SARABSKY EXCITES IN THE HEART OF EUROPEAlso in this issue:Azerbaijan calls for the removal of France from the OSCE Minsk GroupContemporary art to the fore in Central LondonVisa régime simplified for EurovisionAzerbaijani journalists sue ArmeniaKing Dey casts a spell on London’s dinersBaku’s Kiçik QalArt Gallery goes from strength to strength

MAGAZINECulture • Business • Politicswww.teas.euNews • Views • Interviews

February 2012

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P 15AITF Travel and Tourism Fair

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22 FebruaryKhojaly Commemoration ConcertSt. John’s, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HA19.30–21.00hrs. Admission Free.This concert commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre, which occurred during the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming the lives of 613 civilians. The concert will be given by the Orion Orchestra, featuring Sue Perkins (winner of the BBC television programme Maestro) and Nicholas Collon (conductors); Guy Johnston (cello); and Sabina Rakcheyeva (violin). The programme will include Soltan Hajibejov’s Caravan; Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings (from op. 11); Sir Edward Elgar’s Nimrod (from the Enigma Variations, op 36); and Kara Karayev’s Adagio (from the Seven Beauties Ballet). To register for free tickets, e-mail Ulviyya Allahverdiyeva on ulviyya@teas.eu.

2 MayTEAS Business ForumNo.4, Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7BQAdmission Free.This conference is organised in collaboration with the Concerto Group and in partnership with the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UK. It will cover a range of topics and issues, including energy; updates on strategic growth sectors; ICT; agriculture and food processing. Speakers will inform delegates on the latest news regarding the Azerbaijani and Turkish business climates. To register your attendance, e-mail: vanessa.raine@teas.eu

TEAS EVENTS

Dan Boren, Chairman, US Senate Working Group on Azerbaijan, has given a statement during which he called upon the White House to nominate a new Ambassador to Azerbaijan who would subsequently be approved by the Senate. The comments were made as he welcomed Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Washington.

Boren recalled that President Obama had approved Matthew Bryza’s candidacy to this post in 2010, which he assumed as a Senate recess appointment. However, the Senate did not approve his appointment at the end of 2011, and recalled him to Washington. Boren went on to acknowledge that Azerbaijan is one of the main strategic partners of the US, operating as a transit country for non-lethal supplies used in its campaign in Afghanistan and transporting oil and gas to the Mediterranean region through the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. Due to the strength of US–Azerbaijani relations, the continuing absence of a US envoy in Azerbaijan is “inadmissible”, concluded Boren.

New book on Azerbaijani–European integration published in FranceAzerbaijan’s Centre for Strategic Studies has published a new book entitled Azerbaïdjan: Un pays aux ambitions européennes (Azerbaijan: a Country with European Ambitions) by Jacques Fontanel and Fazil Zeynalov. The authors succinctly outline the development of economic and diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and European countries. It explains Azerbaijan’s location on the ancient Silk Road, and its role as a longstanding European strategic partner, prior to its incorporation within the Soviet Union. The authors then describe

US congressman calls on White House to

nominate new envoy to Azerbaijan Lousewies van der Laan, Vice-President, European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR), commented: “The tragic events of 1 March 2008, following the fraudulent Presidential elections in Armenia, must not be repeated in the forthcoming elections this May.” The comments were made during a meeting jointly organised by the Armenian National Movement (ANM) with the South Caucasus Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty.

Van de Laan continued: “Members of the ELDR party will be particularly watchful during the run-up to the Armenian parliamentary elections, as the party will meet for its annual spring council meeting on 11–12 May in Yerevan, attended by around 150 liberal delegates from ELDR’s 54 member parties across Europe. The ELDR also asks the European People’s Party’s leadership and main sister parties to maintain a responsible stance and remind the Armenian member parties in government to ensure that genuine elections are held that reflect the will of the people. The EU is a community of common values, and we therefore have a shared responsibility to guarantee fundamental democratic procedures in the immediate neighbourhood of the EU.”

Lord Fraser acknowledges Armenian breaches of international lawIn an interview, Lord Fraser, Co-Chair, Anglo-Azerbaijani Society, has given his perspective on the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. He commented: “Azerbaijan’s recent successes, including gaining a seat on the UN Security Council and winning the Eurovision Song Contest, demonstrate to me what great strides the country has taken as an independent nation. I welcome that progress, but I am sure even more achievements will be made in the future and bring increasing prominence for the country.

“The Anglo-Azerbaijani Society is not political but, speaking as a lawyer, it seems quite clear to me that, with the UN Security Council resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh in favour of Azerbaijan, there has been a breach of international law by Armenia and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has been abused. Under no circumstances is ethnic cleansing justified.”

Azerbaijan’s developing role as a bridge between West and East, since it regained its independence in 1991, and its future as Europe’s energy partner. Numerous case studies also describe Azerbaijani’s economic outlook and foreign policy. To order a copy, visit http://bit.ly/AqA9W7.

Azerbaijan seeks legal means to remove France from OSCE Minsk GroupDuring a meeting at the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament), Oktay Asadov, Speaker, commented that France has lost the moral, rather than the legal, right to continue as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, charged with achieving a negotiated peace in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Asadov stated: “We must determine the legal means for removing France as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair. This issue does not depend on our wishes.”

