Category: Azer News

The final of the Azerbaijan Champions Cup in Dance will take place at the Sarhadchi Sports Complex on November 30, featuring the best dance teams in the country, Azernews reports citing the Azerbaijan Dance Association. The event starts at 09:00.

Competing for the prestigious cup will be the winners of regional, national, and international tournaments. Among the finalists are:

Yalkin – winner of the Ümid Cup

Khamsa – winner of the K?p?z Cup

Nur Dance / Grasiya Dance Club – champion of Baku

Inci Ansambli – winner of the Böyk Qafqaz Cup

Qaval – winner of the Art Olimpia Cup

Qaval Grasiya Dance Club – Azerbaijan champion

Grasiya Dance Club- winner of the Payiz ?fsan?l?ri Cup

At the S?rh?dçi arena, the teams will present vibrant, dynamic performances and showcase the highest level of preparation. The final promises to be a grand celebration of dance, skill, and spirit.

The organizers invite all dance enthusiasts to witness the decisive battle of the country’s strongest teams and support their favorites in this spectacular event.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to His Excellency Mr. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

Azernews presents the letter:

‘Dear Mr. President,

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, I sincerely congratulate you and, through you, the entire friendly people of your country, and extend my sincerest wishes.

We are delighted by the new momentum in relations between Azerbaijan and Timor-Leste. We attach great importance to the development of our interstate relations, which are built on solid foundations and mutual respect, and to the further enrichment of our cooperation with new substance.

I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Timor-Leste and to expand our cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health, happiness and every success in your endeavours, as well as lasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Timor-Leste.

A jubilee event dedicated to the 90th anniversary of People’s Artist, Professor, State Prize Laureate, and holder of the “Shohrat” and “Istiqlal” Orders, eminent composer Vasif Adigozalov, has taken place at the Azerbaijan Composers’ Union, Azernews reports.

During the event, President of the Azerbaijan Composers’ Union, People’s Artist, corresponding member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and Professor, Firangiz Alizadeh, discussed the creative legacy of Vasif Adigozalov, a worthy successor to the Gara Garayev school.

She stressed that his diverse body of work spans various musical genres, noting that his cantatas, oratorios, and the patriotic opera “Natavan” continue to stir deep emotions in listeners both within Azerbaijan and internationally. Firangiz Alizadeh also mentioned that Vasif Adigozalov’s works are part of the “Eternal Signatures” collection, a project by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. She added that it is gratifying to see the composer’s magnificent pieces still being performed widely across the country’s concert stages and incorporated into educational curricula.

The event featured presentations by musicologists, who explored different facets of Vasif Adigozalov’s artistry.

The Union’s Secretary, Dr Leyla Zöhrabova, Associate Professor, delivered a talk on “The Reflection of National Music Traditions in Vasif Adigozalov’s Symphonic Works.”

Dr Imruz Afandiyeva, Honoured Art Worker and Professor, shared “Memories of Vasif Adigozeaov,” while Professor Hajar Babayeva, Honoured Art Worker, spoke on “Vasif Adigozalov and Azerbaijani Literature.” Dr Seadat Tahmirazgizi, Honoured Cultural Worker, discussed “Patriotism in Vasif Adigozalov’s Music.”

Vasif Adigozalov’s son, People’s Artist Yalchin Adigozalov, expressed his commitment to ensuring his father’s works are diligently promoted throughout his own career in music. The event continued with a musical performance.

Under the direction of People’s Artist Glbaci Imanova, the State Choir Capella performed fragments from Vasif Adigozalov’s oratorios “Çanaqqala – 1915” and “Qarabag Shikast?si” (soloist: Gunel Asadova, concertmasters: Vafa Azizova, Elkhan Niftiyev).

The composer’s Violin Concerto was performed by international competition laureates Lala Mukhtarova (violin) and Zuleykha Usubova (piano), while his “Three Preludes for Piano” were played by Honoured Artist Elnara Keberlinskaya. His celebrated works, the “Q?r?nfil” romance and the song “Lay-lay”, were presented by international competition laureate R?van Mustafazad? (tar) and Sevinc K?rimova (piano).

