on Christian Eriksen’s corner.

The match saw Garabag winger Dani Quintana force a good low save from Hugo Lloris, and there was an outstanding save from Afrian Ismayilov in the first half, during which Spurs’ attacking quartet of

Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen looked a shadow of their recent selves.

Garabag, who had yet to lose at home in the competition after two wins and three draws, comfortably contained the potent foursome, although they failed to capitalise on their opponents’ sluggish start at the other end.

The ‘man of the match’ was the Spurs/ England midfielder Dele Alli, who hit the goal woodwork and weaved his way around the Garabag players.

The match marked a considerable improvement on the previous Spurs/Garabag duel at Spurs’ home turf of White Hart

Lane in September, when the Azerbaijani side lost 3–1. The complex history of FC Qarabag is inextricably intertwined with the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Established in Agdam, they played in the Azerbaijani championship during the Soviet period. After the Soviet collapse, they won the title in 1993, but the same year Armenian forces captured Agdam, destroying most of the town, including the stadium. Since then, the team (known as The Horsemen, after the local Karabakh horse breed) has been forced to share the Tofig Bahramov Stadium with the Azerbaijani national side, and has become known as ‘the team that always plays away from home’.

Azerbaijan – Linchpin of the Caucasus Janusz Bugajski, Senior Fellow, Centre for European Policy Analysis, has written a well-researched and informative article entitled Azerbaijan – Linchpin of the Caucasus. Coming in the wake of the Azerbaijani parliamentary elections, he comments: “Logic indicates that the most effective way to positively influence the country’s development is not by isolating the government and enabling even more intrusive Russian influence, but by intensifying co-operation where common ground can be found, particularly in the security arena.”

He continues by explaining the value to the US and Europe of strategically-located, energy-rich partners in the struggle against Russian expansionism, saying: “Azerbaijan is the most significant player in the Caucasus, and has demonstrated its Western direction

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by assisting Washington in the war in Afghanistan and the campaign against international terrorism.” Mr Bugajski continues by explaining the potential role of Russia in reanimating the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and the conflict with Georgia, and the perils of Azerbaijan returning to the Russian sphere of influence.

He concludes: “Azerbaijan could either develop into a pro-Western outpost in the Caucasus and Caspian Basin, or another Moscowdominated backwater where Western influence shrinks, the Russian– Iranian alliance increasingly dominates, and Turkey becomes exposed and isolated. The onus is on Washington to pursue a strategy that serves Western interests and does not surrender more ground to Putin’s Russia.” Go to http://bit.ly/azerbaijanlinchpin to read the full article.

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06

Personalities – Kamran Agasi

The triumphs of ASAN come to London

Kamran Agasi outlined the innovative methodology and practice of the ASAN service before a transfixed audience of civil servants and public service professionals at Civil Service Live

The Azerbaijani Service and Assessment Network (ASAN) – which has successfully transformed public service delivery in the country – was showcased at the Civil Service Live 2015 exhibition and conference on 5 October, hosted in the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.

Participation in the event, attended by civil servants and public service professionals, was organised by TEAS, and came in the wake of ASAN winning the UN Public Service Award in June.

Established under the auspices of the market-leading Civil Service World magazine, Civil Service Live 2015 attracted over 6000 delegates, comprising government civil servants and employees of private sector organisations, all of whom were focused on understanding and realising the latest best practice concepts.

Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, spoke to Neil Watson over coffee: Why was this an appropriate time to present ASAN at Civil Service Live! and how do you think it was received today?

ASAN is now a well-established institution in Azerbaijan and has provided services to more than 6m people – nearly 60 per cent of the population. Presenting our concept here represents an excellent opportunity to share our experience with UK Civil Servants, to showcase our innovative approaches to our counterparts in the UK, and engage with UK civil servants and learn from the UK. From my perspective, it was very well-received. Many questions followed the presentation and some discussions followed thereafter.

The questions were on the structure of ASAN, how it works, and the methodology we adopt when developing new services within ASAN. Following this, we had a discussion on how the UK government is assisting other countries internationally in terms of service delivery, and how we could work with them to apply the ASAN model in various developing countries.

Kamran explains the ASAN concept to a group of panEuropean business leaders at the TEAS Business Forum Brussels (Photo: Alain Colard)

Following his enthusiastically-received presentation, Kamran Agasi, Director of the Innovations Centre, State Agency for Public

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Having seen that ASAN is a successful model in Azerbaijan, it would be great to see it being applied in other countries. If ASAN is partly or fully adopted in some countries, we regard this as a great achievement, as we are not only serving the citizens of Azerbaijan but are actually contributing to the international community

in terms delivery.

of

enhancing

public

service

Is there a chance it may also be adopted in the UK? The structure of public services in the UK may be slightly different from that in Azerbaijan. However, there are certain services that we have in Azerbaijan, or ways of engaging with the public that the UK civil service could adapt for use in their interactions with citizens. A primary example is mobile ASAN, where we deliver services directly to people at their addresses for an additional fee, but that service is also provided free of charge for disabled people and the elderly who cannot come to ASAN centres. As London is populated with large numbers of professionals who travel a great deal, and have a very busy work schedule, this service could be a timely addition to those that the UK government already offers its citizens – it is an excellent concept for those who are time poor.

Mobile ASAN could also be used in the UK to provide public service delivery to rural areas or those remote areas where it is uneconomical to open public service delivery centres. Mobile offices could go to rural areas and provide the same services to citizens located there, ensuring that they gain access to these public services on a regular basis. This is particularly timely following the closure of many rural post offices, which were often the fulcrum of the community and provided access to many basic services.

