teas magazine november 2012 (english)

www.teas.eu November 2012

PHILIPP RATHMER CAPTURES THE STARK REALITIES OF DISPLACEMENT

11 / 2012www.teas.eu

Also in this issue: Lords pledge support for the Azerbaijani perspectiveAzerbaijan’s role in World War II examinedContemporary Azerbaijani cinema showcased in London‘BTC and Beyond’ event focuses on Azerbaijan’s pivotal roleSOFAZ to provide finance for TANAP construction

Samaya M

amm

adova, an 86-year-old IDP from

Shusha. Photo: Philipp Rathm

er

November 2012 www.teas.eu

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The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) is a pan-European organisation dedicated to promoting Azerbaijani culture, business and public affairs to international audiences. TEAS is also actively involved in helping create a sense of community amongst expatriate Azerbaijanis.

TEAS was launched in November 2008, having initially been established as the London Azerbaijan Society four years earlier. The organisation now has offices in the UK, Belgium, France and Germany, together with a representative office in Azerbaijan.

TEAS has three main façets to its operations:

• Culture – TEAS raises awareness of Azerbaijan’s rich and vibrant culture to a worldwide audience by organising cultural events and operating as a networking centre. • Business – TEAS supports its membership of European and Azerbaijani businesses. It provides a platform for organisations to establish links and strengthen their existing business relationships via a programme of networking opportunities across the region. • Public Affairs – TEAS works to increase awareness about Azerbaijan amongst key opinion formers, key decision-makers and other political, academic and civil society stakeholders.

TEAS is focused on achieving the following:

• The establishment of strong links between key Azerbaijani and European stakeholders, thereby helping Azerbaijan to integrate fully into the European family of nations.• Strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and key economic, political and social structures across Europe.• The promotion of Azerbaijan as a modern, secular, Western-facing country with tremendous economic opportunities and a strong cultural heritage.• Creating a community spirit amongst expatriate Azerbaijanis in Europe.• Increasing awareness of the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the plight of the 875,000 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

TEAS is always bringing the latest news, views and interviews on all aspects of Azerbaijan, and is launching a biweekly free e-newsletter. To find out more, please sign up at www.teas.eu.Newsletter

Welcome to The European Azerbaijan Society

Outreach and EngagementThe TEAS Facebook page is your chance to learn about the latest TEAS news, events, campaigns and other items of interest to the Azerbaijani community. Please ‘like’ the page at http://bit.ly/TEASFB

MembershipTEAS offers a range of corporate and individual membership packages, providing such benefits as advertising, networking, travel discounts and assistance with visas. To find out more, e-mail: [email protected]

Forthcoming Azerbaijani events20 November (exhibition continues until 1 December)Official Opening: ‘Azerbaijan Through the Lens’ Photography ExhibitionLa Galleria Pall Mall, 30 Royal Opera Arcade, London, SW1Y 4UY19.30hrs. Admission FreeThis showcases some of the entries to the Azerbaijan Through the Lens photography competition, organised by TEAS. Competition winners will be announced at the exhibition

opening, and drinks and canapés will be served. Please RSVP to [email protected]

24 November‘Gratitude’: Renara Akhoundova in ConcertPushkin House, 5a Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2TA18.00hrs. Admission: £20 (two or more tickets £15 per person)Bakuvian pianist Renara Akhoundova (website: www.renara.org) is returning to London for a special concert of her own compositions. During a successful international career, she has performed in the UK, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Russia, France, Switzerland, the Baltic States and Kuwait,

amongst other countries. Bookings: +44 (0)207 269 9770.

7 December In the Footsteps of OdinBasement Room, Pushkin House, 5a Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1A 2TA19.30hrs. Admission FreeDuring this TEAS-sponsored evening, David Parry, author, dramaturge and Chair, Gruntler’s Theatre, will outline his belief that Odin was actually a tribal shaman, leading his people through Azerbaijan into Sweden, and that Azerbaijan has a closer historical relationship with Northern Europe than previously thought.


03

Lords debate AzerbaijanA debate on Azerbaijan and South Caucasus has taken place at the House of Lords at the initiative of Lord Laird, Member of the TEAS Advisory Board. During his introduction, Lord Laird addressed the current state of UK–Azerbaijani relations, the rapid economic development of the country, and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions.

Lord Laird explained that the OSCE Minsk Group, tasked with achieving a negotiated peace to the conflict, had been unsuccessful over nearly 20 years. He underlined that the three Co-Chairs – the US, France and Russia – were countries in which the Armenian diaspora had a strong presence, and questioned the priority given to the conflict by the UK government. Lord Laird explained that the UK could play a major role in achieving resolution, and offered to organise the visit by a delegation of Lords to Azerbaijan.

Lord Sheikh stated that the Azerbaijani economy ranks amongst the most rapidly evolving in the world. He said: “The spheres that Azerbaijan wants to develop include finance, telecommunications and infrastructure. Some important contracts have been recently signed in the technology and construction sectors with companies from several European countries. We should hurry to improve our commercial relations with Azerbaijan, unless other countries leave us behind.” He underlined the importance of organising delegations to improve commercial co-operation with Azerbaijan.

This view was reiterated by Lord Kilclooney, who stressed the need for visits by David Cameron, UK Prime Minister, and William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary. He also outlined the tolerance of the country, where Jews, Muslims, Christians and members of other religious communities enjoy equal rights. With regard to the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Lord Kilclooney explained that around 18 per cent of Azerbaijani territory remains under Armenian occupation, and noted that the OSCE Minsk Group applies double standards.Lord German, Lord Wallace, Lord Triesman and Lord Sandwich also made contributions,

underlining the need to further enhance UK–Azerbaijani relations. Baroness Cox, Chair, British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group, levelled a series of unsubstantiated allegations against Azerbaijan.

Lord Wallace concluded the debate, stating that the UK Parliament was committed to the region and underlining that Prime Minister Cameron had met Azerbaijani President Aliyev on two occasions. He explained: “We are committed to this region because it is part of the wider European neighbourhood. We are committed with our European partners because we share common interests. We are committed, as a country that is an active exporter, to compete with our European partners – the Germans, the French and others – for business and investment in the region. So, we have a mixture of interests in which we recognise the growing importance of Azerbaijan, the importance of the Caucasus, as a whole, to our future energy security, and the importance of helping the Caucasus to become more stable, more prosperous, and more democratic for the peace of that region and for our broader region.”

Azerbaijan’s World War II contribution examinedA landmark international symposium took place in Baku during October. Entitled The Role of Azerbaijan in World War II and as a Refuge from the Holocaust in the Caucasus, it was jointly organised by TEAS and the Paris-based Yahad-In Unum research organisation. The event began with introductions by Tale Heydarov, Chairman and Founder, TEAS, and Ali Hasanov, Head, Socio-Political Department, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration. Keynote papers were delivered by Father Patrick Desbois, President, Yahad-In Unum and Paul Shapiro, Director, Centre for Advanced Holocaust Studies, US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Following this, 18 papers were given by leading Azerbaijani historians and international academics from France, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK, and the US. During their presentations, the

speakers outlined the central importance of Azerbaijani oil in fuelling the Soviet armed forces in their fight against Nazi Germany and the importance placed on Azerbaijani resources by the Nazi elite. They also discussed Azerbaijan’s other contributions to the Soviet war effort. Main topics included the Nazi campaign to exterminate the Jewish community and other sections of society and Azerbaijan’s crucial role as a place of refuge. The presentations opened up new perspectives on the country’s role in the Second World War, and generated lively debate between the speakers and delegates, which included academics, journalists and students. Further research into the Azerbaijani role in World War II is planned, and TEAS and Yahad-In Unum are committed to building on this landmark initiative by undertaking additional academic research.

Professor Kerim Shukurov, Head, TEAS Centre for Azerbaijani Studies, concluded the event by announcing that a Holocaust Museum is to be constructed in Azerbaijan to increase understanding of the country’s role in protecting threatened communities.

