Category: Azer News

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has described the renewed conflict between the United States and Iran as the most favorable scenario for Israel, saying it serves Israeli interests as long as the country does not become directly involved in the fighting, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking on Tuesday in remarks carried by Kan News, Smotrich said, “Israel has no interest in joining the campaign – the current situation is the best for us.”

The comments came after the United States resumed military strikes against Iranian targets earlier this month, prompting retaliatory Iranian attacks on US assets across the region. Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities.

Smotrich said Israel’s long-term objective remains the weakening of the Iranian government, arguing that the ultimate goal should be to undermine the regime to the point of its collapse.

He also stated that damaging Iran’s economy would be the most effective means of achieving that objective.

Smotrich, a leading figure in Israel’s far-right government, has previously advocated for the occupation of Gaza, the establishment of Israeli settlements in the enclave, and the expansion of Israeli military control.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Tuesday that the renewed hostilities in the Middle East increase concerns regarding the security of oil supply and uncertainty about the market outlook, AzerNEWS reports.

He noted that threats to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait add to the issues already facing the Strait of Hormuz.

Birol said the oil market still benefits from several mitigating factors, including “significant supplies” from Gulf states via alternative routes, increased exports from countries including the United States, Brazil, Venezuela and Kazakhstan, China’s reduced imports and the IEA’s ongoing emergency stock releases.

However, he warned that commercial inventories continue to fall and that refinery activity and product supplies “have not picked up as much as crude deliveries.”

President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Andy Burnham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I sincerely congratulate you on your appointment to the position of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We attach particular importance to the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan-United Kingdom relations based on rich and good traditions. The dynamics of our economic and trade cooperation, the steady enhancement and enrichment of our proven strategic partnership with new content in the energy sector are gratifying.

Companies representing your country are involved in several major projects in Azerbaijan, operating effectively across both the oil and non-oil sectors of the country’s economy. I would particularly like to highlight our long-standing and successful collaboration with bp in both traditional and renewable energy. The fact that British companies were among the first foreign firms invited by Azerbaijan following the liberation of our lands from occupation, and are now actively participating in the ongoing reconstruction and development efforts underscores the high level of cooperation between our countries.

I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to further strengthen the friendly relations and our partnership between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom in line with the interests of our peoples.

I once again convey my congratulations to you and wish you success in your future responsible activities.”

Azerbaijan’s national beach soccer team has won the B Division of the Euro Beach Soccer League qualifying tournament held in Batumi, Georgia, securing promotion to the A Division for next season, AzerNEWS reports.

With the victory, Azerbaijan will compete among Europe’s strongest beach soccer nations in the top tier of the competition for the first time in recent years, marking an important milestone for the country’s national team.

Beach soccer has been steadily developing in Azerbaijan over the past decade under the Azerbaijan Football Federations Association (AFFA).

The sport, played on sand with teams of five players, is known for its fast pace, spectacular overhead kicks, and high-scoring matches. Azerbaijan has regularly participated in international competitions and has invested in expanding the sport through youth development and domestic tournaments.

Promotion to the Euro Beach Soccer League’s A Division is expected to provide Azerbaijan with the opportunity to face Europe’s elite teams on a regular basis, helping raise the national team’s level and further increasing the popularity of beach soccer in the country.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Friedrich Merz made press statements and answered journalists’ questions in Berlin, AzerNEWS reports.

I am extremely pleased to welcome President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Berlin today. Today, we are hosting the visit that was originally scheduled for March. However, we had to postpone the visit due to the war involving Iran.

Nevertheless, this visit also demonstrates that our countries cannot remain unaffected by the major crises and wars of today. This applies both to the Middle East and to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Those wars have had a major impact on Germany and Azerbaijan in terms of their security and economic interests. Although both conflicts may differ in their details, in any case, we promote negotiated solutions. We are united by the shared conviction that, ultimately, only a negotiated settlement can bring long-term peace, security, and stability.