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Personalities – Kamran Agasi

07

What was the significance of ASAN receiving the UN Public Service Award?

The UN Public Service Award is the highest possible award of its kind to be available on an international level. Firstly, it recognises that the public service reform begun by the Azerbaijani government in 2012–13 has been successfully achieved.

It is also confirmation that we are on the right track, are attaining these reforms and are delivering the best services to the citizens. We do not interpret granting of this award as an indication that our business is complete, nor that we can become complacent. ASAN has attained a certain standard or benchmark in its operations, but our objective is that it becomes a normative approach.

To date, nine ASAN centres have been completed. Will any centres be constructed in the regions of Azerbaijan?

There are now nine ASAN centres, five of which operate in the city of Baku and four in the regions, in the cities of Ganja, Sumgait, Barda and Sabirabad. We are planning to open two more centres during the next six months in Masally, possibly in Gabala, and then we may also have one ASAN centre opened in Guba to cover the northern part of Azerbaijan – the centres are opened on a regional basis. Each centre will cover several administrative districts so, by the end of December 2016, we should cover most of the regional centres. Meanwhile, these populations are served by mobile ASAN buses.

How many mobile ASAN buses are operating?

Altogether, 10 mobile ASAN buses are active in the country. They have been very successful and attracted widespread public support. They continue to be effective and deliver exactly the same range of services that are available at ASAN centres. We

The state-of-the-art ASAN bus takes the ASAN service to the regions

will continue to use these buses to ensure that those in every Azerbaijani region – regardless of how rural or remote they may be – have unimpeded access to ASAN services. This negates the requirement for anyone to travel to any great extent to access the services.

Which further innovations are currently under consideration?

The process of innovation is an endemic process, and we take much inspiration from the ideas expressed by the public through the various tools and mechanisms we have established for citizens. We always seek public feedback on improvement of the services that we currently offer, or as a starting point for the provision of additional services.

We always seek to enter into engagement with citizens to ensure that new ideas are implemented. ASAN centres are being improved on an exponential basis – so the ninth centre to be opened is an improvement on the eight that preceded it.

Each time we open a new ASAN centre,

we factor in the feedback we have received from the public, employers and so forth into the new design.

Features implemented, to date, include the stress room for employees, or the crèche corner, where parents may leave their children whilst they are undertaking their transactions. In addition, every time we open an ASAN centre, ASAN also incorporates its own ideas. We are currently interested in engaging with those private businesses and international organisations willing to suggest ideas or solutions that could be beneficial to Azerbaijan.

ASAN centres are designed to be transparent – both literally and metaphorically – and efficient and welcoming, applying systems based on the latest technologies

Is there widespread international interest in ASAN centres?

There has been very strong interest in ASAN from the international community.

It is noteworthy that, when overseas delegations come to Azerbaijan, they are enthusiastic about ASAN, its model and how it operates. We have regular international delegations visiting ASAN, and many of these assimilate certain ideas into their systems at home. This is an excellent opportunity to share our successes with the international community.

Kamran extols the benefits of ASAN to British MPs during a roundtable on government technologies in the UK Parliament

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For more information on ASAN, go to www.asan.gov.az and to see an interview with Kamran recorded at the TEAS Business Forum Brussels 2015, go to http://bit.ly/ kamranasanbruxelles

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08

Culture

Farhad Badalbeyli and Dmitry Yablonsky joined forces to pay tribute to Fiona Maclachlan, their much-missed friend (Photo: Dan Burgess)

Life celebration concert aids Cancer Research UK Held amidst the impressive historic surroundings of St. James’s Church, Piccadilly – designed by Sir Christopher Wren, also the architect for St. Paul’s Cathedral – a concert on 10 November took place to celebrate the life of Fiona Maclachlan, a great friend of Azerbaijan. The evening featured leading conductor and cellist Dmitry Yablonsky, alongside composer, educator and pianist Farhad Badalbeyli, Rector of Baku Music Academy – co-directors of the annual Gabala International Music Festival in Azerbaijan.

Violinist Janna Gandelman, who has brought Arab and Israeli music students together via her Polyphony Foundation initiative, joined them. The event, attended by 300 family members, friends of Fiona and of Azerbaijan, was organised by TEAS and a retiring collection was made in aid of Cancer Research UK. Alastair Maclachlan, husband of Fiona, whose work brought her to Azerbaijan in 2004, recalled: “This is the kind of evening that Fiona would have enjoyed. She loved to be with family, old friends and new friends, but most of all she loved to extol the wonders of Azerbaijan – particularly the music, heritage and culture that has come out from this marvellous country. This concert was suggested by Dmitry and Farhad, and I am grateful to them and TEAS for organising it.”

Lionel Zetter, Director, TEAS, stated: “Tonight’s event is dedicated to memories of Fiona, our much-missed former colleague. She was a great advocate of Azerbaijan. She loved the people, the countryside, the ecology, and the country generally. Fiona’s enthusiasm for the country extended to its music, and we are honoured that tonight’s concert will feature performances by Dmitry and Farhad, both of whom were close personal friends of Fiona.”

Dmitry Yablonsky commented: “Fiona was, and is, my friend. She probably knew more about Azerbaijan than anyone else, due to

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her extensive research and travels in the country. She was a remarkable woman and is in my heart every day.”

The programme of reflective music began with Czech composer Jan Benda’s Grave, taken from his Violin Concerto in G Major, in a cello transcription, the deep sonorities of which summed up the emotional nature of the evening. This was followed by Robert Schumann’s Drei Fantasiestücke, which are imbued with a melodious and song-like quality.

