Category: Azer News

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that his country targeted Iran’s “largest petrochemical facility” at Asaluyeh, near the South Pars gas field, AzerNEWS reports.

“Iran’s two petrochemical facilities, which together account for about 85% of its exports, are out of service,” Katz stated, adding that Israel intends to continue attacks on Iran’s “national infrastructure.”

Over the weekend, Israel targeted the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in Iran’s southern Khuzestan province, claiming the site was used to make materials for ballistic missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that military operations against Iran will continue at full intensity, according to a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Speaking amid escalating tensions, Netanyahu praised the Israel Defense Forces for its recent operations, including a strike in Tehran that reportedly killed Majid Khademi, the head of intelligence for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

He also commended the military for eliminating Yazdan Mir, who had led Unit 840 of the IRGC’s Quds Force. According to Netanyahu, Mir-also known by the alias Sardar Bagheri-was responsible for orchestrating attacks targeting Jewish communities worldwide.

‘Anyone who seeks to harm our citizens, directs terror against Israel, or builds Iran’s axis of evil will be held accountable,’ Netanyahu said, warning that Israel would act with strength and determination against its adversaries.

On April 6, an official welcome ceremony was held in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, for President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, AzerNEWS reports.

A guard of honor was lined up for President Ilham Aliyev.

President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili welcomed President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to the President of Azerbaijan.

The national anthems of Azerbaijan and Georgia were played.

The two presidents passed along the line of guard of honor.

When Mikheil Kavelashvili was elected as Georgia’s new president, the first visit he undertook was neither to Brussels nor Washington nor Ankara; it was to Baku. This move, which took place in April 2025, signalled a clear message regarding where Georgia’s most important partnership currently stands. Today, the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Georgia concludes this cycle, the ultimate form of diplomatic exchange within the bilateral arsenal, meticulously planned with all due ceremony at Shota Rustaveli International Airport.

But once the rhetoric of joint declarations is stripped away, what remains is a unique relationship forged between the two states over the past thirty years that has been of a strategic nature. Azerbaijan and Georgia’s trade turnover was estimated at $881 million in 2025, almost doubling the amount registered ten years ago. Azerbaijan is Georgia’s largest trading partner and the sole provider of energy resources, with SOCAR exporting gas to Georgia and maintaining a sizeable network of retail and downstream operations in the country. Azerbaijan has invested a total of $3.1 billion in Georgia’s economy.

The tangible manifestation of this alliance is represented by infrastructure. The oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, the gas pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, and the railway Baku-Tbilisi-Kars are not just bilateral initiatives but form a backbone of Europe’s energy security and Eurasian corridor that passes through their territories and creates additional income, political leverage, and importance for them.

Middle Corridor progress has been phenomenal. By 2025, the amount of container cargo passing through Azerbaijan had jumped 19%, to 135,000 TEU, with over 390 container trains running on the China-Europe axis. The transit share of the Middle Corridor’s volume for Georgia had also increased correspondingly – by the close of 2025, transit was responsible for almost 58% of Georgia’s total rail freight traffic. A deal signed between the railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan in October 2025 to digitize documentation had cut the time needed for the transit of goods from eight to nine hours to just forty minutes.

For both Baku and Tbilisi, the last two years have been marked by the experience of being put under the same kind of pressure from outside forces, in the form of the European Union’s demands for democratic governance in Georgia, and Western powers over the internal politics of Azerbaijan. The reaction from both sides is almost identical, with both sides insisting on their own sovereignty and resisting “double standards and external interference,” while reinforcing the bond between the two nations as a declaration of regional independence.

This is not just strategic convenience. There is a certain shared logic here that the three countries of the region, and especially those which are the closest allies, should exhibit “trilateral agency” by solving their problems collectively without having any third party mediate for them. The possibility of engaging Armenia in the framework of a genuine trilateral cooperation policy that was raised during the Tbilisi conference of deputy foreign ministers in April 2025 has given this trip extra strategic importance.

The development of the corridor TRIPP (the potential transportation artery from Nakhchivan to the Azerbaijani mainland via Armenia) presents a dilemma for Georgia. The full implementation of such a corridor would provide another east-west transportation corridor not using the territory of Georgia.