The event concluded with a video presentation of a segment from Vasif Adigozalov’s “Qarabag Shikast?si” oratorio, performed by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra and the State Choir Capella, conducted by Yalchin Adigozalov.

Vasif Adigozalov was born on July 28, 1935, in Baku. He began his musical journey with early training in piano at a specialised music school. In 1953, he entered the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, where he studied composition, graduating in 1958, followed by a degree in piano in 1959.

During his student years, Vasif Adigozalov composed his first pieces, which were showcased at the first Congress of Composers of Azerbaijan in 1956. Between 1957 and 1959, he worked as the chief editor for the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Azerbaijan.

From 1959 to 1960, he taught at the Baku Music College named after Asaf Zeynally, and later became the chief music editor at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic from 1960 to 1961.

From 1962 to 1968, Vasif Adigozalov served as the responsible secretary of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan, and between 1968 and 1978, he was the artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble. He also led the Baku Music College as its director from 1972 to 1983.

In 1972, Vasif Adigozalov began a long-standing association with the Baku Music Academy. As a teacher, associate professor, and later professor, he made significant contributions to the development of young musicians. From 1990 onward, he served as the first secretary of the Azerbaijan Composers’ Union.

A key figure in Azerbaijani music, Vasif Adigozalov’s compositions reflect the cultural and artistic pulse of his time. His work is recognised for blending contemporary styles with Azerbaijani musical traditions, especially the deep-rooted art of mugham.

His compositions span various genres, including symphonies, symphonic poems, concertos, oratorios, operas, and musical comedies, all of which earned him widespread acclaim. His pieces also contributed significantly to Azerbaijani film and theatre music.

Vasif Adigozalov played an instrumental role in the advancement of Azerbaijan’s composer school. He was deeply committed to the training of professional musicians and to the activities of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan. Known for his intellectual integrity, he consistently demonstrated a strong sense of civic responsibility in regard to the events shaping society.

His contributions to Azerbaijani music and culture have been highly praised. He was honored with many prestigious awards, including the “Glory” Order in 1995 and the “Istiglal” Order in 2005.

Vasif Adigozalov passed away on September 15, 2006, and was laid to rest in the Alley of Honor.

‘We attach great importance to relations between Azerbaijan and Albania. We are pleased with the steady development of our interstate ties, built on solid foundations, and with the expansion of our cooperation,’ said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his congratulatory letter to President of Albania Bajram Begaj on the occasion of his country’s national holiday.

In his letter, President Ilham Aliyev further noted: ‘The intensity of our meetings and visits attests to the level of Azerbaijan-Albania friendship and the dynamic nature of our mutual relations. I fondly recall my visit to Tirana this May to participate in the 6th Summit of the European Political Community.

I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Albania and to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across a number of areas, in line with the will of our peoples.’

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has congratulated Albania on the occasion of its National Day.

As Azernews reports, the congratulatory message was shared on the MFA’s official account on the social media platform X.

The post reads: ‘Our warmest congratulations to the People and Government of Albania on the occasion of National Day.

Happy National Day, Albania!’

Daily Islamabad Post has published an article by Ansar Mahmood Bhatti focusing on the large-scale reconstruction and revival underway in Azerbaijan’s liberated Garabagh region.

Azernews reprints the piece for its readers.

The Great Return represents one of the most historic and transformative national endeavors in Azerbaijan’s modern era, marking the large-scale resettlement of citizens to the territories liberated following the 2020 Patriotic War. After nearly three decades of displacement, Azerbaijanis are finally returning to their ancestral homes in Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, beginning a new stage of national revival.

At the core of this process are the undeniable and decisive efforts of Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, whose leadership has been instrumental in shaping the vision, pace, and direction of the Great Return. President Aliyev personally oversees the reconstruction agenda, conducts regular visits to the liberated regions, and ensures that each stage of planning-from mine clearance and infrastructure development to the restoration of cultural heritage-is implemented with precision and long-term sustainability in mind. His commitment has ensured that the liberated lands are rebuilt not only as livable spaces but as exemplary models of modern urban development.