Thereafter came a rare performance, featuring Janna Gandelman, of Gara Garayev’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, written in 1960, and dedicated by this leading composer to the memory of the pianist Vladimir Kozlov, a long-term friend. Garayev was a student of Dmitry Shostakovich and applied his modernistic atonal and chromatic style to the eastern harmonies and microtones of mugham, the national music of Azerbaijan.

In a surprise addition to the programme, Farhad Badalbeyli performed his best-known composition, The Sea (Deniz), a rhapsodic and melodious piece for solo piano, inspired by his wife.

The contemplative theme recommenced with Rachmaninov’s Three Romances for Cello and Piano, written in 1890 and dedicated to his cousin Vera, and Janna Gandelman again came to the stage for Debussy’s impressionistic Clair de Lune, which describes the motion of dancers in the moonlight. The evening continued with the cello transcription of Rachmaninov’s emotionally-charged Vocalise – literally a song without words.

Following a standing ovation, Janna returned to play Massanet’s evocative Meditation from the opera Thais, and the evening concluded with the Largo from Chopin’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, played by Farhad and Dmitry.

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Business News

09

Azercosmos and French Arianespace begin the count down

Azerbaijani national satellite operator Azercosmos and French Arianespace signed a contract on 2 December to launch the second Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite AzerSpace–2/IntelSat 38.

The agreement was ratified as part of the BakuTel 2015 International Telecommunications and Information Technologies Exhibition and Conference, following Arianespace winning the tender to put the satellite into orbit. Arianespace was also responsible for the launch of AzerSpace–1/Africasat–1a in 2013.

It is anticipated that the second satellite will be put into orbit in 2017 and located at the 45 degrees east orbital location leased by the Azerbaijani side from Intelsat, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation, which is the leaseholder of 45.9 per cent of the satellite’s resources. The service area of AzerSpace–2 will cover Europe, South-East Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Space Systems Loral (SSL), a subsidiary of the Canadian MDA Corporation, will construct the second Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite and supply the equipment for the ground control station. The programme will be financed by a long-term and concessional credit line from Export Development Canada (EDC).

Statoil to sell TAP interest to Snam

Norwegian Statoil is to sell its interest in the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) – one of the main arteries of the Southern Energy Corridor – to Italian Snam for €208m (£150.3m) – according to its annual report. Statoil and Snam have agreed to undertake the transaction, provided certain conditions are met, and terms are expected to be finalised by the end of 2015.

The divestment of the Statoil interest in TAP follows the sale of 10 per cent of its interest in the Shah Deniz production-sharing agreement

Ariane–5 will launch AzerSpace–2 into orbit in 2017

(PSA) and the South Caucasus Pipeline Company Ltd (SCPC) to BP, and the earlier decisions to sell its 15.5 per cent share in Shah Deniz, 15.5 per cent share in SCPC and 12.4 per cent share in the Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company to Malaysian Petronas.

The 870km-long TAP will connect with the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish–Greek border at Kipoi, traversing Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

Dentons Baku appoints international highflyers The Baku office of global law firm Dentons – a TEAS member company – has announced that Farhad Hajizade has joined as Of Counsel, where he will support the Corporate, Energy and Telecommunications practices.

Farhad has more than 17 years’ local and international legal experience, was a partner in a regional law firm and, most recently, headed the law practice of a global professional services firm in Baku. His areas of expertise primarily cover corporate, contracts and commercial law matters in energy, FMCGs, fashion/ luxury goods, telecoms and aviation, with a specific focus on restructuring, M&As, due-diligence, share transfers, equity financing and contract law. He holds a JD degree from Baku

TANAP to be expedited following tensions with Russia

State University and an LLM in International Trade Law from the University of Turin, Italy. Farhad was also awarded a PhD in the conflict of laws from Baku State University. He is ranked as a leading lawyer in a number of international legal directories, including Chambers, The Legal500 and IFLR 1000.

Meanwhile, mid-level associate Leyla Sadikhova has also recently joined Dentons Baku from a major local group, where she was the head of the legal department. With more than a decade of experience in working with governmental and private entities, including several years with the State Securities Commission, she is experienced in corporate, securities, commercial and business law, banking and finance law, and tax and employment.

Evian from Azerbaijani sources

Turkey and Azerbaijan say they may speed the construction of TANAP, following the bitter rift between Turkey and Russia. During talks in Baku between Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish Prime Minister and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, it was revealed that TANAP could be completed in advance of its original target completion date of 2018.

Speaking during the Azerbaijani–French Business Meeting, Elman Mammadov, Counsellor of the Azerbaijani Embassy to France, has revealed that Azerbaijan and France will discuss the potential for Azerbaijani production of the premium French mineral water Evian. He commented that this issue would be discussed during the forthcoming visit by an Azerbaijani delegation to the city of Evian in December.

The announcement came just hours after Russia said it had halted talks on building the TurkStream pipeline under the Black Sea to Turkey, amidst tensions over the downing of a Russian warplane.

The TANAP pipeline will carry Caspian Gas to Turkey. It is expected to have a capacity of 16bn m 3 (bcm) of gas a year and cost around $10bn (£6.59bn).

Mr Mammadov outlined: “Our delegation will discuss the possibility of establishing Evian mineral water production in Ismayilli city and learn from the experience of French colleagues regarding mineral water and glass bottle production.” Evian – a Danone subsidiary – is bottled from several sources around the town of Évian-les-Bains (a south shore of Lake Geneva).

