Category: Azer News

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to pay an official visit to Germany on Tuesday, January 20, where he will meet with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a German government spokesperson said on Friday, Azernews reports.

According to the spokesperson, talks between al-Sharaa and Merz will focus on a range of issues, including the return of Syrian refugees to their home country. The German side signaled openness to re-engagement, stating that Berlin is interested in ‘finding a new start with the new Syrian government,’ marking a notable shift in Germany’s approach toward Damascus after years of strained relations.

The visit comes against the backdrop of an evolving debate within Germany over asylum and migration policy. Chancellor Merz has previously argued that there is no longer a justification for Syrians who fled the war to continue seeking asylum in Germany, suggesting that conditions in Syria have changed sufficiently to allow for returns.

Germany hosts one of the largest Syrian diasporas in Europe, and discussions on repatriation are politically sensitive, intersecting with domestic pressures over migration, integration, and security. Al-Sharaa’s visit is therefore seen as both a diplomatic signal and a practical step toward redefining cooperation between Berlin and Damascus, particularly on migration management and post-conflict normalization.

The high-level meetings are expected to clarify Germany’s expectations of the new Syrian leadership, while also testing whether a broader re-engagement with Syria could follow at the European level.

Construction works will be carried out to develop the external water supply system as well as the wastewater network and related facilities in Zar village of Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar District.

Azernews reports that the Construction Management Department of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency (ADSEA) has launched the initial phase of the project. The agency has begun procedures to identify the contractor that will be responsible for implementing the works.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the construction of the water supply and sewage infrastructure will cost approximately 7.2 million manats.

Zar village is located in the Kalbajar District and is considered one of the region’s ancient settlements. Historical sources also refer to the village under the name Tsar. In 1993, Zar was occupied by Armenian armed forces and remained under occupation for many years.

Following the 2020 Patriotic War and the signing of the trilateral ceasefire statement, Kalbajar District-including Zar village-was returned to Azerbaijan’s control. Since then, large-scale reconstruction and restoration efforts have been underway. Under state programs, plans include rebuilding infrastructure, resettling former residents, and facilitating the gradual return of the population to the village.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she presented US President Donald Trump with the Nobel Peace Prize during a meeting at the White House on January 15, describing the gesture as recognition of his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people, Azernews reports.

Trump did not explicitly state whether he would accept the award, though the White House later confirmed that he plans to keep it.

Trump acknowledged the gesture in a social media post later that day, writing: ‘Maria presented me with the Nobel Peace Prize for the work I do. It is a beautiful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you, Maria!’

According to White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt, Trump’s view of Machado has not changed, and he does not consider her a realistic alternative to leading Venezuela. Leavitt added that Trump approves of the work of Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, whom he considers cooperative.

Machado, speaking after the meeting, said that she and her supporters trust Trump and believe he understands the suffering of the Venezuelan people. She said Trump is committed to securing the release of political prisoners in the country.

Addressing US senators, Machado argued that political repression under Rodriguez’s rule is no different from the period under former president Nicolas Maduro, and in some cases has worsened. Venezuelan human rights groups have also said that far fewer political prisoners have been released than initially expected.

Trump spoke by phone with Rodriguez a day before meeting Machado, discussing oil, minerals, trade and security issues. Trump later described Rodriguez as a ‘great man.’

Separately, Rodriguez said on January 15 that he had proposed reforms to Venezuela’s hydrocarbon law, noting that US investors are seeking easier access to the country’s oil industry. He said oil revenues would be allocated to workers and public services.

The United States has said that around $500 million in oil sales under the agreement with Caracas has already been made and is being held in US bank accounts. An industry source familiar with the arrangement said the main account is located in Qatar.

On January 3, US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and transferred him to New York, where he faces drug-related charges. Maduro has denied the allegations.

SOCAR has entered a new and important phase in Azerbaijan’s gas export strategy by selling a significant volume of natural gas transported through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, to markets in Southern and Central Europe.

Azernews reports, citing SOCAR, that starting from January 2026, Azerbaijani gas will be supplied to buyers in Austria and Germany, marking a major expansion into Central Europe’s largest and most competitive gas markets.

The deliveries to Austria and Germany will be carried out via Italy, further strengthening Italy’s role as a key gas hub for Azerbaijani supplies entering continental Europe. With these new destinations, the geographical footprint of Azerbaijani gas in Europe continues to widen.

