Category: Azer News

The first plenary meeting of the G-77 and China Group for 2026 has been held at UNESCO Headquarters under the Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, AzerNEWS reports.

UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany attended the event as the keynote speaker.

Opening the plenary session, Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Ambassador Elman Abdullayev, thanked member states for the trust placed in Azerbaijan.

He emphasized that during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, the interests of Global South countries would be kept high on UNESCO’s agenda, the Group’s activities would be further enriched, and coordination among member states would be strengthened.

Against the backdrop of ongoing international and regional challenges, the ambassador highlighted the importance of reinforcing the multilateral system, as well as solidarity and cooperation within the UN framework. He also noted that the G-77 and China Group serves as an important platform in the fields of education, science, culture, communication, and information, as well as on priorities such as Africa, small island developing states, and youth.

Speaking at the meeting, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany stated that the initiative launched within the framework of UNESCO’s 80th anniversary aims to strengthen multilateralism and solidarity, as well as activities aligned with the organization’s core mandate in the areas of peace, education, science, culture, and communication. He stressed the importance of inclusive and transparent consultations with member states throughout the reform process.

During the plenary session, newly appointed permanent representatives were congratulated, the agenda was adopted, and discussions were held on the UNESCO 80 initiative as well as the Group’s ongoing activities.

Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the G-77 and China Group once again highlights the country’s growing role within international organizations, particularly UNESCO, and its contribution to global dialogue and solidarity.

The trial of Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian citizen accused under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other serious offences, continued on February 10.

AzerNEWS reports that the session was held at the Baku Military Court, where Rufat Mammadov, head of the Cabinet of Ministers’ Apparatus, appeared on behalf of the Azerbaijani state as a civil plaintiff. He confirmed that he agreed with all the facts, evidence, and proofs presented in the indictment by the state prosecution and requested the court to take them into consideration.

Following this, legal heirs of the victims, including Azad Karimov, Ogtay Shikhaliyev, and others, addressed the court, urging that the accused be sentenced to the maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

The accused, R. Vardanyan, requested to speak with his defence attorney, Emil Babishov. The court approved his request, and a recess was declared to allow the meeting.

US-Azerbaijani trade relations have recently entered a new and more structured phase. The first bilateral business mission between Azerbaijan and the United States, organized toward the end of last month, marked an important milestone in institutionalizing economic dialogue between the two countries. The mission focused on key strategic sectors, including energy and digital transformation, defense and transport, agriculture and healthcare, finance, and investments – areas that reflect both Azerbaijan’s diversification agenda and US global commercial priorities.

Within the framework of the US Chamber of Commerce business mission to Azerbaijan, a high-level roundtable was held at the Ministry of Economy. The delegation was led by Kush Choksi, Senior Vice President of the US Chamber of Commerce for the Middle East, Central Asia, and Turkiye. During the discussions, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan-US relations, supported by the political will of both governments, have evolved to the level of a strategic partnership. This political foundation has created favorable conditions for broadening economic cooperation beyond its traditional energy-centered model.

From an analytical perspective, the emphasis on macroeconomic stability and sustainable development during the roundtable was not coincidental. Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a predictable and reform-oriented economy at a time when global investors are increasingly sensitive to risk, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory uncertainty. The country’s efforts to expand the non-oil and gas sector – combined with incentives for entrepreneurs, digitalization reforms, and investment-friendly policies -signal a clear intention to attract long-term, technology-driven foreign capital rather than short-term speculative inflows.

Transport and logistics also emerged as a strategic theme. Azerbaijan’s geographic location and expanding transport corridors offer US companies potential access to wider regional markets, including Central Asia and Europe. New transport connections are expected to increase Azerbaijan’s relevance not only as a trading partner but also as a transit hub, adding a geopolitical dimension to economic cooperation.

US company representatives expressed satisfaction with Azerbaijan’s business environment and signaled strong interest in deepening partnerships. The participation of executives from global corporations such as Apple, ExxonMobil, bp, Boeing, Visa, Mastercard, Shell, Meta, and Honeywell underscores the breadth of US commercial interest. This diversity suggests that bilateral relations are gradually moving from sector-specific engagement toward a more comprehensive economic partnership.

The current momentum can be traced back to the Memorandum of Understanding signed on August 8, 2025, which laid the groundwork for intensified cooperation in strategic investment and regional economic integration. Notably, the scope of cooperation now includes artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies – areas that could redefine the future trajectory of Azerbaijan-US economic relations.