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Personalities – Farhad Badalbeyli and Dmitry Yablonsky

Farhad Badalbeyli and Janna Gandelman acknowledge their applause following a performance of Massanet’s evocative Meditation from his opera Thais (Photos: Dan Burgess)

Farhad Badalbeyli and Dmitry Yablonsky – ­­ musical legends remember Fiona Fiona Maclachlan was one of the staunchest supporters of Azerbaijan, having moved to the country with Alastair, her husband, and Joanna, her daughter, in 2004. During her years living in the country, she travelled extensively, and became passionately interested in its history, people, nature and culture. Fiona was also particularly involved in helping the stray animals of Baku.

Fiona’s experiences and knowledge resulted in her being commissioned to contribute articles and photos to Visions of Azerbaijan magazine, published by TEAS Baku. Fiona greatly appreciated the music of the country, and attended most of the editions of the Gabala International Music Festival, which began in 2009. This Festival is co-directed by Farhad Badalbeyli, the renowned Azerbaijani composer, pianist and Rector of the Baku Academy of Music, and Dmitry Yablonsky, the internationallyrecognised cellist and conductor.

On 10 November, the festival co-directors were joined by violinist Janna Gandelman for a concert at St. James’s Church, Piccadilly, to celebrate Fiona’s life and to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Neil Watson spoke to Dmitry and Farhad during the following day to remember Fiona and to discuss their plans for the 2016 festival: You are currently visiting London to commemorate the life of Fiona Maclachlan. Can you share your memories of Fiona?

Farhad Badalbeyli (FB): She was an unprecedentedly wonderful woman, whose very being radiated a great deal of warmth in a cold world. It is very difficult to love the whole world, as people are usually more selfish, but Fiona had an open heart for everybody. Everyone in Azerbaijan was aware of this – she truly loved my country ­– and she will remain in the memories of all

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who met her, like an angel.

excellent promotion for the country.

Dmitry Yablonsky (DY): Fiona was a very good and close friend of mine for many years. We covered many subjects, but 95 per cent of our discussions focused on Azerbaijan, concentrating on helping the animals in the country, promoting Azerbaijan, and supporting Azerbaijani musical concerts. Fiona will not only be remembered – in my view, she was and is my friend – and she was quite a lady.

Actually, I didn’t know she was sick, and Fiona did not mention her illness to anyone until she was nearing the end. She had just a few days left, and then everyone found out. Fiona was incredibly brave.

You are the co-directors of the Gabala International Music Festival, which has just completed its sixth edition. Are you consciously making the roster of artists for this festival more international?

DY: This was not really our intention.

We just like to invite excellent musicians to perform at the festival – either from Azerbaijan or elsewhere. This year, Gran Gala Flamenco was phenomenal. We had seen them in Barcelona and decided to hire them. They were really fantastic – and maybe they can come next year – we will see. It is interesting to broaden the perspective, and Azerbaijan is an open country, so audiences are attracted to attend, both from the local vicinity and further afield.

We lost a wonderful person who was a friend and a colleague, and someone who could actually help promote Azerbaijani tourism and the beauties of the country – possibly even more so than the Azerbaijani people themselves, to whom the land belongs – because she came from the outside.

Fiona travelled a great deal within the country, which she came to know very well – and was particularly knowledgeable regarding the folklore, carpets, classical and mugham music. She will be greatly missed.

What was the public reaction to the concert?

DY: In my view, the concert was wonderfully organised, and I would like to thank everyone at TEAS. I wish we could arrange such concerts in London on a regular basis. It was great to play before a capacity audience inside a beautiful church with glorious acoustics. The piano was a Fazioli – a very high-quality instrument.

FB: Some fantastic photos of Azerbaijan were also shown alongside the concert – they were taken by Fiona, and operated as

FB: The main issue is that little is being done to lure tourists from all over the world to Gabala. We need to see why this is the case, and identify how to attract tourists.

Azerbaijan has great tourist potential – it has every activity to offer, including skiing and fishing, but there has been little impact so far. Private entities, such as Gilan Tourism, need to join forces with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism to attract people to my country. Greater efforts also need to be undertaken on a diplomatic level to reduce the price of the visa and make it easier to obtain.

Gilan fundamentally saved the Gabala International Music Festival this year, as the directors appreciate the arts and music.

They understand that the festival needs to continue. It is a free festival, predominantly attended by local people. During the time it has existed, we have noticed how audience reactions have changed – for example, they no longer clap between the movements of symphonies or concerti.

We now need to open out the festival to

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Personalities – Farhad Badalbeyli and Dmitry Yablonsky overseas music-lovers. A new airport has been opened in Gabala, and we could organise package tours where foreigners and Azerbaijanis are able to gain access to all the concerts, together with being provided with flights, accommodation and food.

Flamenco was included this year, to great acclaim. Will you include more indigenous musical genres in the future?

DY: I think so – this is dependent on the exciting and engaging nature of the selected acts. In the past, we have also incorporated music from Brazil and Portugal – we include Cuban music virtually every year. We normally include jazz as well, and we had signed the amazing singer Al Jarreau to appear a couple of years ago, but he became sick a few days before the festival and had to cancel. Jazz is increasingly becoming regarded on the same level as classical music, particularly in Azerbaijan where many jazz performers have studied under Farhad at the Baku Academy of Music.

Were any new classical works

Cello master Dmitry Yablonsky began the concert with Jan Benda’s contemplative Grave

commissioned for the 2015 edition?

