Azerbaijan

by **shakespear1** » Fri 03 Jun 2005, 11:30:34

You can be sure that Iran, Russia and other powers will be feeding the fires of istability resulting a wild mix that will make this region look less and less attractive as a source of oil for the "Western Capitalists".

That little guy in the shack stocking his fire with turds will get his orientation straightened out at the local mosque. You can bet on it. And seeing how we conduct ourselves in Iraq and Afganistan we are winning more "friends" then the barrels of oil flowing in our direction. So we can be sure he will not be waving our flag but a AK-47.

by **stu** » Tue 07 Jun 2005, 13:21:48

A new thread for a country which is very important geopolitically. Azerbaijan is described as being the neck to the bottle of Caspian Sea oil.

PIPELINE OPENING HELPS SPUR POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN AZERBAIJAN

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline may prove either a blessing or a bane for President Ilham Aliyev’s administration in Azerbaijan. The export route is expected to generate revenue that could fuel the rapid expansion of Azerbaijan’s economy. At the same time, the opening of the pipeline has helped spur opposition protests that aim to break the Aliyev administration’s virtual monopoly on power.

[url=http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20050607\ACQDJON200506070743DOWJONESDJONLINE000334.htm&selected=9999&selecteddisplaysymbol=9999&StoryTargetFrame=_top&mkt=WORLD&chk=unchecked&lang=&link=&headlinereturnpage=http://www.international.na]New Pipeline Has Increased Azerbaijan's Independence-Pres[/url]

The construction of an oil pipeline linking Azerbaijan to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan has helped increase Azerbaijan's independence and has strengthened its role in the region, President Ilham Aliev said Tuesday.

The U.S.-backed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which reduces the West's dependence on Russian pipelines and avoids Iran, had "completely changed the situation" in the Caucasus-Black Sea region, Aliev said at the opening of a regional oil and gas exhibition.

Azerbaijan hosts Caspian oil and gas exhibition

The 12th traditional exhibition, "Caspian Oil, Gas and Oil Processing", is opening today in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, said an organizer of the exhibition.

The Caspian Events company organized the exhibition together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Azerbaijan.

According to the source, the exhibition will feature pavilions of over 280 companies from about 40 countries. The companies will include ConocoPhillips, Itochu, Russia's LUKoil and Transneft, Statoil, Total, Azerbaijan's Gosneftekompania (state oil company), Azneftkhimmash, Baku Steel Company. The exhibition will last into June 10.

by **stu** » Fri 10 Jun 2005, 10:52:17

SIZING UP THE ‘BUSH EFFECT’ IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

US President George W. Bush stressed the need for "freedom and democracy" during his visit last month to Georgia. Bush’s words have had a noticeably different impact on neighboring states in the Caucasus. In Azerbaijan, where parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 2005, Bush’s rhetoric seems to be influencing domestic political developments. The reaction in Armenia, meanwhile, appears far more muted

by **stu** » Wed 15 Jun 2005, 12:14:16

YOUNG ACTIVISTS POISED TO ASSUME HIGHER POLITICAL PROFILE IN AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan’s youth groups are poised to play a central role in the fast-approaching parliamentary election campaign. Opposition leaders believe the participation of young activists in get-out-the-vote efforts could sway the election’s outcome. The government seems to share this view, underscored by the fact that arrests of pro-opposition youth activists have become routine in recent months. At the same time, authorities are taking steps of their own to court support from Azerbaijani young people.

Political trouble brewing in oil-reach Azerbaijan

A month could hardly pass when we read in the news that a new trouble brewed up in the oil-rich nation of Azerbaijan, which is located to the west of Caspian Sea, and which is also considered an eastern Transcaucasian nation. The geo-political significance of Azerbaijan cannot be underestimated. It sits at the far end of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, situated between the Black and Caspian seas, containing two, possibly three breakaway provinces, and borders Iran, Georgia, Armenia, and Russia.

by **stu** » Thu 23 Jun 2005, 13:00:11

LARGE OPPOSITION RALLY SHATTERS NERVES OF AZERBAIJANI GOVERNMENT

Azerbaijani authorities have become seriously concerned about the success of the opposition rally held on Saturday, June 18, in Baku. More than 20,000 members of the election block "Azadliq" (Freedom), which unites the three largest opposition parties in the country -- Musavat, the Popular Front, and the Democratic party, took part in the rally, demanding free and fair elections, changes in the composition of the election commissions, provision of equal conditions for all candidates during the election campaign, and an investigation of journalist Elmar Huseynov's March 2005 murder.

