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It is rather an odd way for a small state to try to make itself heard by gathering the entire world to talk about how to get along. However, Azerbaijan’s seventh World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue saw some 2,000 delegates gather in Baku, of whom more than 500 were international participants coming from over 100 countries. This time, President Ilham Aliyev asked who sets the rules at either end.

Azerbaijan’s President delivered something sharper than the usual plea for tolerance: an argument that national sovereignty means little if powerful states reserve the right to lecture others while international institutions struggle to uphold their own decisions. Perhaps a country unable to dictate international rules can make itself useful to those who write them. Hosting confers no automatic authority. But invitations, chairmanships and negotiations on familiar ground provide access, agenda-setting opportunities and visibility.

After decades of unsuccessful efforts to reverse occupation and subsequent military victories, Azerbaijan wants its experience read as a political lesson. In Baku’s telling, neither international recognition nor diplomatic sympathy is a substitute for the capacity to protect national interests. The harder question is whether a lesson born of one conflict can be translated into a credible principle for an increasingly fractured world.

A capital that refuses to remain on the sidelines

Baku has had decades to gather all those diplomatic invitations and responsibilities which normally fall to cities many times larger. The city’s chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia was extended to 2028. At the October summit, CICA issued a Baku Declaration and named an Azerbaijani diplomat as the organization’s new secretary-general. Despite being located outside of Central Asia, Azerbaijan is also a member of the consultation arrangement for Central Asian leaders.

Azerbaijan, then, is set to host an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit in 2027 and a European Political Community summit in 2028. These organizations belong to different political geographies, ideologies, and strategies. Baku’s logic is that it should not have to pick sides to be able to make a meaningful engagement in other camps.

It is about being relevant as a middle power, but not about being a superpower. A middle power; that is, one which is not large enough to dominate its neighbours in the region, but whose economic and geographical importance is such that it will be able to influence decisions of far more powerful players. It has resources to shape the domestic policies of its neighbours, and from time to time we have witnessed it speaking as an equal to Moscow and Trkiye – which are considered the regional powers. And organizing summits is not the same as solving disagreements. However, in a context of fraying alliances, organizing rival groups has political significance. The question is whether the organizers can turn their busy schedule of summits into sustainable arrangements.

Baku’s uncomfortable lesson of unenforced rules

The most significant point raised by President Aliyev relates to the difference between what international organizations say and do. Four resolutions were passed in 1993 by the UN Security Council regarding the conflict and calling for withdrawal from occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Diplomacy was claimed to have not brought results for many years. Azerbaijan regained control over many of its territories in the war of 2020 and secured its control over Karabakh through its military campaign in September 2023.

Ilham Aliyev invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter and portrayed Azerbaijan’s military action as the enforcement of rights that international mechanisms had failed to protect. This is the Azerbaijani government’s legal and political interpretation. The 1993 resolutions did not themselves grant an unrestricted authorisation to use force; the conduct and consequences of the wars remain subject to international scrutiny. Nonetheless, the political problem is hard to avoid. A global system that has territorial integrity as its fundamental tenet requires credible ways of safeguarding that. The case of Baku presents the peacekeeping organizations with a pertinent query: how can it be managed when promises last for decades but enforcement does not?

The right to decide, and the duty to negotiate

From there, the Azerbaijani President moved to a second argument: the rejection of political tutelage. He challenged those who presume the right to dictate domestic conduct to another country: ‘Do you have a moral right to lecture someone, to teach someone, to lecture an independent country on how to live, what to do, and what not to do?’ The remark was made in a general discussion of double standards, rather than naming any particular ally or adversary.

Language that was surprising for an occasion meant for dialogue. But it reveals the underlying politics behind the ostensibly forward-looking foreign policy of Azerbaijan. For Baku seeks to have relations with various centers of power but at the same time insists that such engagement should not be supervision. This reflects the fact that in a place where the demands of neighbors and faraway partners often clash, it also demonstrates the dilemma of sovereign multilateralism. Relations with China, the USA, the European countries, and its neighbors are given as an example of how cooperation is possible without subordination to any one political center. But sovereignty does not give immunity to criticism, and refusal to submit to external pressure should not mean a right to evade responsibility to the international community. The stronger form of the argument expects consistency from all, including Azerbaijan.