DY: In fact, we always organise an Azerbaijani composers’ competition, and two years ago commissioned the Russian composer Alexander Tchaikovsky to write the piece Khojaly, a tone poem dedicated to the victims of the Khojaly Massacre during the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. In the future, we will definitely commission more new works.

FB: The competition enables young composers’ works to be premiered. I can particularly recommend new concerti, symphonies and chamber works that have been written by Pike Akhundova, Jeyhun Allahverdiyev and Rufat Khalilov. They are excellent composers, many of whom have

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emerged from the Azerbaijani Composers’ School.

On Tuesday, all attendees at the concert Farhad Badalbeyli, Rector of the Baku Academy of Music, shares the piano stool with violinist (and occasional pageturner) Janna Gandelman

for Fiona were moved by your solo performance of The Sea (Deniz), Farhad.

Are you still composing?

FB: I compose whenever I have time. I would particularly like to write for Dmitry’s cello. It’s my favourite instrument, for its sonorities and heart ­– it is the voice of soul.

Last time we spoke, Dmitry, you were in the midst of arranging some Azerbaijani pieces for cello. Have these now been completed?

DY: I have now completed some transcriptions, including Gara Garayev’s Waltz from the Seven Beauties Ballet and his Don Quixote symphonic sketches. I would like to record all the mugham modes in cello transcriptions over a double album.

Will you continue to organise the chamber music concerts and masterclasses at the Gabala International Music Festival?

DY: We have a programme of masterclasses and chamber concerts every day – we sometimes have three concerts a day.

We also organise the Beltmann Piano Competition each year. The concerts and competition are hosted in the new congress hall in Gabala.

You have both been working on a TEASinitiated project to produce definitive scores of major Azerbaijani works that can be freely accessed by European orchestras. How many have now been completed?

FB: To date, we have completed Fikret Amirov’s Azerbaijani Capriccio; the Fikret Amirov/Elmira Nazirova Piano Concerto; Vasif Adigezalov’s Piano Concerto; and Gara Garayev’s The Path of Thunder and Seven Beauties ballet suites. We need to continue this project so that the great works of Azerbaijani classical music are performed more widely in the west, as it is currently difficult to source scores, and those that exist often contain inaccuracies.

What can audiences expect in the 2016

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Gabala International Music Festival?

FB: As you know, the situation with the Azerbaijani economy is not very simple at the moment, so we are extremely grateful for Gilan Holding of Azerbaijan – which is an important employer in the region – for sponsoring the 2015 festival. We have been considering inviting the English Chamber Orchestra as the resident ensemble, as this is a fantastic orchestra with a great reputation. However, it will be expensive to undertake this.

FB: I had considered bringing Riverdance from Ireland to Gabala, but normally such popular shows request a residency of more than one night. We have already booked a number of young Azerbaijani performers and composers, and hope we will be able to bring over either the English Chamber Orchestra or the Vienna Chamber Orchestra.

DY: We will definitely invite the flamenco dancers or the Cubans again – both gave fantastic shows. Farhad had the idea of combining flamenco with mugham, where two mugham musicians would come to Spain, work with some flamenco musicians and develop a new fusion.

Are you working on any further

Gran Gala Flamenco imbued the 2015 Gabala International Music Festival – co-directed by Farhad and Dmitry – with the essence of sizzling Spanish spirit

recording projects of Azerbaijani music for the Naxos label?

DY: Unfortunately our project to produce 20 Azerbaijani classical albums is currently on hold. The agreement is in place with Naxos, and we have completed four recordings, but we need financial support to undertake the remainder. It will be wonderful when we can recommence this project, as Naxos has an excellent distribution and marketing strategy.

To see Farhad Badalbeyli performing his composition The Sea (Deniz) with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Dmitry Yablonsky at the 2011 Gabala International Music Festival, go to http://bit.ly/badalbeylideniz.

For more information on Dmitry Yablonsky’s recordings and performing schedule, go to www.dmitryablonsky.com.

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Personalities – ­ Ellen Wasylina Ellen Wasylina introduces the new IGMO publication entitled The Caspian Sea – Geopolitical and Geostrategic Stakes for the Wider Region, published at a pivotal time for Azerbaijan, when the geopolitical and energy landscape is in a state of flux (Photo: Stylin’Co)

Ellen Wasylina – an expert perspective on Azerbaijani geopositioning

Ellen Wasylina is one of Europe’s foremost policy experts, focusing on such sectors as energy, communications, development, education, policy and trade in a holistic manner. Founder of the International Geostrategic Maritime Observatory (IGMO), she is Adjunct Professor in several Parisian business schools at Master’s level, notably in communications management, sustainable development, international trade and business strategies. Ellen is also a regular commentator in the French media, and her opinions have been broadcast on Arte, BFM TV, France24, I-Télé, LCI, TV5, TV5 Monde, France Culture and RFI radio.

On 21 October, Ellen spoke at the launch event for the new IGMO publication entitled The Caspian Sea – Geopolitical and Geostrategic Stakes for the Wider Region, which took place in Paris in the historic surroundings of the Hôtel de l’Industrie, headquarters of the Société d’Encouragement pour l’Industrie Nationale (SEIN), supported by IGMO, SEIN and TEAS France.

Neil Watson caught up with her in her Parisian home to find out more:

Why did the IGMO decide to host this conference and publish the special edition of The Geostrategic Maritime Review: The Caspian Sea at the present time?

The idea came to me when I was writing another paper that will be published in the very near future. As President and Founder of what was formerly the Observatory of the Black, Gulf and Mediterranean Seas (OBGMS), I plan the subjects two years in advance. Did I know that the launch would come at such a pivotal time? Probably – I just happen to be an expert on Central and Eastern Europe. My heritage is Ukrainian and German, these regions have been my focus throughout my professional life, and I have a good idea and insight into what and where developments are going to take place.