Politics and News

The debate was tabled at the initiative of Lord Laird

Father Patrick Desbois outlined the outcome of recent research

Expanded Azerbaijani–UN co-operation on the horizonElmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign

Minister and Antonius Bernardus Broek,

newly-appointed UN Resident Co-

ordinator in Azerbaijan and United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) Resident

Representative have discussed the potential

for the further development of co-operation

between Azerbaijani and UN institutions.

During the meeting, Mammadyarov

outlined the role of the Azerbaijan

International Development Agency and the

implementation of various projects aimed at

enhancing Azerbaijani–UNDP co-operation.

Morningstar: Azerbaijan remains important to the USFollowing the re-election of US President

Obama on 7 November, H.E. Richard

Morningstar, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan,

emphasised that the country would have

continued significance for the US. He

said: “I certainly think that, with President

Barack Obama continuing for the next

four years, we would not expect any major

changes in US Foreign Policy. Azerbaijan

will continue to be an extremely important

country to the US, and we will continue to

work with Azerbaijan regarding those issues

on which we have been collaborating.”

NEWS IN BRIEF


04 Politics and News

World Bank project on health care reform extendedThe implementation period for the World Bank (WB) project on reforming the Azerbaijani healthcare system has been extended until mid-2013, having begun in 2006. This was originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2012. A WB spokesman said: “The construction operations are virtually complete, but the technical assistance aspect is still being undertaken.” The project currently comprises four main elements:

• developing the management of the health ministry, planning policy and regulation

• improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare in five pilot regions, including the modification of initial service at a regional level; construction of three regional hospitals; and strengthening ties between primary and secondary healthcare

• reforming health finance, enabling a gradual transition to the principles of compulsory health insurance

• increased human capacity, including a certification programme for medical personnel.

The total project cost is $78.3m (£49.3m), of which the WB allocated $50m ($31.5m), with the Azerbaijani government providing the remainder.

Forum for Azerbaijani students in Europe hosted in ViennaThe two-day Vienna Forum on the Armenian–Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, aimed at Azerbaijani students from European countries, took place on 26–27 October, during which details of the legal, humanitarian and other aspects of the conflict were discussed. Tofiq Musayev, Deputy Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN and Expert on International Law, commented on the legal background, and provided information on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to international law. Rovshan Rzayev, Azerbaijani MP, spoke on the foundation and

development of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh public organisation, and the contribution of public diplomacy towards conflict resolution, raising awareness of the humanitarian elements.

Farhad Mammadov, Head, Azerbaijani Centre for Strategic Studies, outlined the international research undertaken in relation to the conflict, and Leyla Aliyeva, Nijat Mammadli and Sevinj Isgandarova from the Justice for Khojaly campaign voiced their opinion about the organisation of youths and students towards informing the world community about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The event concluded with presentations from Matthew Bryza, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and currently Head of the International Centre for Defence Studies; Nigar Göksel, Editor-in-Chief, Turkish Policy Quarterly; and Adil Baguirov, Executive Director, US Azeris Network (USAN), who spoke about the work that is currently taking place to develop understanding of the Azerbaijani position.

A z e r b a i j a n ’ s m u l t i c u l t u r a l i s m outlined in UK ParliamentA conference entitled Prospects of European Multiculturalism: The Azerbaijani Model of Interfaith Dialogue and Tolerance has taken place at Portcullis House in the Palace of Westminster. Co-organised by the London-based Anglo-Azerbaijani Society and Odlar Yurdu Organisation, the conference was supported by the Azerbaijan State Committee on Religious Associations and the Azerbaijani Embassy to the UK.

Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, stated: “Representatives from different religions have been coexisting in our country in peace and harmony for centuries.” Lords, MPs, diplomats, and representatives from the Anglican, Jewish and Muslim communities attended the event. Ilham Nagiyev, Chairman, Odlar Yurdu Organisation, went on to explain that Azerbaijan’s achievements in ensuring religious tolerance sets an example to European countries. H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, explained the role of such conferences in enhancing understanding between Azerbaijan and Western Europe.

Elshad Iskandarov, Chairman, Azerbaijani State Committee on Religious Associations, explained that the conference was: “the first high-profile event about religious tolerance in Azerbaijan to be held abroad. Azerbaijan’s experience in interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance was discussed in the context of European multiculturalism.”

Following this, Dr Farida Mammadova spoke about the history of Islam, Christianity and Judaism in Azerbaijan. Representatives of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities in Azerbaijan spoke of their experiences, and proposed the establishment of a centre for interfaith dialogue and tolerance in their country.

L e n n m a r k e r recognises impact of Armenian diasporaGöran Lennmarker, former Special Envoy of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, and Chair, Stockholm International Institute of Research, gave an interview about the prospects for conflict resolution to the news.az website. He commented: “The Armenian diaspora is prosperous, but this causes some problems. Armenians in Armenia want peace, as they live in the region. However, the diaspora lives far beyond the country’s boundaries in California and other locations. These are mostly nationalists, in the worst meaning of the word, as compared to Armenians in Armenia. Armenians must understand that the only solution for Armenia is life in harmony with its neighbours, and especially with Azerbaijan.”

‘Green Tax’ under considerationDespite various clean-up efforts over the past decade, Azerbaijan remains heavily polluted, with the hydrocarbon sector, large-scale corporate farms, and cement and concrete plants ranking amongst the worst polluters. The Azerbaijani government has now announced that it is to levy a ‘green tax’ on the most polluting companies. Akif Musayev, Head, Department of Tax Policy and Strategic Research, Azerbaijani Ministry of Taxation, commented in Taxes magazine: “Taxes related to the environment are one of the most effective tools for economic and environmental policies.”

Under current Azerbaijani legislation, companies pay fees of AZN100–400 (£80–320.60) per tonne of ‘allowable’ atmospheric or water pollution into the Azerbaijani Ministry of the Environment’s State Environmental Protection Fund. Fines for exceeding pollution quotas can range from AZN75,000–100,000 (£60,102–80,136). In 2011, the Fund collected AZN1.2m (£961,657), which was used for various environmental and protection measures, ranging from water-purification stations along the Caspian Sea to woodland conservation.

The programme to enhance the Azerbaijani health service is well-advanced


Corporate Profile – BNS

BNS Management Consulting, headquartered in London, provides advice and consultancy for complete projects, focusing on the tourism and arts sectors. The company assists its clients in finding the right partner – every step of the way. Due to its international experience, the company offers a comprehensive package for investors, developers, institutions and private foundations.

BNS initially analyses the stakeholder’s visions and defines these, taking them from draft ideas towards structured plans. The company also applies innovative concepts and ideas, based on its experience. Creative and innovative ideas are the first step, but in order to transform these into reality, they need to be feasible. This necessitates undertaking the following:

Market research study:• national and international market analysis• competitor and peer group analysis• regional and international comparisons• international and regional trends in

cultural diversity and arts and tourism development

• demand analysis.

Feasibility study:• location scouting• market and infrastructure analysis• SWOT analysis to assess the clients’

strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats to the relevant market and industry

• establishment of project budget and financial project control

• long-term return on investment (ROI) calculation

• proposal of possible partners.

BNS specialises in finding the right partner for each step in a project, ensuring that these are monitored and supervised during the following implementation phase. Quality and cost control over all services supplied by partners is undertaken in order to guarantee timely realisation within budget. These services can include hotel management agreements, local management development, and the programming of cultural activities in collaboration with local and international artists and institutions.

In Azerbaijan, BNS has been involved in three landmark projects, amongst others:

Austrian-Azerbaijani Chamber of CommerceEstablished in Vienna in 2009, the Austrian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (ATAZ) is the brainchild of leading entrepreneurs from both countries. Its activities are geared towards the intensification and strengthening of economic relations between Azerbaijan, Austria and across Central Europe. In this instance, BNS worked as a consultant for business development, acquisition and

project development.

Viennese Ball at the Kempinski BadamdarBNS organised the first official Viennese Ball to take place in Azerbaijan, in co-operation with the City of Vienna and other partners. More than 200 guests attended the event, which was opened by a performance by 18 debutante couples from the Baku Oxford School and an 18-strong children’s dance group. All dancers were under the direction of Ingeborg Tichy-Luger, President, Ballet Club, Vienna State Opera. Music was performed by the Wiener Johann Strauss Capelle, and H.E. Sylvia Meier-Kajbic, Austrian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, was in attendance.