Azerbaijani MPs voiced the initiative to exclude France from the OSCE Minsk Group as a sign of protest against the new French law criminalising denial that the mass killing of Armenians during the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915 constituted ‘genocide’. This was passed on 23 January by the French Senate by a margin of 127 votes for, with 86 against.

European Liberals demand free, fair Armenian elections

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Lousewies van der Laan, Vice-President, ELDR, has reignited calls for international observation during the forthcoming Armenian elections

Dan Boren, Chairman, US Senate Working Group on Azerbaijan, has reiterated the imperative of appointing a new US Ambassador to Azerbaijan

Speaking in Yerevan to around 70 members of the Armenian political opposition, together with EU and OSCE observers,

PACE acknowledges successful application of European legal systemJoseph Debono Grech (Malta) and Pedro Agramunt (Spain), Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee Co-rapporteurs, have visited Baku for meetings with Shalala Mamedova, Chair, Civil Collegium of the Azerbaijani Supreme Court. The PACE officers were advised on the Supreme Court’s judicial system, demonstrating how the European legal system is applied in the country, and the process of integrating the Azerbaijani judicial system with this. The Co-rapporteurs were updated on the incorporation of international legal acts, together with the application of information technologies in the legal system. The PACE Co-rapporteurs praised the works undertaken in the judicial field, and the reforms that have been implemented, expressing their support for the further development of democratic processes. They were also provided with detailed information on such topics as NGO registration and alternatives to military service.

TEAS videos onlineAs regular visitors to the TEAS website at www.teas.eu will be aware, numerous videos are now available for viewing on the TEAS TV section of the homepage. These include:

• Azerbaijan 20th Anniversary of Independence Celebration, featuring Eurovision winners Ell and Nikki and the Rast Jazz Group

• Brussels Jazz and Cocktail Evening, featuring the Isfar Sarabsky Trio

• Professor Tadeusz Swietochowski, Monmouth University, USA, commenting on the books entitled The Armenian Question in the Caucasus: Russian Archive Documents and Publications

• Sculptor Silvia Krupinska and artist Tom Young speaking about their

Azerbaijan has announced the construction of a building that will become the tallest in world. Named Azerbaijan Tower, the structure will stand a kilometre high, becoming the centre of the new Baku skyline.

Avesta Group, an Azerbaijani construction company, will develop the building. When complete, the Azerbaijan Tower will comprise 189 floors across its height of 1,050m (0.65miles/1.05km). It will be 220m higher than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, currently the world’s tallest building, and 50m taller than the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which is currently under construction.

The building will comprise part of the Khazar Islands complex, a $100bn (£63bn) city constructed across 2,000ha., built on 41 artificial islands located in the Caspian Sea, off the coast of Baku. Khazar Island will house 1m residents and is anticipated to include over 150 schools, 50 hospitals and day-care centres; in addition to parks, shopping malls, cultural centres, university campuses and a Formula 1 racing circuit.

According to reports, construction of Azerbaijan Tower will commence in 2015, with a projected completion date of 2018–2019. The project is estimated to cost approximately $2bn (£1.3bn). The Khazar Islands project is scheduled for completion by 2022.

Azerbaijan to attend nuclear security summitAzerbaijan, Lithuania and Denmark have agreed to participate in the Nuclear Security Summit, to be held in Seoul, South Korea, from 26–27 March. The objective of this is to bolster international safeguards and prevent nuclear terrorism, and these additions will bring the number of

attending nations to 50. The summit will be the second to take place since US President Barack Obama launched the global gathering in Washington in 2010. The heads of four international organisations, including Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, will also participate.

CNN film highlights Azerbaijan’s strategic trade positionThe US-based CNN channel has broadcast a report on Baku, entitled New Port Could Open ‘a Gateway to the World’. The report states: “Sitting in the middle of the Caucasus, on the shores of the landlocked Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is a nexus of trade routes from Asia to Europe. Now, a new port for the capital, Baku, and huge investment in transport routes, mean there is new potential for the region’s exports.”

The report inititally focuses on Azerbaijani carpet-weaving, and Vidadi Muradov, Director, Azer-Ilme carpet factory, told Becky Anderson, CNN Reporter: “The new port is being built right now, and it’s actually important for us because it gives us more options to open up to the world and export our goods, including carpets. It gives us a proper gateway to the world.” It goes on to explain that the port of Baku is beginning a new phase, moving away from the old historic centre and shifting south to Alat, located 80km along the coast. Soltan Kazimov, Chief Engineer, Baku Port, commented: “This is a suitable place for a port because it’s a transportation hub, where the roads going to Russia, Iran, and Georgia converge. All the roads and railways go from here.”

The new port will be fully operational in 3.5 years, and work is currently underway to dredge the Caspian Sea to make way for increased levels of sea traffic via a 7km-long navigational channel. It will also feature a rail ferry system, which will transport trains across the water and into Central Asia. This constitutes part of a masterplan to carry rail freight from China’s eastern ports through to Europe.