Under President Aliyev’s guidance, Azerbaijan has launched some of the most ambitious reconstruction projects in its history. Entire cities and villages are being rebuilt based on ‘smart city’ and ‘smart village’ concepts, integrating green technologies, digital governance, and high standards of urban planning. Aghali village in Zangilan, one of the first smart settlements, stands as a clear demonstration of the President’s vision-where families have already returned to modern homes with access to advanced public services and new economic opportunities.

Ensuring the safety of returnees has been another key priority. Under the direct instruction of President Aliyev, extensive demining operations have been accelerated, mobilizing national institutions and international partners to clear vast areas contaminated during the years of occupation. This effort has created safe conditions for reconstruction and the gradual return of residents.

Cultural and historical restoration also occupies a central place in the President’s agenda. Under his leadership, Azerbaijan has undertaken the rehabilitation of religious monuments, cultural sites, museums, cemeteries, and historical landmarks that suffered destruction or neglect. These projects serve not only to preserve national heritage but also to reestablish the cultural identity of the region.

The Great Return is, therefore, much more than a resettlement program-it is a comprehensive national revival shaped by strategic leadership, strong political will, and a clear vision for the future. Thanks to the unwavering efforts of President Ilham Aliyev, the liberated territories are being transformed into secure, modern, and prosperous regions, where Azerbaijani families can rebuild their lives with dignity and optimism. This historic process stands as a testament to Azerbaijan’s resilience and its commitment to restoring justice and prosperity to its people.

Ulviyya Fataliyeva delivered a stellar performance at FIDE World Women’s Team Championship in Linares, Spain, scoring 6 points from 10 games and earning the gold medal for the best individual result in her category, Azernews reports.

Her efforts helped Azerbaijani women’s chess team make history by securing a silver medal in the prestigious tournament.

After the victory she shared her thoughts about the tournament and her performance. She noted that participating in the championship had been a long-held goal for the team and that being able to compete brought them great joy:

“We had long hoped to participate in this tournament as a team. When it was finally confirmed at the last moment that we would compete in the World Championship, we were overjoyed,” she said.

The chess player added that their main goal before the tournament was to play well and achieve the best possible results:

“Before the tournament, we didn’t focus on our ranking. Time was short, so we concentrated on analyzing our opponents. Honestly, our position in the ranking wasn’t very important for us. Our primary goal was to advance from the group stage. In the playoffs, our determination grew even stronger. As a team, we tried to fight until the very end. I am grateful to all my teammates, our captain, and our coaches for the performance we showed in Linares.”

Ulviyya Fataliyeva pointed out that the most difficult match was against the FIDE team:

“It was both the final and our opponent fielded their strongest lineup. Superstars ranked in the top ten and top twenty in FIDE competed on their team. To be honest, playing against them was challenging. I also consider the match against Kazakhstan one of the toughest encounters. All eight games ended in a draw. Winning in blitz was both difficult and a boost to our team spirit.

After defeating Spain, we believed we could advance to the very end. We mobilized all our strength for that. Fatigue was noticeable during the final stage. We spent 10-12 hours a day analyzing chess games. Imagine how difficult it is to play two matches a day under such a schedule. In the first days, we didn’t feel it, but later in the games against Georgia, Kazakhstan, and FIDE, fatigue began to show. We hope that our silver medal will be a precursor to gold.”

Fataliyeva also recalled that the team’s participation in the World Championship was confirmed at the last moment. She concluded by saying that their achievement at the World Championship would inspire young people:

“The President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, Mahir, told us about how the Danish team participated in the 1992 European Championship at the last minute and achieved success. This motivated us. Indeed, such situations often happen in sports: when participation is confirmed at the last moment, it is still possible to achieve good results both individually and as a team. While talking with my teammates, we thought about continuing this tradition, and we are very happy that we succeeded.”

“We thank everyone who supported us, our captain Ilaha Gadimova, coaches Nijat Abasov and Gadir Huseynov, federation president Mahir Mammadov, our families, and friends. I hope our silver medal will be a great motivation for young people and children. We wish that our result will light a spark in their hearts and help them achieve even greater success in the future.”