Mr. President, peace, security, and stability in the South Caucasus are also essential for us. Germany and the European Union are very interested in achieving lasting peace in that geopolitically vital region. For this reason, Mr. President, we are particularly pleased to welcome you to Germany. We congratulate you on the initialing of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This is a historic agreement. Thanks to it, an opportunity has arisen to overcome a conflict that has lasted for decades. We would be glad to do whatever we can from a German and European perspective.

Greater stability in the region also creates new opportunities for broad economic cooperation between our countries. I am very glad that relations between our countries are developing steadily. In the spring of 2025, President Steinmeier became the first German head of state to visit Azerbaijan. This year, there have also been intensive exchanges between our parliaments. Today, by signing the Joint Declaration, we have laid the foundation for the further expansion of our bilateral relations. As you also witnessed during the ceremony, an agreement was reached on the establishment of the Azerbaijan-Germany Business Council.

This is an important signal to companies in both countries. We are serious about expanding relations between Germany and Azerbaijan. During the current crisis, cooperation in the supply of crude oil, as well as natural gas through the Southern Gas Corridor, is of particular importance. Mr. President, we discussed these matters in detail. We wish to further diversify our energy supply through cooperation with Azerbaijan. Today, we also discussed expanding the use of renewable energy and hydrogen.

We are also holding constructive discussions regarding Azerbaijan’s proposal on an investment program. This program could open up new opportunities for German companies operating in Azerbaijan. The importance of the South Caucasus as a bridge between Europe and Asia is also growing. New transport and trade corridors create economic potential that we want to utilize jointly. Mr. President, as you know, it is often not easy for small and medium-sized enterprises to invest over long distances. Suitable framework conditions on the ground are always extremely important.

We discussed those issues today. With the two declarations signed today, we have taken a major step forward. Mr. President, I express my deep gratitude to you once again for visiting Berlin. I look forward to continued productive cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany

– Thank you, Mr. Chancellor. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to you for the hospitality extended to me and for the invitation to pay an official visit. I am very pleased to be in your country once again. I am confident that the documents signed today will elevate our relations to a new level. We have long wished to initiate a strategic dialogue, and we have now achieved this. At the same time, I am certain that the Joint Declaration signed today on expanding economic ties will function as an active framework and yield good results.

Our bilateral agenda is quite extensive. We exchanged views on this during both our one-on-one meeting and the meeting in an expanded format. As a leading country in the European Union, Germany is increasing its influence in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan-Germany ties will contribute not only to bilateral relations but also to cooperation, peace, and stability across our entire region.

Many German companies operate successfully in Azerbaijan. The number of companies actively operating in the country exceeds 200. I am confident that following today’s visit, their number will increase even further. Matters regarding mutual investment are being discussed, and concrete proposals have been put forward for German companies to operate on a broader scale in Azerbaijan.

You touched upon cooperation in the energy sector. There are positive results in this area as well. Starting this year, Azerbaijan has begun exporting its natural gas to Germany. Thus, our gas is currently delivered to 10 European Union member countries, which undoubtedly makes a major contribution to energy security. Considering that Azerbaijan also exports its oil to Germany and is determined to deliver its green energy to Europe in the future, cooperation in the energy field will be very large-scale.

Azerbaijan-Germany cooperation is also of paramount importance in terms of connectivity and transit opportunities, as German companies have achieved great success in this field. Azerbaijan continues to modernize its transport infrastructure. By becoming a full member of the Central Asian Consultative Meetings format last year, Azerbaijan serves as a bridge between Central Asia and Europe-a role that will steadily expand. Concrete action plans are envisaged across various areas. Specific proposals were put forward during our exchange of views on the implementation of the Declaration signed today. Several working groups will be established to ensure that the documents signed today are swiftly translated into practical results.