The Caspian came to me as a strategic area, as we are an observatory think-tank that concentrates on perspectives from seas around the world, and the interrelated economic, humanitarian, social, environmental, and legal standpoints. The relationship between humanity with water is that it covers 70 per cent of the planet and 90 per cent of our trade takes place on water. A focus on the Caspian logically followed an emphasis on the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

In your editorial to The Geostrategic Maritime Review: The Caspian Sea, you mention how Russia has subjected former

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Eastern Bloc counties to more than 40 supply cut-offs from 1991–2004. How do you think that positions Azerbaijan, which is currently constructing the Southern Energy Corridor, linking the Caspian with an Italian interconnector?

I always say to my students that “without energy you are nothing”, and that is evident in everything I have written. Azerbaijan is strategically imperative, and this became evident when I met Fuad Muradov MP in Brussels in 2012 at the EuroNest session. I was looking into the possible diversification of European energy supplies at the time and was writing my book entitled Ukraine: Prémices de Guerre Froide en Europe? (Ukraine: Premise of a Cold War in Europe?). I started writing this book several years ago, when no-one was interested in Ukraine.

The hydrocarbons capacity of Azerbaijan, its location, and its changing relationships with Russia and Europe, fits very well into the energy equation. I appointed Gulmira Rzayeva as Senior Editor to take on that challenge, and she did a great job at the launch in Paris. Azerbaijan was one of the first European energy providers, and was where mechanised oil extraction began in 1847 – even predating the developments in Pennsylvania.

Azerbaijan has a long history of oil exploitation, and there are massive reserves under the Caspian. However, during the Soviet period, it gained little benefit from these resources. Since regaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has achieved both political and economic maturity, unlike many other former Soviet republics. Azerbaijan has a particularly strategic role, and this became evident after I had a conversation with Mr Muradov, which provided me with some valuable insights. Last year, I spoke on geopolitics at the Summer University, organised by the Centre for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAM) in Baku, and it was fascinating to spend a week in the country.

How and why did IGMO begin its collaborate with SAM? I met Gulmira Rzayeva, Senior Research Fellow for EnergyRelated Issues, SAM, and was so enthralled by her extensive knowledge of the subject that I felt we had to find a way of working together, and I approached her to take on the Senior Editorship of this edition of The Geostrategic Maritime Review. Before that point, the Caspian was on my radar. However, the Iranian nuclear deal now seems imminent and, if it is finalised, the Caspian is poised between Europe and Iran, which has a mammoth amount of energy, holding first place in gas reserves, and fourth place for petrol.

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Personalities ­– Ellen Wasylina Azerbaijan is well-positioned, geographically and strategically, between two giants – Russia and Iran – and they are going to fight it out over Iranian resources. Iran already supplies China, and another oil pipeline will go down towards India. Azerbaijan is poised to become a transit country for Iranian supplies, if the political and economic situation remains stable.

What can Azerbaijan do to reduce overreliance on hydrocarbons revenues?

Azerbaijan must also seriously seek to diversify its economy. It is replete with agricultural resources and some industry. It does not import absolutely everything, although it is reliant on Russia for certain commodities, and should retain cordial relations with Russia. Much of the infrastructure was constructed during the Soviet period, for example, and there are great linguistic, cultural and familial ties. This cannot change overnight, as I know from my own experiences in Ukraine. Russia will remain an important partner for a long time – it is impossible to erase 300 years of history. As with Ukraine, it is a ‘mariage de raison’, as indicated in my book.

Do you think that the Azerbaijani pipelines are going to carry Iranian resources? Do you think that is going to be a major benefit for the future?

Despite Iran having been under US sanctions for 30 years, it has still been able to build a nuclear industry. There are many great Iranian scientists and physicists, but the hydrocarbons extraction industry is largely deficient in new technologies and infrastructure, so they would require new partners in the future so they can produce the projected 3–4m barrels a day within the next decade.

However, given the proximity to Azerbaijani infrastructure, both in existence and under construction, they should be able to come to an agreement. As I often say in my Geopolitics of Energy class, the world has moved from the geopolitical divide to geoeconomics.

There is no longer an ideological divide between Communism and Capitalism – the situation is not so clear-cut. My next book will be on the spheres of influence and the impact of sanctions. In my view, there are still spheres of influence, and that these sanctions were meant to keep Iran down to reduce the amount of energy in the market and maintain high prices for producers.

If we have too much energy flooding the market, which is now the case, there’s a glut, and the oil companies don’t make money. In my view, energy is really the source of all conflicts. Those who hold energy have power and can maintain a controlling influence.

Iran is rising, and Russia is not going to go away – in the book I am writing, I would like to bring Russia into Europe. Russia is on the European landmass, called Eurasia, and is a geological – not ideological – concept. Sandwiched between Iran and Russia, Azerbaijan has a critical role to play in bringing energy to Europe through the Southern Energy Corridor. I gained a great deal of information on this when I visited Bulgaria in September – as you know, that country serves to derive much from the Corridor – energy represents power. Turkey, as a major transit country and recipient of energy from the Southern Energy Corridor, will also benefit, and the energy flows should have a stabilising influence.

An EU Resolution was recently passed against Azerbaijan.

Do you believe that the deteriorating EU–Azerbaijani political relationship and the improving Azerbaijani–Russian relationship will impact the future of the Southern Energy Corridor to Europe, which represents a diversification away from Gazprom for many countries?