So in that regard, the strategy, the language, and the reasoning are simple. It does have concrete elements. First, because Azerbaijan’s attitude to east-west traffic across the Caspian Sea and to north-south transportation routes means that this strategy has significance for parties that may normally ignore the South Caucasus. Secondly, energy exports, infrastructure, and low debt mean that Baku is able to maneuver diplomatically, although it remains vulnerable to pressure from outside the country.

At the same time, the forum proposed one of the domestic components of Ilham Aliyev’s strategy: Azerbaijanism, which he defined as an ‘inclusive national concept’ that unites Azerbaijan’s different ethnic and religious groups. His statement that there are no threats to the regime’s stability internally is, of course, a political judgment rather than a claim that can be verified independently. But this idea is essential to his foreign policy argument.

The lesson of Baku, therefore, is not that force is a better substitute for diplomacy, or that small states need not abide by international norms. A middle power does not need to chair the world’s most powerful organisation to matter. It can become a useful junction between organisations whose members do not share the same worldview. The message of Baku is a call to question a world order that talks boldly about sovereignty but acts in an inconsistent manner in supporting it. Azerbaijan has shown that it can get the attention of the world and rally diverse partners. How well it succeeds in turning this experience into a viable model will be determined by a far tougher test than organizing yet another summit.

‘Without words, but with a thousand shades,’ ‘When silence finds its color,’ ‘Colors instead of words,’ ‘He cannot hear the world, but he knows how to reveal its beauty,’ and ‘Seeing more than what is depicted’… These were some of the thoughts that came to mind as I stepped into the remarkable world of artist Tural Bayramov. Trend presents a feature about this unique individual and his art.

In the heart of Baku, opposite the Seaside Boulevard and near the Puppet Theatre, a cozy courtyard houses the studio of artist Tural Bayramov. Here, surrounded by canvases, paints, and unfinished works, a distinctive world takes shape-a world in which words are optional and thoughts, feelings, and experiences find expression through form, color, and movement.

Tural Bayramov has been inseparable from his paintbrush since the age of three. He cannot hear, but this has never prevented him from communicating with viewers through the language of art. During our meeting, his wife, Leyla, helped us communicate by interpreting his gestures and explanations. Thanks to her, our conversation about painting became an opportunity to discover the inner world of a gifted individual, including his artistic principles, personal outlook, and dreams.

The studio is a place where you want to linger. The paintings seem to invite you to look more closely, step back a few paces, return, and try to discover what you might have missed at first glance. There is no attempt to classify everything neatly or offer viewers a single, definitive interpretation. On the contrary, the artist wants everyone to find something personal in his work.

The Art of Seeing Beyond the Obvious

Tural Bayramov prefers painting from life. According to the artist, working directly in front of a real subject requires considerably more skill, experience, and self-confidence than copying a photograph.

‘I find painting from life much more interesting,’ the artist explains through his wife.

This is more than a technical preference. When working with a real subject, an artist observes light, shadow, subtle shades, and the barely perceptible changes taking place in the surrounding world. Bayramov wants to convey his own impressions rather than mechanically reproduce what he sees.

His work reveals the influence of French Impressionism, particularly the paintings of Claude Monet. He is drawn to the Impressionists’ ability to capture fleeting moments-the changing light, atmosphere, and mood of nature. However, Bayramov has no intention of simply replicating another artist’s style. Instead, he is searching for his own artistic signature, one that continues to evolve and become increasingly recognizable.

Comparing his earlier and more recent works, one can see how his artistic language has developed, with increasingly bold color combinations and a freer interpretation of form. Yet one essential element remains unchanged: his desire to convey not merely the outward appearance of an object or a person’s likeness, but also his own emotional response to it.

Bayramov enjoys working outdoors and is unafraid of challenging conditions. Cold weather and other inconveniences do not discourage him from painting in the open air. On the contrary, he takes particular pleasure in observing nature directly and capturing its changing moods on canvas.