At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude to you for Germany’s contribution to the peace process in the South Caucasus. After many years, the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and the initialing of the peace treaty-along with the signing of the Joint Declaration at the White House in Washington with the participation and signature of President Trump-effectively brought an end to the 30-year-long conflict. Immediately after this agreement, Azerbaijan proceeded to take practical steps. Today, petrol and diesel fuel supplied by Azerbaijan are making a significant contribution to Armenia’s energy security, particularly given the current difficulties affecting the export and import of petroleum products. At the same time, the transit of cargo to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan has also gathered momentum. To date, more than 40,000 tonnes of transit cargo have passed through Azerbaijani territory.

In other words, we are witnessing a truly historic era. Azerbaijan, whose territories remained under occupation for many years, ended the occupation through its own strength, restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. It fulfilled four UN Security Council resolutions on its own, offered peace to Armenia, and received a positive response. Therefore, I reiterate that we highly appreciate the role of the German government in this domain. Meetings were also held in Germany at the level of foreign ministers during the negotiation process.

Finally, I would like to touch upon European Union-Azerbaijan relations. This year, we have witnessed visits to Azerbaijan by both the President of the European Council, Mr. Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ms. von der Leyen. These visits carry profound political significance and will further strengthen ties between the European Union and Azerbaijan. As Germany is a leading nation among European Union member states, its role in this regard is naturally paramount, and I am confident that Germany will continue its efforts to foster future cooperation.

Once again, Mr. Chancellor, I would like to thank you for the invitation and hospitality, and I cordially invite you to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan at your convenience

Azerbaijan’s population grew by 9,287 people, or 0.1%, in the first five months of the year, bringing the country’s total population to 10,271,638, AzerNEWS reports, citing the State Statistics Committee.

Urban residents accounted for 54.3% of the country’s population, while 45.7% lived in rural areas. Men make up 49.8% of the population, while women account for 50.2%.

According to the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, a total of 37,248 former internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories by July 1 under the First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, approved by a presidential decree.

As a result, the total number of people living, working, and studying in the liberated territories reached 90,316.

Azerbaijani tourists generated $107.6 million in revenue for Georgia’s tourism sector during the first half of 2026, marking a 4.9% increase compared to the same period last year, AzerNEWS reports, citing the National Bank of Georgia.

According to the bank’s latest statistical review, tourism revenue from Azerbaijani visitors reached $48.1 million in the first quarter and increased to $59.5 million in the second quarter.

Overall, Georgia’s tourism sector earned $1.93 billion in the first six months of 2026.

The figures place Azerbaijan among the five largest source markets for Georgia’s tourism revenue during the reporting period.

The European Union, including the United Kingdom, ranked first, generating $335.7 million, accounting for 17.4% of Georgia’s total tourism income. Russia followed with $307.1 million (15.9%), while Trkiye ranked third with $255.1 million (13.2%). Israel was fourth with $222.7 million (11.5%), followed by Azerbaijan with $107.6 million.

A civilian was injured in an ordnance explosion on July 21 in the village of Zeylik, located in Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district, an area liberated from occupation, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a joint statement issued by the press services of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), and the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), the victim was identified as Sarkhan Isgandarov, born in 1987 and a resident of Azerbaijan’s Gazakh district.

Authorities said Isgandarov was grazing livestock in an area that had not yet been cleared of landmines and unexploded ordnance when the explosion occurred, leaving him injured.

The Kalbajar District Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident.

In their statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the MIA, and ANAMA once again urged the public to strictly observe mine safety regulations, pay close attention to mine warning signs, avoid touching suspicious objects, refrain from entering unfamiliar or uncleared areas, and not interfere with territories that have been fenced off for demining operations.

The geopolitical map of Eurasia has long highlighted Baku as a crucial node for energy corridors and transit logistics. However, a quiet yet profound shift is currently taking place underneath the surface of these traditional economic pillars. The financial architecture of Azerbaijan is undergoing a significant transformation, moving rapidly away from a purely domestic, resource-reliant model toward becoming an ambitious regional financial hub. For years, the flow of capital in the region was largely unidirectional, with wealth generated from oil and gas being reinvested internally or funneled into major global markets. Today, a new narrative is unfolding-one where South Caucasus and Central Asia are becoming financially intertwined, with Azerbaijan positioning itself as the vital anchor of this emerging economic corridor.

