Category: Azer News

A presentation of ” Classic Czech Short Stories”, an anthology edited by Dr. Ivana Bozdechová from Charles University and Jaroslav Olša, Jr, has taken place in Baku.

The translation into Azerbaijani was carried out by Shabnam Asadova, a renowned translator.

The publication of the book in Azerbaijani by the “Elm v? T?hsil N?sriyyati” Publishing House represents an important step forward in the cultural exchange between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan.

In an interview with AZERNEWS, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan Milan Sedlácek emphasized the significance of this publication for strengthening the cultural ties between the two countries.

He highlighted that this was the first-ever translation of Czech literature into Azerbaijani, describing it as a “momentous step” towards building a stronger cultural connection between the two nations.

Q: How do you assess the significance of publishing the anthology for strengthening cultural ties between our countries?

A: As I pointed out during the opening ceremony, this is a truly momentous occasion, as it represents the first-ever translation of Czech literature into Azerbaijani.

I believe such events do not happen very often. I am very glad that we were able to dedicate three years to preparing this project.

In my opinion, this is an important step in the development of our political and economic relations.

Q: What contribution does your project make to the development of bilateral relations?

A: This anthology covers Czech literature from the 19th century to the present, which allows the reader to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Czech literary tradition.

This is a very significant aspect for a single book. After reading it, the reader may become interested in the works of such authors as Karel Capek, Jaroslav Hašek, and other prominent Czech writers. This will give them the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and continue exploring further. If there is demand, we will continue to translate and publish new works.

It is also worth noting that this is not the second book in this series, as the first one was a collection of Azerbaijani short stories translated into Czech. This project was carried out by one translator, Shabnam Asadova.

The anthology includes Azerbaijani short stories. This project was completed three years ago, and now, as a continuation, we have presented this new anthology.

Q: What initiatives are being undertaken to further expand cultural ties between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic, as well as in other areas?

A: One of the key steps, in my opinion, is the opening of the Azerbaijani House in Prague. This is a significant event for the development of cultural exchanges. I know that the director of the Azerbaijani House is actively working in this direction. Many cultural events are held at the Azerbaijani House, and, as is well known, culture is always closely linked to economic development.

When the economy prospers, successful businesses emerge that support culture.

We are actively working in this direction, and the economic ties are already showing positive results. I hope that based on this, we will continue to develop both cultural and educational projects.

Azerbaijan has been represented at European Languages Fair in Sofia, Azernews reports.

The event, which took place at Ivan Vazov National Theater, covered 19 languages and was organized in collaboration with language and culture institutes that are members of EUNIC-Bulgaria, as well as cultural centers, consulates, and embassies of non-EU countries, under the auspices of the European Commission’s “Written Translations” Directorate in Bulgaria.

The Azerbaijan Language and Culture Center, operating under Sofia University’s Saint Kliment Ohridski, joined the initiative again this year, introducing festival participants to the Azerbaijani language, culture, and literature.

The center’s stand was supported by students specializing in Turkology-Katrin Nikova and Veronika Balkanci, who study Azerbaijani language. They provided guests with detailed information about the Center’s activities and the Azerbaijani and Turkish languages taught in the Turkology department.

At the stand, translations of works by Azerbaijani writers and poets into various European languages, including Bulgarian, were presented. The display also included interesting facts about Azerbaijan, excerpts from Margarita Pavlova’s book “Plamiçka and Plamiçko” dedicated to Azerbaijan, and educational leaflets titled “Would you like to learn expressions in several Turkic languages?”

It is noteworthy that the main goal of the presentation was to promote the activities of the Azerbaijan Center created by Baku Slavic University and to make the Azerbaijani language taught in the Turkology department of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology at Sofia University more appealing to young people, encouraging them to choose this field of study.

The II National Competition Forum is underway in Baku, bringing together government officials, business leaders, and experts to discuss key issues in market regulation and competition policy, Azernews reports.

The forum was convened to analyze the current state of competition policy in modern economic conditions, regulate the activities of natural monopolies, safeguard public interests, and address existing challenges in the sector. It also aims to facilitate the exchange of views on shaping effective and fair market relations in Azerbaijan.

The event is being attended by Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship of the Milli Majlis Azer Amiraslanov, Chairman of the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Supervision under the President Elnur Baghirov, and President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs’ Organizations Mammad Musayev, along with representatives from business associations and the private sector.

Officials emphasized that strengthening competition policy is essential for ensuring consumer rights, increasing efficiency in natural monopolies, and creating a more transparent and competitive business environment. The forum serves as a platform to outline reforms and promote dialogue between the state and the private sector.