Gabala International Music FestivalBNS evolved the entire festival concept for the Gabala International Music Festival. This included design, public relations, marketing, vision and mission, together with operations and programming suggestions. Established by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, this Festival, focusing on classical music, is now gaining considerable awareness and attracting international music stars. In its fourth year, Gabala is finding its niche in the international cultural calendar and is attracting new and established star performers.

Eurovision Song Contest 2012The Eurovision Song Contest is amongst the longest-running television shows in the world. As the Eurovision host city, Azerbaijan had a unique opportunity to promote itself as part of the European family of nations and to increase awareness of Baku. BNS undertook planning, construction and logistics for the production at the Crystal Hall, at which the contest was hosted.

TEAS caught up with Niclas Schmiedmaier,

Partner, BNS Management Consulting, to find out more:

What is your company’s specialisation? BNS is a leading tourism and arts consultancy.

How has your company grown in the last year?It has grown by 200 per cent in revenue terms.

Has your company entered any new markets or market sectors? BNS has started work in Italy, Kazakhstan and Switzerland.

How has the presence of your company in Azerbaijan developed? BNS now has a business address, and its expertise was applied to the launch of the Austrian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce and the organisation of the Viennese Ball in Baku.

Are you experiencing any competition from outside of Azerbaijan? No potential competitors that are currently active in Azerbaijan can offer our network of partners.

What are the aspirations of your company in Azerbaijan during the next year?BNS aims to apply its expertise more widely to projects in Azerbaijan.

How do you view the business climate in Azerbaijan? This is still evolving from a booming market to a highly-developed economy.

Does your company provide training or operate apprenticeship schemes? BNS provides training in tourism and arts management, together with job training for certain positions.

How has TEAS benefited your company since you became a member? Membership of TEAS has enabled BNS to establish some very useful links.

05

BNS Management Consulting Ltd.

! " # Ltd.

Corporate Profile – BNS

Niclas Schmiedmaier, Partner, BNS Management Consulting

Couples from the Baku Oxford School take to the floor at the first Viennese Ball to be held in Azerbaijan

BNS Management Consulting Ltd.,Acre House, 11–15 William Road,

London, NW1 3ERTel: +43 69919713213

Website: www.bns-consulting.co.uk


Five Roads Back Home – capturing the anguish of the displacedPhilipp Rathmer was born in Düsseldorf and is one of the world’s leading fashion, lifestyle and advertising photographers. His advertising clients include such companies as Vodafone, Nivea, Mercedes-Benz, Sony and Wella. He has also photographed such celebrities as Eva Green, Sophia Loren, Max Raabe, and Lady Gaga. Philipp maintains a keen interest in current affairs, and intersperses his more obviously commercial work with such projects as Chances, Hear the World, which raises awareness of the plight of deaf children in Nairobi, and Boxer Kids Cuba, a series of black and white images focusing on Cuban children, for whom boxing success represents one of the few ways of escaping abject poverty.

Most recently, Philipp visited Azerbaijan to photograph some of the 875,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees who are the victims of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions. He was given complete artistic license over the representational approach to be adopted. The result was a striking and moving collection of portraits in extreme close-up, showing the range of people who are displaced, capturing their emotional state. TEAS met Philipp just before the opening of the exhibition at Epicentro in Berlin, attended by more than 500 leading figures from the media, arts and society, entitled Five Roads Back Home:

When did you visit Azerbaijan for the Five Roads Back Home project?My assistant and I visited Azerbaijan for eight days in July 2012. We initially spent some time in Baku, before visiting two IDP camps in the south, near the Armenian border, in Takhtakorpu and Guzanli. We spent four days there, and then returned to Baku, where we visited the IDP camp in Darnagul, and we then travelled north of Baku to Gizilgum to see another camp.

All the photographs are extreme close-up portraits taken against a black background. What essence were you trying to capture? I was trying to avoid photographing any aspect of the IDPs’ surroundings in the camps, and solely concentrated on their faces and stories. There were many similarities between the conditions within the camps, although the accommodation itself varied. For each photo, I just used a piece of black cloth as a background and attempted to capture the essence of the people. In the portraits, you really can see their faces and their souls, and can only see that if the picture is without background influences. Unless the viewer reads the caption, they cannot identify the camp in which that IDP resides. Due to this approach, all the portraits are uniform and without extraneous matter. These pictures stand not only for the IDPs in Azerbaijan, but across the world.

All IDPs and refugees share the same fundamental problem – they can’t go home. In the photos, the problems are not shown at all – the viewer just sees the faces. It is possible to see the challenges on their faces, and in their eyes and wrinkles. These tell the story and, for me, that’s much stronger than straightforward

press photography, where the background is always included.

Were you trying to capture a sense of losing their homeland?That was my main objective. As you can see from the eyes of the people, they were all very different. Some of the IDPs seemed unwilling to fully participate in the project and reveal details of their lives, although others were very open. This range of personalities comes through in the photos. I aimed to capture their humanity, and to make viewers see the similarities between themselves and the IDPs. All the IDPs had totally different personalities. Some are smiling in the pictures and, of course, have managed to develop some sense of normality in the camps. They have been displaced for 20 years, and schools, kindergartens and other amenities have been constructed, although they continue to live in camps. At the end of the day, they want to return to the parts of the country from which they originated.

Were the exhibited photographs taken in the four different camps, or just one camp?The 50 photographs that are being exhibited were taken in all of the four camps that we visited. Altogether, I photographed 168 people, and in the exhibition I tried to mix up images taken in the different camps, and in terms of men, women, children and ages. For example, some of the children in the pictures weren’t even born when the war took place. They have spent the whole of their lives in the camps, and don’t know their home towns at all. Of course, their parents have told them about their ancestral homes. The IDPs featured in the exhibition ranged between four and 86 years.

What were the conditions like in the camps?They varied a great deal – Guzanli was very good and looked like a little village of huts, constructed by the government, supplied with gas, electricity and water. On the other hand, conditions were not of this standard in other camps. In one instance, the IDPs were

06 Personalities – Philipp Rathmer

Gunel Karimova, aged nine, has never seen her home village of Bozguney, Lachin

Oruj Jabbarov, an IDP from Ahmadavar, Aghdam, fought in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and saved many children’s lives

58-year-old Kubra Orujova’s husband passed away in the Takhtakorpu IDP camp without seeing his home in Lachin again


living in earth houses. The camp in Darnagul comprised a large high-rise block in poor condition. I only saw four camps, but I could see that the conditions varied enormously, being spread across Azerbaijan.

To what extent were the shots set up and lit?In all instances, I built up a little studio that was like a black tent, with black material on the sides, always pointing south with its back opening facing north. Indirect sunlight was used for lighting in each instance, as I aimed to avoid any influence from artificial lighting on the photos. In each instance, the subjects were lit using a very soft light. In the post-production, I raised the contrast a great deal to emphasise the wrinkles, eyes, and imperfections. This would never be undertaken in celebrity, advertising or fashion photography, where the objective is to make everything more perfect and clean. None of the pictures were retouched – I just worked with the contrast.

Do you see your work developing in this direction?I undertake reportage all the time, and have done ever since I started photography. I am constantly looking for projects to fit in between the fashion, advertising and celebrity photographs. For example, I undertook the Boxer Kids Cuba and the Chances, Hear the World commissions. I always concentrate on portraiture, and it’s this mix of subjects and styles that makes my job so satisfying. Fashion, advertising and celebrity photography is a wonderful job, but I love to do these adventurous projects. They necessitate planning from A to Z, travelling and getting to know people.

Will the exhibition go on tour at all?It is certainly going on tour, and will travel to Baku, Brussels, London and Paris – the cities where the TEAS offices are located.

How is the book being distributed?It will soon be possible to purchase the exhibition catalogue via the Seltmann + Söhne website (www.seltmannundsoehne.de) or through Amazon. This contains all 50 portraits, together with information on each

subject. When we were in Azerbaijan, the subjects of each photograph were given a short questionnaire. Each was asked to write their name, age, their home town, the camp in which they now live, their job and a statement about themselves. This is all included in the catalogue.