As a result, the number of countries purchasing Azerbaijani gas has now reached 16. In addition to Austria and Germany, Azerbaijani gas is already exported to:

Italy (major buyer via TAP)

Greece

Bulgaria

Romania

Hungary

Serbia

Slovenia

Croatia

Slovakia

North Macedonia

Ukraine

Trkiye (via TANAP/SCP)

Georgia (via pipeline connections)

Syria (via Trkiye, newly started supplies)

Albania (planned via TAP from 2026)

Austria and Germany (as of 2026)

The expansion into Central Europe via TAP underscores Azerbaijan’s strategic role in bolstering European energy security, particularly as many EU countries seek diversified gas sources beyond traditional suppliers. Italian imports alone accounted for a significant share of Azerbaijani gas exports in recent years, with Italy receiving around 9.5 billion cubic meters in 2025.

On paper, Azerbaijan should be a tourism success story. She wants more tourists, and quickly. A new state program aims to lift annual arrivals to between five and six million within a few years, roughly double today’s level. As Baku prepares a new tourism program with ambitious numerical targets, the gap between aspiration and performance has become harder to ignore. Ambitions are optimistic and perhaps plausible, but what were the problems before, and what should be done to see a rise in stagnant numbers?

The government has unveiled the first-ever State Program for the Development of Tourism, designed to significantly increase inbound travel and reposition the country as a diversified tourism destination in the medium term. The goal is clear and numeric: increase inbound tourist arrivals to 5-6 million people in the medium term. Yet current statistics, structural weaknesses, and regional comparisons suggest that achieving this target will require more than strategic intent.

Between January and November 2025, Azerbaijan received 2.364 million tourists from 189 countries, marking a 2% decline compared to the same period in 2024. While the figure demonstrates geographic diversification, it also confirms stagnation rather than sustained growth.

The distribution of arrivals highlights Azerbaijan’s continued dependence on a limited number of markets:

Russia – 24.2%

Trkiye – 17.6%

Iran – 8.1%

India – 6.4%

Georgia – 4.3%

Together, these five countries account for more than 60% of total arrivals. Meanwhile, 76% of tourists entered Azerbaijan by air, 22.7% by rail and road, and only 1.3% by sea, underscoring how aviation constraints directly affect tourism growth.

There were positive dynamics in specific markets. Arrivals from Israel increased 2.3 times, from China by 43.1%, Uzbekistan by 38.6%, and Japan by 26.4%. However, these gains were offset by a 7.8% decline from CIS countries and a 2.8% decrease from Gulf states, traditionally high-spending markets.

When benchmarked against regional peers, Azerbaijan’s tourism performance remains modest. In 2023, tourism revenues reached approximately $1.49 billion, compared to $4.12 billion in Georgia and over $3.1 billion in Armenia, despite Azerbaijan’s larger economy and infrastructure base.

Even in 2024, Azerbaijan remained the lowest tourism revenue generator in the South Caucasus, with around $1.56 billion, while Georgia exceeded $3.4 billion. This gap highlights a structural issue: tourist numbers alone are not translating into value, length of stay, or high per-capita spending.

What the state program promises?

The upcoming State Program seeks to address these gaps through measurable policy shifts. Key priorities include:

Airspace liberalization to reduce ticket prices and expand international routes

Expansion of visa-free regimes, especially for long-haul and high-growth markets

Improved regional accessibility, targeting destinations beyond Baku

Tourism diversification, positioning Azerbaijan as a destination for gastronomy, health, winter, and ecotourism

The program also includes plans to increase investment in Tourism and Recreation Zones, create new beaches, support micro and small tourism businesses, and strengthen safety and quality standards across the sector. Institutionally, it envisages the creation of a Tourism Information System, expanded research funding, and new educational programs to address workforce shortages.

Why tourist flow not scaled, due to structural constraints?

Despite multiple strategies and campaigns over the past decade, Azerbaijan’s tourist numbers have never exceeded the 3.17 million peak recorded in 2019. Even during the growth years between 2010 and 2019, increases were incremental rather than transformative.

Several persistent issues explain this pattern:

Over-centralization in Baku, which absorbs the majority of infrastructure, hotel capacity, and marketing visibility

Weak digital presence, including limited SEO optimization, low integration with global booking platforms, and insufficient mobile-friendly content

Infrastructure gaps in regions, such as poor road signage, a lack of service areas, and limited multilingual guidance

Price-quality imbalance, with tourists frequently reporting high prices for mid-level services

Low brand recognition, with surveys showing that over 50% of foreign tourists rate Azerbaijan as only ‘slightly recognisable’ as a tourism brand

Language accessibility remains another barrier. Nearly half of foreign visitors cite limited multilingual services as a key frustration, directly affecting satisfaction and repeat visits.

