Category: Azer News

Foreign ministers of the G7 countries and the European Union’s High Representative have issued a joint statement on the situation in Yemen.

The statement was published on the website of the European External Action Service (EEAS). It was signed by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the EU High Representative.

The G7 warned that continued Houthi attacks pose a threat to regional stability, global energy security and international trade, as well as freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The ministers condemned ongoing Houthi attacks in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and expressed solidarity with Yemen’s legitimate government and Saudi Arabia.

The G7 called on the Houthis to immediately halt military operations and threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process.

According to the G7, continued attacks could further escalate the conflict, disrupt international trade and increase global economic instability.

The ministers also stressed the need to ensure the safety of shipping and respect navigation rights and freedoms worldwide to prevent prolonged disruptions to global supply chains, particularly those involving energy, fertilizers and food.

Israel has issued three military orders targeting 339 dunams (83.8 acres) of Palestinian land in the northern and central West Bank for the removal of wild vegetation and uprooting of trees, the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, one of the orders targets 178.71 dunams (44.2 acres) in Jenin and Qabatiya in the northern West Bank and calls for the removal of wild vegetation and olive trees, according to a statement by the commission.

‘The order gives landowners seven days to file objections, but the period begins after the measure is implemented rather than beforehand,’ it said.

A second order covers an additional 128.77 dunams (31.8 acres) in Jenin and Qabatiya and gives landowners 12 hours to remove wild vegetation and olive trees, the commission said.

‘The order also limits the period for filing objections to 12 hours after the tour,’ it added.

In the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate, a third military order targets two areas in the town of Beit Rima covering 15.137 dunams (3.7 acres) and 16.401 dunams (4.1 acres), totaling 31.538 dunams (7.8 acres).

Around 10 dunams (2.5 acres) of the targeted land in Beit Rima overlap with an area classified as Area B under the Oslo Accords. The order calls for the removal of wild vegetation, olive trees and other trees, according to the commission.

Under the 1995 Oslo II Accord, the West Bank was divided into Areas A, B and C as part of an interim arrangement. Area A is under full Palestinian control, while Area B is under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control. Area C is under full Israeli control and accounts for around 60% of the West Bank.

‘The danger posed by the orders extends beyond the size of the targeted areas to the nature of the measures, which allow rapid changes to the land and the removal of vegetation and trees under a ‘security’ designation,’ the commission said.

‘The short deadlines, particularly the 12-hour period, significantly limit landowners’ ability to object before damage occurs,’ it added.

‘Maps attached to the orders show that contiguous blocks of agricultural land are being targeted,’ the commission said.

The commission called for field monitoring to determine the number of trees affected, identify properties falling within the orders’ boundaries and assess the impact on Palestinians’ ability to access and use their land.

The orders come as Palestinian farmers prepare for the olive harvest season, which usually begins after mid-October and is considered one of the most important agricultural seasons in Palestinian towns and villages.

Last month, the Israeli army issued military orders to remove trees and vegetation from around 310 dunams (76.6 acres) of land in Jenin governorate, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that Iranian airlines could be effectively shut out of international operations from Wednesday as the Trump administration intensifies economic pressure on Tehran.

‘On September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,’ Bessent said in an interview with CNBC.

He said Washington would seek to enforce the measure by targeting foreign companies and airports that provide essential services to Iranian carriers.

‘And how do we do that? That if they land, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system,’ Bessent said.

The warning applies to airports, fuel suppliers, ground-service providers and ticketing companies that continue servicing Iranian airlines. Companies that violate the restrictions could face secondary sanctions and lose access to the US dollar financial system.

Bessent said Washington was also targeting financial institutions that allegedly facilitate Iran’s access to the international financial system.

‘So we have had now three banks that we have sanctioned. The second largest bank in Egypt, the Dubai branch, funneled more than $1.8 billion into the regime. They will be closed down,’ he said.

‘About the 30th largest Turkish bank, same thing, they will be closed down.’

The latest warning follows a September 8 decision by the US Treasury Department to sanction 36 targets linked to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 Iranian airlines and foreign entities accused of supporting the sector. Treasury said the measures were intended to cut off networks used by Iran to obtain aircraft, technology and other aviation-related services.

Iranian airlines have faced US sanctions for years, limiting their access to aircraft, spare parts and international aviation services. The latest measures seek to extend the pressure to foreign companies that enable the carriers to operate outside Iran.

President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks at a meeting on September 22 on the ‘State Program for the Development of Mining (Metal Ores) and Metallurgical Industry in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2027-2030’ offer a clear indication of the sectors that could come to the forefront of Azerbaijan’s economic development in the next stage.