Akif Mustafayev, Azerbaijani National Secretary, Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) commented: “Baku’s new seaport will be of regional importance, and a very large logistics centre will be established there. Cargo transportation from China and Central Asia to Europe will grow significantly. China currently exports 10m containers a year to Europe and the US, mainly by sea. If Baku can entice just a small percentage of that cargo to use its new port, the economic benefits for the region will be huge.” To see the film, go to http://bit.ly/zc6r1h

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Pedro Agramunt, PACE Monitoring Committee, praised the gradual harmonisation of the Azerbaijani and European judicial systems

experiences at the Second International Art Exhibition entitled Art! Life! Earth! and reactions to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Tower: the world’s tallest building

Azerbaijan Tower will dominate the capital’s skyline

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with Azerbaijani folk music, known as mugham, since the 1960s. At the time, Azerbaijan was still part of the Soviet Union, and the authorities did not welcome the development of music with a western influence. Such relations with the west are continuing, with the evolution of strong and stable economic ties since Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991. The country has great potential for further development, and is coming closer to Europe to achieve its goals. Also, Europe must come closer to Azerbaijan to benefit from its success.”

Following this, Sabina Rakcheyeva, Cultural Advisor, TEAS, and Member of the European Cultural Parliament, introduced the musicians. Sarabsky’s concert represented a wide range of influences, including such jazz standards as Bobby Timmons’ Moanin’, originally performed by Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers; J.S. Bach’s Air in D Major (from Orchestral Suite No.3); a rhapsody on themes from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Ballet; and March by Vagif Mustafazade, who developed jazz-mugham in the 1960s. To see a video of the concert, visit http://bit.ly/zaVj7i

A musical commemoration of the Khojaly MassacreTEAS is organising a landmark concert in the heart of London to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre, which occurred during the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh, which claimed the lives of 613 civilians. Taking place at St. John’s, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HA on 22 February from

On 31 January, TEAS organised a jazz and cocktail evening at the Concert Noble – one of the most exclusive venues at the heart of the Brussels European district. The event featured the world-class 21-year-old Azerbaijani musician Isfar Sarabsky, Winner of the Montreux Jazz Solo Piano Competition 2009. His dazzling and exciting performance attracted plaudits from over 150 high-level European politicians, businessmen and other stakeholders, alongside jazz aficionados, musicians and critics. Sarabsky performed with Alexander Mashin (drums) and Makar Novikov (bass).

Miroslav Mikolášik, MEP (EPP, Slovakia) stated: “Such events as this serve to build ties between Azerbaijan and Europe. As I come from another new country – Slovakia – I understand the importance of developing these links on all levels. I visited Baku last year, and was delighted to meet many well-educated young people. Azerbaijan is developing very quickly, and its jazz reflects the country, where history and traditions are respected, yet new concepts are embraced and assimilated. Azerbaijan has great potential, will be a driving force for the future, and I do not doubt that it will succeed on all levels.”

Roman Huna, newly-appointed Head of TEAS Belgium, emphasised the essential nature of TEAS’ presence in Brussels on a political level, commenting: “TEAS, a non-governmental organisation, has several offices across Europe. Its objective is to promote Azerbaijan in cultural, business and political terms.”

Tale Heydarov, Chairman and Founder, TEAS, continued: “Tonight’s event is dedicated to the promotion of Azerbaijani jazz. There has been a fusion of jazz

Sarabsky’s jazz genius takes centre-stage in Brussels

19.30–21.00hrs, the concert will combine Western and Azerbaijani classical music in order to remember the victims.

The concert will be given by the Orion Orchestra, featuring Sue Perkins (winner of the BBC television programme Maestro) and Nicholas Collon (conductors); Guy Johnston (cello); and Sabina Rakcheyeva (violin), the first Azerbaijani graduate from the Juilliard School of Music, Member of the European Cultural Parliament, and Cultural Advisor, TEAS. The programme will include Soltan Hajibejov’s Caravan; Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings (from op. 11); Sir Edward Elgar’s Nimrod (from the Enigma Variations, op 36); and Kara Karayev’s Adagio (from the Seven Beauties Ballet). To register for free tickets, e-mail Ulviyya Allahverdiyeva on ulviyya@teas.eu.

Azerbaijani cellist to perform in BBC concertThe 19-year-old cellist Jamal Aliyev was born in Baku and started his musical studies at the age of six at Bilkent University, Ankara, under his grandfather Kara Aliyev, People’s Artist of Azerbaijan. He soon demonstrated great ability, and won his first award at the Trakya International Competition, Turkey, in 2002. Two years later, he achieved first prize in the Antonio Janigro International Competition in Croatia. From 2004–07, Aliyev participated in many masterclasses with such great musicians as the world-famous Bakuvian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

He subsequently auditioned to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Cobham, Surrey, and was the first Azerbaijani to be accepted. Aliyev has performed Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto as a soloist several times with the school’s orchestra in the Menuhin Hall and during the school’s tour to Gstaad, Switzerland.

On 12 March, Jamal will perform Paganini’s Moses Variations on a Theme by Rossini with the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Malcolm Singer. The concert will take place at The Menuhin Hall, Cobham Road, Stoke D’Abernon, Surrey, KT11 3QQ at 19.30hrs, and will be broadcast ‘live’ on BBC Radio 3. The concert will also feature violinist Tasmin Little. For tickets, go to http://bit.ly/yEiNg9.