MP says Azerbaijan 'sliding into civil war'

Azerbaijan is sliding into a civil war on the eve of the parliamentary election, Civil Solidarity Party chairman, MP Fazayil Ibrahimli has said.

Speaking at a parliamentary session on Tuesday, he said that this threat has existed since the country gained independence.

by **stu** » Fri 24 Jun 2005, 13:02:51

Azerbaijani revolution imminent?

There is increased speculation that another velvet revolution may be looming following the recent demonstrations in Baku, especially if the government fails to hold parliamentary elections scheduled for November, or the elections are believed to have been rigged. Can Ilham Aliev's administration placate the Azeri people quickly enough or will they fall foul of a wave of revolutions sweeping across the CIS sphere?

by **stu** » Mon 27 Jun 2005, 09:12:56

Caspian Sea Pipeline Has Its Origins in Turbulent Waters

The opening ceremony of the new Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline here last month was a virtual Who's Who of the region. The presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey were on hand. So was U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.

The only dignitary missing was Russia's energy envoy, Igor Yusufov. He called in sick. As the 1,100-mile pipeline has been pieced together from the Azerbaijani capital here on the Caspian Sea, through Georgia, and on to a Mediterranean port in Turkey, the U.S. has secured an advantage nearly as important to its strategic interests in the region as the democratic revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine: a transport link for billions of barrels of new Caspian Sea oil through U.S.-friendly terrain, bypassing both Iran and Russia.

by **stu** » Tue 28 Jun 2005, 10:34:04

Aliyev rules out Ukraine-like revolt in Azerbaijan

Ukraine-style popular revolt to unseat the government could not happen in Azerbaijan, the president of the ex-Soviet oil producer was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Ukrainians toppled their government last year in a bloodless "Orange Revolution" of street protests against elections they said were rigged. Similar uprisings took place in Georgia in 2003 and recently in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan

Petro-Dollars Funding Big Military Build Up In Azerbaijan: Aliyev

Azerbaijan is using revenue from record-high oil prices to fund a massive increase in military spending, President Ilham Aliyev said June 25, warning that the army would be prepared to recapture the ethnic-Armenian separatist region of Nagorno Karabakh.

Azerbaijan will spend $300 million (248 million euros) on its armed forces in 2005, a 70 percent increase over last year, the Azeri leader said at a ceremony in a military academy.

by **stu** » Wed 29 Jun 2005, 07:45:06

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN DIFFER OVER RUSSIAN BASE PULL-OUT

Armenia and Azerbaijan are reacting differently to the Russian withdrawal from bases in Georgia. Politicians and pundits in Azerbaijan view the move as a potential security threat due in large part to Moscow’s decision to transfer to Armenia a portion of the military hardware now in Georgia. Armenian experts, meanwhile, downplay the significance of the transfer, contending that it does not alter the existing strategic balance.

Azerbaijan's Discontent Unlikely to Swell

A hot summer of discontent is brewing in this oil-rich former Soviet republic, where a newly emboldened opposition is harnessing anger over grinding poverty and possible electoral fraud into a popular movement for change.

Yet it seems unlikely that the people's disgruntlement will swell into a revolution against President Ilham Aliev and his government -- at least not this year. In spite of uniting in a bloc to run in the November vote, the opposition remains divided and unable to settle on a single, charismatic leader who could challenge Aliev in the election scheduled for 2008.

by **stu** » Wed 06 Jul 2005, 09:15:08

An Arms Race Looms?

Armenia and Azerbaijan are reacting differently to the Russian withdrawal from bases in Georgia. Politicians and pundits in Azerbaijan view the move as a potential security threat due in large part to Moscow’s decision to transfer to Armenia a portion of the military hardware now in Georgia. Armenian experts, meanwhile, downplay the significance of the transfer, contending that it does not alter the existing strategic balance.