Footage of President Ilham Aliyev’s working visit to Denmark has been published on his social media accounts.

Azernews presents the post:

“President Ilham Aliyev’s working visit to Denmark (01-02.10.2025)”.

Round 7 of the Azerbaijan Premier League is set to kick off on October 3, Azernews reports.

The two matches will be played on the first day of the round.

In the opening match, “Araz-Nakhchivan” will take on the “Imishli” club, with the game kicking off at 17:00.

In the second match, “Zira” will host “Neftchi” at home, with the match beginning at 19:30.

The remaining matches of the round will be held on October 4-5.

The Azerbaijan Premier League is the top Azerbaijani professional league for men’s association football teams, comprising ten clubs.

Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 36 matches each (playing each team in the league four times, twice at home and twice away).

The Premier League champion secures the right to play in the UEFA Champions League’s first qualifying round.

The runner-up and the third-place winner secured the right to play in the UEFA Europa Conference League, starting in the second qualifying round.

Since 1992, a total of 8 clubs have been crowned champions of the Azerbaijani football system.

The Azerbaijan Premier League was first organised in 2007 and succeeded the Top Division, which existed from 1992 to 2007. FC Qarabag won the title in the 2022-2023 season for the tenth time.

The 2024-25 Azerbaijan Premier League marks the 33rd season of Azerbaijan’s top-tier football competition.

On April 27, 2025, during the 32nd round of the Premier League, Qarabag FC clinched the title with four matches to spare after a 1-1 draw against Sabah.

This victory made them the champions for the 12th time overall and for the fourth consecutive season.

This season is the final one featuring 10 teams, as the league will expand to 12 teams starting from the 2025-26 season.

Armenia has expressed strong interest in normalizing relations with Azerbaijan, emphasizing that Yerevan would be among the main beneficiaries of lasting peace and cooperation in the region, Azernews reports.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan made the remarks in an interview with the ‘Polish TPV World’ channel.

‘If we talk about the railway connection, according to experts, its construction may take at least two years. But we can already use the infrastructure and territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan to send and receive cargo. We have begun discussions with our American partners regarding TRIPP, and I think we can complete this process in the coming months, after which construction should start,’ Mirzoyan said.

The minister also underlined that the text of the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan has already been initialed, and Yerevan is prepared to sign it ‘as soon as possible.’

Touching on the broader reconciliation process, Mirzoyan acknowledged the heavy psychological legacy of the decades-long conflict: ‘There is a bloody history and memory on both sides. I believe there is still a certain degree of caution between societies, probably on both sides. The reconciliation process will take time. Peace, as I have already noted, has been established, but it requires constant care and daily efforts from both sides.’

Mirzoyan’s remarks highlight Armenia’s recognition of the economic and strategic opportunities tied to regional cooperation, particularly in transport and connectivity, as well as the challenges of overcoming deep-rooted mistrust between the two nations.

On October 2, a powerful photo exhibition dedicated to Azerbaijani landmine victims was opened in Brussels, Belgium, Azernews reports.

The exhibition was organized within the framework of the ‘CulMINATION Point of Danger’ project, implemented by the ‘Gilavar’ Photo Club Public Union with support from the State Support Agency for NGOs of Azerbaijan. The ‘Fireland’ Azerbaijanis Union partnered in the initiative on the Belgian side.

Speaking at the event, Rashad Mehdiyev, Chairman of the Gilavar Photo Club, emphasized that this was the first NGO-led European exhibition series on Azerbaijan’s landmine problem held at such a scale. ‘After Munich, Nuremberg, and Paris, the photos we are exhibiting this time in Brussels can be called ‘talking pictures.’ They tell the stories of people whose lives were destroyed by mines planted by Armenia on Azerbaijani lands. We will not remain silent-the time has come for Armenia’s military-political leaders, responsible for this cruelty during the 30-year occupation, to answer. Our appeal to the world from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, is for the sake of justice,’ he said.

The exhibition features portraits and testimonies of mine victims. For example, the photo of Elmir Bagirov, who lost both legs after stepping on an anti-tank mine before the age of 18, is accompanied by his words: ‘Can a person fall into an anti-tank mine on his own land? It is difficult to imagine, but I survived. From that day my life full of suffering began-I lost my youth and both legs.’ Another photo shows Samir Alizadeh, who lost both legs and an eye: ‘One step, two explosions. You tell me what happens next.’ Similarly, Rahim Garashov recalls losing his leg while rescuing a colleague from mines buried one on top of the other: ‘What were they trying to do by burying the mines like this? Why so much cruelty? While saving someone else, I became a victim myself.’