This evolution did not happen overnight, nor is it an accidental byproduct of market forces. It began with the calculated outward expansion of Azerbaijani banking institutions. The initial footsteps of this journey were marked by a prominent local bank establishing a solid presence in the neighboring markets of Turkey and Georgia, effectively testing the waters of cross-border corporate financing. These moves demonstrated that domestic financial entities possessed the operational maturity and capital depth to compete outside their home turf. Building upon this foundation, the momentum accelerated dramatically at the beginning of this year when another leading Azerbaijani financial institution executed a landmark acquisition, purchasing a commercial bank in Uzbekistan. This strategic entry into the heart of Central Asia signaled a shift from merely opening foreign branches to acquiring fully integrated, high-performing assets abroad, illustrating an assertive export of banking expertise and liquidity.

While these cross-border banking expansions showcased Azerbaijan’s ability to export capital, the true test of a financial center lies in its capacity to attract foreign players seeking to raise funds. This missing link is now being forged as a prominent mobility enterprise from Kazakhstan prepares to issue corporate bonds on the Baku Stock Exchange. Because local regulatory frameworks mandate strict risk mitigation for foreign entities, this upcoming issuance will be backed by an unconditional guarantee from a domestic bank. This mechanism is groundbreaking for the local ecosystem. For the first time, a private foreign corporation is bypassing traditional global financial capitals to seek liquidity directly from Azerbaijani institutional and retail investors, using a local bank as its shield of credibility.

This impending bond issuance represents a historic first step-a literal icebreaker for the domestic capital market. If this initial transaction proves successful and demonstrates smooth execution, it will establish a highly visible precedent for the entire region. Businesses across Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan that require optimal, localized financing without the astronomical legal and administrative costs of Western mega-exchanges will naturally begin to look toward Baku. A successful debut proves to the regional corporate community that the Azerbaijani market possesses the necessary depth, sophisticated brokerage infrastructure, and investor appetite to absorb foreign debt efficiently.

The macroeconomic implications of this trend for Azerbaijan are profound. Instead of allowing vast sums of domestic liquidity to sit passively within standard low-yield instruments, the local financial system is creating a conduit to actively finance regional innovation and infrastructure. Azerbaijani banks are transitioning from traditional lenders into regional guarantors and underwriters, earning diverse fee income and elevating their institutional prestige. Simultaneously, local investors gain access to high-quality, diversified assets that offer a compelling balance between risk and reward, shielded by the security of domestic bank guarantees.

Ultimately, what we are witnessing is the convergence of the South Caucasus and Central Asian financial landscapes into a unified ecosystem, with Baku acting as its geographical and economic bridge. The historical trade routes of the Silk Road are effectively being digitized and financialized. By transforming from a regional credit consumer into an active capital exporter and an attractive fundraising destination, Azerbaijan is successfully rewriting its economic identity. If the current trajectory holds and more regional enterprises follow this path, the vision of Baku as the dominant financial center of the Caspian region will transition from an ambitious policy goal into an undeniable reality.

The Lebanese army has begun deploying troops to the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district as part of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered framework agreement with Israel, AzerNEWS reports, citing Anadolu.

The army said the deployment started on Tuesday morning as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security across southern Lebanon. Residents were urged to avoid traveling to the town until conditions stabilize and to follow the instructions of military personnel on the ground.

Military engineering units have entered Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh to inspect roads and public areas for explosives and other hazardous remnants reportedly left behind following the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Local sources said the deployment followed the pullout of Israeli troops and military vehicles from the town.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department announced the launch of pilot operations in the Lebanese villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh under the agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel last month.

The framework calls for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory. While it does not specify a timetable, the withdrawal is tied to the Lebanese army taking full responsibility for security in the evacuated areas and the disarmament of armed groups, including Hezbollah.