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Isfar Sarabsky and his Trio blended Azerbaijani and Western melodies in an inspired manner

Landmark contemporary art exhibition in London’s artistic hubLeyla Aliyeva, Vice-President, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, has spoken about the dynamism and creativity of Azerbaijan in her speech at the opening of the Fly to Baku exhibition in Central London, held at the Phillips de Pury Gallery, and supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the English-language edition of Baku magazine. Showcasing the work of 21 Azerbaijani artists, including those of Leyla Aliyeva, the event was also attended by around 300 friends of Azerbaijan, including Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva; H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK; and Nigar Jamal, one half of the Azerbaijani winning Eurovision 2011 duo.

Leyla Aliyeva commented: “The dynamism and creativity demonstrated here reflect much of what is happening in my country – Azerbaijan. My country is experiencing an unprecedented period of development, and this is more than evident in the field of contemporary art.

“Independent Azerbaijan is a relatively young country. Last year, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the restoration of our independence. Despite the fact that our country is so young, we have an ancient history. Contemporary Baku promotes popular culture, not only through music. By walking around Baku, you can see the signs of rapid development everywhere – from a masterpiece by Zaha Hadid to avenues, new shops, restaurants and hotels, and the boulevard on the shore of the Caspian Sea. It is a city that is changing before your eyes.”

Christopher Hampton to adapt Ali and NinoKris Thykier’s PeaPie Films has purchased the film rights to Ali and Nino by Kurban Said, to be adapted by Christopher

Hampton, whose screenwriting credits include A Dangerous Method, Dangerous Liaisons and Chéri. The main protagonists of this love story, first published in 1937 and set in Azerbaijan in 1914, are Ali, a Muslim with his ancestors’ passion for the desert, and Nino, a Christian Georgian girl with sophisticated European ways. In this epic story, the two lovers face a variety of obstacles, including their religions and the political tensions that culminated in World War I. As the political and military situation intensifies in Tsarist Russia and Turkey, the two become swept up in Azerbaijan’s fight for independence, which culminated in the formation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic in 1918.

The film’s producer will be Thykier, and the executive producer will be Leyla Aliyeva. The director remains to be announced. Thykier commented: “We are thrilled to have attracted one of the world’s finest writers to bring this captivating novel to the screen. Ali and Nino is one of the great works of the 20th century, as evocative of the exotic landscape as it is of the passion between two people, pulled apart by culture, religion and war.”

A celebration of Azerbaijani JudaismThe ancient culture of Azerbaijan’s Jewish Community will be celebrated on 4 March at the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, 125 East 85th Street, NYC, 10028, USA, in a concert co-organised by the Kehilath Jeshurun Congregation Men’s Club and the Azerbaijan Society of America. It will feature a musical performance by Jeffrey Werbock, President, Mugham Society of America, and a traditional folk dance performance by the Traupe Kavkaz Jewish Youth Troupe of Azerbaijan. To find out more, go to http://bit.ly/4XsO12.

Visa régime simplified for EurovisionThe Azerbaijani government has announced that a simplified visa procedure will be implemented for those attending the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. From 10 May, accredited delegates, journalists and fans will be able to obtain their entry visa upon arrival at Baku International Airport. They will receive a single-entry visa, valid until 1 June, and will need to bring a completed application form (available on the plane and at the airport); a passport that remains valid for at least three months after the visitor’s planned departure from the country; two passport-sized colour photos; a AZN60 (£48.30) visa fee, to be paid upon arrival; and a print-out of the accreditation confirmation e-mail. To find out more, go to http://bit.ly/AfaZoW.

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Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva views works by Leyla, her daughter

Nazrin’s lunchtime rêverieThe acclaimed 23-year-old Azerbaijani violinist Nazrin Rashidova, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and Purcell School of Music, will give a concert on 27 February in St. James’s Church, 197, Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LL from 13.10–14.10hrs. She will perform alongside Daniel Grimwood (piano), and the programme will consist of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sonata No.26 in B flat Major, K.37 and Richard Strauss’ Sonata in E flat Major, Op.18. Admission is free, although the church will take a collection.

Rescheduled: Gochag Askarov concertAzerbaijan has recently been experiencing some of its heaviest snow for approximately 60 years. Unfortunately, this resulted in the temporary cancellation of all flights from Baku, including that bringing the acclaimed mugham singer Gochag Askarov and his Ensemble for their TEAS-supported concert on 3 February at The Front Room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer on London’s South Bank, organised in collaboration with BBC Radio 3. However, TEAS is delighted to reveal that Gochag’s concert has now been rescheduled for 18 May, and further information will follow in future issues of the TEAS Magazine.

UK firm constructs £1m flame fountain for AzerbaijanTP Aspinall and Sons, an engineering firm from Heysham, North Lancashire, has constructed a £1m metal sculpture to commemorate the 50th birthday of Azerbaijani President Aliyev, celebrated on 24 December 2011. The 30m-high sculpture was transported for 3,000 miles to Baku in 10 lorries. Simon Aspinall, Director, TP Aspinall, commented: “The 10-day journey was a mammoth trip. Time was so tight that it was impossible for every component to be ready for the trucks. We ended up sending a guy by air with excess baggage of 21 suitcases.” The stainless steel structure features a triple-helix design, is clad in glass and features light and water. It stands in a large fountain pool.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Born in Kolkata, India, into a family of hoteliers, King Dey has worked as a chef in New York, Bangkok, Dubai, and Tokyo, in addition to London and his homeland. He has received numerous awards, including The Readers’ London Restaurant Award, issued by The Good Food Guide, for his work as Head Chef at L’Étranger in London. Late last year, King was approached to create the cuisine for a new venture – Baku Restaurant, located in the heart of London’s fine dining community in Sloane Street, London, being the first Azerbaijani restaurant in the midst of the capital. Following the restaurant’s launch in December, TEAS caught up with King to discuss this inspirational new initiative.

