Category: Azer News

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described Greece’s expanding military capabilities as giving Athens ‘superiority’ over Trkiye, arguing that the country cannot simply leave the resulting advantage unused.

Mitsotakis pointed to Greece’s upgraded F-16 fighter jets, Rafale aircraft and the arrival of F-35s as evidence of a significant transformation in the country’s military capabilities.

‘This gives us a very significant advantage; I would even dare to call it superiority,’ Mitsotakis said. ‘And this is an advantage that we could never simply leave unused.’

The Greek prime minister said Athens had significantly strengthened its armed forces in recent years and would independently determine its defense policy.

‘Greece is not going to ask anyone’s permission regarding how it arms itself,’ he said.

Athens highlights airpower buildup

Mitsotakis placed particular emphasis on Greece’s combat aviation capabilities. Athens has been upgrading its F-16 fleet, acquiring French-made Rafale fighters and beginning to receive F-35 aircraft as part of its broader military modernization program.

The buildup has taken place against the backdrop of longstanding tensions between Greece and Trkiye over territorial, maritime and security issues in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

Mitsotakis comments on Trkiye’s F-35 prospects

Mitsotakis also addressed the possibility of Trkiye eventually obtaining F-35 fighter jets, while stressing that decisions regarding U.S. arms sales ultimately rest with Washington.

He said Greece did not consider itself responsible for determining which countries should receive American defense systems.

At the same time, Mitsotakis argued that Trkiye currently faces significant legal obstacles to acquiring the F-35 and said he did not see a way for those restrictions to be overcome at present.

*The following news report is sourced from ClashReport, and all responsibility for its content and accuracy rests with them.

Azerbaijan’s freestyle wrestling team has started a training camp at the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation’s (AGF) training base ahead of the 2026 Galaxy U-23 Wrestling World Championships.

The camp, which will continue until September 19, focuses on general and specific physical preparation. The team is training under coaches Teymuraz Kokoyev and Arif Abdullayev.

The 57-kilogram group includes Muhammad Ismayilov, Huseyn Rzazade and Ibrahim Hasanov. Jeykhun Allahverdiyev will compete at 61 kilograms, while Musa Aghayev, Huseyn Huseynov and Aykhan Abdullazade are in the 65-kilogram category.

Ramik Heybatov and Haji Karimov are training at 70 kilograms, while Aganazar Novruzov and Nihad Abbasov are in the 74-kilogram division.

Eljan Ismayilzade and Elkhan Garayev will compete at 79 kilograms, with Sabuhy Amiraslanov at 86 kilograms. Tabriz Bayramov and Anar Jafarli are in the 92-kilogram category, while Said Pashayev and Zafar Aliyev will compete at 97 kilograms.

The heavyweight group consists of Khetag Karsanov, Mukhamad Gantemirov and Yusif Dursunov in the 125-kilogram division.

The training camp is part of the team’s preparations for the U-23 World Championships, which will be held in Las Vegas, United States, from October 12 to 18.

The championship will feature men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling competitions. The freestyle events will be held from October 16 to 18 across 10 weight categories, ranging from 57 to 125 kilograms.

The third volume of the “Explanatory-Encyclopedic Dictionary of Nasimi’s Works in His Native Language” has been published.

The dictionary was compiled by Khadija Heydarova, head of the Department of History of the Azerbaijani Language at the Institute of Linguistics named after Nasimi of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

The publication is a major lexicographical study that systematically examines the lexical, semantic, terminological and cultural-historical foundations of works written by Imadaddin Nasimi in Azerbaijani Turkish.

The dictionary explains words and expressions used by the poet not only through their dictionary meanings but also by taking into account the shades of meaning they acquired in classical texts, as well as their figurative, symbolic and terminological functions.

One of the publication’s important scholarly features is that it reveals the broad lexical-semantic system of Nasimi’s language. Alongside commonly used vocabulary of classical Azerbaijani literary language, the dictionary examines the meanings of religious and philosophical terms, Sufi and Hurufi concepts, Quranic vocabulary, literary and poetic expressions, and terminology from various fields of knowledge.

The volume also examines semantic processes reflected in Nasimi’s works, including polysemy, the expansion and narrowing of meaning, metaphorization, symbolization and terminologization.

The dictionary is therefore valuable not only for the study of Nasimi’s language but also for research into the historical lexicology, historical semantics, lexicography and terminology of the Azerbaijani language. The material presented in the publication provides researchers with a rich source for tracing the historical development of Azerbaijani literary language, changes in the meanings of words over the centuries and the expressive possibilities of classical Azerbaijani Turkish.

The publication’s editor-in-chief is Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Nadir Mammadli. Its scientific editor is Academician Mohsun Nagisoylu, while the scientific adviser is Doctor of Philosophy in Philology Elnur Heydarov.

