Category: Azer News

Preparations, both organisational and substantive, are ongoing for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, which is set to take place in Baku this May.

As reported by Azernews, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yalchin Rafiev, shared the latest updates regarding the event during a conversation with journalists at the ‘Non-Aligned Movement Youth Week’ in Baku.

He noted that, for the first time, a summit of world leaders will be held as part of the forum’s format.

“We aim to ensure that the forum is organised at a high level. This urban planning forum features a complex format, including numerous events, assemblies, sessions, and dialogues. We are working to showcase our national urban planning experience,” Rafiev said. “As you know, innovative urban planning methods are being employed in the recently liberated territories. Our goal is not only to present our national experiences to the world but also to use this opportunity to create a platform for discussions on contemporary architectural and urban planning issues.”

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the forum would provide a significant opportunity to share Azerbaijan’s expertise and contribute to global discussions on sustainable urban developm

The Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan, acting on behalf of the country’s leadership, has begun preparations for a phased transition to a 12-year general education system, Azernews reports.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Education and Science during a press conference. Officials noted that the reform will include the development of new curricula, the modernization of schools to meet updated requirements, and public awareness campaigns to explain the changes to students, parents, and educators.

At the initial stage, the new system will be piloted in 180 modern schools across the country, allowing authorities to assess its effectiveness before a nationwide rollout.

According to officials, the reform aims to align Tajikistan’s education system with international standards and significantly improve the quality of education.

Interestingly, many countries that have adopted a 12-year education model have reported better student readiness for higher education and the labor market – something Tajikistan hopes to achieve as it continues to modernize its education sector.

Gara Garayev (1918-1982) remains one of the most celebrated composers in Azerbaijani music history.

His compositions have been performed and admired globally, capturing the full range of human emotion through his rich and dynamic musical language.

February 5, 2026, marks the 108th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding composer.

Gara Garayev’s musical education began at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory, where he studied composition and folk music from 1933 to 1938. He further honed his craft at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory, studying under the guidance of A. Alexandrov, and later with the legendary Dmitri Shostakovich. Garayev’s exposure to such eminent figures in the world of classical music shaped his unique style and bold approach to composition.

His prolific output spanned nearly every genre of musical art, including symphonic works, chamber pieces, operas, and ballets. His compositions often blended the deep roots of Azerbaijani mugham with elements of jazz, blues, African rhythms, and Western classical techniques, including the 12-tone method.

The legendary composer wrote over 110 musical works in his lifetime, leaving behind a legacy that resonated with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

At the tender age of 20, Gara Garayev composed his first cantata, “The Song of the Heart,” inspired by the poetry of Rasul Rza. The piece was performed in Moscow’s renowned Bolshoi Theater the very same year, marking the start of his illustrious career. By 1941, Garayev had returned to Baku and began imparting his vast knowledge to aspiring musicians at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society.

The late 1940s and early 1950s saw the emergence of some of Gara Garayev’s most significant works, influenced by the poetry of Nizami Ganjavi, Azerbaijan’s greatest literary figure. His symphonic poem “Leyli and Mejnun” and the symphonic suite “Seven Beauties” are standout pieces, with the latter being adapted into a ballet in 1952. Staged under choreographer P. A. Gusev, “Seven Beauties” was groundbreaking as the first-ever Azerbaijani ballet, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s classical music history.

Gara Garayev’s work wasn’t confined to the stage; he also explored more contemporary issues through music. His 1958 ballet, “Path of Thunder,” tackled the topic of racial conflicts in South Africa, showing Garayev’s sensitivity to global issues and his ability to convey powerful messages through his compositions.

That same year, he composed the score for the documentary film “A Story About the Oil Workers of the Caspian Sea,” which highlighted the lives of those working in Azerbaijan’s oil industry.

In his final years, Gara Garayev’s music continued to influence generations of musicians and composers. His untimely death in 1982 at the age of 64 marked the end of an era for Azerbaijani classical music, but his legacy endures.

In recognition of his monumental contributions to music and culture, Gara Garayev was posthumously honored in 2018, when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared the year the 100th anniversary of his birth.

A House-Museum dedicated to his life and work opened in Baku, offering visitors a chance to experience the composer’s personal belongings, photographs, and other significant artifacts from his life.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved technical assistance worth 2 million USD to support the implementation of the ‘Private Capital Mobilization Indicator Preparation and Implementation’ project. Azerbaijan, as one of the developing countries, is participating in this project.

