Category: Azer News

The International Mugham Centre has hosted a commemorative evening dedicated to the 90th anniversary of People’s Artist Gadir Rustamov, one of Azerbaijan’s most celebrated mugham performers, Azernews reports.

The event was led by writer and Honoured Cultural Worker Mustafa Chamanli, who spoke in detail about the environment in which Rustamov grew up, his artistic journey, the milestones of his career, and the unique vocal style that brought him success and endeared him to audiences.

Several distinguished figures shared their recollections of the late artist. Writer and Member of Parliament Aqil Abbas, author of the novella “Evl?ri könd?l?n yar” inspired by Rustamov’s life, journalist Fakhreddin Hajibayli, creator of the documentary “The Voice from the Unseen,” and writer Seyran Sakhavat, who conducted the 1980s interview “A Conversation on Horseback in Aghdam with Gadir Rustamov,” all reflected on their encounters with the singer and the creative experiences they shared.

Honoured Art Worker Chingiz Abbasov and tar player Aydin Mehraliyev hailed the enchantment and uniqueness of Rustamov’s voice, describing it as one of the most distinctive sounds of Garabagh.

Speakers emphasised that Rustamov’s mastery was so profound that every mugham and folk song he performed became inseparable in their artistry. Yet among them, “Sona Blbll?ri” stood out as his signature piece, becoming his artistic “calling card.”

The evening featured video clips and recordings of Rustamov’s performances, reminding audiences of his irreplaceable contribution to Azerbaijani music.

Honoured Artists Ilkin Ahmadov, Sevinj Sariyeva, and Elnur Zeynalov, along with mugham competition winners and participants Gullu Muradova, Mustafa Mustafayev, Yusif Jafarbayli, Murad Lachin, and others, performed songs and mugham pieces from Rustamov’s repertoire. Honoured Artist Azad Shukurov recited a poem dedicated to him.

The words of the Roman philosopher Cicero-“The lives of the departed continue through the lives of the living” were echoed throughout the evening. Indeed, Gadir Rustamov’s life endures not only through his children, grandchildren, and admirers but also through the memories, stories, and above all, his incomparable voice.

His timeless performances of beloved songs continue to resonate, ensuring that his artistry remains alive for generations to come.

Azerbaijan is among the countries most affected by landmines globally, and the issue requires urgent international attention and support, the US magazine The National Interest writes.

According to Azernews, the publication notes that Azerbaijan is already conducting large-scale mine clearance operations in its liberated areas, but the extent of mine contamination necessitates coordinated international assistance. The magazine recalls that around 3,500 Azerbaijani citizens, including 361 children, have fallen victim to landmines to date.

It further states that since the end of military operations in November 2020, 388 people have been killed or injured by mines, the vast majority of them civilians. These incidents have also delayed the return of more than 700,000 internally displaced persons to their homes and complicated efforts to locate the remains of approximately 4,000 citizens missing since the war.

The article emphasizes Azerbaijan’s leading role in mine clearance efforts, particularly through the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), which has neutralized hundreds of thousands of explosive devices. It also highlights Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the United Nations, including hosting three global conferences on mine action and launching, together with the UNDP in May 2024, an initiative to establish an International Center of Excellence and Training for Mine Action in Baku.

However, The National Interest stresses that the scale of the humanitarian challenge makes mine action a global responsibility. It notes that Azerbaijan has called on the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement and other international platforms to recognize the mine threat as an issue affecting peace, development, human rights and environmental restoration.

The publication concludes that without eliminating the mine threat, achieving key objectives such as poverty reduction, education development and climate resilience will remain severely constrained.

President of the Republic of Trkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on December 24, Azernews reports.

The Turkish president congratulated the head of state on his birthday and wished him success and good health in his presidential activities.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the attention and congratulations.

During the telephone conversation, the leaders recalled with satisfaction the visits of the President of Azerbaijan to Trkiye and the President of Trkiye to our country, and touched upon their role in the development of fraternal, friendly, and strategic allied relations.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted the visit of Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz to Azerbaijan and highlighted the successful results of the 12th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Trkiye, held in Baku.

During the telephone conversation, the heads of state exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation.

The ‘Koroglu’ tanker, operated by ASCO, part of AZCON Holding, has completed its shipyard overhaul, Azernews reports, citing ASCO.

The company noted that the repair work was carried out at the ‘Zig’ Ship Repair and Construction Plant. Within a short timeframe and with high quality, the overhaul included maintenance of the tanker’s underwater and above-water sections, mechanisms in the engine room, and cleaning and painting of the main deck. Valves were repaired, and woodwork was carried out.