Trade structure and current dynamics

Despite the growing political and strategic dialogue, trade figures indicate that Azerbaijan-US trade remains asymmetric and concentrated. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Azerbaijan exported a total of $27.2 billion in 2024, ranking 71st globally. Exports to the United States totaled $74.9 million, dominated by aluminum plating ($31.7 million), explosive ammunition ($8.13 million), petroleum resins ($6.51 million), ferroalloys ($6.79 million), and diamonds ($2.51 million).

This export structure reflects limited product diversification and highlights the challenge Azerbaijan faces in scaling up non-energy exports to the US market. While Azerbaijan is the largest US trading partner in the South Caucasus, its share in total US imports remains modest, indicating untapped potential rather than underperformance.

Historically, energy has been the backbone of bilateral economic relations. Since Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991, US companies have played a pivotal role in developing the country’s oil and gas sector. Over time, this cooperation has expanded, but energy still defines the strategic core of the relationship.

The United States is Azerbaijan’s second-largest investor, with over 250 US-invested companies registered in the country. Foundational agreements, including the 1993 Agreement on Commercial Relations and the 1997 Agreement on the Protection and Promotion of Mutual Investments, have provided legal stability and investor confidence. The Azerbaijan-US Economic Partnership Commission, established in 2007, has further strengthened institutional ties through regular meetings in Baku and Washington.

Trade trends: Rapid growth, structural imbalance

Trade statistics over recent years show rapid growth, particularly on the import side:

Year Import Export Trade turnover

2022 $479.8M $90.3M $570.1M

2023 $888.1M $16.0M $904.1M

2024 $1,617.93M $135.03M $1,752.96M

The sharp increase in trade turnover in 2024 indicates intensifying economic interaction. However, the persistent trade deficit highlights Azerbaijan’s reliance on US high-value imports such as machinery, aircraft, engines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and advanced technologies. While these imports support modernization and productivity gains, they also underline the need for Azerbaijan to enhance export competitiveness in value-added sectors.

Azerbaijan’s exports to the US – ranging from crude oil and agricultural products to carpets, textiles, chemical goods, and electronic equipment – remain fragmented. Expanding these exports will likely require compliance with stricter US standards, branding strategies, and deeper integration into global value chains.

Beyond trade: Technology and energy security

Cooperation in space and high technology represents another strategic layer of the relationship. Partnerships with US companies such as Orbital Sciences Corporation and Space Systems/Loral for the Azerspace-1 and Azerspace-2 satellites demonstrate that bilateral cooperation extends into advanced technological domains.

Energy cooperation remains the cornerstone. US participation in the ‘Contract of the Century’ and support for the Southern Gas Corridor underline Washington’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s role in regional and European energy security. Continued US involvement in projects such as Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and the extension of production-sharing agreements signal that energy, while evolving, will remain central to the partnership.

In conclusion, US- Azerbaijan trade relations are transitioning from an energy-dominated model toward a more diversified and strategic framework. While trade volumes are growing rapidly, the qualitative transformation of exports and deeper integration into high-value sectors will determine the long-term sustainability of this relationship. If current reforms and investment initiatives translate into concrete projects, US -Azerbaijan economic cooperation may enter a new phase – one defined not only by energy security, but also by innovation, connectivity, and shared strategic interests.

The Azerbaijan Filmmakers’ Union, in partnership with the Institut Français Azerbaïdjan and the French Embassy in Baku, has announced the international “East-West Kino Lab” program for the development of feature film projects, AzerNEWS reports.

The program aims to help both emerging and experienced Azerbaijani filmmakers develop their feature film projects to international standards, providing professional mentorship and training to prepare them for global platforms. Selected participants will have the opportunity to structure and strengthen their projects, bringing them to a presentation-ready stage. Through masterclasses and one-on-one mentoring sessions, projects will receive professional guidance throughout development and presentation phases, while participants will also gain valuable networking opportunities with international film professionals.

Applications are open to Azerbaijani producers and directors working in teams on feature film projects at the development stage. The screenwriter of the selected project may participate as a listener. Directors must hold the copyright for their projects, with the screenwriter’s consent. Since the program will be conducted in English, the presenting team (director and producer) must be proficient in English (at least one member), and all submitted materials must be in English.

The one-week development program is designed for filmmakers with feature-length projects who already have a logline, synopsis, and treatment. During the training, participants will receive intensive lessons and one-on-one guidance to refine their loglines, synopses, and treatments, while also developing skills for pitching and presenting their projects.