Azerbaijan has long been known primarily as an oil and gas country. The oil and gas sector remains highly important to the economy and is expected to retain that role in the coming years. In January-August 2026, Azerbaijan’s GDP stood at 87.7 billion manats, with 26.2 billion manats generated by the oil and gas sector, accounting for roughly 30% of total GDP.

These figures show that the objective is to expand other parts of the economy at a faster pace. As new sectors grow, the relative share of oil and gas in GDP and exports will decline, while the overall production base of the economy will become broader.

President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks indicate that metallurgy could play a particularly important role in this process.

As President Ilham Aliyev said: ‘Although it is a capital-intensive sector, a new, modern industrial domain will be established in our country. The creation of over 5,000 permanent jobs is envisaged. Overall, the processing and efficient utilization of our natural resources, alongside the full establishment of the production chain, will strengthen the national economy.’

The importance of metallurgy lies in the added value it can generate across several areas of the economy. Metal production provides raw materials and industrial inputs for construction, machinery, energy, transport, agricultural equipment and the defense industry. This makes the processing of ore into higher-value products far more important than simply extracting and exporting raw materials.

Azerbaijan’s metallurgical industry has not developed to its full potential for various reasons. One of the major obstacles was the occupation of mineral-rich Karabakh and surrounding territories by Armenia. Azerbaijan has now restored its territorial integrity, opening access to mineral resources that could not previously be fully utilized. The development of gold, copper and molybdenum deposits in Kalbajar, Aghdara and Zangilan is currently among the priorities. Geological exploration is also expected to expand in Nakhchivan.

The President has stressed that if significant new deposits are discovered, exporting the resources as raw ore would be a mistake. The greater economic value lies in establishing processing facilities and developing a complete production chain inside the country.

The establishment of the West Industrial Park is important in this context. According to the President, its main purpose is to develop the mining industry. Projects related to the Dashkasan ore deposit are expected to include ore beneficiation, pelletizing and hot-briquetted iron production, creating a production chain that extends beyond the extraction stage. Azerbaijan also aims to increase aluminum production to 100,000 tons by the end of 2030.

The development of metallurgy could also change Azerbaijan’s export structure. In January-August 2026, the country’s total exports amounted to $21.8 billion, while non-oil and gas exports stood at $6.2 billion. This means that around 70.5% of exports were still generated by the oil and gas sector.

The key issue is not a decline in oil and gas exports. If non-oil sectors grow faster, their share of exports will increase and the relative weight of oil and gas will fall. That would reflect the expansion of the overall economy rather than the shrinking importance of the energy sector.

Metallurgy could also have a major regional development impact. Economic activity in Azerbaijan has historically been heavily concentrated in Baku and Absheron. The concentration of jobs and income opportunities in the capital has encouraged migration from different parts of the country to Baku.

Mining and metallurgical projects in the regions could gradually change this pattern. The creation of more than 5,000 permanent jobs would have an economic impact extending beyond direct employment. New industrial facilities would generate demand for construction, transportation, logistics, services, retail and other businesses, creating additional sources of employment and income in the regions.

As President Ilham Aliyev said: ‘Over 5,000-and perhaps even more-new jobs will be created. The development of liberated Garabagh and East Zangezur, along with the growth of employment there, will proceed at a faster pace. Substantial funds will flow into the state budget in the form of taxes, and a robust export potential will be created.’

The scale of the projects is also significant. The President said the expected annual positive financial impact could exceed 1 billion manats.

Metallurgy, therefore, should be viewed as part of the expansion of Azerbaijan’s economic base rather than as a move away from oil and gas. The energy sector will remain important, while the growth of metallurgy, green energy and other non-oil industries can expand GDP, exports, employment and economic activity in the regions. Over time, this can reduce the relative weight of oil and gas in the economy through the growth of other sectors, rather than through the loss of importance of the energy industry.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan once again reaffirms its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and does not recognise the so-called ‘presidential elections’ held in Georgia’s Tskhinvali region or their results.

The ministry reiterated that Azerbaijan supports Georgia’s internationally recognised sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It said the elections held in the Tskhinvali region, which is internationally recognised as part of Georgia, have no legitimacy and that their results are not recognised by Azerbaijan.

The statement comes as Azerbaijan continues to stress its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states within their internationally recognised borders.

Azerbaijan’s men’s and women’s chess teams will play their next matches on September 23 at the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The men’s team will face Greece in the seventh round, while the women’s team will take on Armenia.

After six rounds, both Azerbaijani teams have 10 points. The men’s team currently sits 12th in the standings, while the women’s team is ninth.

The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad is being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 to 27. The opening ceremony took place on September 15, while the first round was played on September 16. The competition features separate Open and Women’s sections, with both played over 11 rounds under the Swiss-system format. Each team consists of four players plus one reserve. A rest day was scheduled for September 22 following the sixth round.

