Category: Azer News

A parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has arrived in the United States for a working visit.

The Milli Majlis Press and Public Relations Department reported that the delegation arrived at New York International Airport, where it was welcomed by Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tofig Musayev and other officials.

The delegation is expected to hold meetings as part of its working visit to the United States.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the “era of proportionate responses” to American attacks is “over” and vowed a “faster, heavier and more painful” response to any future violations of Iran’s security.

“The Americans must have understood that the era of ‘proportionate responses’ is over and that our strikes on the aggressor bases in recent operations were only the beginning. If they haven’t understood by now, they should understand before it’s too late that the rules of the game have changed and that from now on, any violation of Iran’s interests and security will receive a ‘faster, heavier, and more painful’ response,” Ghalibaf stated.

The comments come after another night in which the two sides exchanged attacks.

Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman), Sabina Aliyeva, has rejected what she described as unfounded allegations made by an Armenian human rights advocate concerning Armenian nationals convicted of crimes in Azerbaijan.

The Ombudsman’s Office said in a statement that Aliyeva considers the allegations to be unfounded and biased and views them as an attempt to undermine the ongoing peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The allegations were made at a press conference held in Armenia on September 4, 2026. They claimed that ethnic Armenian individuals convicted of crimes in Azerbaijan had been subjected to discrimination on religious grounds, torture, the destruction of Christian religious symbols, restrictions on access to the Bible and forced reading of the Quran.

Aliyeva said presenting such serious allegations as facts without providing credible evidence is incompatible with the principles of human rights protection.

She also rejected attempts to link individual cases to religious affiliation or frame them in terms of Christian-Muslim confrontation.

‘Azerbaijan is a multinational, multi-confessional and secular state. Equal treatment is applied to ensuring the rights and freedoms of individuals belonging to different religious denominations, and their freedom of religion is respected,’ the statement said.

The Ombudsman stressed that criminal liability established by a court cannot be attributed to a person’s ethnic background and that legally imposed sentences for criminal acts should not be portrayed as ‘ethnic or religious persecution.’

‘Criminal liability is determined not by a person’s ethnic background or religious beliefs, but by the nature of the act committed, the evidence collected in relation to that act and the court’s legal assessment,’ the statement said.

The Ombudsman’s Office said members of its National Preventive Group have conducted monitoring visits and held confidential meetings with ethnic Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan at various times.

According to the statement, the detainees’ medical and psychological conditions were assessed, while their rights and freedoms under international instruments were explained to them in their native language.

The monitoring visits reportedly found that the rights and freedoms of the individuals concerned were being ensured in line with international standards and without discrimination. The detainees were also found to have access to medical assistance and other necessary services, according to the Ombudsman’s Office.

Against this backdrop, Aliyeva emphasized the need to distinguish genuine human rights protection from statements and rhetoric driven by political objectives.

The Ombudsman argued that making serious allegations such as torture, religious persecution and discrimination based on religious affiliation without relying on verified facts could mislead public opinion, undermine peace negotiations and fuel religious tensions.

The statement said such approaches are particularly concerning amid the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

‘Lasting peace is possible not only through political and legal agreements, but also through strengthening trust between societies and refraining from rhetoric of intolerance and hatred,’ the statement said.

According to the Ombudsman’s Office, presenting unverified information through a religious lens can deepen mistrust between the two societies and damage the environment needed for peace and reconciliation.

The statement further said that human rights protection should not be used to distort facts for political purposes or create an image of an enemy based on religious identity.

The Ombudsman called on individuals working in the field of human rights to act responsibly in their public statements, rely on objective and verified facts, and avoid rhetoric that could undermine peace and mutual trust.

US President Donald Trump has said that the 2026 FIFA World Cup generated more than $18 billion in economic benefits for the US economy and created more than 160,000 jobs.

Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was held from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The tournament featured 48 national teams for the first time in World Cup history.

A Greek F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed during an air show at Tanagra Air Base near Athens.

According to Greece’s public broadcaster ERT, an explosion occurred shortly after the aircraft crashed. Reporters at the scene said the jet suddenly began losing altitude before eventually hitting the ground.

No parachutes were reportedly found at the crash site, and the fate of the crew remains unknown.

There has been no official confirmation yet as to whether the two pilots ejected from the aircraft before the crash.

Two helicopters were deployed to extinguish a fire that broke out following the incident.

Turkiye’s economy grew by 2.3 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, a relatively modest figure in an economy still dealing with high inflation and tight monetary policy. One number in the GDP data, however, deserves considerably more attention: information and communication activities expanded by 8.6 percent.