Parliamentary election campaign launched in Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani Central Elections Commission has launched the parliamentary election campaign. Azerbaijan will elect the parliament on November 6.

The registration of candidates for 125 parliamentary mandates will start after July 24 and end on September 7 in compliance with the commission’s plan, Commission Chairman Mazair Panakhov said. The lists of registered candidates will be released in electoral districts before September 12. The electioneering will start on September 7 and end at 8:00 a.m. local time on November 5 – a day before the vote.

by **stu** » Thu 07 Jul 2005, 14:16:46

6bn tons of oil reserves in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has 6 billion tons of oil, including 1.5 billion tons onshore. The country possesses 57 oil fields, including 39 onshore, the Academy of Sciences has said.

Over 1.4 billion tons of oil have been produced in the country since 1890, or 37% of its overall reserves. 900 million tons were extracted onshore and the rest offshore.
The country's offshore oil production started in the Pirallahi and Bibiheybat fields in 1915-1920

Armenia concerned over Azerbaijan's military spending

Armenia will respond to Azerbaijan's raising its military spending, a high-ranking Armenian military official has said.

"Yerevan is concerned over Baku's steps at increasing its military power. We will respond adequately", Armenian armed forces headquarters chief Mikhael Harutyunian said commenting on President Ilham Aliyev's statement that Azerbaijan will raise its military expenses to $300 million.

Top US figures expected prior to elections

Former US State Secretary Madeleine Albright is expected to visit Azerbaijan in July to study the pre-election situation in the country, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish has said. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky is expected to visit Baku. Other high-ranking American officials may visit the country as well, Harnish said.

by **stu** » Fri 08 Jul 2005, 09:14:07

Azerbaijan to Stay in EU Focus until Elections

Azerbaijan will stay in the European Union’s focus until the November parliamentary elections, the EU special envoy on South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie has said.

He told a news conference on the results of his visit to Baku on Thursday that during the visit, the pre-election situation in the country, the EU New Neighborhood Policy and the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh were discussed.

by **stu** » Mon 11 Jul 2005, 10:52:53

Oil pipeline raises stakes in Azerbaijani politics

The opening ceremony of the new Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline here last month was a virtual Who's Who of the region. The presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey were on hand. So was U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.

The only dignitary missing was Russia's energy envoy, Igor Yusufov. He called in sick. As the 1,100-mile pipeline has been pieced together from the Azerbaijani capital here on the Caspian Sea, through Georgia, and on to a Mediterranean port in Turkey, the United States has secured an advantage nearly as important to its strategic interests in the region as the democratic revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine: a transport link for billions of barrels of new Caspian Sea oil through U.S.-friendly terrain, bypassing both Iran and Russia.

Internal Troops of Azerbaijan Getting Stronger

In his interview to Russian Military-Industrial Courier weekly, General Zakir Hasanov, Commander of Azerbaijan Internal Troops said, the Internal Troops is getting stronger every year and is able to protect Azerbaijanis from violation of stability.

Questioned if peacekeeping troops are created in internal troops, Hasanov answered that NATO intends to create a big peacekeeping structure. The Azerbaijani side has proposed to create a peacekeeping company in Internal Troops until 2008. The proposal has been agreed with NATO and in the future Azerbaijani peacekeepers of Internal Troops will take part in large-scale international actions, he said.

by **stu** » Tue 12 Jul 2005, 10:04:36

AZERBAIJAN - CLOSE PARTNER AND ALLY OF RUSSIA

bilateral cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.

As chairman of Committee of the State Duma on the international affairs Konstantin Kosachev told in exclusive interview to correspondent of AzerTAj, Azerbaijan remains as one of the most perspective and most important close partners and allies on the post-Soviet space. “As far as I know, the relations between the heads of two countries simply have bright character”, has emphasized Mr. Kosachev.

by **stu** » Wed 13 Jul 2005, 10:03:59

Energy Agreement Planned between Azerbaijan and Georgia

Georgia and Azerbaijan are planning to sign an agreement for synchronizing the two countries' energy systems, Nika Gilauri, the Georgian Minister of Fuel and Energy said at a news briefing on July 28.

