Category: Azer News

The National Library of Azerbaijan has inaugurated a virtual exhibition and a traditional book fair titled ‘October 18 – Day of Restoration of State Independence.’

Azernews reports that the virtual exhibition features books, articles, and photographs that shed light on the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, the consolidation of sovereignty, and key milestones in the country’s statehood history. Visitors can explore materials highlighting the realities of independent and sovereign Azerbaijan, as well as publications dedicated to the nation’s Independence Restoration Day.

The traditional exhibition, meanwhile, offers readers access to an extensive collection of books in Azerbaijani and foreign languages. These works analyze Azerbaijan’s historic struggle for independence, examine major political events along that journey, and illuminate the people’s enduring will for freedom. The displays also explore the foundations of state-building and the far-reaching outcomes of Azerbaijan’s regained independence.

The official opening ceremony of the administrative office of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See took place on October 17.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, attended the event.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Holy See Ilgar Mukhtarov briefed the participants on the newly opened administrative office, located on Via della Conciliazione – the main avenue leading to St. Peter’s Basilica, in close proximity to the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican. The street also hosts official institutions of the Vatican, as well as administrative offices of several embassies accredited to the Holy See.

It was highlighted that relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Holy See have been steadily developing in recent years in a spirit of mutual respect, interest, and fruitful cooperation, with collaboration deepening and diversifying across various fields.

Following the ceremony, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and Cardinal Pietro Parolin exchanged views over tea on bilateral relations, the international agenda, and other matters of mutual interest.

Given that the Holy See serves as the spiritual and ideological center for more than a billion Catholics worldwide, the activities of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic mission hold particular significance for promoting the country’s realities to the global community.

In 2021, President Ilham Aliyev signed the law on the official establishment of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the Holy See. In 2022, Ilgar Mukhtarov was appointed as Azerbaijan’s first resident ambassador to the Holy See.

Azerbaijani football club Neftchi Baku has signed a major name to bolster its attacking lineup – Cameroon national team forward Vincent Aboubakar.

According to Azernews, the black-and-whites have reached an agreement with the 33-year-old striker, who arrived in Baku to join the team.

The club announced the transfer through a video shared on its social media accounts, in which Aboubakar greeted the fans and expressed his excitement about playing for Neftchi.

Aboubakar has previously played for several prestigious clubs, including FC Porto (Portugal), Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), and Besiktas (Trkiye). His most recent club was Hatayspor, another Turkish side.

The experienced forward is expected to bring international quality and leadership to Neftchi’s attack as the club continues to strengthen its lineup for upcoming competitions.

‘Investment cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is also strengthening,’ President Ilham Aliyev said during his interview with Kazinform News Agency.

‘Azerbaijani investments in Kazakhstan’s economy have reached $225 million, while Kazakh investments in Azerbaijan total $136 million. These figures demonstrate both sides’ mutual interest in long-term partnership and sustainable development,’ the head of state added.

On October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, along with family members, and Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, participated in a tree planting ceremony in the Vatican Gardens.

The pomegranate tree, a gift from the Azerbaijani side to the Holy See, symbolizes the source of life, family integrity, abundance, and fertility in Azerbaijan. It was mentioned that the pomegranate, which has many useful properties, is widely used in various aspects of the Azerbaijani culture.

The pomegranate tree planted in the Vatican Gardens, which are of great historical, architectural and religious importance, will embody the friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Holy See.

Expressing her profound gratitude to Mehriban Aliyeva for this valuable gift from the Azerbaijani side, Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, underlined that it will become a crucial symbol of the friendship and cooperation consistently advancing between the two countries.

On October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Vatican Apostolic Library.

Archbishop Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, Head of the Apostolic Library and Apostolic Archive, informed First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva about the historical manuscripts, as well as historical sources, restored and digitized within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Apostolic Archive.

It was mentioned that in 2013 and 2014, the restoration and digitization of 75 manuscripts of importance in the context of preservation of the history and culture of Azerbaijan, including the Turkic heritage, discovered in the Vatican Apostolic Library with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, have already been carried out.

The cooperation with the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Vatican Apostolic Archive will provide Azerbaijani scientists and researchers with access to rare manuscripts, ancient maps, as well as valuable publications in various languages preserved there, thereby allowing to obtain new and important information about the historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in the future.

It is worth noting that the Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the world’s oldest and richest libraries. Its foundation was officially laid by Pope Sixtus IV in 1475. This library houses more than 80 thousand manuscripts and over 1.6 million books related to history, religion, and culture. Its main collections consist of ancient manuscripts, incunabula (books dating back to the 15th century), maps, engravings, and written documents. The library is open for researchers and scholars interested in conducting scientific studies.

The Vatican Apostolic Archive is a sacred and scientifically valuable place where official documents, letters, and administrative correspondence collected by the Holy See over the centuries are preserved. This archive contains a rare and unique heritage in terms of both church and world history. This place, which has been known as the “Secret Vatican Archive” for many years, was renamed the Vatican Apostolic Archive by Pope Francis in 2019.

The Vatican Apostolic Archive, regarded as one of the world’s largest historical archives, contain documents dating from the 9th century to the present day. This archive is considered the memory of the Catholic Church. Its function is to ensure the preservation of the church’s historical decisions, positions and diplomatic relations for future generations. The archive is directly overseen by the Pope, managed by a prefect appointed by him.

Then, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva presented a series of books and publications highlighting the history, nature and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan to the Apostolic Library.