In addition, the tanker underwent hull welding, electrical installation works, and modernization of the crew’s living and service quarters to meet contemporary standards.

Following the repair, the tanker was returned to service, with its first voyage heading to the Kiyanli port in Turkmenistan. Measuring 149.9 meters in length and 17.3 meters in width, the vessel travels at a speed of 12 knots and has a cargo capacity of 13,000 tons.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is holding a gala ceremony regarding the year’s sports results.

The event was attended by heads of sports organizations and federations, media institutions, athletes, coaches, and representatives of the sports community.

The gala ceremony began with the playing of the national anthem. This was followed by a minute of silence in memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs.

Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov noted that 2025 was quite successful for Azerbaijani sports. The minister stated that 2,113 medals were won during the year, with 30 percent of them being gold. This is a record indicator in the history of Azerbaijani sports. The minister emphasized that these achievements were obtained as a result of the attention and care shown to sports by President Ilham Aliyev.

Then, special awards were presented in 4 categories. Joshgun Aliyev (judo, 60 kg), silver medalist of the Deaflympics, Subhan Mammadov (50 kg), world champion in boxing, the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation, and the mixed judo team were deemed worthy of special awards.

After the presentation of a report video about the 2024 sports results, a ceremony was held to award the year’s winners in various categories, determined based on surveys conducted among federations, sports journalists, and on social media.

At the ceremony, the best sports photographers, media institutions, and sports journalists of the year were also announced. The Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) was among the winners in all three categories. Ilgar Jafarov was selected as the best sports photographer of the year. AZERTAC was among the best print media institutions, and Elnur Salahov, editor of the Agency’s Sports Desk, was deemed worthy of second place among the best sports journalists.

The Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) recently hosted the premiere of the documentary film “A Life Dedicated to Chess”, celebrating the remarkable career of legendary chess arbiter Faiq Hasanov, Azernews reports.

The presentation event honored Faiq Hasanov, recognized in the Guinness World Records as the longest-serving chess arbiter. Speaking at the event, ACF President Mahir Mammadov praised the filmmaker, Azad Abbasov, for producing an outstanding work.

He highlighted that in the early 1990s, Faiq Hasanov played a key role in ensuring the survival of the Azerbaijani chess movement. The federation head also noted that the 85-year-old arbiter has made unparalleled contributions to the establishment and continued operation of more than 59 chess schools across the country.

Following the speeches, the documentary was screened. The film traces Faiq Hasanov’s childhood, his early interest in chess, his long-standing career as an arbiter, participation in international tournaments, and his invaluable contributions to the development of chess in Azerbaijan.

After the screening, a video featuring congratulatory messages from world-renowned chess players on Faiq Hasanov’s 85th birthday was shown.

F. Hasanov emphasized that Azerbaijan is recognized worldwide as a country with a strong chess school and rich traditions. He noted that 2025 was a productive year for national chess, with both men’s and women’s teams achieving significant successes. Hasanov particularly praised the performance of Ulviyya Fataliyeva, a European and world champion, expressing hopes for continued accomplishments in the future.

For centuries, chess has been a popular game in Azerbaijan, with ancient roots closely related to traditions.

The country could preserve these traditions as chess remains a crucially popular sport for now.

To popularise this original game, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed in 2009 an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009-2014.

Founded in 1926, the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s strong chess tradition.

The ACF organizes national and international tournaments, provides training programs, and supports the growth of chess at all levels, from school children to grandmasters.

The Federation is also responsible for the success of its national teams, which have consistently performed well in prestigious competitions such as the Chess Olympiad and the World Chess Championship.

‘It is true that there is a peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan now, and we were the ones who initiated it. Everyone knows and should know that. We were the first to propose it, we are the authors of the peace treaty, and we are the authors of all its articles,’ President Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting with residents relocating to the city of Aghdam.

The head of state emphasized: ‘But how can we ever forget the occupation? How can we ever forget our martyrs? How can we ever forget the Khojaly victims and the deaths of other innocent people? We can never forget and should never forget that.’

On December 24, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on his birthday, wishing him success in his presidential activities and good health.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude for the attention and congratulations.

During the phone conversation, the leaders praised the successful development of friendly and strategic allied relations between the two countries across all areas and stressed the importance of high-level reciprocal visits in expanding bilateral ties. In this context, the state visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan in October, as well as Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Azerbaijan, were fondly recalled.

The heads of state exchanged views on the prospects for bilateral cooperation and future contacts.

