Category: Azer News

The 3rd International Forum of Maqam Art has solemnly opened in Uzbekistan, AzerNEWS reports citing UZA agency.

President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, stressing the importance of preserving and promoting traditional musical heritage through modern digital platforms and international cultural cooperation.

“If Azerbaijani artists participating in our forum take an active part in mugham, Turkish artists in mukom, Tajik hafizs in maqam, Indian artistic groups in raga, and representatives of the African continent in nuba, in forming the ‘Maqam Route’ cultural and tourism corridor, I am confident that international recognition of cultural heritage will further increase,” he said.

The President of Uzbekistan noted that the forum has become an important cultural platform bringing together artists and cultural figures from around the world to promote the universal value of maqam art:

“I am pleased to see renowned artists and cultural figures from around the world at the 3rd International Forum of Maqam Art, held for the third time in the beautiful land of Uzbekistan. It is no coincidence that art is a spiritual bridge that unites people’s hearts and opens the way to goodness. In this sense, this forum, which has become a tradition in our country, has turned into a global platform promoting the universal significance of maqam art.”

The head of state noted that the participation of leaders of international organizations such as UNESCO, ICESCO, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Turkic States, the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, TURKSOY, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, as well as culture ministers, ambassadors of foreign countries, and about 250 cultural and artistic representatives from more than 80 countries gives the forum special prestige and significance.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev also highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening institutional support for the development of cultural and artistic talent in the country:

“Recently, we have established creative unions in 21 cultural and artistic fields, including maqam. These unions will help identify, support, and develop the talents of young artists, starting from the grassroots level – the neighborhood. From now on, competitions will be held at neighborhood, district, regional, and national levels to revitalize the work of young maqam performers.”

“We have always felt the consistent support of the OIC,’ President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States.

The head of state emphasized that during Armenia’s nearly 30-year aggression against Azerbaijan and in the post-war period, the OIC demonstrated a firm position by adopting resolutions and statements that strongly condemned the occupation, supported Azerbaijan’s just cause, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and welcomed the reconstruction and development works in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

“I would like to especially highlight the activities of the OIC Contact Group on Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan. We highly appreciate this stance of the brotherly countries,’ President Ilham Aliyev added.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is expected to pay a visit to Azerbaijan on July 1, according to reports.

AzerNEWS reports that the visit is expected to focus on key areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union, including energy, economic ties, and regional connectivity.

During the visit, discussions are anticipated to cover prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation, expanding economic engagement, and enhancing collaboration in the energy sector, where Azerbaijan has emerged as an important partner for Europe.

The meetings are also expected to include an exchange of views on regional developments and broader cooperation initiatives aimed at promoting connectivity and economic integration.

She is expected to also visit Armenia.

According to the sources speaking to Politico, the EU delegation, which will also include Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, will visit Armenia in a high-profile show of support for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after his pro-European party secured a decisive victory in the country’s June parliamentary election.

Recent restrictions imposed by Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) on the import of products subject to quarantine control from Armenia have highlighted the country’s heavy dependence on the Russian market and raised new concerns about the feasibility of Armenia’s export diversification strategy, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Armenian media reports, economist Suren Parsyan said the restrictions have affected some of Armenia’s key export sectors, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Parsyan noted that Armenia remains highly dependent on Russia for agricultural exports. According to his estimates, around 90 percent of Armenian fruit exports and approximately 98 percent of vegetable exports are destined for the Russian market.

‘The main market for Armenian vegetables, fruits, fish products, alcoholic beverages, and flowers is more than 90 percent the Russian Federation,’ he stated.

The economist argued that while the Armenian government has increasingly emphasized access to European markets, the primary challenge is not customs tariffs but compliance with European standards and regulations.

‘Armenian products must comply with European standards and regulations, which are quite strict,’ Parsyan said.

The impact of the Russian restrictions has been particularly visible in Armenia’s flower industry. Following limitations on Armenian flower exports, producers have reported a sharp decline in domestic prices and sales.