The Azerbaijani national amputee football team played its latest match in Group C of the Nations League, held in Baku, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani side faced off against Israel at the Bayil Arena. The encounter proved to be a tightly contested one, with neither team managing to find the back of the net, ending in a goalless draw. Both sides demonstrated strong defensive play and determination, with several missed chances keeping the scoreline level until the final whistle.

This result follows Azerbaijan’s impressive 3-0 victory over Belgium the previous day, a win that boosted the team’s confidence and standings in the group. The national squad has shown remarkable progress and resilience throughout the tournament, reflecting the growing strength of amputee football in the country.

Azerbaijan will continue its campaign on October 19 with two crucial matches against the Netherlands and Ukraine. Victories in these games could secure the team a top spot in the group and a place in the next stage of the competition, as they aim to make their mark in European amputee football.

On the night of October 17-18, the Sun unleashed two moderate solar flares classified as M-class, according to the Russian Institute of Applied Geophysics, Azernews reports. One flare, rated M1.0, lasted 26 minutes, while the second persisted for 21 minutes, marking a period of moderate solar activity that experts continue to monitor closely.

Solar flares are sudden bursts of radiation caused by the release of magnetic energy in the Sun’s atmosphere. They are categorized into five classes based on their X-ray brightness: A, B, C, M, and X. M-class flares are medium-strength events-more intense than C-class flares but less powerful than X-class flares. While unlikely to cause major disruptions on Earth, they can affect satellite communications, GPS systems, and power grids under certain conditions.

The Russian Institute emphasized the importance of monitoring solar activity to better understand the Sun’s behavior and anticipate potential impacts on Earth’s technological systems. The recent flares were observed using advanced solar observation instruments, enabling scientists to track their intensity, duration, and possible geomagnetic effects.

Solar activity follows an approximately 11-year cycle, with alternating periods of higher and lower flare frequency. Currently, the Sun is approaching a phase of heightened activity, making continuous observation critical for both scientific research and practical applications, such as predicting geomagnetic storms that could disrupt satellites or electricity transmission networks.

Although these recent M-class flares were moderate, they provide valuable insights for solar physicists and space weather forecasters. Understanding such events helps improve early-warning systems and informs preparations to protect modern technological infrastructure from potential solar impacts.

On October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her pleasure at meeting Cardinal Pietro Parolin again and congratulated the Catholic world on the occasion of the ‘Jubilee Year.’

She thanked the Secretary of State for his participation in the COP29 event held in Azerbaijan in November last year and hailed the dynamic expansion of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Holy See in recent years.

Emphasizing that Azerbaijan embodies the values of religious tolerance and multiculturalism as both state policy and a societal norm, Mehriban Aliyeva spoke about the work carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation within the framework of cooperation with the Holy See. She noted the great potential for further developing bilateral relations. Speaking about the relations with the Catholic community in Azerbaijan, the First Vice-President said: ‘The issue raised during the Secretary of State’s visit to Azerbaijan in November last year-the construction of a second Catholic Church in our country-has found a positive resolution. A positive decision on this matter has already been made by President Ilham Aliyev, and construction of the second Catholic Church in the capital will begin in the near future.’ Mehriban Aliyeva underlined that Cardinal Pietro Parolin is regarded in Azerbaijan as a close friend of the country and its people and expressed gratitude for his contributions to the successful and steady development of bilateral cooperation.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed his honor at seeing First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva again and conveyed his deep appreciation to the Azerbaijani state and personally to President Ilham Aliyev for efforts in strengthening relations with the Holy See. He described his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Azerbaijan at COP29 as a gesture of respect toward the Vatican. Highlighting the projects implemented with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Cardinal praised the cooperation and the exemplary relations between the state and the Catholic community in Azerbaijan. ‘The construction of a second Catholic Church in Baku is a highly commendable development, and for that, we are grateful to Azerbaijan. This is yet another manifestation of the care and respect shown to all religions in your country. Azerbaijan serves as an example for many countries in this regard,’ he said.

The Cardinal also noted that the awarding of Bishop Vladimir Fekete, Apostolic Prefect of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, with the ‘Friendship’ Order by President Ilham Aliyev is another sign of respect toward the Holy See.

Pietro Parolin congratulated Azerbaijan on the signing of the Joint Declaration by Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States on August 8 in Washington and on the initialing of the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He reaffirmed the Vatican’s unequivocal support for peace in the region.

Expressing her gratitude to Cardinal Pietro Parolin for his congratulations, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva highly valued the outcomes of the Washington Summit, emphasizing that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia remain committed to the peace agenda and expressing hope for the establishment of lasting peace in the region.

On October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, visited Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City to review the progress of restoration work carried out with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, provided First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva with detailed information about the Basilica and the restoration process there.

The largest church in the world – Saint Peter’s Basilica is considered the religious center of the Catholic world and is one of the four Papal basilicas in the Vatican. In terms of architecture, the church is one of the most outstanding buildings of humanity. While its foundation was laid in the 4th century, the current building represents the 16th-17th centuries.

The head of the Church is the Pope, and the management of the Vatican City State is entrusted to a Cardinal appointed by the head of the Holy See. That cardinal also holds the status of archbishop of the Vatican City State. Since February 20, 2021, Italian-born Cardinal Mauro Gambetti has been the head of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

On February 28, 2019, an agreement was signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Saint Peter’s Basilica on the restoration of the bas-relief of the “meeting between Pope Leo I and Hun Emperor Attila” located in the church and the “Tullius Zetus” mausoleum in the basilica’s necropolis. Restoration work on the project has been completed.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archbishop of Saint Peter’s Basilica, expressed his deep appreciation to First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the high-level and rapid implementation of the restoration work carried out in the church.