Paintings Without a Single Answer

One of the defining characteristics of Tural Bayramov’s art is its deliberate ambiguity. He does not want viewers to glance at a painting, identify the object depicted, and move on. Instead, he wants his work to stimulate thought, which is why he deliberately leaves room for imagination in some of his compositions.

Individual lines, patches of color, and outlines can be interpreted in different ways. One person might see human figures, while another might discover entirely different images. Both interpretations are equally valid.

‘He wants viewers to add something of their own and engage their imagination,’ Leyla explains, conveying the artist’s idea.

This is one of his central artistic principles: rather than dictating what viewers should see, he invites them to become co-creators. The painting becomes a meeting place for two worlds-the artist’s inner world and the personal experiences of the person standing before the canvas.

During our conversation, Tural draws our attention to the differences between his works. What initially appears simple may conceal a profound idea, while a technically complex image is not necessarily the most interesting one to him.

The artist does not seek to impress through technical virtuosity for its own sake. Far more important to him is creating work that encourages reflection, awakens emotions, and leaves viewers with questions.

Taking a Step Back

There is another intriguing detail in Bayramov’s working process. As he paints, he frequently steps several paces away from the canvas. This allows him to assess the overall composition, check the relationships between colors, and understand how the painting appears from a distance.

This technique is equally important for the viewer. Up close, a canvas may look like a collection of individual brushstrokes, lines, and color transitions. But step back, and these elements come together to form a unified image, with each detail contributing to the overall impression.

Watching the artist at work, one begins to understand that painting, for him, is about far more than accurately reproducing shapes. It is also a continuous process of exploration, comparing details, and reconsidering artistic decisions. Every painting demands reflection and, at times, the willingness to move beyond the most obvious answer.

Bayramov’s works often contain images that do not reveal themselves immediately. They seem to encourage viewers to pause and look more carefully. Through this approach, he seeks to cultivate a more thoughtful engagement with art, in which people do more than admire an image: they actively search for its meaning.

Between Commissions and Dreams

Our conversation gradually moves from artistic principles to Tural’s professional ambitions. It becomes clear that behind the artist’s modest demeanor lies a strong desire for creative independence.

Today, clients and art enthusiasts more frequently approach him with requests for still lifes and other realistic images. Although he is capable of producing such works, his own artistic interests extend much further. He wants to devote more time to the kind of art that reflects his personal understanding of painting, work in the style he loves, and earn recognition for his distinctive artistic identity.

Plein-air painting occupies a special place in his plans. He values the opportunity to work outdoors, observe the world around him, and paint subjects that genuinely inspire him. He would like greater freedom to choose his subjects and develop works that allow him to realize his full creative potential.

Tural also dreams of working with live models. He is interested in more than their physical features; he wants to capture their emotional state, mood, and character. When painting portraits, he pays close attention to skin tones, light and shadow, and subtle transitions between colors. Yet behind these technical considerations lies a deeper ambition: to convey the individuality of the person before him.

His paintings explore loneliness, contemplation, and a range of emotional states. He is interested in people not merely as models, but as inner worlds that cannot be reduced to an accurate reproduction of facial features.

A Journey into Art

Tural Bayramov was born in Baku in 1987. His artistic journey began in early childhood. He attended the Tofig Ismayilov Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity before receiving professional training at the Azim Azimzade Azerbaijan State Art College and the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts.

His talent has earned recognition, including from academician Omar Eldarov. Over the course of his artistic career, Bayramov has participated in exhibitions in Azerbaijan and abroad.

In 2017, he held a solo exhibition in Baku titled ‘My Quiet World,’ featuring more than 100 works. Other significant milestones in his exhibition history include the project ‘Sunny Azerbaijan in Belgium,’ an exhibition at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg marking the centenary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and participation in an exhibition of young Azerbaijani artists in London.

Bayramov’s works are held in private and corporate collections in Azerbaijan, Russia, France, and Belgium. Two of his paintings are also featured in the permanent exhibition aboard the Surakhany ship museum in Baku.