Was this your first experience of Azerbaijan? How did local people receive you?It was impressive – Baku is a very beautiful city that combines old and new. I was particularly fascinated by the Flame Towers, which are really amazing, especially at night. They feature in one sequence of the short film supporting the exhibition, and it is possible to see them illuminated with LED lights and covered in projections of artworks. We drove for six hours through the countryside, and road construction work was taking place everywhere. The people were consistently welcoming and friendly, and if I hadn’t been in the country for the purpose of taking photos, I would have probably eaten the local food for the entire duration of the trip.

The IDPs were very hospitable, and all wanted to show us where they lived. I would have liked it to be possible to spend a week in each camp. Everyone wanted me to take tea, but time adds up. I hope the resultant exhibition has the impact on all viewers that I intended, and highlights the ongoing plight of the Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees.

07Personalities – Philipp Rathmer

More than 500 people attended the exhibition opening in Berlin

Photographer Philipp Rathmer captured the faces of 168 IDPs in four camps in Azerbaijan

The attendees were made aware of the human tragedy of the conflict

Marc Fiedler, Founder and Owner, Epicentro, at which the exhibition took place

For more information on Philipp Rathmer’s work, go to

www.philipprathmer.de. To obtain a copy of the Five Roads Back Home book, go to www.seltmannundsoehne.de or order

through Amazon.

(Photo: Henrik Jordan)


Farhad Badalbeyli – promoting Azerbaijani music on all levelsFarhad Badalbeyli ranks amongst the foremost Azerbaijani musicians, being acknowledged as a pianist, conductor, composer, educator and musical ambassador for his country. Coming from an illustrious line of musicians, actors and directors, he has performed across the world. Together with cellist and conductor Dmitry Yablonsky, he directs the annual Gabala International Music Festival in Azerbaijan, the fourth edition of which was held in July/August this year. To see a Euronews video on this year’s festival, go to http://bit.ly/Gabala.

The two musicians recently came to London for two concerts at Cadogan Hall, Central London, both of which focused on Azerbaijani music. The first of these featured the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Dmitry Yablonsky, which was the resident orchestra for the second time at this year’s festival. The concert celebrated the 90th anniversary of the birth of the late composer Fikret Amirov, and featured a performance of his Azerbaijan Capriccio (1961) and Piano Concerto after Arabian Themes (1957), for which the soloist was Farhad Badalbeyli, the programme being completed by Stravinsky’s 1947 revision of the Petrushka ballet suite. The second concert was more intimate, comprising duets between Dmitry and Farhad, and showcasing Dmitry’s own cello transcription of Azer Rzayev’s Violin Sonata, in addition to works by Bach, Schumann, Brahms and Shostakovich. TEAS interrupted rehearsals for the latter concert to speak to Farhad about these and other projects:

You are currently in London, alongside Dmitry, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Fikret Amirov. Both pieces

performed feature the ‘symphonic mugham’ musical genre that he developed. What was the reaction from the London audience?Wherever Amirov’s music is performed, there is a very emotional public reaction. This is nothing new – Leopold Stokowski performed and recorded the Azerbaijan Capriccio with the Houston Orchestra in the 1950s. Amirov had great mastery of composition and orchestration, and his writing encompasses many national traits. In the Azerbaijan Capriccio, the writing for the brass section was particularly strident. Many audience members in London and at other concerts will be coming to Amirov’s music for the first time, and I hope they will be impressed. It should be pointed out that he co-composed the Piano Concerto after Arabian Themes with the virtuoso Azerbaijani pianist Elmira Nasirova, who is now 84 years old.

How important was the development of ‘symphonic mugham’ in the history of Azerbaijani music? Did other composers adopt the style after Amirov?The Azerbaijani people have mugham in their genes, and for their classical composers not to use mugham themes would be unthinkable. Mugham contains some truly exquisite elements. Some young Azerbaijani composers have tried to avoid mugham and follow such avant-garde European composers as György Ligeti, but they didn’t say anything new. Contemporary composers are returning to mugham because it provides so much fantastic material with which to work. However, they cannot seek to emulate Amirov, who achieved perfection in the synthesis of classical forms with Azerbaijani national music.

Despite his popularity in the former Soviet Union, Amirov’s work remains relatively unknown in the west, unlike that of Shostakovich, for example. Why do you think this is?

He had a similar personality to his compatriot Kara Karayev, as he was not good at courting popularity and lacked personal ambition, and preferred to focus on composing. Both Karayev and Amirov were Shostakovich’s pupils, but they were not promoted by the Soviets in the same way as the composers from Moscow. It is now time for their work to be performed more widely – it is never too late to introduce truly great works. Also, audiences can also be slightly little narrow-minded, and prefer to hear concerts of music that they know well. Many music-lovers don’t want any surprises.

At the time, Moscow was also home to many great soloists that also helped with the promotion of Shostakovich’s music, such as the Bakuvian Mstislav Rostropovich. The Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke, for example, remained comparatively unknown until Gidon Kremer started to promote his work, and now the whole world is aware of his music. It is frequently the musicians who decide that a piece of music is in need of greater recognition, and it is then picked up when people attend their concerts.

It may be down to Dmitry and myself to champion much of this Azerbaijani music and take this out to the public. For example, Azer Rzayev’s Violin Sonata is fantastic, and I am delighted to be able to perform this in a cello transcription. I am also pleased that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will record a new CD for the Naxos label at Cadogan Hall during the time we are in London – they are recording Amirov’s Azerbaijan Capriccio alongside Karayev’s Seven Beauties and Path of Thunder ballet suites.

We want to promote Azerbaijani music by giving concerts in all the major concert halls across the world. Since the Soviet Union collapsed 20 years ago, the arts scene in many former Soviet republics was left without funding. One of the ongoing problems in Azerbaijan has always been availabil ity of sheet music in overseas l ibraries so that Western orchestras may perform the works. A project is currently underway, in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to produce definit ive editions of works by the great Azerbaijani composers. We then aim to have these published by the ten or so main music publishing houses, including Schott and Boosey & Hawkes, so that the music is made available everywhere. The lack of scores currently presents an obstacle to programming Azerbaijani pieces.

Has Naxos recorded other CDs of

08 Personalities – Farhad Badalbeyli

Farhad Badalbeyli practices in readiness for an evening performance at the Gabala International Music Festival

Photos: Fiona Maclachlan


09Personalities – Farhad Badalbeyli

Azerbaijani music?To date, three CDs have been issued – Dmitry conducted the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra for a recording of Karayev’s Symphony No.3, Leyli and Majnun tone poem and incidental music for the fi lm Don Quixote. They also recorded a CD of Amirov’s works, including Shur and Azerbaijan Capriccio. On another CD, I was also the soloist for Amirov’s Piano Concerto after Arabian Themes with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, again under Dmitry’s baton, alongside a programme of other Azerbaijani piano works. This wil l be the fourth CD of Azerbaijani music that we have produced on Naxos. I believe that the sales of the Naxos CDs of Azerbaijani music have been excellent, and that the CD containing Karayev’s works ranked amongst the most popular on the label.

Will the CD of Amirov and Karayev’s works that you are recording in London be issued this year? Naxos issues CDs at least six months after they are recorded, so hopefully it will be out next season. The CDs are mid-price, and this gives purchasers a chance to experiment with previously unfamiliar works. They also work on a different basis to other classical labels, l ike Deutsche Grammophon, which tends to promote artists, rather than necessarily the composers. Naxos focuses on issuing a range of different music, and the CDs are widely available.

The second concert of cello and piano duets will include Dmitry’s transcription of the Violin Sonata by Azer Rzayev. Who influenced Rzayev? Describe the importance of this work.I first performed the piano part of this Sonata in around 1968 at the Azerbaijan State Conservatoire, where Rzayev taught. He was an expert on chamber music, and I studied the sonatas of Brahms, Shostakovich and many others under him. He was a wonderful teacher for chamber music and a violinist himself. He knew the secrets of all the instruments. His Violin Concerto was performed this year at the Gabala International Music Festival, and the soloist was Shlomo Mintz. His Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra is like a sinfonia concertante. It’s a wonderful piece, and we are currently transcribing it for viola, cello and orchestra.