To reach 5-6 million tourists, Azerbaijan would need to more than double its current annual inflow while simultaneously increasing spending per visitor. This requires shifting from event-driven visibility to experience-based, regionally distributed tourism.

Niche segments, health tourism, wine tourism, eco-tourism, and gastronomy, offer quantitative potential. Health tourists, for instance, typically stay 12-28 days, spend significantly more per capita, and travel year-round. Yet Azerbaijan has not integrated these advantages into a coherent national tourism product.

The new State Program acknowledges many of these shortcomings and sets clear numeric ambitions. However, the data suggests that success will depend on implementation rather than strategy design. Without tangible improvements in accessibility, pricing transparency, digital marketing, and regional service quality, Azerbaijan risks repeating the pattern of previous initiatives, strong on vision, weak on measurable outcomes.

If execution matches ambition, the 5-6 million target is achievable. If not, Azerbaijan’s tourism sector may continue to grow slowly, remaining below its regional and economic potential.

As part of its publication series, the International Mugham Center (IMC) has released a new book, greeting readers with a significant scholarly gift for 2026, Azernews reports.

The newly published volume is “Muqaddimat al-Adab” by the great Uzbek scholar and thinker Zamakhshari (Abu al-Qasim Mahmud ibn Umar ibn Muhammad al-Khwarizmi az-Zamakhshari).

Holding a special place in Turkology, this monumental work represents an important contribution to the International Mugham Center’s expanding cultural and academic ties with brotherly Uzbekistan.

The book has been prepared through the transliteration of the text from the old script into the modern alphabet by Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Tarlan Guliyev. The work was developed at the Manuscripts Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), with Academician Teymur Karimli serving as scientific editor.

Zamakhshari’s “Muqaddimat al-Adab” (1074-1144) occupies a prominent position in the world of Turkology, second only to Mahmud Kashgari’s “Divan Lughat at-Turk.”

Although the monument is primarily an Arabic-Persian-Turkic (Khwarezm Turkic) dictionary, it contains hundreds of Turkic words and expressions. This edition marks the first time the work has been presented to Azerbaijani readers.

The development of international cooperation is one of the priority directions of the IMC’s strategic vision.

In this context, agreements signed between the International Mugham Center and higher education institutions of Uzbekistan, as well as the Makom Center, envisage the expansion of mutual scientific and cultural exchange, joint research projects, collaborative concerts and cultural initiatives, and master classes.

In July 2025, the Director of the International Mugham Center, Honored Artist Sahib Pashazadeh,who was awarded the title of Cultural Ambassador of Uzbekistan, initiated the publication of Zamakhshari’s work by the Center. This step is widely regarded as a commendable contribution to strengthening cultural relations. To date, the IMC has signed nearly seven cooperation documents with Uzbekistan.

This partnership aims to enhance the exchange of experience, strengthen mutually beneficial cultural ties between institutions, promote national music and literary heritage on a wider scale, and pave the way for a range of promising future projects.

Among the upcoming initiatives is a mugham evening featuring ghazals by Alisher Navoi, to be performed by soloists of the International Mugham Center.

Founded on the initiative of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, the Mugham Center was established in accordance with a presidential decree dated April 6, 2005.

Construction of the center began the same year, and the building, recognized today as one of Baku’s most distinctive architectural landmarks, officially opened in 2008.

Since then, the Mugham Center has consistently hosted large-scale music festivals and concerts featuring prominent and internationally renowned cultural figures. Alongside its concert activities, the center actively works to strengthen cultural cooperation with countries such as Turkiye, Poland, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Morocco, and others.

Committed to the preservation and global promotion of Azerbaijani musical heritage, the International Mugham Center continues to expand its activities. Numerous projects are underway aimed at researching, safeguarding, and popularizing the art of mugham.

A landmark achievement was reached in 2025, when the Mugham Center became the first cultural institution in Azerbaijan to receive international status through legislation. This designation has also played a significant role in improving the social and financial conditions of the center’s staff, reinforcing its position as one of Baku’s leading concert venues.

In recent years, and particularly over the past year, the International Mugham Center has experienced a noticeable increase in interest, especially among tourists attending mugham and ethno-music concerts. During the 9th Mugham Television Contest, the center hosted numerous performances that attracted a wide and diverse audience.

Regular monthly events appeal to both professional musicians and general music lovers. Promotional banners placed around the venue help draw the attention of tourists, many of whom stop during the day to admire the center’s impressive architecture while anticipating evening performances.

This growing international appeal was especially evident during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when numerous racing fans and visitors to Baku also took part in the International Mugham Center’s rich musical program.

