Category: Azer News

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.

Azerkhalcha OJSC has presented a new carpet collection titled “From Sketch to Carpet” at the company’s has recently opened showroom in the historic part of Baku – Icherisheher, AzerNEWS reports.

The presentation of the project and the new Azerkhalcha space brought together representatives of government institutions, the diplomatic corps, well-known figures from culture, science, and the arts, as well as art enthusiasts, young people, and foreign guests of the capital.

The collection is the result of a creative collaboration with the world-famous conceptual artist, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Faig Ahmed, whose works have gained international recognition for their contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Azerbaijani carpet aesthetics.

The collection is released in a limited edition and includes seven unique designs, each produced in only ten copies. The series is based on the rich traditions of carpet weaving of the Guba school and Western Azerbaijan. The collection includes the carpets Turquoise Goychali, Midnight Gonaghkend, Spring Goychali, Rose Goychali, Ink Goychali, Crystal Goychali, and Magenta Gonaghkend. The work on the “From Sketch to Carpet” project took nearly two years. All items are handwoven from a high-quality combination of wool and silk.

Speaking at the opening, Chairman of the Board of the Azerkhalcha OJSC Honored Art Worker Emin Mammadov emphasized that special attention is given at the state level to the development and promotion of the ancient art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving. He also noted that on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Azerkhalcha, 18 weavers and specialists were awarded state honors for their contribution to the development of national carpet art. The majority of the awardees were women artisans working in 11 production workshops of the company across various regions of the country.

“The Azerbaijani carpet for each of us is tradition, cultural heritage, and history. But it is contemporary artists who help keep it alive and relevant for the 21st century. That is why Faig Ahmed’s work attracts great interest from leading galleries around the world. Today we have shown the path from the traditional carpet to a modern artistic interpretation. Here are presented both Guba carpets and carpets from Western Azerbaijan, reinterpreted through the language of contemporary art,” Emin Mammadov said.

He added that thanks to such artists, Azerbaijan is able to present its art, carpet weaving, and culture in galleries and museums around the world.

The collection, created based on Faig Ahmed’s artistic concepts and implemented jointly with the creative team of Azerkhalcha OJSC explores the interaction between tradition and innovation. Despite the use of modern digital technologies in creating the visual compositions, each carpet was entirely handwoven by experienced craftswomen in the company’s regional workshops, preserving the centuries-old traditions of Azerbaijani carpet weaving.

Faig Ahmed, in turn, noted that carpets are not only part of cultural heritage but also a means of artistic interpretation of the world.

“Carpets are our history, culture, and immense strength. For an artist, working with such heritage is a great responsibility. I try to look at it first as a human being, and only then as an artist. I am always interested in the idea itself – the moment of its birth. It is this process that I tried to convey through the form of the carpet, one of the deepest art forms with a rich history. A person must be able to look inside themselves, find answers, and see their inner world. Because at the core of any art lies an idea,” Faig Ahmed emphasized, separately noting the role of his teacher, People’s Artist Natig Aliyev.

In 2026 Faig Ahmed became the first Azerbaijani artist to officially represent Azerbaijan at the 61st Venice Biennale with a solo project “The Attention”. His multimedia installation was presented at the Azerbaijani national pavilion, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry.

Rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, People’s Artist Natig Aliyev, noted that Faig Ahmed’s work is recognizable due to its combination of traditional carpet motifs with digital distortions, optical illusions, melting effects, and pixel forms. He noted that this artistic language creates a vivid dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary art.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the new carpet collection, which generated great interest and lively discussion among the guests. The exhibition clearly demonstrated how the centuries-old traditions of Azerbaijani carpet weaving can organically resonate in a contemporary artistic space, while preserving their identity and simultaneously opening new forms of creative expression.

According to statistics, the number of migrants arriving in Turkiye in 2025 increased by more than a quarter-25.2% compared to the previous year-reaching a total of 393,829 people. Of this number, 91,952 were Turkish citizens returning from the diaspora, while 301,877 were foreign nationals, AzerNEWS reports.

Among foreign nationals, citizens of Turkmenistan were the most active group, accounting for 23.4% of arrivals. They were followed by citizens of Azerbaijan (8.3%), Uzbekistan (6.9%), Egypt (6.1%), and Afghanistan (5.8%).

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜIK) also provided data on expatriates who had previously lived in Turkiye and later left the country. In this category, citizens of Iraq ranked first (5.7%), followed by Afghanistan (11.2%), Russia (7.6%), Iran (6.3%), and Turkmenistan (5.7%).

An analysis of the geographical distribution of migrants across Turkiye shows that Istanbul received the largest share in 2025, accounting for 42.2% of all arrivals. It was followed by Antalya (9.1%), Ankara (6.7%), Izmir (3.1%), and Bursa (2.9%).