He said the Georgian government expects the agreement to be signed soon. Further work on the details continued during the Azerbaijani experts' visit to Tbilisi on July 1. The minister stressed that both countries' energy systems are making technical preparations for the winter, which will enable them to launch their parallel work

Armenia peace deal close at hand

Former Soviet states Armenia and Azerbaijan may be close to a deal on Nagorno-Karabakh, ending the two neighbors' 17-year ethnic conflict over the region.

Radio Free Europe, quoting sources in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, reported Tuesday the peace deal would allow the ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh to decide their status in an internationally supervised referendum.

by **stu** » Thu 14 Jul 2005, 10:29:53

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IN BAKU: ANOTHER PUSH FOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrived in Baku on July 11 to meet with Azerbaijani politicians, NGO activists, and mass media and to discuss the situation in the country ahead of the November 6 parliamentary elections. Albright is currently chair of the National Democratic Institute, a Washington-based NGO. The visit of the former high-ranking American official was immediately compared to the visit that former Secretary of State James Baker paid to Tbilisi in the summer of 2003.

Azerbaijan reaffirms resolve for cooperation with Iran

Azerbaijan and Iran will continue their successful cooperation, Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev told Iran's representative to the Caspian talks Mehdi Safari Wednesday.

Aliyev hailed the way the two countries had worked to implement bilateral economic treaties and projects in the energy sector and road construction

by **stu** » Fri 15 Jul 2005, 11:44:34

New Iranian Leader Vows to Expand Ties with Azerbaijan

The newly-elected President of Iran Mahmud Ahmadinejad plans to continue developing his country’s fraternal relations with Azerbaijan, his special envoy on Caspian issues Mehdi Safari said in a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday

Document on Karabakh Conflict Sparks Discontent

A draft document on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict presented in an international seminar which started in Tbilisi, Georgia on Tuesday has sparked discontent from the participating Azerbaijani representatives.

by **stu** » Wed 20 Jul 2005, 11:13:34

TURKEY PROMOTES STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS

Turkey is engaged in a major diplomatic push to promote stability in the Caucasus. Ankara’s initiatives -- involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia -- could play an important role in breaking the long-standing stalemate in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.

Hopes have risen in recent weeks that a breakthrough in the Karabakh peace process may be at hand. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The Karabakh question was among the topics discussed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a July 18 meeting at the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. "I was satisfied to hear the Russian position that it was time to start settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Erdogan as saying at a post-meeting news conference.

by **stu** » Mon 22 Aug 2005, 17:43:39

WATCHING FOR WAHHABIS: THE RELIGIOUS FACTOR IN AZERBAIJAN’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION CAMPAIGN

With mosques throughout Azerbaijan attracting growing numbers of worshipers, the government has started to keep close tabs on religious activities.

In recent weeks, several suspected "Wahhabis" have been arrested, a ban on imported extremist religious literature introduced, and, reportedly, a move made by the Ministry of National Security to place several mosques in Baku under its control.

AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES DECIDE TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN KARABAKH

Although the Azerbaijani constitution sets the number of national parliamentary seats at 125, the actual number of deputies in the Azerbaijani parliament has always been 124. The empty seat belonged to district 122, located in Khankendi (Stepanakert), the capital of Karabakh, which is currently under the control of Armenian military formations. The loss of sovereignty over this territory has prevented the Azerbaijani authorities from holding nation-wide elections there. Not any more.

Azerbaijan Outlaws Orange to Prevent Revolution

There will be no “Orange Revolution” in the post-Soviet Azerbaijan, a Russian news Web site, Gazeta.Ru, wrote Friday. Even if Azerbaijan fails to escape the revolution it will be of different color.

Local authorities take pains to avert riots similar to those that evolved into the overthrow of the Leonid Kuchma regime in Ukraine.

by **stu** » Tue 23 Aug 2005, 15:28:31

Azerbaijan Rejects Opposition Accusations

Ramiz Tagiyev, an adviser to AXCP chairman Ali Kerimli, on 22 August told reporters in Baku that a few weeks ago he had let himself be recruited by security officers in a bid to learn about the government's plans ahead of the 6 November legislative polls.

Azerbaijan, Armenia to discuss Nagorny Karabakh conflict

The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia are set to discuss the resolution of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict Wednesday in Moscow, the Azerbaijani foreign minister said Tuesday.

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