As reported by Azernews, citing the bank, the project will be financed through the Special Technical Assistance Fund. It aims to develop a comprehensive methodology for Private Capital Mobilization (PCE) and apply it to various projects in ADB’s member countries. This initiative covers a broad region, including not only Azerbaijan but also Central Asia, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

The technical assistance will also strengthen ADB’s analytical base in private capital mobilization projects, contribute to knowledge dissemination, and enhance potential across the bank’s operational departments and member countries. Special attention will be given to enhancing the bank’s ability to systematically measure and stimulate private sector involvement in development projects.

The expected impact of the project aligns with ADB’s long-term objectives for private sector development. These goals include expanding private sector participation in the development of Asia and the Pacific and creating sustainable mechanisms to mobilize private capital and foster private sector growth.

As a result of this technical assistance, ADB anticipates the strengthening of its institutional capacity to support private sector development through more efficient operations and enhanced mechanisms to increase potential in this area.

Trkiye’s leading defense company ASELSAN has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Excalibur International, a Czech defense firm that is part of the CSG Group, to establish a Europe-based joint venture and introduce the KORKUT Air Defense System integrated onto the Tatra Force 6×6 wheeled platform.

According to a statement from CSG, the partnership aims to expand joint defense capabilities for both European and global markets.

The agreement represents a significant step toward strengthening defense cooperation not only in Central and Eastern Europe but also worldwide. The newly established joint venture will focus on technical collaboration in key areas such as air defense, electronic warfare, smart munitions and border security. As part of localization efforts, production is planned to be transferred to CSG facilities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

One of the first tangible outcomes of the partnership will be the integration of the KORKUT Air Defense System onto the Tatra Force 6×6 wheeled platform. Designed for both European customers and the global market, the system is positioned as a fully capable alternative to comparable European-made air defense solutions.

Amid modern battlefield developments that underscore the growing importance of highly mobile and effective defenses against unmanned aerial vehicles, the KORKUT system-integrated onto the proven Tatra platform-is expected to quickly attract customer interest and secure a strong position in international markets.

Commenting on the agreement, Excalibur International CEO Milos Sivara said the KORKUT system offers a modern and highly effective air defense solution, particularly against hostile drones. ‘The system uses high-precision programmable ammunition, which in practice means that the cost of neutralizing a single UAV is comparable to the cost of the UAV itself. This level of cost-effectiveness cannot be achieved with traditional missile-based air defense systems,’ Sivara said.

ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol said the partnership with Excalibur International and the CSG Group strengthens ASELSAN’s industrial presence in Europe and globally, while enabling the company to deliver combat-proven air defense solutions tailored to the needs of European and allied armed forces. ‘The integration of the KORKUT system onto the Tatra platform combines advanced sensor and fire-control technologies with a highly mobile and reliable vehicle, creating a flexible solution for today’s dynamic battlefield environment,’ Akyol said.

The ongoing trial of Armenian citizens accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity as a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan continues at the Baku Military Court, with verdicts being announced for the defendants.

Azernews reports, the court has sentenced David Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and David Manukyan to life imprisonment. Prosecutors representing the state had also requested life sentences for the accused.

The defendants are charged with committing a wide range of serious offenses, including the preparation and conduct of an aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism and financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and other crimes. The trial proceedings are ongoing as the court continues delivering verdicts.

At the invitation of the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan’s non-resident ambassador to the country, Elchin Huseynli, paid a visit to the capital Colombo on February 4 to attend events marking Sri Lanka’s national holiday-Independence Day, Azernews reports, citing the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in India.

The visit included participation in a military parade and an official reception held in Colombo.

During the visit, Ambassador Huseynli held meetings with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, as well as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra, Foreign Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, and other senior officials.

The meetings highlighted a strong mutual interest in expanding bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka in political, economic and trade relations, as well as in the fields of energy, tourism, air connectivity and education.

The importance of enhancing cooperation and exchanges in multilateral formats was also emphasized, particularly during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and in the context of the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to be held in Baku on May 17-22, 2026.

Sri Lankan officials expressed deep gratitude to the leadership and people of Azerbaijan for providing humanitarian assistance following the country’s recent natural disaster, as well as for offering opportunities for Sri Lankan citizens to participate in Azerbaijan’s state education grant programs.

Footage from the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony in Abu Dhabi was posted on President Ilham Aliyev’s social media accounts, Azernews reports.

The post reads:

Presentation of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to President Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi (04.02.2026)

Three years after the devastating earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras on February 6, Trkiye has made significant progress in one of the largest reconstruction efforts in its history, covering 11 provinces. Hundreds of thousands of homes, workplaces and public facilities have been completed as part of the rebuilding process.

