Category: Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Greece will become important partners

Gulnara Inandzh, Director of Information and Analytical Center Etnoglobus (ethnoglobus.az), editor of Russian section of Turkishnews American-Turkish Resource website www.turkishnews.com , [email protected]

İnterview of ambassador of Greece in Azerbaijan İoannis Metaxas exsclusive for “New Baku post`

-What is the current situation in Greece with overcoming the crisis?

-As you know, after the recent general elections, which took place inthe 17th of June 2012, a new Greek coalition government was established and took power. Three parties are participating to this government, assuring it a comfortable parliamentary majority. The new government set as a priority to undertake all necessary measures, in order to face the crisis, implement all commitments assumed by previous governments and bring the national economy back to growth. This task is difficult, in view both of the recession in Greece and the unfavorable economic conditions in the Euroarea and the rest of the world. However, efforts have already started, fight of tax evasion is on the top of the government agenda, some new reforms of the public sector are already under implementation and the Agricultural Bank of Greecewas already privatized. These are positive steps, which allow any goodwill observer to understand that the new Greek government is firmly committed to implement a mix of policies that would maintain Greece within the Euroarea and bring the economy back to growth. Consequently, I cannot but be optimistic for the future.

-What are the political relations between two countries? Are there any visits expected?

-Political relations are very good. In 2009 President Aliyev visited officiallyGreeceand in 2011 Greek President Papoulias paid also an official visit toBaku. A lot of Ministers visited both capitals during the last years. A lot of agreements are already signed and implemented. Four Greek – Azerbaijani business fora took already place in both capitals. Earlier this year, we both celebrated the twentieth anniversary from the conclusion of bilateral diplomatic relations. However, at this moment, having as I said a new Greek government in power, I am unable to foresee any visit in the near future.

-What are the current relations in the field of trade?

-In 2011, exports fromGreecetoAzerbaijanamounted to 11,02 mln USD whereas exports ofAzerbaijantoGreeceamounted to 161,92 mln USD. I hope that this year we will register even better results. We also attribute attention in attracting high quality Azerbaijani tourists and I want to underline thatGreececontinues to be a top and safe world tourist destination.

-What are the possibilities of mutual investments for businessmen of two countries?

-A lot of sectors can be considered attractive for Azerbaijani investors inGreece. The real estate and the tourist sectors are the most interesting at this moment. I also believe that the energy sector can offer some possibilities for people looking to long term investment. Good prices, skillful personnel and favorable life standards allow us to say that, despite the crisis,Greeceis an attractive place for investors.

-What is the position of Greece on the TAP project?

-The TAP project includes Greece in its design. Consequently, if the TAP project is selected by the Shah Deniz consortium, Azerbaijan and Greece will become important partners, as far as export of Azerbaijani gas to Europeis concerned. It will certainly be a great step forward for both countries’ relationship. It will bring us closer and will boost bilateral economic cooperation.

sourse – http://bakupost.az/iqtisadiyyat/20120922050944801.html

September 24, 2012
Turkish PM receives award on behalf of Isa-Beg Ishakovic

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received an award on behalf of Ottoman statesman Isa-Beg Ishakovic, founder of Bosnian capital Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reported.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Erdogan said that Sarajevo had a different spirit and atmosphere among all cities in the world.

“Sarajevo is a bit Cairo, a bit Beirut, Damascus and Baghdad. Sarajevo is a bit Paris, London and a bit New York. Sarajevo has a similar spirit and atmosphere with Istanbul, Edirne, Bursa and Konya. It is Sarajevo, a city of Balkans.”

Sarajevo was one of the most colorful cities in the world, he said. Although the city suffered from great pains in the recent history, it has become a symbol of friendship and peace today, he went on saying.

Erdogan said that he believed that Bosnia-Herzegovina would join the EU in the shortest time of period, but the country should ensure stability in order to be a member of the EU. Stability was a must to attract international investments, he said.

Premier Erdogan said that Turkey secured stability, peace and tranquility and its economy tripled in the last decade.

via Turkish PM receives award on behalf of Isa-Beg Ishakovic – Trend.Az.

September 17, 2012
Armenia to face Azerbaijan in World Chess Olympiad round 7

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian men’s team will face Azerbaijan in the 7th round of the World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

In round 6, Armenia played in a 2-2 draw with Russia while Azerbaijan defeated Croatia 3-1. Currently, Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan have 11 points each.

Armenian men’s team scored victories over Bolivia, Bangladesh, Spain, Philippines and Ukraine in previous rounds.

via Armenia to face Azerbaijan in World Chess Olympiad round 7 – PanARMENIAN.Net.