Baku Restaurant opened just before Christmas. What has the response been like so far?This can be summed up in one word – fantastic. To date, we have not undertaken any substantial advertising, and awareness has generally been via word-of-mouth or social networking sites. Despite this, we are fully booked every evening, which is most gratifying. I would characterise the clientèle as a 50:50 split between Western Europe and those from Azerbaijan, other CIS countries, Turkey and Iran.

We have welcomed numerous dignitaries to our VIP table, but there have also been plenty of walk-ins as we are close to Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and many American tourists have been served. The success in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 has also put the country on the map, and many people want to know more about the nation. Such customers have often had no prior experience of Azerbaijan or its food, and the restaurant thus serves as an ambassador for its country.

How did you come to work at the Baku Restaurant?When I was headhunted from Reykjavik, Iceland, I had no prior experience of Azerbaijani cuisine. However, I had worked with pan-Asian food, including Thai, in the past. Following the call, I researched Azerbaijani food, and discovered that many of the terms for both equipment and food resembled those found in Indian languages. I then visited Azerbaijan, and discovered that they were somewhat different. I also discovered the difference between Azerbaijani cuisine and the European interpretation of ‘fine dining’. In

particular, Azerbaijanis emphasise the importance of sharing during mealtimes.

Earlier in your career, you achieved considerable success at L’Étranger on Gloucester Road. French food was already well-known in the UK, whereas Azerbaijani cuisine is a new discovery for many non-Azerbaijanis. How have you dealt with the challenge of attracting clientèle for food that will be new to many diners?I soon began to understand the changes that would be necessary to bring the Azerbaijani experience to the London market. Throughout, I have tried to adhere to the basics of each recipe. However, some essential changes needed to be made – for example, there are very few vegetarian dishes in Azerbaijan, but I found that lots of vegetables are used in some of the meat dishes, so I simply removed the meat. I have created a vegetarian dolma that contains the vegetables and spices associated with Azerbaijani cuisine. The standard cuisine is also low in salad concepts, so I needed to create one, using Azerbaijani fruit and vegetables. I have also sought to reduce the fat content of all dishes.

Throughout, I have adhered to the original recipes as much as possible in order to recreate the flavour I experienced in Baku.

During my career, I have experienced many types of cuisine, including Indian

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and Lebanese. I have learned many different methods of cooking and preparation. Azerbaijani recipes were an education for me – very few spices are used, and the flavour of the dishes remains faithful to the ingredients. It is important to emphasise the texture and flavour.

When you visited Azerbaijan, what were the dishes that you tried?I tried variants of virtually every Azerbaijani dish available in the hotels of Baku, including kofta and dolma.

How did you formulate the menu?It was essential to design a menu that would be palatable to those familiar with Azerbaijani food and others who are discovering its delights. I have already travelled to Baku several times to experience the dishes that are currently available and worked in the kitchens of major restaurants, perfecting the authenticity of the preparation techniques. The intention is that I will visit Baku three or four times each year.

Much of the food is intended, in its original form, to be eaten in the Azerbaijani climate, rather than that of London. I have thus reduced the portion sizes in many instances. The secret in achieving the desired taste in Azerbaijani cooking is the freshness of the ingredients, and I am relieved that efficient importing of these has not proved to be a challenge, either being supplied direct from Azerbaijan or

King Dey develops a taste for Azerbaijan

King Dey, chef extraordinaire, has brought Azerbaijani cuisine to the palates of Londoners

through a London-based specialist. It is particularly important not to alter the meat types used in Azerbaijani dishes. I am impressed by the quality of the ingredients, and the fruit, vegetables and dairy products are of excellent quality. The food incorporates such fruits as pomegranate, and I am attempting to retain these flavours as much as possible.

In the past, I have specialised in fusion foods, such as combining French and Japanese cuisine at L’Étranger, and there is definitely an element of creativity when developing such dishes. The most essential aspect is to capture the flavour. For example, I have created

the first ever Azerbaijani tapas menu, which is extensive, yet ideal for the lunching market. The salads are designed to meet the needs of London’s health-conscious diners. On the other hand, top-quality kebabs are available throughout the day for the traditionalists.

During my visits to Azerbaijan, I have worked in the kitchens of some renowned restaurants in Baku for periods of two to three weeks at a time, working and learning each day for up to 18 hours. I will probably spend some more time there during February. Despite the fact that I have

not travelled beyond Baku, there are some great regional restaurants in the capital. In particular, the Sheki Restaurant is renowned.

How do you see the cuisine at Baku Restaurant evolving?I am generally very ambitious for every project with which I have been involved. I want to create a mini-vibe for Azerbaijani food in London, and then take this to the culinary hubs of the world, such as New York and Paris. Here in London, we already have a long list of customers, and are bustling on every night of the week. We employ some Azerbaijani and Turkish staff, and three Azerbaijani masterchefs are currently visiting the restaurant to assist me with perfecting the dishes.