President Ilham Aliyev, born on 24 December 1961, is one of the most influential political figures in the modern history of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He has led the country since 2003, a period characterized by greater sovereignty, economic modernization, the liberation of the occupied territories, and increased global status. My research article provides a detailed analysis of the vision, performance, and achievements of President Ilham Aliyev, especially the Karabakh Victory, Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29, and transitioning the country to green energy. We will see that how the leadership of President Aliyev has transformed Azerbaijan to become a strong, progressive, and well-respected state in the international arena.

Leadership and Vision

The leadership role in determining the future of the nations is critical, especially for those who are going through complicated post-Soviet transitions and geopolitical conditions. The presidency of Ilham Aliyev in this case is a historic period in the history of Azerbaijan.

The central element of President Ilham Aliyev’s vision is a firm resolve to the sovereignty and independence of Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of his presidency, Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan should become the sole owner of its political affairs, territorial integrity and economic material. This is a guideline that has been used in both domestic policy and foreign relations.

The vision of President Aliyev supports the sense of national identity, which is based on historical continuity, cultural heritage, and memory. He has, over and over again, echoed that an assertive nation cannot deny its past but invest in the future. This tactic, as well as the liberation of territories from the occupation, has created social cohesion and unity in the country.

Diversification in Economy and Sustainable Development

Another pillar of the vision of President Aliyev has been the diversification and the resilience of Azerbaijan which was initially an economy reliant on resources but has since been transformed into a diversified economy. Although oil and gas revenue has been a major contributor to financing the national development, Aliyev always emphasized that oil and gas revenue should not be the goal but rather a means of wide scale modernization.

Azerbaijan under President Ilham Aliyev, has assumed long term development policies that focus on infrastructure, human capital, innovation, and region building. There has been special focus on the economic growth and social justice such that the growth of the economy favors all segment of the society.

Regional and Global Connector

President Ilham Aliyev has seen Azerbaijan as a gateway between East and West, North and South. This vision has been translated into taking part in regional connectivity projects, transport corridors and energy networks. Due to the foresight and long-term investment, the geographical location of Azerbaijan has been turned into a strategic asset.

Governance and State-Building

Among the greatest accomplishments of the work of President Aliyev, the maintenance of political stability within the complicated environment of the region deserves mentioning. The presence of a strong state and proper governance structures and future policy enforcement has enabled Azerbaijan to escape the political instability that some post-soviet states have fallen into.

The administration of President Ilham Aliyev also aimed at the reinforcing the rule of law, modernizing the state administration and improving effectiveness of state institutions. These reforms established a stable business environment that allowed economic growth and foreign investment.

Economic Performance and Infrastructure Development

The Azerbaijan under President Ilham Aliyev saw the massive infrastructure construction that has never been seen in the present times. Road, rail, port, air and digital infrastructure investments changed the physical and economic environment of the country.

Significant travel projects increased the position of Azerbaijan as a regional logistics hub. Through such projects, trade was promoted, transit revenues boosted and integration with the world markets enhanced. At the same time, industrial parks and special economic zones accelerated production in the country and the creation of jobs.

Social Policy and Human Development

The performance of President Aliyev is also reflected in social sphere. His government laid emphasis on education, health and social security as key milestones of national growth. Social facilities, hospitals and new schools were erected all over the country which enhanced the accessibility of the necessary services.

Specific social initiatives helped vulnerable population, war veterans, IDPs and low income families. These policies bore a governance ideology that economic development should be converted into higher living standards for people.

The Garabagh Victory

During the last thirty years, the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, including Garabagh, was the most acute and unsolved problem of the country. President Ilham Aliyev repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan would never accept the status quo and that the restoration of territorial integrity became one of the fundamental national interests.

The Garabagh Victory is one of the acknowledgements of the strategic leadership of President Aliyev. The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan were ready to win because of years of regular military reform, modernization and professional training. These activities were accompanied by diplomatic activity and information policy, which served to strengthen the legal and moral position of Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev termed this victory as the victory of justice, international law and the spirit of unity in the nation. The success boosted the confidence of the population in the state and supported the Azerbaijan position in the regional geopolitics.

Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Return

After the victory, President Aliyev initiated a grand-scale reconstruction and resettlement plan. Freed lands were to be the areas of modern development, with smart cities, green energy technologies, and high-tech infrastructure. The fact that the displaced citizens retrieved their ancestral lands is symbolic of the conflict-sustainable peace scenario.