Many countries now are turning to Russia – it has enormous power

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– and has a population of 145m, out of a total European population of 500m. Russia has one of the biggest arsenals of armaments, missiles, and nuclear weapons in the world, and that’s why there was the START Treaty and other agreements. If countries cannot find solace, support, and legitimacy with the US or Western European spheres, they are going to return to Russia. Even some African countries are going towards Russia, because democracy does not work for everybody. Democracy means different things to different people. Europe has a ‘one size fits all’ programme. It is also notable that the EU Neighbourhood Policy supports Southern Europe more than in the East.

In my view, this is a mistake, and I have said this in my book and in several different articles regarding securing of the periphery of Europe. If we are not able to able to adjust our policies within the EU, the ‘one size fits all’ policy is doomed to failure and there will be instability, coupled with the present swelling migrant crisis on our borders. Rejection of this blanket policy will be very swift, as these Eastern Bloc countries are new democracies, are often politically and economically immature, and only know the Soviet ways. Energy has to be exported, and there is always the risk it will be used as a weapon, as has been the case with Russia.

We have to remember – and I have personal experience, due to my Ukrainian parentage – that there is another mentality in the East. They have no prior experience of democracy, and are just learning about its implications, adhering to an open society and respecting each other. The return to Russia may be very logical and acceptable to them.

Russia may stand to gain from this, and that is why it has established the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which brings several former Soviet Republics (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgystan) back under Russian influence. It may appear sensible for these countries to develop a parallel space, next to the EU. Then there can be dialogue between the EU and EEU, with the latter operating as a halfway house between Sovietstyle ideology and Western democracy. The three blocs that have always held power in the world are North America, Europe and Asia, but this represents another power bloc. It could therefore make sense for Azerbaijan to also join this bloc.

What will the Southern Energy Corridor achieve in increasing Azerbaijan’s relevance to the West and increasing pressure from the EU to resolve the longstanding Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh?

The challenge is that Armenia remains extremely poor, does not have diplomatic relations with neighbouring Azerbaijan or Turkey; is entirely landlocked, but is rich in natural resources. Despite this fact, it remains solely dependent on Russia, which maintains the conflict and even has two army bases on Armenian territory.

The whole of Armenian infrastructure, telecommunications and industry remains Russian-owned. In my view, the EU should provide financial and technical assistance to Armenia to move it towards a diversified economy, providing an alternative direction and reducing its reliance on Russia.

To order a copy of The Geostrategic Maritime Review: The Caspian Sea, email communications.assistant@obgms.org To find out more on the launch event and to view some of the keynote presentations, go to http://bit.ly/Geostrategicparis

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1413 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Personalities – Aleksandras Brokas

Sarsang Reservoir issue condemned by PACE The MEP behind a report accusing Armenia of deliberately withholding water from parched Azerbaijani lands has claimed that Official Yerevan is using its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh for the purpose of “environmental aggression”.

Milica Markovic, Rapporteur, Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe (PACE) was tasked with investigating the water crisis caused by more than 20 years of Armenian control over the Sarsang Reservoir. Her report, accepted by the PACE Committee of Social Affairs last week, is entitled Intentional Deprivation of the Residents of the Azerbaijani Border Regions of Water. It claims that Armenia has created an “artificial environmental crisis” by denying water to the agricultural regions of Azerbaijan that lie downstream.

The authors also express concern about the lack of maintenance on the Sarsang dam over the past two decades, warning that this could “result in a major disaster with great loss of human life, and possibly a fresh humanitarian crisis.”

The Armenian occupation has transformed the seemingly tranquil Sarsang Reservoir into a weapon of war

Mrs Markovic has also prepared a draft resolution for PACE that states: “PACE considers that the deliberate creation of an artificial environmental crisis must be regarded as ‘environmental aggression’, and be viewed as a hostile act by one state towards another.”

Her resolution calls for Armenia to allow access by independent engineers and hydrologists to undertake a detailed survey of the dam – which has been refused by Yerevan, to date. The absence of cooperation from the Armenian side was soundly condemned. Mrs Markovic goes on to request the immediate withdrawal of Armenian armed forces, saying: “PACE

deplores that the occupation by Armenia of Nagorno-Karabakh and other adjacent areas of Azerbaijan creates humanitarian and environmental problems for the citizens of Azerbaijan living in the lower Karabakh valley.”

Elkhan Suleymanov, Azerbaijani MP and PACE member, responded by saying: “Of course, I welcome Markovic’s report as a first step. The Sarsang dam needs urgent attention but, ultimately, the 400,000 imperilled people living downstream will only have peace of mind when Armenia adheres to international law and leaves Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding districts.”

Three Azerbaijanis killed on the ‘contact line’ Three servicemen have lost their lives during the continuing escalation in violence on the ‘contact line’ between Azerbaijan and the Armenian occupied territories. On 30 November, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry reported that a soldier had been killed in an exchange of cross-border fire with the Armenian forces. The statement read: “As a result of the shootout with Armenian forces, an Azerbaijani soldier died on the ‘contact line’.” It added that the potential response to the killing would be “harsh”, and continued: “The Armenian political and military leadership bears full responsibility for this bloody provocation and rising tensions.”

The bloodshed continued during the same week when, on 3 December, a warrant officer of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces was killed on the ‘contact line’. An enquiry undertaken by the Azerbaijani Military Prosecutor’s Office revealed that the serviceman was killed by a bullet ricochet, and promised to take countermeasures.