According to official data, public spending on reconstruction exceeded 3.6 trillion Turkish lira at 2025 prices, equivalent to nearly $90 billion. The first housing projects were launched just 15 days after the disaster, underscoring the speed of the response. Across the 11 affected provinces, a total of 455,000 independent units have been completed and delivered. Nearly 200,000 people were employed in the reconstruction effort, with housing built at an average pace of 23 units per hour, or roughly 550 per day. The first village houses were handed over to their owners within 45 days.

Economic recovery programs were also introduced to revive industry and employment. Financial support amounting to 23 billion lira was provided to organized industrial zones and industrial estates in earthquake-hit provinces. A total of 936 workplaces were completed in Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep and Malatya, while more than 1,800 new workplaces are planned for construction in 2026.

In the labor market, support mechanisms such as short-time work allowances and cash wage assistance provided nearly 40 billion lira in aid. The number of insured employees, which stood at 1.889 million before the earthquake, rose to 2.004 million by August 2025.

Major investments were made in education infrastructure, with 72 billion lira allocated for the construction of 13,321 classrooms and 6.9 billion lira spent on strengthening 2,776 classrooms. Universities received 5.1 billion lira for reconstruction, reinforcement and campus infrastructure, while an additional 2.4 billion lira was earmarked under the 2026 investment program.

In the healthcare sector, investments totaling 40.8 billion lira led to the completion of 109 healthcare facilities with a combined capacity of 5,123 beds. Public hospital bed capacity increased by 16 percent to 27,503. In addition, 12 emergency hospitals with a total capacity of 2,096 beds were rapidly brought into service.

Regarding transportation infrastructure, authorities announced that 98 percent of the 9,176-kilometer road network remained undamaged. Repair and reinforcement works are ongoing on damaged sections under a program worth 98 billion lira.

In agriculture and livestock farming, breeders who lost animals during the earthquakes received free livestock and beehives financed by a 909 million lira budget. In 2025 alone, total agricultural support payments across the 11 provinces reached 17.4 billion lira.

In the fields of youth, sports and cultural heritage, funding of 2.066 billion lira was allocated for 338 facilities. Inspections were carried out on 5,119 registered cultural assets, revealing that hundreds of structures had collapsed or suffered severe damage. Separate allocations of 1.5 billion lira were planned for both 2025 and 2026 for restoration and reconstruction works.

In Hatay province, the February 6, 2023 earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 claimed 24,147 lives and caused the collapse of more than 90,000 buildings. In the third year since the disaster, aerial images captured by drones were used to compare the scale of destruction with current reconstruction progress. New buildings have risen in Antakya’s Cumhuriyet Square, Rstem Tmer Pasha Street and Atatrk Street, as well as along the Asi River.

Historic landmarks, including the former parliament building and Habib-i Neccar Mosque-Anatolia’s first mosque-have been restored in line with their original architecture and reopened for use. Kurtulus Street and the Antakya-Reyhanli highway at the Demirköpr junction have been reopened, while new residential areas have replaced the former 600 Evler housing complex. The Iskenderun coastal strip has also been renewed and strengthened with new social amenities.

Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatli stated that more than 194,000 independent units in the province have either been completed or are under construction, and that 13,500 social housing projects have been launched. Describing the city’s recovery, Masatli said Hatay has been ‘reborn from its ashes, like the phoenix.’

On February 4, 2026, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, articulated the country’s position on the Taiwan issue during an interview with Global Times, Azernews reports.

Responding to a question about the enduring support between China and Azerbaijan in safeguarding core interests, sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, Bayramov reiterated Azerbaijan’s firm stance.

‘Azerbaijan’s position on Taiwan is clear, consistent, and firmly grounded in international law,’ Bayramov stated. He emphasized that Azerbaijan does not recognize Taiwan’s independence and was one of the first nations to condemn the elections held in Taiwan in January 2024.

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to the “One China” principle, asserting that any actions that destabilize the regional order are harmful and counterproductive. ‘Provocations, unilateral actions, or attempts to alter the status quo through external interference only heighten the risk of conflict and undermine international trust,’ Bayramov said.

Bayramov further highlighted that Azerbaijan’s support for China on the Taiwan issue aligns with the country’s broader foreign policy principles, including adherence to international law, respect for the sovereign equality of states, and the mutual trust that underpins the comprehensive strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and China.

The Foreign Minister’s comments underscore Azerbaijan’s commitment to regional stability and its ongoing strategic partnership with China, which continues to play a significant role in shaping the two nations’ diplomatic relations.