Category: Azer News

On December 13, the presentation ceremony of the electronic book ‘Western Azerbaijan in Documents and Sources’ by historian and writer Afgan Valiyev, Head of Sector at the Social Research Center, was held at the Litera Book House, Azernews reports.

The book was prepared within the framework of a grant competition of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations and is part of the ‘Ancient Homeland’ project implemented by the National Heritage Cultural Historical Research Foundation.

The event brought together representatives of state institutions, heads of NGOs, members of the scientific and public community, and media representatives.

Opening the event, Asad Aslanoglu, Director of MIMTA Publications, spoke about the essence of the work, the process of developing the e-book, and the significance of Azerbaijan’s historic Victory.

Executive Director of the MIMTA Foundation, Parviz Amirov, highlighted the development of the ‘Ancient Homeland’ project, noting that the book was also prepared in electronic format in both Azerbaijani and English to ensure global accessibility of this valuable research.

Chairman of the Public Union ‘Baku Resource and Training Center of Non-Governmental Organizations’, Rauf Zeyni, welcomed such initiatives, emphasizing that these research projects are among the achievements realized after Azerbaijan’s historic Victory and reaffirming readiness for a return to Western Azerbaijan, described as the nation’s ancestral homeland.

Sharing her views on the publication, Irada Rzazade, Chairperson of the Public Union ‘For Citizens’ Social Welfare’, stated that the book represents an integral part of national history and expressed hope for an increase in similar NGO-led initiatives focusing on Western Azerbaijan.

President of the Public Union ‘Support for the Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis’, Tofig Alizade, noted the resilience and heroism of the Azerbaijani people, underlining that the nation not only confronted enemies in Armenia but also overcame broader lobbying efforts, adding that the implementation of such projects deserves strong support.

Within the framework of the event, legal researcher Samad Vakilov, Honored Art Worker Shafaq Sultan Alikhanli, and other speakers expressed their gratitude to the MIMTA Foundation and Afgan Valiyev for their contributions.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that Moscow is primarily focused on engagement with the United States rather than European countries in efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Azernews reports.

Speaking to reporters, Peskov claimed that European states are pursuing their own agenda and suggested that they are inclined toward prolonging the war. ‘The Europeans are playing their own game. It still looks like they want the war to continue, but we are naturally more oriented toward our counterparts in Washington,’ he said.

Peskov’s remarks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled Kyiv’s willingness to abandon its bid for NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees from the United States, European nations, and other partners.

The statements highlight differing diplomatic approaches among key actors as discussions around potential pathways to end the conflict continue to gain momentum.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that Moscow is primarily focused on engagement with the United States rather than European countries in efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Azernews reports.

Speaking to reporters, Peskov claimed that European states are pursuing their own agenda and suggested that they are inclined toward prolonging the war. ‘The Europeans are playing their own game. It still looks like they want the war to continue, but we are naturally more oriented toward our counterparts in Washington,’ he said.

Peskov’s remarks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled Kyiv’s willingness to abandon its bid for NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees from the United States, European nations, and other partners.

The statements highlight differing diplomatic approaches among key actors as discussions around potential pathways to end the conflict continue to gain momentum.

The 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has officially begun in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

Held under the theme ‘UNAOC: 20 Years of Dialogue for Humanity – Towards a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World’, the forum brings together heads of state and government, leaders of international and regional organizations, religious figures, and representatives from the private sector, youth, arts, sports, academia, and media.

A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by Minister of Culture Adil Kerimli, along with Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), is participating in the event.

Over the course of two days, forum sessions will cover topics including:

Responsible leadership in a multipolar world: promoting multilateralism through inclusive dialogue

Faith in humanity: interfaith dialogue as a bridge to peace and a unified humanity

From digital realities to the real world: combating deepfakes, AI-driven disinformation, and algorithm-enhanced hate

Protecting human dignity and promoting belonging: reimagining migration narratives and designing cities as inclusive spaces for all

In addition, the forum will host the UNAOC Friends High-Level Meeting and the UNAOC Youth Forum, highlighting the importance of cross-generational dialogue and global cooperation.

Azerbaijan and the United States (US) have discussed expanding energy-sector cooperation, focusing on current projects and future opportunities, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov’s publication on X said, Azernews reports.

“We had a fruitful meeting with Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, David L. Fogel, in Washington. We discussed potential cooperation with the US. Companies in implementing Azerbaijan’s wide and diversified regional power supply plans and projects, including the potential fields,” the post reads.

The volume of trade between Azerbaijan and the U.S. from January through October of this year was $1.059 billion. This is $19.7 million, or 1.9%, more than during the same months of 2024.

Over the reporting period, trade turnover with the U.S. accounted for 2.59% of Azerbaijan’s total trade turnover. Thus, the U.S. ranked sixth among the countries with which Azerbaijan conducted the largest number of trade operations during the reporting period.

From January through October of this year, Azerbaijani exports to the U.S. totaled $52.7 million. This is $65.8 million, or 2.2 times less than during the same period last year.