This pattern highlights a long-term trend in Turkiye’s migration dynamics: large metropolitan areas continue to attract the majority of newcomers due to stronger labor markets, educational opportunities, and more developed infrastructure. In particular, Istanbul remains the country’s primary migration hub, absorbing nearly half of all incoming migrants.

The governor of Russia’s Leningrad Region, Alexander Drozdenko, has announced a new package of financial incentives aimed at attracting volunteers to join mobile fire groups formed within the region, AzerNEWS reports.

Under the new program, recruits who sign a contract through the regional military enlistment office will receive a one-time payment of 250,000 rubles (approximately $2,700). These contracts are intended to recruit reservists for service in mobile fire units formed within the region.

In addition to the signing bonus, participants are expected to receive a monthly salary of approximately 200,000 rubles ($2,150). The regional authorities also introduced performance-based rewards, offering an additional 100,000 (about $1,080) rubles for each unmanned aerial vehicle reportedly shot down during service.

Drozdenko further stated that those who enter into contracts will be provided with life and health insurance coverage valued at 2 million rubles.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States.

AzerNEWS presents the address:

“Dear participants of the event!

I sincerely greet you at the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States. Welcome to Azerbaijan!

This prestigious platform, which brings together the legislative bodies of brotherly countries, serves not only to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and develop ties in political, economic, social, and humanitarian spheres, but also acts as one of the important mechanisms ensuring the consolidation of Islamic solidarity.

This year marks 35 years since Azerbaijan joined the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The OIC was one of the first international organizations Azerbaijan joined after the restoration of its independence. We can proudly state that throughout these years, our country has contributed to strengthening Islamic solidarity, played an active and responsible role in the activities of the OIC, remained faithful to its goals and principles, and actively participated in increasing its authority on the international stage. Azerbaijan has also built multifaceted relations with member states based on strong friendship and brotherhood on a bilateral basis.

For our part, we have always felt the consistent support of the OIC. 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 our 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.

Unfortunately, during the occupation, mosques of universal importance and centuries-old monuments of Islamic architecture were deliberately destroyed and looted by Armenia in our cities and villages, which were subjected to urbicide and culturicide. Out of 67 mosques, 65 were completely destroyed, and serious damage was inflicted on the remaining ones. The use of these sacred sites as stables and the keeping of animals – which is considered haram in our religion – was not only an insult to Azerbaijanis but to all Muslims around the world. The missions organized by ICESCO and the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission to our liberated territories witnessed these acts of vandalism firsthand.

Today, as part of large-scale reconstruction efforts in the liberated Garabagh and East Zangezur, our destroyed religious sites are being restored to their historical appearance, new mosques are being built, and the call to prayer once again echoes from the minarets after many years.

These crimes committed against the Islamic cultural heritage on our lands are undoubtedly a clear manifestation of Islamophobia. Today, the incitement of hatred against Muslims, the targeting of Islamic cultural heritage, and the insult to Islamic values have gained widespread momentum across the world. The burning of our Holy Book, the Quran, and the publication of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) can in no way be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression and are completely unacceptable. Islamophobia is not merely intolerance towards Muslims; it is a dangerous trend that threatens mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. It is regrettable that certain political circles in the West, as well as international institutions such as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, promote anti-Islamic sentiments, attempt to equate Islam with extremism and terrorism, create biased perceptions of our religion, and portray it as a source of threat.

With the aim of increasing international attention to the fight against Islamophobia, Azerbaijan regularly organizes international conferences on this topic. In a period when Islamophobia is spreading alarmingly, Azerbaijan’s hosting of such conferences is of great importance in promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue and eliminating stereotypes about our religion.

Azerbaijan has always attached great importance to the protection of Islamic values, which form an integral part of our national-spiritual values and serve as a moral pillar and guide for billions of people around the world.

We put forward various initiatives to promote the principles of solidarity and mutual respect in Islam and regularly host events of the OIC and its institutions. The cities of Baku, Nakhchivan, and Shusha, which embody the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Islamic civilization, have been declared the Capital of Islamic Culture in different years. In 2017, within the framework of the ‘Year of Islamic Solidarity’ declared in Azerbaijan, the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games were successfully held in Baku with the participation of 54 countries.

Just a few days ago, the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group on the topic of regional integration for the sustainable prosperity of Muslim countries were successfully organized in Baku.

In 2027, Azerbaijan will host the 16th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference and will assume the OIC chairmanship. During our chairmanship, we will spare no effort to promote the common interests of member states, deepen cooperation within the organization, strengthen Islamic solidarity, and mobilize joint efforts to turn it into a greater force.