Perhaps, Baku is quite sensitive to it as well. There can be at least one way to interpret the amount of investment into Georgia – the Black Sea submarine cable, the joint logistics digitization, and the amounts of traded goods. Indeed, while developing the TRIPP project, Azerbaijan ensures that Tbilisi will always remain structurally interested in this project.

Monday’s state visit comes at a time when the surrounding region has evolved substantially since the last visit by Aliyev to Tbilisi. The war in Iran has interfered with the southern energy routes and forced all governments in the region to think about resilience. Georgia and Azerbaijan have more advantages than many other states in the region due to their economic interconnectedness. In particular, a Black Sea submarine cable that would eventually transfer 4 GW of renewable energy produced by Azerbaijan to Europe through Georgian and Romanian territory has become highly significant for geopolitical reasons; its route was selected specifically for this reason.

At this point, the improved strategic relationship between the two nations acts as an image of what this region could become if the two countries decided to make something of themselves by working together, rather than squabbling over the same strategic leftovers, and doing so in their own way, as they both continually insist.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze delivered press statements in Tbilisi on April 6.

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze made the statement first.

Statement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze

– Welcome, Your Excellency Mr. President,

Honorable ministers,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Media representatives,

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the dear friend of Georgia, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, for visiting Georgia. His arrival in Georgia is a special honor for all of us.

Mr. President, I am pleased to have the opportunity to host you in Georgia and to discuss both issues related to bilateral cooperation and current processes in the region. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for the condolences offered by Azerbaijan and by you personally regarding the passing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness Ilia II.

For centuries, our peoples have been bound by good neighborliness and a special historical friendship. This logically reflects the strong strategic partnership between our states. Relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan are developing dynamically across various directions. We particularly value your personal efforts and participation in this process. I also thank the members of the delegation, government members, and ambassadors who play a special role in the development of these relations.

I would like to express my gratitude for Azerbaijan’s steadfast support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. Since restoring its independence, Georgia has always been a strong advocate of Azerbaijan’s national interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it remains so now and will remain so in the future. During our meeting today, we discussed in detail not only our bilateral ties but also broader matters concerning the future of the South Caucasus region as a whole.

In this context, we welcome the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Georgia firmly supports peaceful coexistence, constructive cooperation, and new initiatives within the region. Should the need arise, we stand ready to facilitate dialogue and contribute to peace processes at any time. Cooperation among the countries of the South Caucasus opens new horizons for the entire region. Global geopolitical shifts have further elevated the importance of the Middle Corridor, as well as the strategic significance of the Black Sea and the South Caucasus as a whole.

As a bridge connecting Asia and Europe, our countries play a pivotal role in transit. To this end, we place special emphasis on the development and modernization of transport and logistics infrastructure. Georgia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly proven that we are reliable and responsible partners in international energy and transport projects.

During our meeting, we also discussed the prospects for trade and economic cooperation. Azerbaijan remains one of Georgia’s largest trading partners, and we anticipate that our economic ties will deepen further through increased investment. We expressed our readiness to maintain high-level dialogue and further strengthen our cooperation across various fields.

I am confident that our strategic partnership will continue to develop successfully for the prosperity of our peoples and countries. The President’s visit plays a vital role in this regard.

In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like to express my gratitude once again for your personal contribution to strengthening the relations between our states, for your visit, and for our productive cooperation. Mr. President, I am particularly grateful for the personal commitment you have shown to the deepening and advancement of our bilateral ties.

Then, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made the statement.

Statement by President Ilham Aliyev

– Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Dear friends,

Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for the invitation and for your hospitality. It is a great honor for me to once again be in brotherly Georgia. I am confident that my visit will provide a new impetus to relations between our two brotherly countries. The issues we discussed today once again demonstrate that Georgia and Azerbaijan, as always, stand together. Our historical ties serve as a strong foundation for interstate relations. For centuries, the Georgian and Azerbaijani peoples have lived in an atmosphere of friendship and brotherhood, and these traditions continue today. Today, as two independent states, Georgia and Azerbaijan are developing confidently. Taking this opportunity, I would like to congratulate you and your government on the successes achieved by Georgia.