I have personally had a great deal of input into Baku Restaurant. I am confident that the cuisine will go from strength to strength, and that it will serve as wonderful, tasty introduction to Azerbaijan for many years.

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For more information and to book your seat at Baku Restaurant, visit www.bakulondon.com.

The interior of Baku Restaurant complements the quality of the cuisine

Lamb Basturma Kebab is just one of the exciting sensory experiences on the Baku Restaurant menu

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Kiçik QalArt – flying the flag for Azerbaijani contemporary art

Art aficionados and regular visitors to Baku’s picturesque Old City will be undeniably aware of the Kiçik QalArt contemporary art centre. This is a project of the Art ex East Foundation, launched in 2009 with the help of Olivier Mestelan, art connoisseur, who noticed the plethora of rich talent in the country that was not receiving the appropriate level of interest from the international artistic community. Olivier came to London to attend the Fly to Baku exhibition at the gallery of Phillips de Pury & Co. in Central London, which showcased the latest work of 21 artists. TEAS was delighted to catch up with him again, following his last interview in the TEAS Magazine (June 2011, pp.9–10), in order to learn of Kiçik QalArt’s plans for 2012.

You have come to London to attend the Fly to Baku exhibition at the auction house of Phillips de Pury & Co. Were you involved in selecting any of the paintings for this or the organisation of the exhibition?I was not specifically involved in the organisation of the exhibition, although the organisers selected Tora Aghabayova’s works when they visited Kiçik QalArt whilst her exhibition was taking place last year.

However, a great many of the artists featured in Fly to Baku had been shown at Kiçik QalArt, such as the remarkable and disturbing pictures by Niyaz Najafov; and those artists who participated in the Fabulous Four exhibition – Rashad Alakbarov, Faig Ahmed, Orkhan

Huseynov and Farid Rasulov. We have also organised separate exhibitions for Farid, and for Fakhriyya Mammadova, another artist featured in Fly to Baku.

Since we spoke in June last year, you have organised four further exhibitions: Oleg Timchenko and his dreamlike compositions inspired by Ali Baba’s tale; Un Nous, Baku’s first street art event; an exhibition of Ukrainian photographs by Yevgen Kovtoniuk and a showcase of works by Torakhanim Aghabayova. What has the reaction been to these works?Un Nous proved to be a very fresh, joyous and beautiful experience. We invited Patrick Pinon and Antonio Gallago – two French street artists – to attend the gallery, where they worked with the young people and 12 art students. Despite the fact that the French artists spoke no Azerbaijani or Russian, and very little English, there were no problems with communication. In fact, they helped the Azerbaijani students find themselves through art. This was not really an exhibition – it was more of a situation in which artists were able to meet other artists through a collective experience. The week concluded with an exhibition, when all the artists involved in the project glued the artwork to the exterior walls of the gallery and neighbouring houses.

This was the first time that such an exhibition of street art had taken place in Azerbaijan, and we are very thankful to the local authorities that they gave up their initial apprehension and let us create a ‘wall’ next to the ancient walls of

the Baku Old City. This was a trail-blazing event for both France and Azerbaijan. For five days they worked together in a studio space that is adjacent to Kiçik QalArt.

On the other hand, the exhibition of photographs by Yevgen Kovtoniuk was a chance to promote an artist from Ukraine, coming in the wake of an exhibition by a Georgian artist. His photographs were taken during his extensive international travels, although we would have preferred him to concentrate on photos of Baku!

The current exhibition is entitled In Search of Perfection, comprising works by Alexsandr Nikolayev, an Uzbek environmental artist who lives in Tashkent. How would you describe his work?The idea was to feature the work of an outstanding Central Asian artist at the gallery. Art in the region is very different to that in the west, or even in Azerbaijan. Nikolayev’s works have been shown at the Venice Biennale and, although he did not have chance to produce any new pieces before exhibiting in Azerbaijan, we received excellent feedback from attendees. He specialises in conceptual art in many forms, and his work is extremely vivid. Nikolayev produces paintings, photographs and videos, and his work speaks to us all. For example, one video installation features a Mullah praying on a carpet in the snow. This is supremely spiritual, and the angle at which the movie is shot gives the impression of the carpet flying off to a new metaphysical plane.

What further exhibitions are planned for this year? Will there be more exhibitions for specifically Azerbaijani artists?Following the conclusion of Nikolayev’s exhibition, we will focus on the works of Koka Ramishvili. He comes from a family of widely respected artists and ‘intelligentsia’, both from before and during the Soviet period. Ramishvili has spent most of his life outside of Georgia, and has exhibited across Europe. He is a conceptual artist with a great sense of the self. His work combines oil painting with photography and video, and is often challenging for the passing viewer to interpret, although his artwork provides the tools to assist with understanding. Ramishvili has just visited Baku for the first time, and has been much enthused by the city, resulting in many new works, which will be displayed at Kiçik QalArt .

Torakhanim Aghabayova’s exhibition subverted the concept of Social Realism in an inspirational manner

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Following this, there will be an exhibition of works by Faig Ahmed, who previously exhibited his aluminium interpretations of Azerbaijani carpet designs as part of the Fabulous Four exhibition last year. His new works comprise woven carpets and plastic castings, successfully giving the traditional a contemporary twist. He does an excellent job in producing top-quality works that encapsulate the spirit of Azerbaijan.