Through QR codes attached to each portrait, visitors could access additional information and statistics about Azerbaijan’s mine contamination and the ongoing demining efforts.

Organizers noted that the exhibition will continue across Europe, raising awareness of the humanitarian tragedy Azerbaijan faces due to mines planted during Armenia’s occupation of its territories.

A trilateral meeting of government representatives of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran will take place in Baku on October 13-14, Azernews reports.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the delegations will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev from Azerbaijan, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk from Russia, and Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzane Sadiqi.

The agenda of the meeting will focus on strengthening cooperation in the fields of transport and logistics, energy, and customs.

Dr. Ivana Bozdechová is a distinguished scholar and professor at Charles University in Prague, specializing in Czech literature and translation studies.

Dedicated to advancing Czech literary traditions, Doc. Ivana Bozdechová played a key role in editing the “Classic Czech Short Stories” anthology, which has been translated into Azerbaijani.

In the interview with AZERNEWS, Doc. Ivana Bozdechová explained how this anthology opens a window into Czech culture, providing Azerbaijani readers with a rare opportunity to connect with Czech history, society, and artistic expression.

She expressed her hope that the anthology would spark further interest in Czech literature and strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about the Classic Czech Short Stories anthology? What can readers expect from this collection?

A: This is the very first collection of Czech literature translated into Azerbaijani. It includes 14 Czech writers, spanning from the second half of the 19th century to contemporary literature. The anthology features a mix of classical and modern Czech literature, showcasing a variety of genres.

Among these, eight are living authors, including two women. The collection was designed to reflect the diversity of Czech writing, offering a blend of different genres and voices. The traditional Czech culture represented here will be a unique introduction for readers who might not yet be familiar with Czech literature.

Some of the authors featured are well-known internationally, such as Karel Capek. His work is often celebrated not only for his inventions but for its deep reflection on human nature and societal issues.

The collection aims to give readers an understanding of Czech culture, both historical and contemporary, through short stories that offer different backgrounds, characters, and life perspectives. It is a way to open the imagination and encourage readers to think about the world in a more expansive way. By reading these stories, one can reflect on how life is lived across different cultures and see common themes that unite us all.

Q: Can you tell us about the process behind the creation of this project and how it came to life?

A: I first came to Azerbaijan 10 years ago, when I began teaching the Czech language at Baku Slavic University. I started studying your country and the rich culture of the Azerbaijani people. Given that Czechs are avid readers, yet most of them are unfamiliar with Azerbaijani literature, I came up with the idea: why not introduce our readers to the works of Azerbaijani writers?! As a result of careful work, a collection of Azerbaijani short stories titled “Sari G?lin” was published, translated into Czech by Shabnam Asadova, with me also serving as the editor.

Now, our task was to introduce Azerbaijani readers to the works of Czech authors. Thus, the idea to publish the “Classic Czech Short Stories” anthology was born.

What made this translation process especially challenging was our decision to translate directly from Czech.

This ensured that the essence and subtleties of the original Czech texts were preserved.

With the publication of both books, my goal has been achieved.

Q: How do you think this anthology can help Azerbaijani readers connect with Czech culture?

A: I believe this anthology can help Azerbaijani readers better understand Czech culture and values. Literature plays an important role in bridging cultural gaps, and this collection offers a window into Czech traditions, history, and society. Just as Azerbaijani literature reflects the unique character of this country, Czech literature expresses our own cultural identity, and through it, we share many common themes such as human emotions, social dynamics, and universal experiences.

In both Czech and Azerbaijani cultures, literature and music are central to our identities.

We both have a long history of appreciating art, and we share a deep connection to storytelling.

I believe this anthology will allow Azerbaijani readers to see these connections and appreciate the shared values between our cultures.

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce Czech literature to the people of Azerbaijan.

It has been a pleasure to work on this project, and I am thrilled to see it reach Azerbaijani readers.

The opening ceremony of the 7th Summit of the European Political Community was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event.

Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen welcomed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and other heads of state and government attending the Summit.

This year’s Summit brings together heads of state and government from nearly 50 countries.

Discussions during plenary sessions and the round tables focus on topics including overall security situation in Europe, the Russia-Ukraine war, economic security, migration, traditional and hybrid threats.

The European Political Community is an intergovernmental platform aimed at strengthening cooperation in security, economic stability, and democratic governance. It promotes political and economic coordination both within and beyond the European Union, among small and large countries alike. The Community’s goal is to develop political dialogue and cooperation to address common challenges and enhance the security, stability, and prosperity of the European continent.