Dear participants of the event,

The dedication of the current session to the theme of ‘Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development in OIC Member States through Parliamentary Cooperation’ demonstrates the determination of the member countries of the Parliamentary Union to find joint solutions to common challenges for the progress of our nations.

I am confident that the useful initiatives put forward during the session will contribute to the well-being of our brotherly peoples and help create new opportunities for cooperation between our countries.

I extend my best wishes to you and wish every success to the session”.

US President Donald Trump will present the trophy to the winners of the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed on Tuesday, AzerNEWS reports.

“We will be together with the president [Trump], enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,” Infantino told Fox and Friends.

Trump and Infantino will jointly present the trophy to the winning team’s captain, in a departure from recent FIFA protocol.

The government of Azerbaijan has extended the country’s special quarantine regime aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and its potential consequences, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a decision signed by Prime Minister Ali Asadov, the special quarantine measures across the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan will now remain in effect until 06:00 on October 1, 2026.

The previous extension had set the validity of the regime until 06:00 on July 1, 2026.

Authorities stated that the decision is intended to continue efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus infection and mitigate its possible impacts on public health.

The quarantine regime, first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been periodically extended as part of ongoing preventive measures.

The official opening ceremony of the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States took place in Baku on June 24.

The high-level event gathered parliamentary delegations from OIC member states to discuss cooperation, regional challenges, and ways to strengthen inter-parliamentary dialogue across the Islamic world.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev highlighted the country’s long-standing relations with the OIC and expressed appreciation for the organization’s continued support.

“We have always felt the consistent support of the OIC,” 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.

According to him, Azerbaijan has always attached great importance to the protection of Islamic values, which form an integral part of our national-spiritual values and serve as a moral pillar and guide for billions of people around the world.

“We put forward various initiatives to promote the principles of solidarity and mutual respect in Islam and regularly host events of the OIC and its institutions,” the President emphasized.

The head of state also noted that today, the incitement of hatred against Muslims, the targeting of Islamic cultural heritage, and the insult to Islamic values have gained widespread momentum across the world.

“Islamophobia is not merely intolerance towards Muslims; it is a dangerous trend that threatens mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. It is regrettable that certain political circles in the West, as well as international institutions such as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, promote anti-Islamic sentiments, attempt to equate Islam with extremism and terrorism, create biased perceptions of our religion, and portray it as a source of threat,” the President stated.

After regaining independence, Azerbaijan became one of the first former Soviet republics to apply for membership in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). On December 8, 1991, it was granted full membership during the 5th Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Dakar.

It is also worth noting that the organisation originally known as the Organisation of the Islamic Conference changed its name to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation during the 38th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 28-30, 2011.

In September 1992, during the next session of the UN General Assembly, the relevant article “on the Armenian- Azerbaijani conflict” was introduced in the final document of the traditional coordination meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of OIC member states. The resolution “conflict Armenia and Azerbaijan” was adopted at XXI conference of Ministers of foreign affairs of OIC member countries held in Karachi in April, 1993.

At that time, with limited and poor informative capabilities, it was one of the crucial issues for Azerbaijan, which was exposed of the aggression by the Armenia, to get a support from Islamic Ummah for his just position and to convey grievous consequences to the world community. The delegation from the OIC already visited Azerbaijan in 1991 to study the problem and explore the peaceful means for settlement of the conflict. Until then, the OIC had had consultations with the UN, Armenia, Trkiye and Russia.

It should be noted that the visit of Nationwide Leader Haydar Aliyev to Saudi Arabia in July 1994, his Umrah pilgrimage of Holy Mecca and productive meetings during the visit increased the interest of all Islamic nations towards our country, creating a foundation for the further development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OIC. The meetings were held by Nationwide Leader with the OIC Secretary General in Baku in November 1994, his participation in the 7th Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the OIC member countries in Casablanca and his speech upon the kind request of the OIC Secretary General as well as some member countries on behalf of Asian countries group have strengthen the position of Azerbaijan within the organization.

Currently, Azerbaijan is one of the most active and influental members of the OIC. Azerbaijan has hosted several OIC conferences in recent years. For example, at the conference of Ministers of labour of OIC member states held in Baku in 2013, the Baku Declaration on the creation of new opportunities among member states, cooperation in the field of Labour, Employment and social protection was adopted.

One of the most interesting aspects of Azerbaijan’s position within the OIC is that it is also one of the more explicitly secular states in the organization. Azerbaijan frequently stresses that its state system is secular, even as it affirms the importance of Islamic values in its national and moral life. This combination gives the country a somewhat distinctive place within the OIC.

Azerbaijan’s simultaneous membership in the OIC, OSCE, and the Council of Europe illustrates its broader strategy of multidimensional engagement. By maintaining active roles in diverse international organizations, the country strengthens its global visibility while preserving room for maneuver in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.