An additional life was lost on 7 December when Abdulla Mollayev, a senior lieutenant, was killed in a hail of Armenian fire, according to the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry. The seriously wounded serviceman was taken to a military hospital, but he died from his injuries in the operating theatre.

Australian government calls for an end to Armenian occupation Julie Bishop, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, has resoundingly condemned the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan and the seven surrounding disricts. She said: “It has been our consistent position that the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan should come together to peacefully resolve the issue, to end the conflict, and conclude the occupation of the NagornoKarabakh region.” The comments were made in response to a question posed by Luke Simpkins MP, Head of the Azerbaijani Interparliamentary Friendship Group in the Australian Parliament.

She went further: “The Australian government has a longstanding policy of condemning the illegal occupation of the sovereign territory of nations around the world. Likewise, in the case of NagornoKarabakh, the Australian government’s policy is to recognise the sovereignty of Azerbaijan. We do not recognise NagornoKarabakh as an independent state. Indeed, the Australian government supports the efforts of what is known as the OSCE Minsk Group – chaired by Russia, France and the US, where the other members include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey and

Julie Bishop unequivocally condemned the Armenian occupation

Belarus – to resolve the situation.”

Nearly 120 unexploded ordnance defused in November

According to a statement, the Azerbaijani National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) cleared 5,032,184m 2 of territory in November, during which it detected and defused 118 unexploded ordnance (UXOs). Altogether, some 488 sappers,

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112 assistants, six mechanical mineclearing machines and 36 mine-detection dogs were involved in the mission.

To date, around 314,455,648m 2 of land have been cleared, and 713,895

landmines and UXOs have been defused and destroyed. ANAMA is currently undertaking operations in the Agjabadi, Agstafa, Fuzuli, Ganja, Goygol, Khojavand, Lankaran, Absheron, Gazakh, and Terter districts of Azerbaijan.

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Personalities – AleksandrasConflict Brokas Nagorno-Karabakh

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New French Ambassador Bouchez propounds her support

H.E. Aurelia Bouchez, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, seen here meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, reiterated the support of Official Paris for Azerbaijani sovereignty

H.E. Aurelia Bouchez, the incoming French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has reiterated the support of her country regarding the ongoing Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

She stated: “France’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is extremely clear – France supports Azerbaijan, and doesn’t recognise the so-called ‘Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’.” The remarks were made on 19 November, whilst commenting on the 16th European telethon, held by the French office of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. Organised under patronage of the pro-Armenian Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, the funds will be used to construct community centres

in the Armenian-occupied regions of Azerbaijan, according to media reports.

Mrs Bouchez was keen to stress that this does not reflect the view of Official Paris, and added that comments over ‘double standards’ were irrelevant. She also commented that, as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country, France remains committed towards achieving peaceful resolution of the conflict. She also acknowledged the support expressed by the Azerbaijani government and people after the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November.

Provocation in the European Parliament TEAS Benelux has expressed its dismay to Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman, EPP Group in the European Parliament, regarding an event organised without proper authority on 17 November. Entitled Journalists’ Eyewitness Accounts on Armed Conflicts: The Case of Nagorno-Karabakh, the event was organised by the EU–Armenia Friendship Group in the European Parliament and the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, and officially hosted by MEP Eleni Theocharous (EPP, Cyprus), who is currently persona non grata due to her illegal trips to Nagorno-Karabakh that endorse the Armenian occupation.

organisers misappropriated the name and logo of the EPP Group to give the impression that the event was endorsed by them.

Following this, a 25-minute propaganda war video was screened.

This contained distressing scenes and was shown without any prior warning to the audience, nor any mention in the agenda, and was inadvertently viewed by a small boy aged around 10 years.

Following an intervention by Roman Huna, Head, TEAS Benelux, two Armenian participants verbally attacked representatives of TEAS Benelux following the conclusion of the event, together with two other members of Azerbaijani NGOs.

Flouting the rules and principles of the European Parliament, the

To date, a response from Mr Weber has not been forthcoming.

Bundestag member Krihbaum condemns Armenia

Günter Krihbaum, a Bundestag member from the ruling CDU/CSU faction, and Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on European Union Affairs, has spoken of the ongoing Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories during the German– Azerbaijani Friendship Evening at the European Information Centre in Berlin.

This was organised by the Azerbaijan Student Network with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Germany.

During a panel discussion, he stated: “For us, Azerbaijan is a strategically important partner. This is certainly associated with the fact that Azerbaijan is a major energy supplier. But our strategic partnership is not limited to that. It is also based on

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the fact that Azerbaijan has an important geostrategic significance, and is a bridge into Central Asia, Russia, and the Middle East. That is why we are very interested in the intensification of relations between Germany, the EU and Azerbaijan.”

are Azerbaijanis. Azerbaijani territories are still under Armenian occupation, which is a violation of international law. The occupation of Azerbaijani lands has been condemned in four unimplemented UN Security Council resolutions.”

The parliamentarian stressed that Azerbaijan is in a rather delicate position, as it strives to pursue its independent foreign policy, particularly in relation to Russia. Mr Krihbaum continued: “The country needs Russia to resolve the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh. As for the problem of refugees, we should not forget that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was the reason that around one million people became refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Around 875,000 of these

Mr Krihbaum continued: “At one time, Germany also faced the problem of refugees, and that is why it clearly understands this problem around the world – including the Middle East and Ukraine.

In total, at the moment, there are more than 60m refugees around the world.

The experience of Germany, a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, continues to be applied to the more active mediation efforts between the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides.”

www.teas.eu

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www.teas.eu