Georgia’s dynamic economic development is clearly visible. There is a very positive investment climate in Georgia, which is why many investors, including Azerbaijani investors, show great interest in the country. Of course, the main prerequisite and key factor behind all these successes is political stability. This political stability exists in Georgia. It is guaranteed by the people of Georgia and by the policy you are pursuing. As your friends and neighbors, we rejoice in this and are confident that Azerbaijani-Georgian relations will continue to develop successfully in the future.

We always support each other in all international organizations. As the Prime Minister mentioned, we have always supported, continue to support, and will continue to support each other’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the inviolability of our borders.

We have achieved great success in the economic sphere. Before this visit, I reviewed the data and saw that last year our trade turnover exceeded $800 million, and in the first quarter of this year, the growth rate remains quite high. If this trend continues, we may reach the one-billion-dollar mark by the end of the year. As I mentioned, the highly favorable investment climate in Georgia also encourages Azerbaijani investors. To date, Azerbaijan has invested $3.7 billion in the Georgian economy. Today, we exchanged views on new investment projects that will benefit both Azerbaijan and Georgia. In the future, we may also consider joint investments in third countries.

Naturally, every time we meet, we discuss many issues, including the regional situation and regional security matters. Today was no exception. A completely new situation is emerging in the South Caucasus, and the countries located in the South Caucasus must not miss these opportunities. Unfortunately, peace, security, stability, and tranquility are being disrupted in many parts of the world, resulting in bloody clashes, wars, suffering, and losses. A similar situation once existed in the South Caucasus as well. But today, the South Caucasus is turning into a space of peace, tranquility, security, and cooperation. I would like to especially highlight Georgia’s role in this process.

Mr. Prime Minister also touched upon the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. I can say that simply signing documents is not enough to strengthen this process. At every moment and with every step we take, we must reinforce this peace. The best way to do so is through trade. Today, trade between Azerbaijan and Armenia is conducted through Georgia. In this regard, I would like to express my gratitude to the Government of Georgia.

For many years, Azerbaijan has taken important steps in the energy sector that have strengthened the energy security of many countries. Today, Azerbaijani gas is exported to 16 countries. However, this export still begins from Georgia, and Georgia is the first country on this route. Both Azerbaijani oil and gas are exported to global markets via Georgia, and oil resources from the eastern shores of the Caspian Sea are also transported through Azerbaijan and Georgia. We have spoken sufficiently about this existing infrastructure. All of this infrastructure is clearly visible, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been operating successfully for nearly 20 years. The Southern Gas Corridor was implemented afterward, and today this infrastructure is of great importance for a vast geography. Later, we also built transport corridors along these routes, and work is currently underway to expand them. The Middle Corridor passes through Azerbaijan and Georgia. This is our main transport artery, and additional efforts are being made – and will continue to be made – to expand it.

In short, our bilateral agenda is very broad, and it continues to expand further. New projects and ideas are being put forward, and we are resolving them through joint efforts. The main condition and factor for this, of course, is our bilateral relations. I can say that our relations can serve as an example for all neighbors, as they are built on mutual respect, mutual trust, common benefit, mutual interests, friendship, and brotherhood. I am confident that we will continue to move forward successfully along this path in the future.

Taking this opportunity, I wish the brotherly Georgian people peace, tranquility, prosperity, and happiness. Once again, I thank you for the invitation and for your hospitality.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev concluded his state visit to Georgia on April 6.

A guard of honor was lined up for the President of Azerbaijan at Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport.

President Ilham Aliyev was seen off by Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze.

On April 6, a luncheon was hosted in Tbilisi in honor of First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva on behalf of the First Lady of Georgia, Tamar Bagrationi.

The third round of the Professional Chovgan League has concluded, AzerNEWS reports citing the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation.

The teams “Embavud” and “Sarhadchi,” both undefeated in their first two games, faced each other. The match ended with a 2:1 victory for “Sarhadchi.”

In other matches of the day, “Buta Golden” scored five unanswered goals against “Shamakhi.”

The team “Zafar” defeated “Khazar” 7:0, and “Polad” beat “Omar” 3:0. Meanwhile, “Atilla” was handed a 0:6 technical defeat for failing to play against “Elit.”