Behind this list of exhibitions and achievements, however, is a person who continues to explore, experiment, and refine his craft.

A Dialogue Beyond Words

As I leave the studio, I turn for one last look at the canvases. Each seems to continue a conversation begun by the artist-a conversation that does not always require words.

Tural Bayramov offers viewers no ready-made answers and makes no attempt to explain every detail of his work. Instead, he leaves room for personal interpretation, inviting people to imagine, question, and discover meanings of their own.

His deafness is part of his life experience, but it does not define his identity or explain the entirety of his artistic expression. Above all, he is an artist who has spent years learning to see, observe, and communicate his impressions through painting.

Leyla’s assistance during our meeting allowed us to hear his voice-not literally, but through his thoughts, gestures, and paintings.

Perhaps this is where the unique power of art lies: it can create a dialogue when familiar forms of communication give way to observation, imagination, and emotion.

The 12th conference on ‘Investment and Sustainable Development in Microfinance’ is being held in Azerbaijan, organized by the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association (AMFA).

The event brings together representatives of government agencies, international financial institutions, banks, non-bank credit institutions (NBCIs), insurance companies and investment firms.

Discussions at the conference focus on attracting investment to the microfinance sector, expanding access to financial services, regulatory mechanisms and credit risk management.

Participants are also examining digital transformation in the sector, cybersecurity, the application of artificial intelligence to credit assessment, and opportunities for cooperation with fintech companies.

The conference is being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association.

Armenia’s parliament has ratified the Framework Agreement with the United States on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), marking a further step towards implementing the regional transport initiative connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory.

According to Armenpress, the agreement was approved with 63 votes in favour and 32 against.

Lawmakers from the ruling Civil Contract faction supported ratification, while the opposition Strong Armenia and Armenia (Hayastan) factions voted against the agreement.

The document was presented to parliament by Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ararat Mirzoyan, who outlined the proposed transport arrangements and the framework for American involvement in the project.

During parliamentary discussions on October 27, Mirzoyan emphasised that all infrastructure developed under the initiative on Armenian territory would remain under Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction.

According to the minister, the project aims to unblock regional transport communications and establish new connections between Armenia and third countries through Azerbaijan.

The initiative is also expected to facilitate domestic railway connectivity within Armenia, while providing Azerbaijan with a transport connection to Nakhchivan through Armenian territory.

A central component of the agreement is the establishment of the TRIPP Development Company, which will oversee the project’s development under a joint Armenian-American ownership structure.

Under the proposed arrangement, the US side will hold a 74% stake in the company, while Armenia will retain 26%.

The initial cooperation period will be 49 years.

If both parties agree to extend the arrangement for an additional 50 years, Armenia’s ownership share will increase to 49%, while the American side’s stake will decrease to 51%.

Mirzoyan also clarified during the October 27 debate that the company’s charter and shareholders’ agreement had yet to be negotiated and formally adopted.

He added that the American company participating as a co-founder would remain under the ownership and management of the US government throughout the arrangement.

The framework agreement was originally signed in June 2026.

Azerbaijan could become one of the fastest-growing international tourism destinations over the next decade, with overnight stays by foreign visitors expected to increase by 116% by 2036.

Romanian publications Afaceri.news and Mediafax have reported on the findings of a new international study examining the future of Europe’s tourism industry.

The report, titled “The Changing Face of Europe’s Tourism Map by 2036,” was commissioned by hotel group Accor and is based on forecasts by Tourism Economics. It identifies Azerbaijan as one of the countries with particularly strong potential for growth in overnight stays by international tourists.

According to the study, overnight stays by foreign visitors are projected to increase by 116% in Azerbaijan between 2026 and 2036. Latvia is expected to record growth of 83%, Romania 82%, Hungary 80%, Cyprus 75%, Lithuania 72% and Croatia 68%.

The report states that Europe will remain a major global tourism hub over the next decade. Demand for tourist accommodation across the continent is expected to grow by 32%, adding 1.6 billion overnight stays annually.