According to News.am, flower growers and traders at the wholesale flower market near Hrazdan Stadium say that products originally intended for export are now being redirected to the domestic market, creating oversupply and driving down prices.

‘Previously, a bunch of sunflowers was sold for 2,000 drams, but now they can barely buy the same bunch for 200 drams. Everyone is trying to sell the flowers as quickly as possible before they spoil,’ one producer said.

Farmers also reported that significant quantities of flowers are being discarded due to the lack of alternative export channels and the perishable nature of the products.

Although Armenian authorities have pledged support for the sector and promised to explore alternative export destinations, many producers claim they have yet to receive concrete information about assistance mechanisms.

According to Armenia’s Ministry of Economy, approximately 961,000 flowers have been exported to various foreign markets, including destinations in Europe and the Middle East, since the beginning of June.

The developments come amid broader discussions regarding Armenia’s geopolitical and economic orientation.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on June 22 that Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan expect Armenia to clarify its position regarding future relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its aspirations for closer integration with the European Union.

Zakharova recalled that the leaders of the four EAEU member states emphasized in their May 29 joint statement the importance of holding a national referendum in Armenia regarding membership in supranational organizations, describing it as the constitutional mechanism for making such decisions.

She added that the governments of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are expected to prepare a joint report on the issue ahead of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting scheduled for December.

The first Gazakh Book Fair has opened in the “Garden of Intellectuals” in the city of Gazakh, on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the birth of People’s Poet Samad Vurgun, AzerNEWS reports.

The event, organized by the Public Union “Association of Publishers of Azerbaijan” (ANAIB) with the partnership of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture, and the Gazakh District Executive Authority, as well as the support of several institutions, has been remembered as a significant socio-cultural event contributing to the development of book culture and reading habits in the region.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, poet-publicist and laureate of the international Alash Literary Award Akbar Goshali emphasized that such initiatives are important for preserving national memory, increasing the prestige of books, and educating the younger generation.

He spoke about the role of writers and artists in shaping national spirit, noting that book fairs are also platforms for thought, ideas, and culture.

Other speakers at the event also highlighted the significance of the fair, describing it as a valuable contribution to the 120th anniversary of People’s Poet Samad Vurgun.

At the end of the event, participants familiarized themselves with the book fair.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Numan Kurtulmus, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Trkiye (GNAT), on June 24, AzerNEWS reports.

The head of state highlighted the importance of the GNAT Speaker’s participation in the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan will host additional events within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the future and emphasized the importance of further strengthening relations among Islamic countries.

Expressing gratitude for the reception and the high-level organization of the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, Numan Kurtulmus conveyed the greetings of President of Trkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Azerbaijani head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked him for the greetings and asked that his own greetings be conveyed to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Speaker emphasized the significance of the event held in Baku in terms of expanding cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and noted that the address by the President of Azerbaijan to the event participants was rich in content.

During the conversation, the sides touched upon the significance of the Shusha Declaration and hailed the successful development of the brotherly and allied relations between Azerbaijan and Trkiye across all fields, including interparliamentary cooperation. They noted that the unity and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Trkiye are unparalleled and described them as a shared treasure.

It was emphasized that the friendship and brotherhood between the two countries are important factors in ensuring peace and security in the South Caucasus.

The meeting also included discussions on cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries and the prospects for its further expansion.

The US military conducted an airstrike in northwestern Syria last week that killed a senior ISIS leader, US Central Command said on Wednesday, AzerNEWS reports via AAWSAT.

The strike, carried out on Friday, was part “of ongoing US efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the US homeland” and killed Ali Husayn al-Ulaywi, it said in a statement on X.

ISIS has declared a new phase of operations in Syria against the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, carrying out a spate of attacks since February. Last year, Sharaa’s government joined the US-led coalition fighting ISIS.

On Saturday, the militant group claimed responsibility for an attack near the city of Manbij in Syria’s northeastern Aleppo province.