At the same time, for the reporting period, Azerbaijan imported $1 billion worth of goods from the U.S., which is $85.5 million or 9.3% more than in the same period of 2024. Thus, during the reporting period, the U.S. ranked fourth among the countries from which Azerbaijan imports the largest amount of goods.

Elchin Amirbayov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan, has undertaken a working visit to the Republic of Poland, Azernews reports.

During his visit, Amirbayov held meetings at the Office of the Prime Minister with Malgorzata Latkiewicz-Pavlak, Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, as well as Radoslaw Gruk, Advisor to the President of Poland. He also met with Grzegorz Schetyna, Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee; Brigadier General Andrzej Kowalski, Deputy Director of the Security Department in the Presidential Office; and Marcin Bosacki, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions focused on the current state and development prospects of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Poland. Both sides underscored the importance of high-level reciprocal visits and regular political dialogue as central components of the bilateral agenda, agreeing on the need to continue such exchanges in the near future. Amirbayov highlighted Azerbaijan’s recognition of Poland as a reliable partner within the frameworks of the European Union and NATO.

While acknowledging that economic relations between the two countries remain below their full potential, the parties expressed interest in deepening cooperation in traditional sectors and diversifying into new areas. In particular, they identified green transition and renewable energy, logistics, transport connectivity, and defense as promising fields for collaboration.

Amirbayov also updated his Polish counterparts on the latest steps toward normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. He stressed that although the two countries are effectively in a de facto state of peace, formal legal recognition of this peace is essential. Discussions also focused on regional security and new opportunities for practical cooperation arising from evolving realities in the region.

Parliamentary cooperation was highlighted as a key component of Azerbaijan-Poland relations. Amirbayov emphasized that intensifying inter-parliamentary contacts strengthens mutual trust and expressed optimism that high-level exchanges in this sphere would continue next year, referencing an official invitation to the Polish Senate Speaker.

The Azerbaijani envoy also critiqued the ‘European Union-Armenia Partnership Strategic Agenda,’ noting that it does not reflect current regional realities and does not contribute to either EU-Azerbaijan relations or the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process.

Polish officials were briefed on the consequences of Armenia’s occupation policies, including damage to Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage and the extensive landmine problem. Amirbayov stressed that demining remains a priority for Azerbaijan and called for greater international support, noting that current aid is limited compared to Azerbaijan’s efforts. He also invited Polish companies to participate in post-conflict reconstruction projects in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

As part of his visit, Amirbayov spoke at a roundtable with representatives of leading Polish think tanks, discussing geopolitical developments in the South Caucasus, as well as the strategic significance of the ‘Middle Corridor’ and Zangezur Corridor. Additionally, he gave interviews to prominent Polish media outlets, including the national public broadcaster TVP World and the Polish News Agency.

On December 12, a memorial event was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United Mexican States to mark the 22nd anniversary of the passing of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev.

Azernews reports that the event began with a one-minute moment of silence in honor of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, followed by the laying of a wreath at his bust. During the ceremony, special emphasis was placed on the exceptional role played by the National Leader in the history of the Azerbaijani people and state, his invaluable services in building and strengthening modern Azerbaijan, as well as his rich and wise legacy of statehood.

As part of the event, a video report was screened highlighting the National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s official visit to Mexico in 1982 as head of a delegation. It was noted that the footage shown consisted of rare archival materials from the Golden Fund of Azerbaijan Television. The historical significance of this visit for the development of Azerbaijan-Mexico relations was also underscored.

At the Asset Integrity and Corrosion Conference (AICC 2025), Azernews held an in-depth conversation with Tuartek’s Chairman of the Board, Sirzat Turan, Vice Chairman, Nurettin Argali, and General Manager, Ali Gneyli. As an EPCM company specialized in corrosion control technologies, Tuartek provides multidisciplinary engineering, consultancy, and implementation services across the energy, petrochemical, marine, and infrastructure sectors.

The company plays a vital role in both national and corporate economic resilience by raising awareness about corrosion control and preventing corrosion-related damage. Tuartek has delivered successful projects for leading organizations, including TANAP, SOCAR Turkiye Aegean Refinery (STAR), and PETKIM and PETLIM, offering tailored corrosion mitigation strategies and comprehensive project management solutions. By combining operational excellence with engineering innovation, Tuartek supports major assets end-to-end, from design and inspection to implementation, operation, and maintenance.

Question: Tuartek provides consultancy and inspection services for cathodic protection systems across major SOCAR projects, including the TANAP pipeline and STAR. How are your consultancy and supervision applied throughout these projects, and during which stages do you contribute the most?

According to the company’s leadership, Tuartek provides end-to-end corrosion and cathodic protection consultancy for all SOCAR subsidiaries in Trkiye, supporting projects through construction, commissioning, operation, and long-term maintenance.

‘Where design gaps or inconsistencies are identified, we provide SOCAR with detailed feedback and recommendations, enabling corrections to be made prior to implementation,’ they explained.

Their involvement begins at the desk, not in the field. The team first reviews all project documentation in terms of design reports, technical specifications, and drawings to verify that cathodic protection systems are correctly planned.