September 4, 2012
Turkey offers to hold talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Istanbul

Turkey wants Azerbaijan and Armenia to hold negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Istanbul, Turkish FM Ahmet Davudoglu said, APA reports.

He said official Ankara is pursuing conflict settlement policy and has already become a leader in the region.

‘We would like to hold talks on Syria here, in Turkey. Moreover, it would be good, if the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be held in Istanbul’, added Davudoglu.

via News.Az – Turkey offers to hold talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Istanbul.

August 26, 2012
Quds, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh

Gulnara Inandzh, Director of Information and Analytical Center Etnoglobus (ethnoglobus.az), editor of Russian section of Turkishnews American-Turkish Resource website www.turkishnews.com , [email protected]

Since 1982 every last Friday of Ramadan, in the initiative of the leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Imam Khomeini, “Quds Day” has been marked in a tribute to the solidarity with the Palestinian people. This year it was marked on the 17^th of August.

According to wills of Imam Khomeini, spread of Islamic values is noted as one of the leading lines of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. “Quds Day”, as one of the wings of the spread of this policy, is of particular importance.

Over the past 30 years, the collapse of the Soviet Union and political change in the Arab world have expanded the geography of the “Quds Day” as a branch of the policy of exporting the Islamic revolution and its ideology.

The purpose of marking the “Quds Day” is to attract world attention to the occupied territories, includingPalestine. Loss of 20% of Azerbaijani territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the war withArmeniaandAzerbaijan, also joined the list of states whose territories are under occupation.

In recent years, the reason of activity of “Quds Day” is connected with the coming to power of Islamist forces in some Arab countries.

OfficialTehran, using the favorable situation created by the so-called “Arab spring” to expand its influence in the region, expanded the range of “Quds Day”.Iranimprovises the liberation of Muslims from tyrannical regimes, by expanding geographic scope of their mission as a protector of the Muslims and thereby trying to regain the Muslim world.

“Arab Spring” changed the views regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the West as well as in the East. Statement by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Khalid bin Saud bin Khalid, “the need in this stage to increase pressure of the international community on Armenia in order to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” confirms this position.

Latest statement by supreme spiritual leader of Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Khamenei also draws attention in this regard: “Karabakh is Islamic land …. The Iranian parliament will support the fact that Karabakh belongs to Islam,Azerbaijan.

With the elections in Nagorno Karabakh there are attempts to neglect the facts that these lands’ belong to Azerbaijan and Islam. No matter how much time has passed the reality that Karabakh is Islamic land will not be forgotten. Karabakh will be released by the Muslim Azerbaijanis.”

Increase of reputation of Azerbaijanin the Middle East created good condition for leading Arabic countries andIran, along withIsrael, to take advantage of the situation.

In order to attract the interest, Azerbaijanfirst of all needs to advance effective suggestions and support.

Iranplan, within the framework of the “Qods Day”, to bring to the agenda the issue with respect to the liberation of occupied Azerbaijani territories byArmenia, including the Nagorno-Karabakh and to bring this conflict to the attention of the world Muslim community. The above statement by Ali Khamenei in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh should also be seen on this plane.

Official Baku recognizes independence of Palestineand supports the idea of partition of Palestine Qodsi on the western and eastern parts. Azerbaijanshall take advantage of imposition of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on account of the Islamic world along with the status of Gods.

The processes in the Arab world, a tough fight of the regional states and world powers for the division of spheres of influence and control on the Middle East, creates condition for causing the conflict out of control in the Caucasus, including conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Violation of the last months of ceasefire by the Armenian side and the loss of our soldiers endangers the resumption of hostilities frontal zone, with difficulty repressed for 20 years. Taking into account the impacts of the Armenian communities of the Arab countries by the Armenian lobby in the policies of these countries, in the event of renewed hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani front, position of the Islamic world towards the Nagorno-Karabakh issue will be of great importance forAzerbaijan.

Under such circumstances,Azerbaijanis interested in delivering the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the Islamic world to the attention of world public opinion.

August 22, 2012
What happens if Syrian Armenians are settled in Nagorno-Karabakh?

The growing violence in Syria is strongly affecting the ethnic and religious elements in the country. This tension and upheaval raise concerns and worries among the Armenians in the country as well; for this reason, a portion of the Armenian population is seeking refuge in Armenia.

The Armenian Ministry for the Diaspora has announced that there has been a visible increase in the number of Syrian Armenians filing an application for Armenian citizenship in 2012 and that so far, 4,000 applications for citizenship have been received. The current state of affairs in the city of Aleppo, historically a center of Armenian immigration, is one of the major concerns held by the Armenian authorities right now. It should also be noted that some Armenian groups have acted in favor of Bashar al-Assad’s regime so far. This is a huge handicap because the initial signs of the problems that will be exacerbated in the post-Assad era have become visible in the ongoing clashes where the Armenian people are subjected to violence by the opposition groups.