The purpose of Kiçik QalArt is solely to promote the young artists’ work – it is not a commercial venture. Even though we highlight their work, we must never forget that the artists should meet the market. Such events as the Fly to Baku exhibition play an integral role in bringing their work into the consciousness of the contemporary art cognoscenti. Azerbaijani contemporary art is at a very high level, and exhibitions can be excellent marketing platforms.

We are already working on the organisation of Afet Baghirova’s summer exhibition, a young artist who playfully portrays the various façets of Azerbaijani women in contemporary society.

In autumn, we are hoping to attract the AES+F Collective, a long-established Russian group, who focus on video, photography and sculpture to pose various philosophical questions. Each of their images is akin to a painting, and this will be their first time in Baku. It should also be the first time they exhibit the full Trilogy, a multimedia piece that they have been working on for several years.

Later on, we plan to exhibit the work of the Ukrainian Ilya Chichkan, who spearheaded the ‘Ukrainian New Wave’ in the 1990s. Active in the painting, installation, photo and video sectors, he has constantly subverted traditional forms of painting to express contemporary themes and elements. In particular, in his cycle Monkey or Man, he depicts a subject who, despite his apparent civilisation, remains a primate.

Do you consider that Azerbaijani contemporary art is gaining greater awareness on an international level?

What can be done to further enhance its appreciation?It is undeniable that Azerbaijani contemporary art is becoming better known, and this is self-perpetuating to a certain extent. The young artists are becoming increasingly confident and want to be exhibited more widely, and are consequently enjoying increased public support. They are bringing a new factor to the international art world, and their life and work ably represents Azerbaijan and art. As the public becomes increasingly aware of Azerbaijan, they become eager to know of the many other treasures awaiting discovery. The fire has just been ignited, and we must be careful that our young artists are not spoiled with their new fame!

Instead, they must be prompted to develop their artwork. They are now able to experience artwork from other countries. The basis of art is emotion, and it thus encapsulates national identity.

The Un Nous street art concept enlivened Baku’s picturesque Old City

Through the Window of History – a photograph by Ukrainian Yevgen Kovtoniuk

One of Oleg Timchenko’s series of works inspired by the legend of Ali Baba

For more information, please visit www.kicikqalart.az

The roots of the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh were outlined in the heart of London on 6 February during the launch of a new book, published by TEAS, entitled The Armenian Question in the Caucasus: Russian Archive Documents and Publications. The event was attended by H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK; H.E. Ünal Çeviköz, Turkish Ambassador to the UK; Harold Formstone, Former UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan; Dr Ali Tekin Atalar, Chair, Azerbaijan House; and more than 70 journalists, historians, students and friends of Azerbaijan.

These three authoritative volumes incorporate facsimile documents from the Russian State Historical Archive, St. Petersburg, and the Russian State Military History Archive, Moscow. These invaluable historical documents, many of which are published for the first time, chart the systematic migration of Armenians to the Caucasus and their subsequent protection during the time of the Russian Empire.

During his speech at St. James’s Hotel and Club, Professor Kerim Shukurov, who spearheaded the research, commented: “This is a key resource, taken from the Russian archives. All documents have been systematically arranged for publication and, to date, we have gained access to over 10,000 pages, of which 2000 pages have been published in these three volumes. There is no exact definition of The Armenian Question, but by collecting the material and arranging it correctly, Azerbaijan can seek to gain understanding of its position. Future books will cover relations with Georgia and Armenia in the years beyond 1914.”

He continued: “The Azerbaijani position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is supported by the publication of these books, which prove that Armenians were systemically relocated to the Caucasus during the time of the Russian Empire.”

Lord Laird stated: “I recently discovered the South Caucasus area, which has great future

potential, particularly due to its expanding relations with Europe. The Armenian Question does not try to rewrite history – it is a serious work of archive research. It is very important to ensure that the Azerbaijani case is understood, and these books assist with achieving this.”

Professor Tadeusz Swietochowski, Monmouth University, USA, then contextualised the importance of these books, saying: “These books contain important, overwhelming details. During the late 19th century, Azerbaijan’s international position changed, due to the oil revolution. Baku became a cosmopolitan, urbanised hub of intellectual development, with a booming economy. It was also the centre of the press in the Turkic world. However, the Armenian aggression of 1905–06 changed this situation, and this is charted in the books.” To order a copy, go to http://amzn.to/xZ8bGD, and an interview with Professor Swietochowski may be viewed at http://bit.ly/x0HkAn.

TEAS petition calls on British PM to condemn Khojaly massacreA petition calling for UK Prime Minister David Cameron to condemn the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani land and the massacre at Khojaly has been placed on a UK government website by Ulviyya Allahverdiyeva, Political Liaison, TEAS. The petition reads: “On 26 February, Azerbaijan mourns the 20th anniversary of one of the darkest days in its history. On this day in 1992, Armenian military forces brutally murdered 613 civilian inhabitants of the town of Khojaly in the illegally-occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“20 years after this fateful day, we remember those who died during events which led up to the illegal occupation of around 18 per cent of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory, which still continues to this day, in direct contravention

of four UN Security Council resolutions.” The petition then calls for the UK Prime Minister to condemn the massacre and occupation. In the UK, if an online petition collects at least 100,000 signatures, it will be debated in the House of Commons. If you are a UK resident, please support the petition, which may be found at http://bit.ly/yRoqEK.