He is now 81 years old, and it’s unfortunate that he no longer composes. The Violin Sonata that Dmitry transcribed for cello is one of his main works. Rzayev’s mother was a renowned mugham singer who specialised in performing the operettas of Uzeyir Hajibeyli. It is undeniable that some Azerbaijani folk tunes were incorporated in Rzayev’s Violin Sonata. This is a wonderfully dramatic sonata in classical form, yet exemplifies the national language. Two years ago, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed this piece in London, with Shlomo Minz at the soloist, during the closing concert of the Buta Arts Festival.

Prior to the concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a film entitled In the Mountains of Gabala, about the Gabala International Music Festival, was screened. How successful was the festival this year?This was the fourth edition of the festival, which seems to become more successful every year, now attracting 20,000 people throughout its duration. Locals attend, but people also fly in from London, Berlin and Baku. Flights to the new airport in Gabala have now started at the weekend. Highlights included Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony (Pathétique), conducted by Charles Dutoit, the mugham night and the world premiere of the tone poem Khojaly, written by Aleksandr Tchaikowsky. Jazz was represented by a performance by the 23-year-old Isfar Sarabsky, winner of the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Prize in 2009.

Can you describe the tone poem Khojaly and its impact on the audience? It was very important that Aleksandr Tchaikowsky, a Russian composer, wrote this piece for tar, piano, viola and cello, following its commissioning by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism. It evoked a very emotional response from the audience. Yuri Bashmet led the Ensemble on viola, with Dmitry on cello and myself on piano. I provided some guidance to the composer regarding the writing for tar improvisation. Many Azerbaijanis lost family members in the Khojaly Massacre, and I lost some of my own relatives, as my ancestral home is Shusha, located nearby in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. We are thinking of recording this alongside other compositions commemorating tragedies around the world and will be taking the programme on tour during early 2014.

What are the plans for the Gabala International Music Festival 2013?For the first time, we will feature two overseas orchestras alongside the Azerbaijani State Symphony Orchestra. The overseas orchestras will be the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, under Yuri Bashmet. The biennial piano competition will take place – last time 15 countries and at least 10 nationalities were represented, including Belarus, China, Georgia, Germany, Russia and South Korea. There will also be one or two chamber music concerts during each day of the festival.

Are you involved in any other projects at the present time? Another exciting development is that the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism has launched an initiative to issue up to four new CD recordings of Azerbaijani classical music each year.

Farhad (left) rehearses a piano duet with Murad Adigozalzade, Director, Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra

Sergei Leiferkus, Russian baritone, gives a leider performance, accompanied by Farhad


10 Culture and Sport

London’s film buffs awaken to Azerbaijani contemporary cinemaThe launch of the inaugural Azerbaijan London Film Festival (ALOFF) took place at the Shortwave Cinema in London on 1 November, culminating with a Gala Screening of Ilgar Safat’s acclaimed film The Precinct. Organised by the Azerbaijan Intercultural Society (AZICS), sponsored by TEAS, and supported by Your Frontier Film Productions and the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the four-day festival showcased some critically acknowledged Azerbaijani feature films and documentaries. Held across three locations, the ALOFF screenings were complemented by discussions and an exhibition of artworks by London-based Azerbaijani artist Naile Zulfuqarova.

At the opening, H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, said: “Cinema played a tremendous role in 20th Century culture across the world, and this was certainly the case in Azerbaijan. Many films have remained in the hearts and minds of the people. Since Azerbaijan regained its independence 21 years ago, there have been great technological developments in the industry. ALOFF represents a great opportunity to introduce Azerbaijani culture to London, and will enable audiences to understand our nation.”

Aynur Asgarova, Chief Advisor, Cinematography Department, Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stated: “This is a very significant event, as we are screening a range of feature films and documentaries made since Azerbaijan regained its independence to a new audience.”

Sabina Rakcheyeva, Arts and Cultural Advisor, TEAS, commented: “Over the past four years, TEAS has been promoting Azerbaijani culture in the UK. However, until now we haven’t showcased the

richness of Azerbaijani cinema. This is an important opportunity to introduce another cultural genre to UK audiences.” Sanan Aliyev, Chair, AZICS, commented: “In the Azerbaijani language, ALOFF means ‘flame’, symbolising the spirit of the country. One listings newspaper in London wrote about ALOFF and commented ‘welcome to the new kid on the block’. I am delighted that London’s film culture is now prepared to welcome us. I am hoping that ALOFF will give an opportunity for UK audiences to see the other side of Azerbaijan. Many cinephiles are not aware of the great current and past Azerbaijani directors, and the wonderful nature that is to be found in Azerbaijan.” For more information, visit www.aloff.org

Pianist Renara comes to London The renowned Bakuvian pianist Renara Akhoundova (website: www.renara.org) is to return to London on 24 November, with a concert entitled Gratitude at Pushkin House, for which TEAS is the media partner. Resident in Paris for 20 years, Renara’s spiritual music has been performed in the UK, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Russia, France, Switzerland, the Baltic States and Kuwait, amongst other countries.

Her music has also been used in many spiritual events, including Sufi teaching sessions and Marshall Rosenberg’s Non-Violent Communication workshops. Most recently, Renara has collaborated with Prior Artemy Vladimirov from the Russian Orthodox Church of All Saints in Moscow for a series of concerts across Russia, Austria, Estonia and Ukraine. During these concerts she improvises several pieces, based on the Prior’s words. To hear a sample of her music, go to http://bit.ly/Renara1, and to book tickets, call +44 (0)207 2699770.

FeMusa plays OmanLondon-based Azerbaijani violinist Nazrin Rashidova, who teaches at the Royal

College of Music, has taken her all-female FeMusa String Ensemble to Oman for their first overseas performance. In the presence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, they performed Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Bueños Aires with Ines Abdel Daim, the renowned Egyptian flautist, at the Royal Opera House, Muscat.

Prior to this, Nazrin travelled to Baku to perform at a concert entitled You Are My Melody, held in memory of Muslim Magomayev, the great Azerbaijani baritone. The concert took place at the Heydar Aliyev Palace and included some of the leading Russian and Azerbaijani stars of popular music, such as Svetlana Sozdateleva and Emin. Nazrin premiered Niyazi Hajibeyli’s arrangement of Mugamsayagi by Asaf Zeynalli accompanied by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rauf Abdullayev. The concert was broadcast on Russian and Azerbaijani television.

Nazri also performed at a chamber concert in Lolland, Denmark, where the programme included a string quintet transcription of Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata and Schubert’s Quintet in C. Major, D956. To find out more, go to www.nazrin.co.uk.

Manchester United partners with BakcellManchester United has entered into a three-year deal with telecommunications company Bakcell, who will become its first official broadcast partner in Azerbaijan. Bakcell will acquire the rights to broadcast the team’s official television channel MUTV in the country and will launch an official mobile package allowing subscribers in the country to access official club media.

Richard Arnold, Commercial Director, Manchester United, commented: “The club is pleased to be joining forces with Bakcell. The two organisations have a history of being the first in their chosen field – Bakcell was Azerbaijan’s first mobile company in 1994 and now has over 2.5m customers. This new agreement is another first for Manchester United, being the only partnership the club has in the country.

“Our Azerbaijani fan base is ever-increasing, and we hope that our relationship with Bakcell will allow us to engage with these fans, together with bringing them exclusive access to their favourite club.” Richard Shearer, Chief Executive, Bakcell, commented: “Being the first mobile operator in Azerbaijan, Bakcell has always been the company of ‘firsts’, and collaboration with Manchester United, the world’s number one football brand, is another proof of this statement.”

