Russia–Azerbaijan: an ambivalent partnership
Following the disintegration of the USSR and the emergence of newly independent states, the Caucasus region, which for years had stayed at the periphery of world affairs, has found itself the focus of attention from influential international players as well as neighboring countries. Former Soviet Transcaucasia republics, which became subject to international law overnight, began to formulate their own national interests and foreign policy priorities. The emergence of independent states in the South Caucasus went hand-in-hand with attempts to advance new regional security mechanisms and new forms of international cooperation. READ MORE
FM: Azerbaijan - a reliable partner, playing an important role in enhancing of energy security
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov addressed Monday the meeting of the UN Security Council, which discussed strengthening the partnership synergy between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said in the message of Press Service of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. READ MORE
Azerbaijani gas in Europe: from words to action
The year of 2013 can be really considered as a crucial, decisive and a historical year for the gas industry of not only Azerbaijan, but of the whole European energy market. Soon after the choice of Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP) in June as a route for transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, contracts were signed in Baku yesterday on delivery of this gas to European consumers. READ MORE
Expert: Russian diplomacy intensification in South Caucasus is due to Vilnius summit
The current intensification of Russian diplomacy in the South Caucasus is a reflection of the preparation for the Vilnius summit where Eastern Partnership countries will shape the contours of their future relations with the EU, executive director of the North-South Centre for Political Science Alexei Vlasov told Trend today. READ MORE
Heads of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey welcome increased cooperation between Turkic-speaking states
Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey welcomed the increased cooperation between the Turkic-speaking countries in the declaration adopted at the third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States in Gabala. READ MORE
GAS COLLISIONS BETWEEN BAKU AND BRUSSELS
Experts are talking about the defeat of the EU, as Nabucco even as Nabucco West - has remained on paper. With TAP pipeline EU got the chance to direct supplies from the Caspian Sea 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year from 2019-th. But it will apply only to the two countries - EU member states through which the pipeline will pass - Greece and Italy. Having given the benefit of TAP, Azerbaijan lost the chance to get to Central Europe, where there will be a positive growth of gas consumption. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, or SOCAR, as a group of Western companies - participants of the Shah Deniz consortium and TAP, frankly scared to compete with "Gazprom". But for Baku it is not only in the gas.
Abiyev, Hagel Highlight Success of Growing U.S.-Azerbaijan Defense Ties
In a working Pentagon visit this week, Colonel General Safar Abiyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Defense, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel pledged to extend and deepen the strategic partnership between their two countries, the Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the US Fakhraddin Ismayilov reported. READ MORE
Wahhabis have appeared in Georgia?
Near Tbilisi, in the village of Ponichala-Soganlugi densely populated by Azerbaijanis, the construction of a new mosque has started. It has become a bone of contention between local Azerbaijanis, dividing the population into good and bad, into the Shia, Sunni or Salafi. Many believe that Wahhabis are constructing it. Why some residents are convinced that the new mosque is the abode of evil, and what is Wahhabism in their opinion? READ MORE
Congressman: Azerbaijan is reliable trading partner and ally of Europe and US
The United States should help its European allies to diversify their energy sources, specifically natural gas, head of US delegation to the NATO parliamentary Assembly, US Congressman Michael Turner's article, posted on American media-resource The Hill said. READ MORE