Currently, the Armenian government is taking proper measures to facilitate the visa process for Syrian and Lebanese Armenians, to create proper infrastructure of education for the Armenians coming from foreign countries, to appoint teachers who would give lectures on Western Armenian to the newcomers and to ensure that flights become less expensive. Armenian authorities also note that the state is ready to deal with the problems of Syrian Armenians, including the acquisition of citizenship status and their settlement in the country.

Sergey Minasyan from the Caucasian Institute in Yerevan notes that the post-Assad Syria will not serve Armenian interests, also adding that Syrian Armenians could be settled in Nagorno-Karabakh. Arguing that this would contribute to the economic development of the region, Minasyan wanted to stress other points. There are reasons for ignoring the problems that previously settled Armenians in the region encountered, including social adaptation and unemployment this time.

First, it is extremely important to promote the flow of capital held by Armenians through recognition of the Syrian Armenians as proper citizens. In addition, there will emerge chances for the diaspora to extend help to these people; therefore, this will promote and improve the image of the diaspora. Funds have already been created for this purpose. For this reason, settlement of Syrian Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh is a reasonable option for Yerevan.

Second, the new political concept developed to improve ties between Armenia and the diaspora seeks to develop the relations and to preserve unity between Armenia, the diaspora and Nagorno-Karabakh despite all disagreements. To this end, the settlement of the Syrian Armenians in the region seems to be a great opportunity for Yerevan to achieve this goal. This has already been set at the Panarmenian Congress, convened to secure unity and integrity. Bold steps have been taken in recent years to integrate Nagorno-Karabakh with the world and to promote development in the region. Bako Shakyan, the leader of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh administration, has met with representatives of the Iranian Armenian Society in the US, the Argentinean Armenian society members, the representatives of Dashnak Party on the American continent and some Armenian businessmen in Europe on political and economic matters concerning the region. The talks were fruitful; extensive investments have been made in Nagorno-Karabakh in such fields as mining and energy. Slovakia and the Czech Republic started construction of a huge hydroelectric plant in Nagorno-Karabakh. The opposition parties in Armenia including the Dashnak Party, as well as ruling parties, are eager to ensure that Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as an independent state and that Azerbaijan is presented as an aggressor. To this end, the Armenian authorities used as propaganda the blacklisting by Azerbaijan of deputies and academics from various countries visiting Nagorno-Karabakh.

Third, there is eagerness to change the demographic outlook of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In other words, by this change, Armenia seeks to acquire a stronger position in the probable future peace talks. From another perspective, however, this will be an attempt that will keep the issue unresolved. Even though some actors do not recognize the existence of two separate Armenian states and advocate the annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia — and there are some disagreements between the politicians in Yerevan and in Karabakh — this matter needs to be considered in the long run. If it becomes successful in this, Yerevan will have secured strong solidarity between Armenians, and in that case, it can gain a stronger position in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Some experts hold that even though it seems unlikely, Armenia’s interest in this issue alone should be considered important.

A new political move: Comparing Nagorno-Karabakh with Cyprus

The Armenian authorities who are leading the way in the Karabakh issue note that they take Turkey as an example, arguing that economic development is much more important than military power. Armenia, which frequently stresses that it has liberated the Nagorno-Karabakh territories, also argues that Turkey needs to worry about the Cyprus issue rather than the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. Shavars Kocharyan, the deputy foreign minister of Armenia, who reacted to Turkey’s criticism of the recently held elections in Karabakh also called on Turkey to stop teaching a lesson to Armenia. In fact, this approach is not new and will not be the last time because all Armenian politicians and experts use the Cyprus card against Turkey when it comes to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

This is similar to the situation where Turkey was silenced due to its approaches vis-à-vis the regional conflicts. In international venues where Turkey was accused of committing genocide against Armenians, Turkey attempted to raise the issue of massacres in the Balkans. However, in each attempt, the Turkish authorities had to stop because of strong accusations. Our politicians and experts who experienced this frequently are displeased with this situation. Therefore, Turkey, instead of reiterating its conventional statements by which it declared it did not recognize the elections that it did not officially recognize, should be able to take alternate political, economic and cultural moves. This is possible through closer attention to regional developments and reshaping foreign policy. Otherwise, a Turkey that becomes hand-tied vis-à-vis diverse issues will have to deal with the risk of inability to promote its just causes in the eyes of the international community.

Mehmet Fatih ÖZTARSU – Today’s Zaman / Analyst, Strategic Outlook

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August 12, 2012