The reviewers are Doctors of Philological Sciences and Professors Sevil Mehdiyeva and Ismayil Mammadli, as well as Doctor of Philosophy in Philology, Associate Professor Teyyub Guliyev.

The first volume was published in 2025, the second in early 2026, and the third in August 2026. The publication of the third volume marks another stage in the scholarly documentation of the lexical and semantic system of Nasimi’s works written in Azerbaijani.

The third volume was published by a decision of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Linguistics named after Nasimi of ANAS at its meeting on October 23, 2025.

Few journalists in the 20th century had a career as unusual as Israel Epstein: born to Jewish parents in Warsaw, raised in China, a committed Communist, a member of the Chinese Communist Party and eventually one of the country’s most prominent foreign-born political figures.

Epstein was born in 1915 in Warsaw and arrived in China with his family when he was just two years old. He grew up in Tianjin and began working as a journalist while still a teenager. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he reported on China and developed close ties with the Chinese Communist movement.

His relationship with the Communist Party deepened after he visited the Communist base at Yan’an, where he reported on Mao Zedong’s movement. Chinese state records later described Epstein as a foreign-born Communist who helped bring the party’s message to the English-speaking world.

Epstein eventually became one of the rare foreign-born members of the Chinese Communist Party. He obtained Chinese citizenship in 1957 and formally joined the CCP in 1964. He later became a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

His work also put him unusually close to Mao’s political project. In the early 1960s, Epstein was part of a team of Chinese and foreign scholars working on English translations and revisions of Mao Zedong’s Selected Works. The group included several foreign-born Jewish intellectuals who had committed themselves to the Chinese Communist cause.

But Epstein’s loyalty to the Communist system did not protect him from the Cultural Revolution.

In 1968, during Mao’s campaign of political purges, Epstein was arrested on allegations of plotting against Premier Zhou Enlai. He spent several years imprisoned before being released in 1973. According to biographical accounts, Zhou later apologized to him, and Epstein’s political privileges were restored.

What makes Epstein’s story particularly striking is that imprisonment did not lead him to abandon communism. Academic research into his life describes him as a fervent supporter and defender of the Cultural Revolution even after experiencing its repression personally.

He remained in China for the rest of his life, continuing to write and participate in political and cultural institutions. In 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao personally visited him shortly before his death in Beijing at the age of 90. Epstein was buried at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, traditionally reserved for prominent figures of the Chinese Communist revolution.

The paradox of Israel Epstein is what makes his life so remarkable: a Jewish child born in Warsaw became a Chinese journalist, a Communist Party member, a translator of Mao, a political prisoner during Mao’s own Cultural Revolution – and, after surviving that imprisonment, remained a committed Communist until his death.

Another Azerbaijani judoka has won a gold medal at the European Judo Championships Juniors Podgorica 2026, Montenegro.

Suleyman Shukurov, competing in the 90-kilogram weight category, defeated Germany’s Konstantin Distel by ippon to become European champion for the second time in his career.

Davud Namazli (100 kg) and Ramazan Ahmadov (+100 kg) finished the competition with bronze medals.

With these results, Azerbaijan’s judokas have won a total of five medals at the European Judo Championships Juniors Podgorica 2026.

Earlier, Aykhan Mirzazada (60 kg) and Mahammad Musayev (66 kg) claimed European titles.

A total of 400 judokas from 44 countries, including 222 men and 178 women, competed at the championships.

Azerbaijan is represented by 14 judokas, including nine men and five women across 10 weight categories.

Founded in 1972, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation actively promotes this martial art worldwide.

The President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation is Rashad Nabiyev, who also serves as the Minister of Digital Development and Transportation.

The country’s modern judo history was laid by Mehman Azizov, who won a silver medal at the Old World Championship in 1998.

A year later, the winner of the World Youth Games in Moscow, Rasul Salimov, grabbed the bronze medal at the European Championship in Slovakia. Another national judoka, Elchin Ismayilov, became the European champion in 2000 in Wroclaw.

However, the achievements of Azerbaijani judo fighters did not stop there. Elnur Mammadli was named the best at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 73 kg division.

The list of the country’s top judo fighters includes Hidayat Heydarov, Zelym Kotsoiev, Zelim Tckaev, Balabay Aghayev, Ushangi Kokauri, Gultaj Mammadaliyeva, Leyla Aliyeva, Fidan Alizade, Aisha Gurbanli, etc.

Representatives of the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Van TSO) and the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA) have described their meetings in Yerevan on September 3-4, 2026, as an important step toward normalizing Turkiye-Armenia relations and strengthening economic cooperation.

The assessment was made in a joint statement issued by Van TSO and UMBA.

As part of a program attended by nearly 80 businesspeople from Van TSO, Turkish representatives held meetings with members of Armenia’s business community to discuss opportunities for expanding bilateral trade and investment, as well as ways to deepen cooperation between the business sectors of the two countries.