Interested participants should submit all information in English as a single PDF file (named after the applicant) to info@aki.az with the subject line “East-West Kino Lab.”

The application deadline is March 5, and the training will take place from April 8-14. Projects that succeed in the pitching stage will receive technical, financial, and organizational support to further their development.

Founded in 2012, the Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union (AUF) focuses on the development of local cinema as an integral part of national culture and world cinema.

Azerbaijani cinema has come to be an internationally recognized modern art, enjoying huge popularity and recognition at international film festivals, which frequently award the national films.

Over the past years, more than 300 films and 1,200 documentaries, as well as hundreds of cartoons, were filmed.

The Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union is a member of the Confederation of Unions of Cinematographers of the CIS and Baltic States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday about American talks with Iran, his office said Saturday. At the same time, Iran’s foreign minister threatened U.S. military bases in the region a day after the discussions, AzerNEWS reports via CNBC.

‘The prime minister believes that all negotiations must include limiting the ballistic missiles, and ending support for the Iranian axis,’ Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement, referring to Tehran’s support for militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories. Trump and Netanyahu last met in December.

There was no immediate White House comment.

The U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran held indirect talks on Friday in Oman that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Trump called the talks ‘very good’ and said more were planned for early next week. Washington was represented by Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear program after sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships to the region amid Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests that killed thousands.

Gulf Arab nations fear an attack could spark a regional war, with memories fresh of the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June.

For the first time in negotiations with Iran, the U.S. on Friday brought its top military commander in the Middle East to the table. U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the military’s Central Command, then visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday with Witkoff and Kushner, the command said in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told journalists Friday that ‘nuclear talks and the resolution of the main issues must take place in a calm atmosphere, without tension and without threats.’ He said that diplomats would return to their capitals, signaling that this round of negotiations was over.

On Saturday, Araghchi told the Al Jazeera satellite news network that if the U.S. attacks Iran, his country doesn’t have the ability to strike the U.S., and therefore has to attack or retaliate against U.S. bases in the region.’

He said there is ‘very, very deep distrust’ after what happened during the previous talks, when the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites during last year’s Israel-Iran war.

Araghchi also said the ‘missile issue’ and other defense matters are ‘in no way negotiable, neither now nor at any time in the future.’

Tehran has maintained that these talks will be only on its nuclear program.

However, Al Jazeera reported that diplomats from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar offered Iran a proposal in which Tehran would halt enrichment for three years, send its highly enriched uranium out of the country and pledge to ‘not initiate the use of ballistic missiles.’

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the talks needed to include all those issues.

A high-level roundtable on energy cooperation was held in Azerbaijan as part of a U.S. business mission led by Kush Choksi, Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Trkiye at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the meeting was chaired by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov and brought together senior representatives from SOCAR, Azerenergy, Azerishiq, Azeristiliktechizat, the State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources, and the Energy Regulatory Agency.

According to the Ministry of Energy, participants expressed satisfaction with the strong Azerbaijan-U.S. energy partnership, noting that cooperation has contributed not only to the successful implementation of national projects but also to regional and international energy security initiatives. U.S. companies’ technologies, expertise, and investments were highlighted as playing a decisive role in the development of major transnational energy projects.

It was emphasized that the policies pursued by the leaders of both countries – aimed at ensuring peace in the region and strengthening Azerbaijan-U.S. relations on the basis of strategic partnership – have also accelerated the development of energy cooperation.

The discussions underscored Azerbaijan’s balanced approach to developing all types of energy resources, diversifying regional energy connections, expanding its role as an electricity supplier, and allocating a significant share of energy production to meet the growing demand of data centers.

Participants explored cooperation opportunities across oil and gas, renewable energy, electricity, hydrogen, and energy efficiency. The current state of cooperation between SOCAR and ExxonMobil was reviewed, along with progress on electricity corridors linking Azerbaijan, Trkiye, Central Asia, and Europe.

Special attention was given to power transmission via the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’, as well as prospects for collaboration with U.S. companies within these projects. Both sides expressed strong mutual interest in expanding cooperation in technology transfer, knowledge sharing, expertise, and investment in the energy sector.

The U.S. delegation included senior executives from leading global companies such as Apple, ExxonMobil, Meta, Visa, Mastercard, bp, Shell International, Baker Hughes, Boeing Global, Honeywell, J.P. Morgan, Ericsson, Motorola Solutions, Wabtec, Lummus Technology, Marriott, Fuji Engineering, and several others.