Twelve teams participated in the 2025 FIDE World Women’s Team Championship. The competition featured a round-robin stage followed by a knockout phase, with standard classical time controls of 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move.

Each team match had four boards, and teams were divided into two groups for the initial stage.

The price of Azerbaijan’s ‘Azeri Light’ crude oil on a CIF basis at Italy’s Augusta port rose by $0.77, or 1.18 percent, compared with the previous figure, reaching $66.05 per barrel, Azernews reports.

It was reported that the price of a barrel of ‘Azeri Light’ on an FOB basis at Trkiye’s Ceyhan port increased by $0.80, or 1.27 percent, to $63.97.

Meanwhile, the price of Urals crude fell by $0.24, or 0.54 percent, compared to the previous level, settling at $44.07 per barrel.

The price of North Sea ‘Dated Brent’ crude rose by $0.73, or 1.15 percent, reaching $64.28 per barrel.

Azerbaijan’s state budget for 2025 sets the average price of a barrel of oil at $70.

A delegation led by Taleh Kazimov, Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, held a meeting with Li Yunze, Minister and head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration of the People’s Republic of China, during an official business visit to China, Azernews reports citing the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA).

The meeting featured an in-depth exchange of views on recent developments and ongoing reforms in both countries’ economies. Discussions focused on trends in the banking and insurance sectors, the concept of risk-based supervision, the enhancement of regulatory technologies, and the application of artificial intelligence-based solutions in regulatory processes. Experiences regarding new approaches and innovative solutions in the insurance sector were also shared.

The parties explored opportunities to expand cooperation between Azerbaijan and China’s financial regulatory bodies. Prospects for strengthening interaction between the banking and insurance sectors were discussed, with both sides emphasizing their interest in advancing this collaboration.

Shirvan Open 2025 has brought together over 240 experienced chess players from 8 countries, Azernews reports.

The tournament was co-organized by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Shirvan City Executive Power, and the Shirvan Olympic Sports Complex.

This chess festival was the 8th and final event of this year’s “Chess Tour Azerbaijan” project organized by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation. In total, the winners in various categories will receive a total prize fund of 22,650 manats.

At Shirvan Open 2025, Indian chess player Mayank Chakraborty won Group A, followed by Azerbaijani player Vugar Rasulov in second place and India’s Subhayan Kundu in third.

Maharram Jafarov claimed first place in Group B, followed by Ali Salimzade in second and Fuad Mammadov in third.

The winner of the rapid tournament held as part of the festival was Murad Ibrahimli. Vugar Manafov won the blitz tournament.

Earlier, the chess festival within “Chess Tour Azerbaijan” project took place in Ganja city.

In the A group of the Ganja Open 2025, which featured over 300 chess players from 12 countries, Leon Mendonca from India took first place with 7 points.

In the B group, Emil Mehraliyev secured first place with 8 points, ahead of all his competitors. Amin Gurbanov and Alisafa Zeynalli shared 2nd-3rd places, each scoring 7.5 points.

In the Rapid competition, Azerbaijani chess player Khazar Babazade emerged victorious, while the Blitz tournament was won by Uzbekistan’s Muhammadzohid Suyarov.

Another national chess players Tunar Davudov earned his first international master norm.

For centuries, chess has been a popular game in Azerbaijan, with ancient roots closely related to traditions.

The country could preserve these traditions as chess remains a crucially popular sport for now.

To popularise this original game, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed in 2009 an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009-2014.

The 42nd Chess Olympiad, held in Baku, is indeed an excellent example of great attention paid to the development of chess games in the country.

The large-scale event attracted a total of 1,587 participants, including 894 in the Open category and 693 in the Women’s event, making the Baku Chess Olympiad a significant event.

Similarly, the FIDE World Chess Cup 2023 in Baku captivated chess fans with its high-calibre competition and exhilarating matches.

Featuring a highly competitive lineup, the World Cup provided an exciting venue to display the remarkable skill and strategic finesse of elite chess players.

Approximately 206 competitors participated in the open section, along with 103 players in the women’s competition.

The national chess players have always been taking high places at top-ranked tournaments.