ISIS controlled around a quarter or more of Syria at the peak of its power during the Syrian civil war a decade ago, before being driven out of the territory by a US-led coalition and other foes.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan devoted a significant portion of his latest address to highlighting what he described as the stark difference in vision between his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), emphasizing that his government’s political approach has always been centered on solving problems rather than ignoring them.

Addressing party members and supporters, Erdogan thanked those who have accompanied and supported the AK Party’s political journey, saying:

“I extend my gratitude to every one of my brothers and sisters who have devoted their hearts to this cause and who have not withheld their efforts, prayers and support from us.”

The president noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the AK Party’s founding and announced that the party plans to celebrate the milestone with a major event in mid-August.

“In mid-August, God willing, we will celebrate our 25th anniversary with great enthusiasm through a program befitting our movement and our struggle,” he said.

Erdogan stressed that Ankara has witnessed every stage of the AK Party’s rise, from its foundation to its accession to power.

“We established the AK Party in Ankara and nurtured it with the prayers and support of our fellow citizens of the capital,” he said.

According to Erdogan, few people believed that Trkiye could achieve such rapid progress in areas including education, healthcare, justice, security, transportation, the economy, foreign policy and tourism.

“If we had said that we would increase our exports from $36 billion to $275 billion, tourism revenues from $12.4 billion to $65 billion, defense exports from $148 million to $11 billion, and national income from $236 billion to $1.6 trillion, we would have been accused of daydreaming,” he said.

Likewise, Erdogan said that promises to transform Trkiye first into a regional power and later into a key player in global politics would have been dismissed as unrealistic.

“Yet we turned dreams into goals and goals into reality, one by one,” he stated.

Referring to the sweeping reforms implemented under his governments, Erdogan said that, with the support of Ankara and the Turkish people, the AK Party had the privilege of serving every citizen across the country.

“While raising the standards of public services, we also elevated the expectations of our citizens to a much higher level,” he said.

Erdogan argued that his party’s achievements had secured its place both in the hearts of the Turkish people and in the pages of history.

“We have inscribed our name with honor and glory both in the hearts of our nation and in history as the most successful political cadre of the Republic of Trkiye,” he declared.

The president also announced plans to significantly increase Ankara’s international visibility this year, saying the capital would emerge as a major center of global diplomacy.

“We are intensively continuing our preparations in this regard,” he said.

Erdogan noted that a new infrastructure project had recently been completed in Ankara, referring to the reopening of Ankara Airport, originally built in 1933 by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatrk and long used as a hub for military aviation.

He said the airport would help ease traffic pressure on Esenboga Airport and serve the city’s growing air transportation needs.

“I once again wish this project to be beneficial and auspicious for our city,” Erdogan said, adding that the government would continue to bring new investments to the capital.

Turning to the difference in political outlook between the AK Party and the opposition, Erdogan said his party’s philosophy has always been to solve problems rather than sweep them under the rug.

“If there was a water shortage, we built new dams and transmission lines. If traffic became congested, we built new roads and metro lines. If there was a problem of unplanned urbanization, we built modern housing through TOKI. If there were environmental concerns, we beautified our cities with parks, green spaces and people’s gardens. If our citizens faced difficulties accessing healthcare, we built new facilities, city hospitals and healthcare centers,” he said.

The president stressed that his government had never resorted to excuses or what he described as “absurd arguments.”

“We never approached people who expected us to solve traffic problems by saying that the more roads we build, the more traffic congestion there will be,” he said.

Quoting a popular saying, Erdogan added: “They say that if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. The opposition has nothing to offer beyond excuses and rhetoric because they have no plans and no projects.”

Criticizing the CHP, Erdogan said the opposition’s internal conflicts have become chronic.

“They cannot go a single day without infighting. They are harming not only themselves but also the institution of politics,” he said.

The president argued that while his governments had resolved many of Trkiye’s longstanding problems, they had failed to solve what he called the opposition’s “chronic vision problem.”

“We could not teach opposition figures, who have become accustomed to comfort, how to work, produce projects and serve the people,” he said.

Erdogan further claimed that Trkiye’s opposition deficit is widening rather than shrinking.