(from left) Azerbaijani film directors Rafig Guliyev and Yaver Rzayev; Aynur Asgarova, Chief Advisor, Cinematog-raphy Dept., Azerbai-jani Ministry of Culture and Tourism; and Sanan Aliyev, Chair, AZICS


Tilmann Grawe creates doll for UNICEFFamed Paris-based fashion designer Tilmann Grawe has created the Ulduz Buta doll, commissioned by TEAS France. This will be auctioned on 3 December at the Petit Palais, Paris, during the tenth UNICEF Les Frimousses de Créateurs event to facilitate the vaccination of children in Darfur, Sudan. This auction features dolls that have been decorated by some of the world’s leading fashion designers. During a fashion shoot in Baku, Tilmann spoke to Visions of Azerbaijan and commented: “I was there when TEAS had their first reception to introduce themselves in Paris. I know that UNICEF enables designers to do things for others, so we thought that we could make something by Tilmann Gawe for TEAS. They saw what I had done in the past, the dolls that had sold, and that each had a narrative element, and so we started.

“The little doll is named Ulduz Buta, which was originally a basic doll from UNICEF, but I changed it a little bit. It’s a shape that I like – the doll always has my head, by the way! I slightly changed this to represent the Azerbaijani ‘buta’ form. The head form is in buta shape, and the whole body is covered with different buta elements, in different sizes. We start from the basic colours of the flag: blue, green and red, starting down with the blue, and going up to the green. Every little buta shape contains a piece of red, so we have some movement on the doll. Of course, she or he, it is unisex, was born in Baku, and the birthday is 1991, the year in which Azerbaijan regained its independence. We should never forget that the doll must be sold as expensively as possible, as children benefit from the money that it raises.” To see more, go to www.frimoussesdecreateurs.fr.

Pianist Saida performs at the Festival d’AvallonThe second edition of the Festival d’Avallon has taken place at the Karma Ling Institute,

Haute Savoie, France. The theme of the festival was ‘acting on oneself, acting on the world, and celebrating life.’ The artistic element was focused around nine thematic evenings, featuring international artists from many genres, including classical and sacred music, trance and electro, world music and jazz.

Azerbaijani pianist Saida Zulfugarova, who has been resident in France for a decade, participated in the opening concert of the

festival, with a program of works by Chopin, Debussy, Turkish composer Fazil Say and Azerbaijani composer Farhad Badalbeyli. Whilst Saida was playing, David Myriam created some remarkable sand paintings inspired by the music.

During the following day, Saida gave a concert of Azerbaijani classical music, including works by Kara Karayev, Fikret Amirov, Azer Rzayev, Ismayil Hajibeyov and Oqtay Zulfugarov, her relative. Audience members included the renowned Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires, who was one of the festival organisers.

Sarabsky plays Jazz Loft Party in New YorkThe 23-year-old Azerbaijani jazz pianist Isfar Sarabsky is continuing to make waves on the international jazz scene with an appearance at the annual Jazz Loft Party benefit concert. This is organised by the Jazz Foundation of America, co-hosted by veteran film star Danny Glover. Isfar won the Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Competition in 2009, and last year was the youngest musician to achieve the title of Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan. His trio was co-founded by Sarabsky and Russian

drummer Alexander Mashin in 2009 during their gigs in Azerbaijan, later being joined by Russian bassist Makar Novikov. To date, the trio have also appeared at the Sion Festival; the Duc des Lombards Club, Paris; the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London; the Porgy and Bess Club, Vienna; and the Asphalt Club, Berlin. He shared the bill at the Jazz Loft Party with saxophonist James Carter, legendary 84-year-old piano virtuoso Junior Mance, and Melvin Van Peebles.

Amina Figarova to play BerlinOn 25 November, the Amina Figarova Sextet is to play the renowned B-Flat Jazz Club in Berlin. Now based in New York, after many years in Rotterdam, pianist Figarova will perform alongside Johannes Mueller (tenor saxophone), Ernie Hammes (trumpet), Bart Platteau (flute), Jeroen Vierdag (bass), and Chris Strik (drums).

The concert will promote Twelve, being Figarova’s twelfth CD, and début release on the German label In + Out. Harold Reich wrote in the Chicago Tribune: “A skilled and imaginative composer. Born in Azerbaijan, Figarova brings a remarkably broad range of influences to her works, which may help explain their appeal. You can hear the influence of her classical training in the care she brings to her scoring. Yet the mercurial, unpredictable nature of her musical themes – and the intriguing way she develops them – points to a composer enraptured with the creative possibilities of jazz.” To find out more on her work, go to www.aminafigarova.com.

Azerbaijan and UK Cultural Ministers meet in LondonDuring his time in London to attend the World Travel Market exhibition, Abulfaz Garayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Culture and Tourism, met Edward Vaizey, UK Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries. During the meeting, Vaizey praised Azerbaijan’s development, stressing that he had been impressed by the country’s achievements during his visit to Baku for the Bakutel information and communication technologies exhibition.

Garayev hailed the two countries’ cultural co-operation, citing the residency of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the recent Gabala International Music Festival. He went on to invite Mr Vaizey to participate in the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, to be held in Baku next year.

11Culture and Sport

Tilmann Grawe’s Ulduz Buta doll will be aunctioned to raise money for UNICEF

A detail of one of David Myriam’s sand paintings, created during Saida’s performance

Saida Zulfugarova (right) with Portuguese classical piano virtuoso Maria João Pires


Ambassador Morningstar: cultural heritage must be preservedIn a US Embassy press release, H.E. Richard Morningstar, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, acknowledged that many historical monuments had been destroyed or damaged across the South Caucasus as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said: “I am, nevertheless, heartened by stories of efforts to protect each country’s heritage, despite the conflict. Today in Baku, for example, I visited the Armenian Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator, where I learned of the church’s history and the preservation of books and manuscripts in the Armenian language.”

Morningstar said that the US supports efforts in both Azerbaijan and Armenia to protect the historical archives of each other’s communities in their countries. For example, Armenian and Azerbaijani archivists will soon visit the US on a joint programme to learn more about preservation of cultural artefacts. He continued: “Such efforts deserve recognition, and we will do our best to support these initiatives in the future. Most recently, I travelled to Nakhchivan, and I have also made visits to Lenkoran, Sheki, Oguz, Guba and Lahic. It has been an opportunity to see this country’s diverse cultural heritage up close – an experience that I think is important for anyone coming to live and work in Azerbaijan.”

Experts from all perspectives to meet in LondonOn 21 November, a debate entitled The Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process – Is There a Way Out of the Impasse? will take place at the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, organised by SOAS and Conciliation Resources, which has been working to support conflict resolution since 2004. Two highly-respected analysts on the conflict will comment on this question in a public debate. Tatul Hakobyan, of the Yerevan-based think-tank Civilitas, and Tabib

Huseynov, Caucasus Programme Manager at London-based Saferworld, have observed the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process over a long period, going on to write monographs on related topics.

Tatul is the author of Karabakh Diary: Green and Black, and most recently published Looking from Ararat: Armenians and Turks. Tabib has extensive experience knowledge of the region, developed during his time at the International Crisis Group from 2007–11. Both have also participated in dialogue on such questions as forced displacement and political status. Laurence Broers, Caucasus Projects Manager, Conciliation Resources, and Research Associate at the Centre for Contemporary Central Asia and the Caucasus, will chair the debate. For information on attending this free event, go to http://bit.ly/NKSOAS1.

OSCE Co-Chairs present annual reportThe OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – Robert Bradtke (US), Igor Popov (Russian Federation), and Jacques Fauré (France) – together with Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, presented their annual reports to the OSCE Permanent Council on 8 November.

The Co-Chairs outlined their activities over the last year, which included individual and joint meetings with the sides and trips to the region, together with engagement by each of the Co-Chair countries and a trilateral meeting of the Russian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani Presidents in Sochi during January. They discussed their role in managing moments of tension and avoiding escalation, when violence has occurred, in particular through the work of Ambassador Kasprzyk and his team in the region.

The Co-Chairs also convened a meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group and met with Ukrainian and Swiss delegations, as they will be future OSCE Chairs. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit the occupied regions later this month, in advance of the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Dublin during December.

12 Nagorno-Karabakh

Ambassador Morningstar acknowledged the respect accorded to Armenian artefacts in Azerbaijan

(from left) OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov (Russian Federation), Robert Bradtke (US), and Jacques Fauré (France) during a visit to Nagorno-Karabakh

NEWS FROM BRUSSELSOn 6 November, TEAS welcomed the EU’s decision to launch the second phase of its civil society programme entitled European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (EPNK). Roman Huna, Head, TEAS Belgium, explained that TEAS appreciated the increased EU focus on the South Caucasus region, but said the launch should not detract from the need for EU policy-makers to become more active in international efforts to resolve the conflict. He added that the recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU was a reminder of what Europe could achieve with the right focus.