Overnight stays by international tourists are projected to rise by 42%, while domestic tourism is expected to grow by 24%. Arrivals from the Middle East are forecast to increase by 93%, while the number of visitors from Asia is expected to rise by 88%.

The study notes that Europe welcomed 810 million international tourists in 2025, accounting for 53% of global international tourist arrivals. Tourism revenues exceeded pound 700 billion.

According to the forecasts, total spending by international visitors to Europe will increase from pound 825 billion in 2026 to more than pound 1.3 trillion by 2036.

Experts say improved transport links, investment in tourism infrastructure, growing interest in new destinations and wider access to international travel will bring significant changes to Europe’s tourism market.

The report covers tourism demand forecasts for 47 European countries over the 2026-2036 period. The figures are projections rather than actual results.

On October 28, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, met with Åsa Regnér, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and UNESCO.

They emphasized the importance of joint projects in the fields of cultural heritage protection, education, science, and culture, and discussed opportunities to further expand cooperation in these areas.

The meeting also covered other issues of mutual interest.

Azerbaijan has been selected by UN Tourism to host the 10th World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, scheduled to take place in Gabala in June 2027.

The international event will bring together tourism and gastronomy experts, government representatives, academics, producers and entrepreneurs to discuss the development of gastronomy tourism and its growing role in promoting cultural heritage and supporting local economies.

Hosting the forum is expected to provide Azerbaijan with an opportunity to showcase its culinary traditions, national cuisine and locally produced food products to an international audience.

The event will also highlight the country’s gastronomic heritage as an important component of its tourism potential, while promoting regional destinations such as Gabala.

Organised by UN Tourism since 2015, the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism serves as an international platform for exchanging knowledge, sharing successful practices and strengthening cooperation among stakeholders in the tourism and gastronomy sectors.

Its primary objectives include identifying effective approaches to gastronomy tourism development, preserving traditional culinary practices and promoting local products as part of sustainable destination development.

The forum also provides an opportunity to examine how gastronomy can contribute to economic growth by supporting local producers, encouraging entrepreneurship and creating additional opportunities for tourism-related businesses.

During the 2027 gathering, Azerbaijan’s national cuisine, traditional food preparation methods and regional gastronomic products will be presented to international tourism professionals and industry representatives.

The event is expected to strengthen the international visibility of Azerbaijani cuisine while encouraging greater recognition of the country’s diverse culinary traditions.

Beyond cultural promotion, hosting the forum could also create new opportunities for international cooperation in tourism investment, professional education and business development.

The participation of international tourism organisations, industry specialists and entrepreneurs is expected to facilitate new professional connections and encourage the exchange of expertise in gastronomy-related tourism initiatives.

Azerbaijani boxers won 25 medals across the four European Championships they entered in 2026.

According to the Boxing Federation, the medal tally includes five gold, eight silver and 12 bronze medals.

Among the national teams, the U-15 squad, which has shown considerable promise for the future, secured the most medals. The young boxers reached the podium 10 times at the European Championships recently held in Trabzon, Trkiye.

Azerbaijan’s U-17 national team finished its continental campaign with eight medals. Meanwhile, the senior national team achieved a record result at the corresponding competition, winning five medals. Two athletes from each of these teams claimed gold medals, earning the honour of hearing the Azerbaijani national anthem played at the top of the podium.

The U-19 national team secured two medals at its European Championship.

Azerbaijani teams finished among the top six in terms of medal standings at three of these continental competitions.

However, the national teams’ medal-winning campaign may not be over yet. The European U-23 Championships, scheduled for November, will provide Azerbaijan with another opportunity to increase its medal tally.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has rejected suggestions that Azerbaijan’s expectation of an apology for the displacement and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis should become an additional condition for signing the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan.

Speaking during a parliamentary session, Mirzoyan responded to recent remarks by Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev, who said that Azerbaijanis, particularly those forcibly displaced from their homes, expected an apology from Armenia as part of the broader reconciliation process.

Mirzoyan argued that such statements did not contribute to peace efforts, while maintaining that Armenia remained committed to normalising relations with Azerbaijan.