The first point to understand is that ‘information and communication’ is broader than the traditional IT sector. It covers telecommunications, internet infrastructure, software, digital services, data centers and related activities. Turkiye’s sector has now recorded ten consecutive quarters of growth, with annual growth rates in the past four quarters ranging between 8.6 and 9.9 percent. The expansion has been supported by digital transformation, cloud services, data centers, artificial intelligence and major investments related to 5G.

That growth is important for Turkiye itself, but its significance goes beyond the country’s borders. For Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus, Turkiye’s expanding digital economy could become another channel of economic integration, alongside energy, transport and trade.

This matters because digital infrastructure increasingly determines how efficiently other parts of the economy operate.

Consider the Middle Corridor. Azerbaijan has spent years positioning itself as a transit country connecting Central Asia with Turkiye and Europe. Traditionally, the discussion has focused on railways, ports, highways and customs infrastructure. The next stage is likely to be digital.

Cargo moving through Azerbaijan and Turkiye generates enormous amounts of information: customs documents, invoices, shipment data, tracking information, insurance records and transport documents. If these systems communicate with each other, the physical movement of goods can become faster and more predictable.

Turkiye and Azerbaijan have already started moving in this direction. In 2026, the two countries launched work on an e-CMR pilot aimed at digitalizing cross-border freight documents. Such projects may sound technical, but their economic consequences can be quite practical. Less paperwork means fewer delays, lower administrative costs and better visibility for logistics companies.

Turkiye’s expanding telecommunications infrastructure strengthens this possibility. Turkish authorities reported that the country’s fiber network reached 697,000 kilometers in the first quarter of 2026, while total broadband subscriptions reached 99.5 million. Investments linked to 5G are also pushing demand for fiber, data centers and network capacity.

Azerbaijan is developing its own digital infrastructure at the same time. During the first half of 2026, 147 government institutions had migrated to the Government Cloud, while 140 private organizations were using data-center services. Azerbaijan also began construction of two additional data centers and expanded its fiber infrastructure.

Turkiye has a much larger technology market, a sizeable telecommunications industry and a growing base of companies developing software, cloud and digital services. Azerbaijan has a strategic geographic position between Turkiye, the Caspian Sea and Central Asia. Connecting these capabilities could create opportunities that neither country would capture as easily on its own.

One particularly interesting possibility is digital services exports. Turkish software, cybersecurity, cloud and business-technology companies could use Azerbaijan as a platform for reaching Central Asian markets. Azerbaijani companies, meanwhile, could benefit from Turkish technology, investment and access to a much larger commercial ecosystem.

The opportunity is already visible in Azerbaijan’s own numbers. In January-July 2026, the country’s information and communication services increased by 10.4 percent in real terms. Software development and related consultancy services grew by 34.8 percent, while internet services increased by 22 percent.

That suggests the relationship could become more balanced than a simple story of Turkish companies entering Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan itself is developing a digital-services industry that could eventually sell into Turkiye, Central Asia and other markets.

There is also a strategic dimension. Azerbaijan has traditionally derived much of its international economic importance from its position as an energy producer and transport corridor. Digital connectivity offers another layer to that position. A country through which physical goods, energy and data move has a different economic profile from a country that simply provides a route for cargo.

Still, it would be a mistake to assume that Turkiye’s 8.6 percent growth automatically benefits Azerbaijan. GDP growth in one country does not spill across borders by itself. The gains depend on investment, cross-border infrastructure, compatible regulations, technology transfers and companies actually using the new systems. The real opportunity is therefore not the 8.6 percent figure itself. It is what that growth is building: fiber networks, 5G infrastructure, cloud capacity, data centers, software capabilities and digital platforms.

For Azerbaijan, the strategic question is whether it can connect these developments to the country’s own ambitions for the Middle Corridor and digital economy. If it succeeds, the corridor linking China, Central Asia, the Caspian, Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Europe could eventually carry far more than containers and commodities, and data, digital services and technology as well.

After a thousand trials and tribulations endured by the Armenian diaspora in Paris, the much-anticipated brief scene of the political spectacle has finally taken place. Ara Toranyan, the CAAF’s co-chair, proudly hailed the development, with Armenian media outlets reporting on it with considerable excitement and fanfare.

But the issue here is not that France allowed such a political spectacle to take place, even if only for a brief moment. The main focus should instead be on the Armenian opposition and the diaspora groups supporting it, who present themselves as victims on European streets under the slogans of ‘Artsakh’, while behaving disgracefully on social media platforms.

At times, when you see such pathetic figures pulling every trick in the book on the streets of Europe, you are reminded of historical events and find yourself thinking, if only for a moment, about how painful and tragic the fate of those who fail to learn from history can be.

For example, in 1918-19, following the First World War, an attempt was made to establish the West Ukrainian People’s Republic as a result of the break-up of Austria-Hungary. However, following Polish military intervention, the West Ukrainian People’s Republic was abolished, and its territories were returned to Poland.