COP29 – Azerbaijan on the Global Stage

The nomination of Azerbaijan as the host of COP29 during the term of President Aliyev was a milestone in the history of Azerbaijan in terms of diplomacy. It was an indication of international acceptance of Azerbaijan as a responsible and competent international actor.

President Aliyev emphasized that hosting COP29 was both an honor and a responsibility. The event put Azerbaijan in the middle of the climate debate in the world and showed its willingness to cooperate in a multilateral way.

Bridging Energy and Climate Goals

The COP29 strategy of President Ilham Aliyev was realistic and open. He proposed a moderate transition of energy that acknowledges the need of developing nations and states that produce energy, and at the same time promotes global climate goals.

COP29, under the presidency of Azerbaijan, promoted dialogue on climate finance, cuts in emissions and sustainable development. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the fairness principle, claiming the collective responsibility and even-handed support systems.

The positive organization of COP29 strengthened Azerbaijan and improved its image on an international level, making it a more significant mediator in the relationship between the two possible views on climate policy. It also enhanced domestic environmental governance as well as boosted institutional capacity in the sustainability governance.

Green Energy and Sustainable Development

The issue of environmental sustainability has been a national priority for President Ilham Aliyev. The move to adopt the Clean Environment and Green Growth agenda is indicative of a long-term commitment to the integration of environmental conservation and economic growth.

Renewable Energy Projects

Under President Aliyev’s leadership, Azerbaijan has advanced much in the field of renewable energy. The main part of the green energy strategy of the country is taken by large-scale solar and wind projects and hydropower projects in liberated countries.

The naming of Karabakh and East Zangazur into green energy zones is not only symbolic but signifies the introduction of sustainability in post conflict reconstruction.

The green energy projects in Azerbaijan are not only sustainable to the country but also in the region. Exporting clean energy and engaging in international climate activities make Azerbaijan a better global partner.

Building Bridges and Strategic Partnerships

The governance of President Aliyev has also moved towards aggressive international policy making by widening of alliances, building regional relations, and by striking balances with the global interests.

Azerbaijan in the hands of Ilham Aliyev is at the core of Eurasian energy security. Its value in the global energy markets is demonstrated in its natural gas exports which serve more than a dozen countries. Parallel to this, Aliyev government has been working on projects such as the Southern Gas Corridor and an overall infrastructure which enhances the connectivity and the influence of the country.

Azerbaijan has shown a desire to maintain the stability of the region witnessed in the historic peace process and the continued diplomatic relations with Armenia and other states. Significant milestones have been made in the form of peace agreement efforts and free economic connections that have been in the interest of the region of South Caucasus as a whole.

Conclusion: Legacy and Future Paths

Therefore, in my concluding statement, the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev is a perfect statecraft that is a synthesis of national resilience, vision, and international engagement. His tenure is marked by revolutionary national performances demonstrated by the realization of a long-awaited Karabakh Victory and economic modernization as well as by the hosting of COP29 and green energy policies.

The focus on sustainability, international relations, and state-building as the priorities of Aliyev remains in the course of Azerbaijan. These achievements are the future of the development of Azerbaijan in terms of worldly power, prosperity, and peace.

Bykfirat MMC has signed a cooperation agreement with Turkiye’s first global premium streetwear brand, Les Benjamins, within the framework of the 2nd Azerbaijan-Turkiye Investment Forum.

Speaking exclusively to Azernews, Gökçe Grpinar, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Les Benjamins, said the agreement covers the preparation of a special apparel collection for the Qarabag Football Club (FC).

‘This agreement formalises a collaboration under which we will develop a dedicated clothing collection for Qarabag FC. Les Benjamins has previously carried out similar projects with other clubs, and we are pleased to realise a comparable initiative for Qarabag FC, which is a source of pride for Azerbaijan,’ Grpinar stated.

According to him, the project will result in a capsule apparel collection, not football kits, combining the identity of Qarabag FC with the design language of Les Benjamins. The first announcement of the collection was made during the investment forum.

Grpinar noted that all products will be manufactured in Turkiye at Les Benjamins’ own production facilities, using 100 per cent Turkish-made materials. At the same time, she added that discussions have also taken place regarding the possibility of establishing a production line in Azerbaijan in the future.

It should be noted that, within the framework of the forum, the company’s stand was visited by Turkiye’s Minister of Trade, Ömer Bolat, along with other officials, who were introduced to the new collection prepared for Qarabag FC.

The collection is expected to be offered to fans in both Azerbaijan and Turkiye, bringing together sports culture and contemporary fashion through a joint initiative between Bykfirat MMC and Les Benjamins.