After three rounds, the teams “Polad,” “Sarhadchi,” and “Elit” are leading the standings with 9 points each, while three other teams have 6 points.

In the top scorers list, Shefayet Budagov from “Polad” leads with 9 goals, followed by his teammate Samir Pirimov with 8 goals. From “Sarhadchi”, Vahid Mammadov has scored 7 goals, and Ibrahim Rzali has 5.

Chovgan, the precursor to modern polo, was traditionally played during holiday celebrations.

Each team consists of five riders-two fullbacks and three forwards. The match begins at the center of the field, with players using wooden mallets to attempt to score by hitting a small leather or wooden ball into the opposing team’s goal. The game lasts for 30 minutes. There are no age restrictions in this sport.

Chovgan players traditionally wear large astrakhan hats, long, tight-fitting coats with a high waist, and special trousers, socks and shoes.

In 2013, UNESCO decided to include the game of “chovgan” on its Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The European Azerbaijan Center has released the English version of its official statement marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian challenges in mine-contaminated areas of Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.

The document underscores that landmines and unexploded ordnance in formerly occupied territories continue to pose a persistent threat to civilian life, obstructing reconstruction efforts and delaying the safe return of displaced populations.

It stresses that the issue must be addressed within the framework of international humanitarian law, particularly regarding civilian protection and post-conflict recovery. The statement notes that the lack of comprehensive minefield data further exacerbates risks, leaving civilians exposed to ongoing danger.

The Center emphasizes that casualties caused by mine explosions-including civilians, children, and those involved in reconstruction-demonstrate that the issue is not merely technical, but a serious humanitarian concern directly affecting human life and security.

Calling for stronger international engagement, the organization urged global institutions, including bodies within the United Nations system, to take a more consistent and principled stance. Key priorities outlined include the full provision of mine maps, accelerated demining efforts, enhanced protection of victims’ rights, and expanded support for medical and psychological rehabilitation.

The statement concludes by stressing that international humanitarian and human rights principles must be applied universally to ensure the safety of civilians and enable their safe return to their homes.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Georgia on a state visit on April 6, AzerNEWS reports.

A guard of honor was arranged at Shota Rustaveli International Airport in Tbilisi to welcome the Azerbaijani head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Maka Bochorishvili and other officials.

Khatai Arts Center will open art exhibition of works by professional artists titled “T?sviri s?n?t kagizda” (Visual Arts on Paper) on April 11, AzerNEWS reports.

The project aims to preserve the traditions of classical Azerbaijani art and increase public interest in this field.

The exhibition will feature more than 600 works created on free themes, including graphics, miniatures, watercolors, and sketches, by over 300 visual artists.

Following the selection process, each participant will present one artwork. In total, works by 103 authors will be displayed at the exhibition.

The list of selected works is available at the following link.

The jury includes People’ s Artists Arif Huseynov, Sirus Mirzazade, Salhab Mammadov, and Ulviya Hamzayeva; Honored Artist Natig Safarov; Doctor of Philosophy in Art History Farman Gasimov; senior lecturers of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts Zohrab Jabbarov and Faig Akbarov; Chair of the Watercolor Society Sabina Iskandar; miniature artist Peri Asgarova; representative of the State Art Gallery Elchin Huseynli; art critic Rafil Gulyammadli; and head of the Baku Gallery Eldaniz Babayev.

In support of the exhibition, a number of well-known artists will participate as honorary guests and present their works.

Awards will be presented within the framework of the exhibition in the following categories: best work in the national spirit, best illustration, best miniature, best graphic work, best classical work, best contemporary work, best watercolor, and best sketch.

All exhibited works will be returned to their authors after the exhibition. Participants whose works are displayed will receive certificates.

Works for participation must be submitted to the Khatai Arts Center by April 8.

The exhibition is organized by the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union, the State Art Gallery, the Khatai International Watercolor Gallery, and the Khatai Arts Center.

The event is supported by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the “Azerbaijani Television and Radio Broadcasting” CJSC, the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, the Khatai District Executive Power, the Azerbaijani brunch of the International Watercolor Society (IWS Azerbaijan), and the Artists Union of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.