Similarly, in 1972-73, an attempt by private groups to establish the Republic of Minerva was brought to an end within a year following opposition from the Kingdom of Tonga. There are many similar episodes in history. Yet what is particularly regrettable is that a comparable territorial claim, dragged into the modern era under the name of ‘Artsakh’, continues, for some reason, to receive sympathetic treatment in Europe.

One can only hope that, one day, this ideological struggle, resembling a contagious virus, will not engulf Europe, or even countries beyond Europe that continue to support it, in its own nightmare.

What is particularly regrettable is that these unruly groups, which recently attempted to criticise, in an inappropriate and insulting manner, a sincere letter of thanks sent by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, do not even seem to understand the political background from which they themselves emerged.

How can groups that so crudely violate diplomatic norms have the audacity to direct such crude insults and foul language at a head of government?

The episode also deserves to be viewed in its broader context. PM Meloni’s message was not simply a bilateral communication involving Azerbaijan. A similar message was also addressed to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. However, it appears that these discredited and abusive groups, which have made targeting Azerbaijan their cause, have turned social media platforms into a weapon of their own, literally saying, a place where historical narratives are recycled, diplomatic gestures are reframed as provocations and personal attacks are substituted for substantive political argument.

That strategy may generate attention, but it does not necessarily generate influence.

For Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the challenge is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. If his government wants to pursue a new diplomatic chapter for Armenia, it will have to contend not only with its external negotiations but also with domestic and diaspora forces determined to preserve the politics of ‘Artsakh’ as a central organising principle.

The danger for those groups is that their campaign could ultimately damage the very country they claim to represent.

Diplomatic influence is built on credibility, political discipline and an ability to understand changing realities. A movement that relies increasingly on personal attacks, abusive language and attempts to pressure foreign leaders risks turning itself into a liability rather than an asset for Armenia.

That is why the debate surrounding Armenia’s constitutional reform deserves particular attention.

If Armenia proceeds with constitutional amendments, the issue of references to ‘Artsakh’ is likely to remain politically sensitive. But attempting to settle that question through punitive restrictions on terminology would risk creating another controversy rather than resolving the underlying political problem.

The more fundamental question is whether Armenia can finally separate its future foreign policy from a territorial narrative rooted in the conflicts of the past.

Europe has changed. The South Caucasus has changed. Armenia’s relations with its neighbours are changing. And the diplomatic environment around the region is being reshaped in real time.

The ‘Artsakh’ campaign may still have a powerful presence on social media and among sections of the diaspora. But political narratives cannot remain frozen indefinitely while the geopolitical landscape moves on.

The real test for Armenia’s opposition is therefore not how loudly it can revive the past, but whether it can offer a credible vision for Armenia’s future.

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of military equipment worth approximately $5.75 billion to Saudi Arabia.

Under the proposed deal, Riyadh would receive nearly 10,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision-guided munitions, 5,000 BLU-111 and 5,000 BLU-117 aerial bombs, as well as 60 AGT-1500 tank engines.

According to the statement, the bombs and other systems are valued at $5 billion, while the tank engines are estimated to be worth $750 million.

The US administration has already notified Congress of the proposed sale. Congress has 30 days to review the agreement.

The death toll from a shipwreck off the coast of Girne in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has risen to 13, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said.

‘The number of people who lost their lives in the accident has reached 13 with the recovery of another body, while 15 people remain missing,’ Üstel said.

It is worth noting that the high-speed passenger vessel Filo Jet, which operated between Girne Port in the TRNC and Tasucu Port in Mersin, Trkiye, began taking on water from its bow shortly after departing Girne on August 30.

The vessel attempted to return to Girne Port but sank before it could reach the harbor.

The wreckage of the sunken vessel was reportedly located 554 meters below the surface off the coast of Girne.

Search and rescue operations are continuing as authorities work to locate those still missing.

Baku will host the fourth Climate Week of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from September 7 to 11, 2026, with Azerbaijan serving as the host country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizing the event.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced the event.

The Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026) will also take place in the capital during the same period.

As an increasingly important international platform for the global climate agenda, Baku will host discussions on the practical implementation of climate decisions, expanding international cooperation, and further strengthening global climate action ahead of COP31.

Government and state officials from various countries, representatives of international organizations, experts, financial institutions, the private sector and civil society are expected to participate in the events.

The fourth Climate Week and Baku Climate Action Week will feature a series of sessions, panel discussions and other events focusing on combating climate change, climate finance, sustainable development and accelerating climate action.

The events are expected not only to further strengthen Baku’s active role in the global climate agenda but also to make an important contribution to enhancing international climate cooperation ahead of COP31.

The events will be held at the Baku Convention Center.