Mr Huna said that the civil society programme could play a useful part in efforts to achieve peaceful conflict resolution. He particularly welcomed its emphasis on the need to provide a voice for marginalised people, such as the 875,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in Azerbaijan who want to return to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent seven Azerbaijani territories.

However, he said that the partnership programme represented just one of the steps that the EU could take to become more actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Mr Huna stated that the programme is no substitute for action by the EU itself to promote a peaceful settlement, based on the international rule of law and the four outstanding UN Security Council resolutions, which acknowledge that Nagorno-Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan.

Mr Huna said: “This is a good initiative, but we also think it is essential that the EU takes a clear position in support of the immediate withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories. Only then can we build a sustainable peace in Europe’s eastern backyard.”

The EPNK is a consortium of five NGOs: International Alert, Conciliation Resources, Crisis Management Initiative, the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and the London Information Network on Conflicts and State Building. It supports wider participation in the peace process by conflict-affected people, particularly women, youths, IDPs and refugees.

E-mail: [email protected]


US recognises ongoing threat to the regionAdam Sterling, US Assistant Ambassador to Azerbaijan, has acknowledged that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains the biggest threat to South Caucasus security. He made the statement at the International Conference on the Role of Azerbaijani–US Co-operation in Ensuring Peace and Security in the South Caucasus. He said: “Resolution of this conflict cannot come from the side. As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the US wants peaceful settlement of the conflict. Washington’s position is changeless – the US supports peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and we will continue efforts aiming towards the peaceful settlement of the problem.”

Zannier comments on lack of progressLamberto Zannier, Secretary-General, OSCE, has spoken of his concern about the lack of progress in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Speaking to Interfax, he commented: “When it comes to Nagorno-Karabakh, everyone is concerned about the absence of progress, and the deterioration of the situation on the ground, with 28 people killed only this year. I personally share this concern – we continue to support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and its Co-Chairs – Russia, France and the US.”

He voiced the opinion that international efforts will continue to be ineffective if there is an absence of political will on both sides to negotiate a peaceful solution. He continued: “This is what I stressed during my recent meetings with the respective Foreign Ministers in New York. Returning to the substance of the

negotiations and looking ahead are the only ways to prevent escalation and bring long-awaited security to the region.”

Italian Defence Minister requests conflict resolution during Yerevan visitDuring a press conference in Yerevan, Admiral Giampaolo di Paola, Italian Defence Minister, spoke on the overwhelming need for conflict resolution. He said: “Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has an equally strategic importance for regional and European security. As an OSCE Minsk Group member, Italy is trying to find a solution to the current issue. We are attaching great importance to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, as it is of strategic significance and is essential, both for regional and European security. We call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to create an atmosphere of trust, adhere to the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act, and build relationships of mutual confidence for the welfare and prosperity of all the peoples.”

Ban Ki-Moon asks for further UN involvement in conflict resolutionBan Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, met representatives of the Permanent Committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). This was attended by Asaf Hajiyev, Azerbaijani MP, who posed a question about the potential risks arising from the stalemate in Nagorno-Karabakh. In his answer, Ban Ki-Moon acknowledged the role of the OSCE Minsk Group, and admitted that the UN should increase pressure towards resolving the issue. José De Venecia, Co-Chair, ICAPP, commented on the fair position of Azerbaijan regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. ICAPP comprises 330 political parties from Asia, and the Permanent Committee consists of representatives and two Co-Chairs from 18 political parties.

German Junge Union adopts document on Nagorno-KarabakhA document on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been adopted during the annual Deutschlandtag Conference of the Junge Union youth organisation under the ruling coalition of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union in Germany. According to the document, Armenia is recognised as the aggressor, having occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and the

adjacent seven regions. In the document, the Junge Union organisation urges the German government to strengthen international efforts via the OSCE, EU and the UN to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The document states: “The Armenian government must immediately put an end to the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and other Azerbaijani territories, as these are inseparable parts of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, inviolability of its borders and the security of those people living in the border region must be ensured without restrictions.”

Tale Heydarov, Founder and Chairman, TEAS, commented that one of TEAS’ main objectives is to provide information on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to contribute to a just settlement of the conflict by peaceful means. The Junge Union youth organisation has 130,000 members and is the largest youth political organisation in Europe.

13Nagorno-Karabakh

OSCE Minsk Group meet Foreign Ministers in ParisThe OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

met Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani

Foreign Minister and Edward

Nalbandian, his Armenian counterpart,

in Paris. Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal

Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-

in-Office, also attended the meeting.

The Co-Chairs stressed the importance of

reducing tensions between the parties and

presented a working proposal. aimed at

advancing the peace process. Both Foreign

Ministers reiterated their determination to

continue working with the Co-Chairs to

reach a peaceful settlement and agreed

to a further discussion during the Co-

Chairs’ visit to the region in November.

France reiterates support for AzerbaijanA statement from the French Foreign Ministry

has stated that France seeks to continue its

role in assisting with the peaceful settlement

of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, thereby

fulfilling its duties as part of the OSCE Minsk

Group mediation. The Ministry believes that:

“Against the backdrop of increased tensions

in ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia,

it is essential that the negotiation process

does not stop. The invitation of the Armenian

and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers to Paris in

September, by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-

Chairs, enabled them to meet each of the

two ministers. They urged the continuance

of efforts towards resolution of the Nagorno-

Karabakh conflict through negotiations.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Adam Sterling recognises the heightened risk to regional security presented by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

OSCE monitoring taking place in August


Diplomats discuss Azerbaijani role in European energy security Decision-makers, diplomats and leading academics debated some of the main topics regarding the future of European energy security at the BTC and Beyond conference at King’s College, London, on 24 October, attended by around 80 delegates. Organised to commemorate the tenth anniversary of starting construction work on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, which brings up to a million barrels of oil each day from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, the event began with keynote speeches from H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK; H.E. Ünal Çeviköz, Turkish Ambassador to the UK; and H.E. Giorgi Badridze, Georgian Ambassador to the UK.

The conference, co-organised by TEAS, took place at a pivotal time regarding the construction of the Southern Corridor of pipelines, which will bypass Russia and bring Caspian energy to the EU, with Azerbaijan playing a dual role as an energy producer and transit country. The Shah Deniz II development – destined to bring an additional 10bn3 (bcm) of gas to Europe per year (with 6bcm going to Turkey) – is set to come on-stream in 2017. Earlier this year, transit protocols were signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey, making the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) viable. Next year, the Shah Deniz Consortium will decide whether the route to Europe will be through Nabucco West or the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Recent discoveries in Azerbaijan include the Umid field, claimed by experts to contain up to 600bcm of gas.

Ambassador Gurbanov commented: “The BTC pipeline was constructed after several years of negotiations, and received strong political support from the West. The South Caucasus region provides the key to EU energy security. When gas is supplied from Shah Deniz II, this will be hugely

important. Azerbaijan will be the enabler of the Southern Corridor. In January 2011, José Manuel Barroso, President, European Commission, acknowledged that this would represent the future of EU energy supply. During a visit to Baku, Günther Oettinger, EU Energy Commissioner, stated that he attached great importance to the development of the Southern Corridor.”

Ambassador Çeviköz said: “The BTC connected two nations – Azerbaijan and Turkey – and served to create a Mediterranean oil hub in my country. Its construction had an impact on global energy markets, and its success exemplified the role of Turkey as a transit country. When Shah Deniz II comes on-stream, Turkey will play a key role in a broad vision, and the port of Ceyhan will become of pivotal importance.”

Ambassador Badridze stated: “The BTC continues to be a great success story, and has transformed our three countries. The project could have easily gone wrong, and there was much political bargaining over the route. It also ushered in economic reforms in Georgia, which had been ravaged by Communism. The Southern Corridor will play an invaluable role in bringing Central Asian resources to Europe.”