A major step has been taken to modernize Azerbaijan’s film industry legal framework, aligning it with international standards and expanding support for local and foreign productions, AzerNEWS reports.

The draft law on amendments to the “Law on Cinematography” was approved in its first reading. The draft was included in the agenda of the Azerbaijani Parliament’s session held on February 10.

The Deputy Culture Minister, Farid Jafarov, said during his speech at the plenary session that the “Law on Cinematography,” adopted in 1998, no longer meets modern requirements due to current national and international challenges, as well as several new parameters.

“The Law on Cinematography, adopted in 1998, no longer meets modern requirements in light of current national and international challenges, as well as a number of new parameters. In this regard, the adoption of a new draft law will provide a significant boost to the high level of dynamism observed in this sector in recent years, while also promoting the international presentation of our national films and encouraging foreign film production in the country,” said Farid Jafarov.

He specifically noted that, since last year, following a relevant decree by the President, a mechanism has been put in place to reimburse the production costs of films made by foreign producers in Azerbaijan. This initiative is expected to play a significant role, both economically and socially, in attracting foreign films, particularly those showcased on major platforms to the country. This provision is also reflected in the current draft law.

“In recent years, the Azerbaijan Film Agency has produced a number of historical films. Currently, the production of films covering various periods of Azerbaijan’s statehood is ongoing,” the minister said.

Europe’s attempt to rid itself of Russian gas has entered a more forensic phase. Having spent the past three years scrambling for alternative supplies, the European Commission is now turning its attention to what it buys, how it is labelled, and whether molecules arriving at the EU’s borders are really what exporters claim them to be. The latest target of this scrutiny is not Moscow directly, but the infrastructure through which gas reaches Europe from Trkiye, including volumes supplied by Azerbaijan.

The European Union has legally adopted a step-by-step prohibition on imports of Russian pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas, as part of its REPowerEU roadmap to end reliance on Moscow’s energy exports. A full ban on LNG imports will come into force from early 2027, and on pipeline gas by late 2027 at the latest. Before authorising entry into the EU, member states must now ‘verify the country where gas was produced.’ This requirement underpins the mechanism forcing exporters to prove non-Russian origin for supplies

The immediate trigger was political. In November, a French MEP, Jean-Paul Garron, accused the EU of quietly circumventing its own sanctions by importing Russian gas disguised as Azerbaijani. Brussels dismissed the charge at the time, stressing that the Southern Gas Corridor, the pipeline system bringing Caspian gas via Georgia, Trkiye and Greece, has no technical link to Russia’s network. That remains true. Yet since then, the Commission has moved to impose additional verification requirements, forcing both EU member states and foreign suppliers to prove that gas entering the bloc is not of Russian origin.

The Commission’s June 2025 proposal to phase out Russian gas and oil imports entirely by the end of 2027 follows a decade-long effort to reduce reliance on Moscow’s energy leverage. Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia supplied as much as 40-45% of EU gas imports; by 2025, that share had fallen to around 13%, thanks to diversification efforts. The current push to ban Russian gas and require origin verification is a natural extension of that strategy.

The new checks apply most visibly at Strandja-1-Malkochlar, the interconnection point on the Bulgarian-Turkish border. According to ENTSOG, around 1.9 billion cubic metres of gas passed through this point into Bulgaria in 2025. The location is sensitive not because of Azerbaijani gas, but because of what sits nearby. Just a few kilometres away is Strandzha-2/Malkoclar, the onshore continuation of TurkStream, the pipeline carrying Russian gas across the Black Sea to Trkiye and onwards into south-eastern Europe.

Until now, geography and shared infrastructure have allowed uncomfortable ambiguities. Even after Bulgaria declared in 2022 that it would stop buying Russian gas, it emerged a year later that Gazprom molecules were still entering the country through the Trans-Balkan system. Brussels has learnt from that episode. Under the new regime, any compressor station that connects EU pipelines to routes carrying substantial Russian volumes will face similar scrutiny. The aim is simple: to ensure that Russian gas does not slip into the EU through legal grey zones.

This has consequences far beyond Bulgaria. Since 2023, Azerbaijan has been using the Trans-Balkan pipeline in reverse mode to supplement deliveries to Europe. The reason is capacity. The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, was expanded this year to around 11.2bn cubic metres annually. That is still less than Azerbaijan’s actual exports: in 2025, Baku shipped roughly 12.9bn cubic metres to European buyers. Unless further expansions are completed, part of that volume must continue to flow via the Trans-Balkan route, and therefore through infrastructure now subject to enhanced checks.