After construction, Tuartek’s role transitioned into the operation and maintenance phase, where its responsibilities broadened significantly. ‘From the very first year of commissioning, we have carried out detailed measurements and performance checks to verify that the systems remain fully protected,’ the representatives said.

They noted that both TANAP and the STAR Refinery continue to benefit from Tuartek’s ongoing operation and maintenance services. ‘We use advanced monitoring and diagnostic tools and methods. Our primary focus is to ensure that these systems operate safely, reliably, and in line with international standards throughout their service life.’

Tuartek officials also pointed out that field assets are continually exposed to harsh environmental conditions and potential third-party interference. To safeguard system performance, the company carries out ongoing inspection, repair, and preventive maintenance to ensure long-term stability and reliability.

A key pillar of their work is digitalization. All field data is captured and managed within a Geographic Information System (GIS). ‘Our technicians record measurements directly into the system via mobile devices, which enables near real-time monitoring of the entire network,’ they explained. By comparing current results with historical data, Tuartek monitors system integrity and detects anomalies at an early stage. Any issues identified are then communicated to SOCAR through structured monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.

Question: Periodic measurements such as CIPS and DCVG surveys are essential for pipeline integrity. What are the most common challenges you encounter during these surveys, and how does Tuartek overcome them?

The officials highlighted that Tuartek regularly performs External Corrosion Direct Assessment on the entire 1,850 km TANAP pipeline, which includes both CIPS (Close Interval Potential Survey) and DCVG (Direct Current Voltage Gradient) surveys.

They explained that DCVG is used to detect coating defects that may occur due to seismic activity, ground movement, or temperature changes along the pipeline. Meanwhile, CIPS demonstrates the effectiveness of the cathodic protection system at every meter of the pipeline.

“We carry out both surveys on a five-year cycle along the entire route, dividing the work into annual sections of approximately 400-450 km,” they said.

When coating defects are identified, Tuartek verifies each location against SIB survey data to obtain a clear picture of the pipeline’s actual condition. Company representatives emphasized that a coating defect does not automatically indicate a safety risk: if cathodic protection readings confirm full effectiveness, the affected segment is still classified as safe, and this evaluation is thoroughly recorded and reported to the client.

However, the team noted that the terrain itself poses significant challenges. ‘In some sections, the pipeline passes through elevations above 2,000 meters. Accessing these locations and providing logistical support for our teams is extremely demanding,’ they said. Despite these conditions, Tuartek has successfully completed all scheduled surveys to date.

Another technical difficulty arises from telluric effects caused by the Earth’s magnetic field, which can influence measurement readings. The officials acknowledged these constraints but emphasized that the company applies advanced correction techniques and instrumentation to minimize their impact on data accuracy.

The International Military Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan held a year-end meeting with representatives of foreign military attachés accredited in the country, Azernews reports. The gathering brought together 41 participants from 28 countries.

During the meeting, Colonel Elchin Abdullayev, Head of the International Military Cooperation Department, highlighted Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. He emphasized that the victory not only restored Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but also contributed to international peace and restored historical justice. The colonel further stressed that the success of the Patriotic War served as a step toward peace not only for the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia but for the international community as a whole.

The discussions also reviewed military cooperation activities carried out in Azerbaijan throughout 2025. Special attention was given to the military parade held on November 8 in Baku’s Azadliq Square, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Patriotic War victory, as well as to visits organized for foreign military attachés to various regions of Azerbaijan, including liberated territories, to showcase reconstruction, restoration, and development projects.

Participants engaged in detailed exchanges on planned activities for the coming year, discussed future cooperation prospects, and received answers to their questions regarding Azerbaijan’s defense initiatives.

The National Library of Azerbaijan has unveiled a special book exhibition titled ‘People’s Artist Rashid Behbudov – 110’, dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the birth of Rashid Behbudov, the legendary Azerbaijani singer and actor whose extraordinary voice and artistic mastery have captivated audiences around the world, Azernews reports.

According to the library, the exhibition features a rich collection of Azerbaijani and foreign publications detailing Behbudov’s life and career. Visitors can explore materials highlighting his contributions to Azerbaijani musical culture, his distinctive vocal timbre, signature performance style, and interpretations of folk and composer songs. The exhibition also showcases photographs, gramophone records, and press clippings documenting his unparalleled achievements.

Born on December 14, 1915, in Tbilisi to the family of Majid Behbudov Behbudali, a renowned khanende from Shusha, Rashid Behbudov became one of Azerbaijan’s most illustrious cultural figures. A true ambassador of his homeland, he promoted Azerbaijani culture passionately across the globe, leaving an indelible mark on audiences in countless countries.

Behbudov’s legacy endures through his immortal voice, admired for its power, emotion, and technical brilliance. With exceptional professionalism and mastery of vocal and stage performance, he made substantial contributions to the development of opera in Azerbaijan. Throughout his illustrious career, he embarked on international tours, delighting audiences with his versatile talent and leaving unforgettable impressions everywhere he performed.

In recognition of his monumental contributions to Azerbaijani culture, the 100th anniversary of Rashid Behbudov was celebrated at the state level in 2015, following a decree by the President of Azerbaijan, underscoring his enduring influence on the promotion and development of the nation’s artistic heritage.