“The political institution has been reduced to a miserable state in the hands of those obsessed with their seats. Frankly, we are saddened on behalf of our country when we see this situation. Even if they are our rivals, we do not believe that Trkiye’s second-largest political party should be consumed by conflict and tension,” he said.

Addressing supporters in Ankara, Erdogan said the AK Party remains focused on its agenda and continues to follow the course set by the Turkish people.

“We are working for all 86 million citizens without discrimination, and as we see the results of our efforts, we embrace our struggle with even greater enthusiasm,” he said.

“Our movement is growing day by day like a snowball and gaining strength from the enthusiasm of our new members.”

Following Erdogan’s speech, Levent Koç, the mayor of the Haymana district who had resigned from the CHP, officially joined the AK Party. Erdogan personally presented him with his party badge during the event.

A creative workshop has been held in Ganja as part of “Creative Expedition” project, AzerNEWS reports.

The project featured the works of young artists and turning the city into a living open-air studio.

The event allowed residents and visitors to follow the artistic process up close, observing how ideas take shape, engaging directly with artists, and witnessing the creation of new works in real time.

The project is dedicated to revealing the cultural and tourism potential of Azerbaijan’s regions through the language of contemporary art. Young artists from Baku and Ganja reinterpreted the city’s historical heritage, architecture, cultural life, and tourism identity, transforming them into modern artistic expressions.

In the first stage, participants immersed themselves in Ganja’s history and cultural environment by visiting its key landmarks. Inspired by these impressions, they later created new works in collaboration with local craftsmen, blending field experience with artistic interpretation.

The project brought together artists including Shabnam Mammadova, Nurtaj Allahverdiyeva, Mehtab Ramazanova, Raul Sadigov, Dadash Mammadov, Elshan Ibrahimov, Nigar Muslimova, Leylifer Museibova, and Oksana Kazimova.

The “Creative Expedition” is implemented by the Arts Council Azerbaijan and the S?yah?t Public Association with the support of the Azerbaijan’s Agency on State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations.

At its core, the initiative seeks to re-frame Azerbaijan’s regions as dynamic cultural landscapes where heritage, tourism, and contemporary creativity intersect while promoting domestic tourism and preserving historical identity through art.

Global oil prices continue to decline amid increasing tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a gradual return to normal oil and petroleum product flows, and reported progress in US-Iran negotiations, AzerNEWS reports.

At present, Brent crude oil is trading at around $76 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI), also known as Light crude, is priced at approximately $72 per barrel.

Analysts say the visible return of tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz signals growing confidence among shipping operators. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reportedly issued security assurances allowing hundreds of vessels to resume transits through the Gulf.

Iran and Oman have also begun discussions on managing the Strait of Hormuz, including potential transit arrangements and fees, raising concerns that Tehran could seek payments for passage. Meanwhile, Oman has stated that it is coordinating with the IMO on establishing a temporary maritime corridor open to all vessels. Under the proposed arrangement, ships wishing to use the corridor would be required to coordinate through the IMO.

According to Oman’s Ministry of Transport, transit through the Strait is currently continuing without fees, in line with international maritime law and recent diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran.

Ship tracking data shows that between June 18 and 22, an average of 34 tankers per day passed through the Strait of Hormuz, totaling nearly 180 vessels over the period. This represents roughly 25% of pre-war traffic levels.

Before the conflict involving the US-Israel and Iran began on February 28, about 130 commercial vessels passed through the Strait daily. During the conflict, however, traffic dropped sharply, at times falling to just one vessel per day, with an average of only 10 vessels daily over a 100-day period.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, holding significant strategic importance as approximately 20% of global oil supplies and around 25% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports pass through it. Essentially, it serves as an energy artery for countries in Asia, Europe, and even the United States.

The strait separates Iran from Oman, and in some areas, the width of the shipping channel is only two miles on each side. Given its critical role in global energy supply chains, ensuring the safety and security of this vital waterway is paramount for international trade and economic stability.