His remarks came in response to a question from opposition Strong Armenia lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan, who criticised the Armenian authorities for failing to respond publicly to Hajiyev’s statement.

Abrahamyan questioned whether such rhetoric was compatible with the ongoing peace process and expressed concern that an apology could become another condition for the signing of the peace agreement initialled in Washington in August 2025.

Mirzoyan dismissed criticism of the government’s approach, arguing that Armenia was working to consolidate peace despite the difficulties and obstacles surrounding the process.

“The wheel always likes to follow its own groove. Even when great efforts are made to move it away from that groove, it’s easy, thump, the wheel just ends up falling back into its favourite groove”, Mirzoyan said.

The Armenian foreign minister acknowledged that he could offer a “bombastic and patriotic” response to Hajiyev’s remarks but warned that returning to confrontational rhetoric would undermine efforts to normalise relations.

Addressing concerns that an apology could become an additional requirement for concluding the peace process, Mirzoyan said: “I don’t think there can be another precondition”.

He did not elaborate further on the issue.

Instead, Mirzoyan stressed that the consequences of the conflict continued to affect both societies and that reconciliation remained essential to establishing lasting peace.

“We need to end this conflict and enter a phase of peace and cooperation. We will benefit from that, and they will benefit from that”, he concluded.

Baku stresses importance of acknowledging displacement of Azerbaijanis

Mirzoyan’s comments followed statements by Hikmet Hajiyev during a special session titled “The Language of Peace and Combating Disinformation”, held as part of the Baku Culture and Media Dialogue Platform on Monday.

Hajiyev said that although Azerbaijan and Armenia had agreed on a peace agenda, certain statements and political tendencies in Armenia continued to raise concerns in Baku.

“We are still concerned about manifestations of revanchism in Armenian society. At the same time, we see that Armenia’s current leadership is promoting the concept of ‘Real Armenia’. We take this into account and believe that Armenia should exist within its internationally recognised borders, rather than on the basis of certain historical interpretations that do not correspond to reality”, Hajiyev stated.

The presidential aide also emphasised the importance of recognising the experiences of Azerbaijanis who were displaced during the conflict.

“Initial agreements on peace have already been reached. However, I am certain that every Azerbaijani, especially those who were expelled from their homes, spent 30 years as refugees or internally displaced persons, and were subjected to ethnic cleansing, expects an apology from Armenia”, Hajiyev said.

“Undoubtedly, this should be part of the broader process of building trust and establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan”.

Hajiyev’s remarks framed an apology as an element of historical acknowledgment and confidence-building between the two societies.

Peace agreement remains unsigned

Azerbaijan and Armenia initialled the text of their peace agreement in Washington in August 2025, marking a significant step towards the formal normalisation of bilateral relations.

However, the document has yet to be formally signed.

Baku has maintained that Armenia must address constitutional provisions it considers to contain territorial claims against Azerbaijan before the agreement can be concluded.

Yerevan, meanwhile, has expressed opposition to the introduction of additional conditions into the process.

‘Azerbaijan is consistently implementing measures to combat corruption. Modernizing legislation, increasing transparency and accountability in public administration, ensuring the digitalization and accessibility of public services, and strengthening public oversight all play an important role in preventing corruption,’ President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the Third Ministerial Meeting of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, held in Baku.

The head of state noted that during the nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories, the illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources, including mineral deposits, involving foreign entities had caused severe environmental damage to the region. He added that substantial proceeds derived from these crimes had been laundered through international financial channels.

‘Digital development, particularly the rapid spread of artificial intelligence, expands opportunities to combat corruption while also creating conditions for new forms of corruption and the misuse of digital financial instruments. The effective use of modern technological solutions by relevant law enforcement agencies is particularly important for preventing and efficiently investigating such crimes.

‘I am confident that the discussions and proposals put forward in Baku will help further strengthen cooperation among OIC member states in combating corruption, build mutual trust and contribute to the sustainable development of our countries,’ President Ilham Aliyev added.