Chris Pincher MP, Chair, Azerbaijan All-Party Parliamentary Group, said: “New power maps are now being developed. Currently, the UK is responsible for 49 per cent of all foreign direct investment (FDI) into Azerbaijan. It is essential that the Southern Corridor is supported on all sides.”

John Roberts, Energy Security Specialist, Platt’s, commented: “There is a need for good governance in the energy debate, and that is why energy security is rooted in these countries. The BTC has helped Azerbaijan generate considerable revenues, and been responsible for great change. The Southern Corridor also has the potential to bring Kazakh and Turkmen gas to Europe.”

Other speakers included John Baldwin, Group Political Advisor, BP UK; Angus Miller, Caspian Energy Advisor, Foreign and

Commonwealth Office; Christian Dolezal, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Nabucco Gas Pipeline, and Michael Hoffmann, Director, External Affairs, Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.

Following numerous questions from the floor, the speakers and delegates continued their conversations during a networking session. In addition to TEAS, the conference was organised by the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS), the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), and King’s College, London.

Azerbaijan and Turkey start gas pipelineAzerbaijan and Turkey have revealed plans to start work this year on TANAP. According to Natiq Aliyev, Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy, the project will be finished by 2017. Speaking on the fringe of a conference in Baku, Mr Aliyev said: “With regard to European energy security, we are becoming a very important bridge.” TANAP will initially have capacity for 16bcm of Azerbaijani gas per year, rising to 31bcm by 2020, with possible expansions to carry gas from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. He suggested that the Shah Deniz II project might yield as much as 20–25bcm a year, far more than the 16bcm forecast by BP, its operator. BP recently revealed that it would take a 12 per cent share in TANAP.

EBRD updates forecast for Azerbaijani economic growthThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has updated its forecast for economic growth in Azerbaijan, stating that the anticipated real GDP growth at the end of 2012 will be two per cent, being forecast at three per cent for 2013. The statement said: “Diversification of the economy is important, as the risks associated with dependence on the oil sector became apparent when oil prices in the world markets decreased. However, unexpected macroeconomic risks continue to be mitigated by the very strong financial position of Azerbaijan.”

According to EBRD experts, the decline in Azerbaijani oil production was partially offset by strong growth in the non-oil sector, mainly stimulated by budgetary expenditure. They state that the volume of FDI is projected at 1.4 per cent of GDP during 2012. The current account surplus on the balance of payments is expected to amount to 26.5 per cent of GDP this year.

14 Business

(from left) H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK; H.E. Ünal Çeviköz, Turkish Ambassador to the UK; and Professor Dr Friedbert Pflüger, Director, EUCERS


SOFAZ to part-finance TANAPThe State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), currently worth around $33bn (£20.8bn), is to help finance the $8bn (£5bn) TANAP pipeline, according to Shahmar Movsumov, Executive Director, SOFAZ. He also revealed that SOFAZ would co-finance several other major energy projects next year, including construction of a new oil refinery, a gas liquefaction plant and a chemical plant. Shahmar said: “SOFAZ will start financing the TANAP project in 2013. It will also participate in the finance of an oil-gas-chemical complex construction project.”

SOFAZ holds proceeds from oil contracts, oil and gas sales, transit fees and other revenues. To date, this has been used to finance social spending and infrastructure. Movsumov did not specify how much money the fund planned to invest in TANAP. From January–October, SOFAZ obtained revenues of AZN10.1bn (£8.1bn), whilst spending was AZN7.5bn (£6bn). Movsumov has projected that total expenditure by SOFAZ during 2012 will reach AZN13.6bn (£10.9bn), whereas its revenues will reach AZN11.8bn (£9.5bn).

Indonesian group plans $4.8bn refinery with SOCARThe Indonesian OSO Group has announced plans to build a $4.8bn (£3bn) oil refinery, as part of a joint venture with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR). This will be finalised during November. The target will be to process 600,000 barrels per day when the refinery opens in 2017. The facility will be located on part of OSO’s concession in a free trade zone next to Batam Island, close to busy East Asian shipping lanes.

According to Reuters, Mariano Asril, Chief Executive Officer, OSO Group, revealed: “We are going to refine group oil from Azerbaijan. The purpose is to trade or sell the processed oil to Indonesia or other Asian Pacific counties. There will be funding from both sides, but mostly from Azerbaijan. We will provide them with all the facilities, the permit and land.” SOCAR has already established joint ventures with other international partners, but this would be its first project in Indonesia.

Cost of Azerbaijani internet development announced Iltimas Mammadov, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technologies (ICT) has outlined that around 18,000km of fibre-optic cables will be laid in Azerbaijan as part of the country’s broadband internet development project. To date, around 7,000km have been installed.

Mammadov continued: “Development of the project is in its final stage, and international experts are evaluating the project.” The project was previously estimated at over AZN400m (£320.5m), which is expected to be allocated by SOFAZ.” The project, covering the whole of Azerbaijan, will be completed by late 2015.

Fitch rates Azerbaijani AtaBank as stableFitch Ratings has assigned Azerbaijani AtaBank with a long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘B–’ with a Stable Outlook and ‘B–’ Viability Rating (VR). AtaBank’s IDR and VR reflect its vulnerable asset quality, resulting from Azerbaijan’s high-risk operating environment, its limited loss absorption capacity, moderate liquidity and concentrated franchise. The bank indicated that a new equity injection would most likely take place by the end of 2012, in preparation for compliance with the new minimum AZN50m (£40m) statutory capital requirement (effective from 1 January 2014).

IMF recognises non-oil sector achievementsThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed Azerbaijan’s achievements in development of its non-oil sector revenues, improvement in spending and sustainable growth of the private non-oil sector. The comments were made Raja Al-Marzugi, the new Head of the IMF Mission, during a meeting with Samir Sharifov, Azerbaijani Finance Minister. Al-Marzugi noted the macroeconomic and financial stability of Azerbaijan.

Sharifov stated that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to co-operation with the IMF. He commented: “The IMF has made a great contribution to the economic development programmes implemented in the country.”

The meeting focused on recent macroeconomic developments and prospects in Azerbaijan, non-oil sector development, improvement of Azerbaijan’s business

environment, the regional and international projects in which the country is participating, the 2012 budget, and details of the draft state and consolidated budgets for 2013 and the subsequent three years.

World Bank looks at new agricultural strategyThe Azerbaijani government and World Bank (WB) have announced that development of a new strategy for the agricultural sector will be undertaken. The WB Baku Office commented: “The new project is being developed – the government is interested in this, as this branch of the economy is a priority. It is necessary to prepare a new strategy that will satisfy modern challenges.” This may be developed as the third phase of an adapted development and agricultural lending programme in Azerbaijan, or as an independent project.

In February, the WB completed the second phase of the adapted development and agricultural lending programme, the credit agreement for which was signed in Autumn 2006. The WB strategy is aimed at optimising farmers’ income and agricultural productivity. The total project cost is $59.5m (£37.4m), with $29.2m (£18.4m) being loaned by the WB. Other finance sources have included the International Development Association (IDA), which allocated a further $20.5m (£12.9m), and the Azerbaijani government, which granted $12.6m (£7.9m). As part of the second phase of the programme, 46,000 small loans worth a total of $62m (£39m) were provided, which led to increased investments in rural areas. Medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural business sector were granted 110 investment credits, worth $17m (£10.7m). Also 74 grants were allocated within the second phase regarding the introduction and transfer of improved technologies.

The WB Baku Office also stated that implementation of the second Azerbaijan Rural Investment (AzRIP-2) project will begin in the very near future, with WB monies being supplied through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The project cost is $53.6m (£33.7m), with $30m (£18.9m) being provided by the IBRD and $23.6m (£14.9m) by the Azerbaijani government.

This project is based on the results of the first project, which increased the income of 600,000 farmers, improving the irrigation service for 700,000 people and providing safe drinking water to 150,000 rural residents. The project will cover five main areas – Shirvan, Mugan-Salyan, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Northern and North-Western areas.

15Business

Shahmar Movsumov revealed that SOFAZ will undertake considerable investments in TANAP and other energy ventures

teas magazine november 2012 (english)

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