Bizi Birl?sdir?n M?d?niyy?t (United by Culture) Public Association has announced the launch of its new initiative, “Art Without Borders”, set to become a landmark event in Azerbaijan’s cultural calendar, Azernews reports.

The project aims to create a vibrant platform for direct dialogue between renowned artists and the younger generation.

The first event of the project featured celebrated conductor and Honoured Artist Ayyub Guliyev. Titled “Dialogue with the Maestro”, the meeting was held at the Cultural Centre of the Azerbaijan State Security Service.

During the event, participants explored how the universal language of music can bridge cultures and countries, the role of classical art in today’s world, and the path an artist takes to achieve international recognition.

Maestro Guliyev shared his extensive artistic and life experiences, highlighted key moments of his career, and answered numerous questions from the audience.

Attendees noted that such encounters broaden young people’s horizons, inspire creative growth, and foster a deeper understanding of art as an essential component of social life.

Ramil Gasimov, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and chair of “Bizi Birl?sdir?n M?d?niyy?t”, emphasised that “Art Without Borders” will encompass a variety of artistic disciplines, fulfilling an important mission of cultural education and strengthening intergenerational dialogue.

Iranian authorities have bolstered security in the northeastern city of Mashhad by deploying military equipment and additional troops as the country grapples with an intensifying wave of protests and unrest, Azernews reports.

Witnesses reported that armored vehicles and armed personnel were stationed at key entry and exit points of the city, with checkpoints and security controls tightened across several districts. The heightened presence of security forces appears aimed at containing simmering discontent before it escalates further.

The deployment comes against the backdrop of widespread demonstrations across Iran that have persisted for more than two weeks. Protesters have taken to the streets in multiple cities, including Mashhad, chanting slogans against the government and urging systemic change. In Mashhad, large crowds were reported on major boulevards, disabling surveillance cameras and confronting security units, according to local sources.

The protests began in late December and quickly spread nationwide, fueled by a deepening economic crisis, rising inflation and long-standing grievances over political repression. Demonstrations have at times been met with force, with rights groups reporting thousands of fatalities and tens of thousands of arrests as security forces conduct crackdowns in major urban centers.

Iran has also faced criticism for adopting sweeping security measures such as shutting down internet and communications services to control information flow and inhibit coordination among demonstrators.

Analysts suggest the Mashhad deployment may be driven not only by fears of expanding protests but also by concern over possible clashes between demonstrators and paramilitary units, as well as isolated militant activity amid the unrest. Tehran’s authorities have in recent days reportedly relied on a variety of internal and external security forces to suppress dissent, heightening concerns about escalation.

Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city and an influential religious and economic hub, has been a focal point of protests in recent days, and officials appear determined to maintain tight control ahead of any further demonstrations. The situation continues to develop as Iranians nationwide persist in voicing their demands.

The premiere of the short historical documentary film “The Captain and the Caspian Sea” will take place on January 19 at the Nizami Cinema Center, Azernews reports citing the Culture Ministry.

The film is one of the winning projects of the “Film Project Support Competition for Films Produced by State Order and Support,” held in 2023 by the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency under the Culture Ministry.

The film was produced by Rental Azerbaijan LLC. The screenplay and direction are by Turkan Huseyn, and the producer is Emil Najafov.

Created through a hybrid use of animation and archival materials, the film is dedicated to the nationwide tragedy that occurred on the night of January 20, 1990.

It tells the story of the heroism, professionalism, and civic courage demonstrated by captains of the Caspian Sea Oil Fleet, as well as journalists and cameramen who risked their lives to document those historic events.

Based on historical facts, the film carries special significance in preserving collective memory and passing on the truth of that tragic night to future generations.

The animation segments of the film were produced by the “Harmony of Chaos” studio.

“Current Time” TV, Public Television (ITV), and the Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union also provided support for the project.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not attend the upcoming no-confidence vote against her and her cabinet, a European Parliament spokesperson, Delphine Colard, told Politico on Friday, Azernews reports.

The debate, scheduled for January 19 in Strasbourg, will instead see Trade Commissioner Maros Sevcovic represent von der Leyen. Colard noted that no other commissioners will be present.

The motion of no-confidence was tabled in response to von der Leyen’s handling of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, which has faced criticism over environmental, labor, and market access concerns. The debate and vote were initiated by the right-wing Patriots for Europe group, led by Jordan Bardella, who called for von der Leyen’s removal from office.

Observers say von der Leyen’s absence signals confidence that the vote will not succeed, as the motion requires an absolute majority in the European Parliament to pass. The proceedings will focus on scrutinizing her administration’s decisions regarding the trade deal, including commitments on deforestation, human rights, and the protection of EU producers.