The statement emphasized that the business community can make an important contribution to developing relations based on mutual understanding, trust and shared economic interests, regardless of political differences and borders.

The sides stressed the importance of increasing trade between Turkiye and Armenia, opening border crossings and facilitating transit, developing transport links, and expanding reciprocal business visits and business-to-business (B2B) meetings.

They also proposed strengthening cooperation in tourism, logistics, agriculture, food, textiles, industry and services, while exploring opportunities for joint investment and production.

The statement noted that opening border crossings would not only facilitate commercial transit but would also represent an important step toward normalization by increasing contacts between the peoples of the two countries, strengthening economic ties and building mutual trust.

Van TSO and Armenian business representatives said Van has the potential to serve as a natural trade and logistics bridge between Turkiye and the South Caucasus. In their view, stronger economic ties between Van and Yerevan could contribute to regional trade and promote greater mutual understanding between communities.

The sides underscored the importance of continuing the contacts through reciprocal visits, expanded trade relations and concrete business partnerships, as well as opening border crossings and establishing regular commercial transit.

The joint statement described greater engagement between the business communities as a constructive initiative capable of making a socioeconomic contribution to the normalization of Turkiye-Armenia relations and supporting regional peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus.

Lieutenant General Norat Ter-Grigoryants, a former Soviet military commander who played a prominent role in the formation of Armenia’s armed forces and advocated the establishment of a Russian military base in the country, says he has surrendered his Armenian passport and will no longer return to Armenia.

In an interview, Ter-Grigoryants said that after surrendering his passport, he received a message from the Armenian presidential office informing him that he had been stripped of his citizenship.

‘I surrendered my passport and received a message from your presidential [office – ed.]: ‘You have been stripped of your citizenship.’ Well, farewell, my dears. I will never come to Armenia again. That’s all,’ he said.

Ter-Grigoryants was born in Vladikavkaz in 1936 and served for decades in the Soviet Armed Forces, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant general. He served as deputy chief of the Main Staff of the Soviet Ground Forces and was also chief of staff of the Soviet 40th Army in Afghanistan.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ter-Grigoryants became involved in the formation of Armenia’s armed forces. Armenian authorities invited him to help establish the country’s military structures, and he subsequently served in senior positions, including as chief of the General Staff and first deputy defense minister. He also briefly served as acting defense minister in 1993.

Ter-Grigoryants later returned to Moscow, where he remained active in Russian-Armenian military and veterans’ circles.

His views on Russia’s military role in Armenia have also been well documented. Ter-Grigoryants has previously said that he personally proposed establishing a Russian military base in Armenia.

‘I proposed creating a Russian military base in Armenia,’ he said in an earlier interview.

Russia subsequently established its 102nd Military Base in Gyumri, which became a major component of Moscow’s military presence in Armenia.

The veteran general’s latest remarks come amid increasingly strained Russian-Armenian relations and growing debate in Armenia over the country’s traditional security ties with Moscow.

Ter-Grigoryants’ decision to surrender his Armenian passport is particularly notable given his own role in the formation of independent Armenia’s military and his longstanding advocacy for maintaining a Russian military presence in the country.

He is also reported to have recently marked his 90th birthday, with Russian-Armenian organizations commemorating his contribution to the creation of the armed forces of the Third Republic of Armenia.

The figures were presented in a review published by the official information resource of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. The growth is part of a broader government programme aimed at developing tourism and modernizing the country’s infrastructure.

By the end of 2025, the tourism sector’s total contribution to Kazakhstan’s economy had reached approximately $11 billion. More than 600,000 people are currently employed in the industry.

Capital investment in tourism amounted to around $1.72 billion in 2023. In 2024, the figure increased by 20.3% to $2.08 billion, while in 2025 it rose by another 32.6%, reaching $2.74 billion. As a result, total investment in the sector during 2024-2025 exceeded $4.8 billion.

At present, 328 tourism projects worth approximately $2.85 billion are being implemented across Kazakhstan. Once completed, these projects are expected to create around 10,000 permanent jobs and add 25 new hotels meeting international standards.

In addition, the construction of 24 world-class hotels in 11 regions is being considered, with the projects supported through preferential loans and investment incentives.

The country’s accommodation sector has also expanded rapidly. The number of hotels and other accommodation facilities increased from 992 in 2023 to 4,482 in 2025. By April 1, 2026, the number had exceeded 4,500.

Revenue from accommodation services grew from approximately $502 million in 2023 to $768 million in 2025. During the first quarter of 2026, the figure reached about $152 million, which was 13.9% higher than during the same period in 2025.

Kazakhstan is also attracting more international visitors. In 2025, the country recorded 15.7 million foreign arrivals, compared with 9.2 million in 2023. Of these, 11.1 million were classified as tourists, while spending by foreign visitors reached approximately $2.9 billion.