The Samarkand Olympiad has set a new participation record, with 208 teams competing in the Open section and 192 teams in the Women’s section. The combined total of 400 teams surpasses the previous record of 380 teams set at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest.

The winners of the Open and Women’s sections will receive the Hamilton-Russell Cup and Vera Menchik Cup, respectively. The Nona Gaprindashvili Trophy will be awarded to the federation with the best combined performance in the two sections.

Russia is considering replacing its ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopyrkin, and has reportedly already begun looking for a potential successor.

Armenian media reported that Kopyrkin could leave Yerevan by January 2027. He has served as Russia’s ambassador to Armenia since April 2018.

According to the informarion, the Kremlin is dissatisfied with the diplomat’s performance, particularly his alleged failure to establish effective communication with both the Armenian authorities and pro-Russian circles in the country.

The information about Kopyrkin’s possible resignation has not been officially confirmed. In January 2026, he continued to hold meetings with representatives of the Armenian authorities.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan decided to recall Armenia’s ambassador to Russia, Gurgen Arsenyan.

Pashinyan is reportedly dissatisfied with Arsenyan’s performance. The prime minister believes that the ambassador has failed to ease tensions in relations between Armenia and Russia.

An event titled “Azerbaijani Cinema Day in Paris” was held in the French capital.

Organized jointly by the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in France, the event took place at the embassy’s Cultural Center.

Rashad Azizov, Director General of the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency, noted the growing number of studios operating in Azerbaijan’s film and animation sectors and the resulting increase in film and animation projects.

He stressed the importance of closer cooperation with other countries in implementing such projects.

Director General of the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency said international cooperation in cinema can contribute not only to film production but also to the development of cultural dialogue between nations.

He added that such cooperation could become an important tool of cultural diplomacy and expressed hope that screenings of Azerbaijani films in France would become more frequent in the future.

As part of the event, three animated films – “Under the Same Rain”, “Boom-Boom” and “Isi and Piti” – were screened, along with the documentary “Dream of Paradise”, dedicated to the life and artistic legacy of Mirza Gadim Iravani, one of the prominent Azerbaijani painters of the 19th century.

The documentary explored interesting episodes from Iravani’s life and presented audiences with an important chapter of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage.

A spectacular concert has been held as part of Khojavand City Day. The event was jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankandi, Aghdara and Khojaly districts.

The event began with the Azerbaijan National Anthem. The audience then observed a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs.

A video was screened highlighting the restoration and reconstruction work carried out in Khankandi, Khojaly, Khojavand and Aghdara. It also featured the return of residents to their native lands.

Speaking before the concert program, Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavand districts, congratulated residents and guests on Khojavand City Day.

He noted that the occasion was particularly significant as Khojavand City Day was being celebrated for the first time. According to Huseynov, the Great Return to Khojavand district, including the city of Khojavand, began a year ago and is continuing.

Huseynov said that nearly 4,500 residents, representing 1,083 families, have so far been resettled in Khojavand district.

“In just one year, people have returned to eight settlements in the district, to their native lands and ancestral homes. They are already living here, rebuilding and continuing their new lives,” he said.

The concert featured soloists of the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre. Prominent representatives of the arts and lecturers from Karabakh University also took part in the program.

The performers presented popular Azerbaijani songs and works by national composers. Various musical and artistic performances were also included in the program.

The event was attended by Sultan Raev, Secretary General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), and Sabuh Gahramanov, Deputy Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Khankandi, Aghdare and Khojaly districts. Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and local residents also attended the concert.

The performances were warmly received by the audience. Each performance was greeted with applause.

The celebrations concluded with a spectacular fireworks display. Colorful light compositions accompanied by music added to the festive atmosphere and brought the evening to a grand finale.

Azerbaijan plans to increase the extraction and production of copper, gold and silver as part of measures to develop the mining and metallurgy sector.

Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov announced the plans during a meeting chaired by President Ilham Aliyev dedicated to the State Program for the Development of the Mining (Metal Ores) and Metallurgical Industry in Azerbaijan for 2027-2030.

Jabbarov said copper production is expected to increase significantly, while gold production will be expanded through both existing and new projects.

As a result, total exports of copper, gold and silver are projected to rise from AZN 600 million in 2025 to AZN 1.6 billion by 2030.

The minister noted that the forecast is calculated based on average global prices recorded in 2025.

According to the Jabbarov, prices of several strategic metals have increased significantly over the past decade, while global demand for these metals is expected to grow further over the next 10 years. Demand is projected to increase by 23% for aluminum, 21% for copper, 15% for zinc and 10% for gold.

He added that the expansion of local raw material and semi-finished product supplies could contribute to the development of new industrial sectors, increase demand for skilled workers and support the development of technical expertise and scientific capacity.