For Azerbaijan, this is an inconvenience rather than a threat. Its gas is produced under production-sharing agreements with international oil companies and marketed under strict transparency rules. Certifying origin is unlikely to pose a serious problem. Indeed, Brussels’s insistence on verification implicitly acknowledges Baku’s growing role as a strategic supplier whose volumes must be accommodated, even as Europe tightens sanctions.

The European Union checks the quality and origin of Azerbaijani gas in two main ways: through physical-chemical characteristics and origin documentation. Each shipment is accompanied by a certificate of origin, confirming that the gas comes from Azerbaijan and has not been mixed with supplies from other countries. Physical inspections are conducted at border stations, such as Strandja-1/Malkoçlar, where the gas is analysed for methane content, other components (ethane, propane, nitrogen, CO2), harmful substances (H2S, water vapour, dust), and calorific value/Wobbe index. Laboratory results are certified in protocols and submitted to EU regulators. Under new rules, the EU also verifies that the gas is not of Russian origin, using transit data, documentation, and real-time monitoring systems.

Since gas production in Azerbaijan is carried out with international company participation and high transparency standards, the origin of every cubic meter can be easily confirmed, ensuring no issues for deliveries to Europe. As a result, Azerbaijani gas fully meets EU standards for both quality and origin, while the EU’s verification mechanisms are designed to ensure safety, energy efficiency, and prevent Russian gas from entering the market.

The real casualty is Trkiye. Ankara has spent the past decade positioning itself as a regional gas hub, investing heavily in LNG terminals, expanding underground storage and leveraging its geography to sit astride Russian, Caspian and Middle Eastern flows. That strategy relied, at least in part, on Russian gas remaining commercially usable for Europe. The EU’s new controls draw a firm line through that assumption. Russian gas may enter Trkiye, but it will not enter the EU through Trkiye.

The numbers are stark. Last year, roughly 17bn cubic metres of Russian gas reached Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia via TurkStream. Since the start of this year, daily flows have been running close to capacity. Once the EU’s ban takes full effect, only Serbia, outside the EU, will remain a destination, taking around 2.2bn cubic metres annually. The Balkan transmission system, built for more than 15bn cubic metres, will be drastically underused. Transit revenues for Trkiye could fall by billions of dollars.

There is a partial consolation. With Europe closed off, Russia will struggle to redirect tens of billions of cubic metres elsewhere in the short term. Trkiye, which still imports about 21bn cubic metres of Russian gas a year out of total consumption of roughly 60bn, may be able to negotiate steeper discounts. Domestic production from the Sakarya field in the Black Sea, around 9m cubic metres a day, enough for some four million households, helps, but imports will remain essential.

Seen from Brussels, this is collateral damage worth accepting. The EU’s overriding objective is strategic clarity: no Russian gas, no ambiguity, no creative relabelling. By enforcing origin checks at critical nodes, the bloc is signalling that its energy divorce from Moscow is entering a more disciplined, rule-based phase.

Europe still needs Caspian gas, and in volumes that exceed existing pipeline capacity. Today, Azerbaijan supplies natural gas to 16 countries, 10 of which are EU member states, giving it the widest geographical coverage of pipeline gas exports globally. Verification may slow flows at the margins, but it also underlines Baku’s value as a supplier whose gas can be traced, audited and politically defended. In an energy market shaped as much by geopolitics as by geology, that distinction matters.

Tahir Yagub oghlu Budagov, appointed head of the Executive Authority of Baku’s Nasimi district by an order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was formally introduced to the district’s staff on Tuesday.

The presentation was made by Assistant to the President and Head of the Territorial and Organizational Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Zeynal Nagdaliyev, in the presence of representatives of the district’s public.

AzerNEWS reports that Zeynal Nagdaliyev delivered the official introduction and conveyed the instructions and recommendations of the head of state.

In his remarks, T. Budagov expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him.

Azerbaijan Defence Ministry has shared a weekly report on Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ recent participation in the joint operational-tactical exercise Peace Shield – 2026 in Abu Dhabi as well as overall activities, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Defence Ministry.

Recall that on February 3, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan observed the joint operational-tactical exercise Peace Shield – 2026, conducted with the participation of servicemen from the armed forces of both countries in Abu Dhabi.