Domestic tourism is growing as well. The number of domestic tourists increased from 7.1 million in 2023 to 8.7 million in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, accommodation facilities across the country served almost 2 million people, including more than 802,000 visitors to major resort areas.

The government is also working to improve transport links to tourist destinations. In 2026, 33 infrastructure projects worth around $287 million are planned, covering approximately 11,000 kilometers of roads.

Several airport projects are also underway. New regional airports are being developed in Katon-Karagai, Zaysan and Kenderli, while Arkalyk Airport has been restored, Balkhash Airport has reopened, and the terminal at Urjar is being upgraded.

The government has approved a Roadmap for the development of resort areas for 2026-2029. Special development plans are also being implemented for the Mangystau and Shchuchinsk-Borovskaya resort areas, as well as the Almaty mountain cluster.

The Almaty mountain cluster is expected to become one of the country’s major tourism hubs. Plans include connecting several ski areas, constructing 30 cable cars and developing 161 kilometers of ski trails. In the long term, the government hopes to attract up to 5 million visitors to the cluster every year.

Eco-tourism is another rapidly developing area. The number of visitors to Kazakhstan’s national parks increased from 2.4 million in 2023 to 3.7 million in 2025. During the first half of 2026 alone, national parks welcomed around 1.7 million visitors. Protected areas currently offer 179 tourist routes and 42 ecological trails.

The government is also continuing to support tour operators that bring international tourists to Kazakhstan. Operators receive a subsidy of approximately $33 for each foreign tourist they attract.

An interesting point is that Kazakhstan is increasingly positioning itself as a destination for more than traditional sightseeing. The country is investing simultaneously in mountain tourism, eco-tourism, resorts and international hotels. Its vast territory, including the mountains around Almaty, the Caspian Sea coast and unique natural landscapes, gives Kazakhstan the potential to become one of Central Asia’s major tourism hubs.

The rapid expansion of tourism could also create thousands of new jobs and encourage further development of roads, airports, hotels and other infrastructure across the country.

Gnel Salimova, Counsellor at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London, writes in response to Phuong Le’s review of The Black Garden, explaining that the documentary presents the former Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through an overly nationalistic lens and risks reinforcing divisions at a time when Azerbaijan and Armenia are moving towards peace. She says the human cost of the conflict should not be overlooked, but argues that the focus should now shift towards reconciliation, cross-border trade and emerging regional connectivity.

Published under the headline – As Azerbaijan and Armenia work towards peace, this film paints a misleading picture – in The Guardian, the Azerbaijani Counsellor writes the following:

“Contrary to Phuong Le’s assertion, the film The Black Garden clearly presents a highly nationalistic perspective (The Black Garden review – haunting study of growing up in war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh, 31 August). She is right, however, to highlight the human cost of the former conflict. For Azerbaijan, this means thousands killed, some 4,000 missing, around 1 million internally displaced persons and refugees, as well as profound economic and social consequences.

It is important to recall that the former conflict arose from Armenia’s occupation of Karabakh, an internationally recognised territory of Azerbaijan, following a military invasion by Armenian forces in the 1990s. The United Nations security council repeatedly called for the end to the illegal occupation. In 2020, Azerbaijan restored the nation’s territorial integrity, yet the human cost for Azerbaijan continues. Mines laid during the years of occupation continue to kill and injure civilians. Between 2020 and 2026, 436 people have been killed or injured in mine explosions.

Both the film and the article are curiously untimely. Stirring negativity on the former conflict in these terms overlooks a significant opportunity for a lasting peace. Azerbaijan and Armenia are making steady progress towards a durable peace. The countries are trading, border delimitation commissions are meeting regularly, and confidence-building measures are increasing.

Recent meetings of Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders highlighted tangible dividends of peace, including Azerbaijani exports to Armenia and the transit of goods through Azerbaijan. They also discussed potentially transformative connectivity projects for our wider region. These are the developments that deserve the spotlight, rather than stories fostering division.

Gnel Salimova

Counsellor, Embassy of Azerbaijan, London”

A telephone conversation was held between Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and co-chair of the Azerbaijan-Iran State Commission on Economic, Trade and Humanitarian Cooperation, and Farzaneh Sadegh, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development and co-chair of the commission.

According to the information, during the call, the sides reviewed the implementation of issues outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding on the outcomes of the 17th meeting of the State Commission, held in Baku in February this year.

The parties highlighted successful cooperation in the economic and trade, transport and transit, energy, water and other fields, and discussed the progress of ongoing projects.

In particular, the completion of construction of the Aghband-Kalaleh road bridge was noted as an important achievement among the transport projects being implemented. The sides also discussed the necessary steps to complete work at the Astara cargo terminal.