TEAS also asks all UK residents to urge their MPs to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 2690, which similarly asks for condemnation of the Khojaly Massacre and requests that increased UK government pressure be exerted to achieve peaceful conflict resolution. Please complete the proforma letter at www.teas.eu/teas-campaigns.

Azerbaijani journalists sue Armenia in the European Court of Human RightsA group of Azerbaijani journalists, who became internally-displaced persons (IDPs) due to the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, have brought a case against Armenia before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The petitioners were Khalid Asif Kazimli, Khalid Valid Kazimov, Etibar Seyidagha, Seymur Verdizadeh, Mahabbat Orujiv, Aynur Elgunash, Sevil Hilalgizi and Samir Kazimli. They sought to demonstrate that Armenia infringed their right to property, life, education and other rights, and exposed them to material and moral damage during the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

Khalid Asif Kazimli told the APA agency that the case was initially discussed in early 2011. He explained: “We postponed this submission for various reasons. But we knew that a similar claim by a group of Lachin residents was accepted by the European Court of Human Rights, and met once again to finalise the issue. The Armenian army burnt the houses, and annihilated the property of everyone who signed this document. The committers of such crimes cannot remain unpunished in the 21st century. Even if Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a peace treaty tomorrow, and our houses are rebuilt and returned to us, it is impossible to reimburse us for the deprivations that we have faced since being expelled from our homeland.”

In the official complaint, the journalists will ask the European Court of Human Rights to acknowledge that Armenia infringed their rights and occupied their lands. They will also demand payment of an indemnity by Armenia.

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Fresh evidence on the ‘Armenian Question’ highlighted in London

US-based Caucasus expert Professor Tadeusz Swietochowski (left) discussed the importance of the documents with Professor Kerim Shukurov, who headed the research team

War. Gorbachev later admitted that his decision to sign the decree that resulted in Soviet troops firing on civilians in Baku was the greatest mistake of his leadership.”

The attendees went on to view a graphic video entitled The Black Face of Red Terror, about Black January, followed by moving reports on the brutal Soviet suppression of other uprisings in Georgia, Lithuania and Kazakhstan.

Internally displaced persons – a massive cost to AzerbaijanAccording to Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and internally-displaced persons (IDPs), state budget expenditure per IDP during 2011 amounted to $910 (£576), which is the highest in the world. He explained: “In 2011, $500m (£316.5m) was spent on the needs of refugees and IDPs, of which $295m (£186.7m) came from the State Budget; $175m (£111m) from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and $30m (£19m) from international humanitarian organisations.”

Soldier captured in Nagorno-KarabakhThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has confirmed the capture of Mammadbagir Akhundzade, an Azerbaijani soldier. The ICRC Khankandi Office received information from the de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh regarding the capture, according to Shahla Gahramanova, Spokesperson, ICRC Baku Office. It is hoped that ICRC employees will soon be able visit the soldier to assess his condition. According to Armenian media outlets, Akhundzade was captured near the Yukhary Chayli village on the ‘contact line’ between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

UK Prime Minister supports the Azerbaijani perspectiveUK Prime Minister David Cameron has said the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh should be solved on the basis of the agreed principles. Cameron responded to questions from Armenian MPs following his speech at a PACE session in Strasbourg. He replied: “The OSCE Minsk Group is engaged in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the UK supports its activities. This means that we support the current process, which can lead to resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.” Cameron called on the OSCE Minsk Group and other international organisations to increase efforts towards achieving dispute resolution.

ICRC supports communities close to the ‘contact line’The ICRC has inaugurated two new water supply systems in the front-line villages of Gazakhlar and Mirzanagilar, in the Fizuli district. The ICRC reported that one inhabitant commented: “Those of us living in Gazakhlar and Mirzanagilar didn’t believe that the ICRC would manage to supply water with good pressure, regardless of where people live in the villages. Today, thanks to the two 10m elevated reservoirs, the dream has actually come true.” In front-line regions, the problem of access to drinking water is not new. Due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, sources of drinking water – located along the front line – have become inaccessible for residents.

Julien Berda, ICRC water engineer, explained: “The new water supply system both provides good-quality drinking water and enables 760 people in both villages to resume small-scale irrigation activities, such as vegetable growing. We have also completed two other water supply systems in the villages of Tazakend and Damirchilar, in the Terter district. Altogether, across all four communities, over 2,600 people will benefit.”

Operating in partnership with the British Red Cross, and with the support of the Red Crescent Society of Azerbaijan, the ICRC also provided 934 needy families, living in eight communities, with small-scale economic support through conditional cash grants. The ICRC has been active in the region since 1992.

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Each year, carnations are placed by the graves of those who lost their lives during the Black January independence uprising in Baku

Black January commemorated in LondonAzerbaijanis across the world remember the date of 20 January each year. On that day in 1990, 137 civilians lost their lives when Soviet troops crushed independence uprisings in central Baku, ordered by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. In London, their sacrifice was remembered at an event in Azerbaijan House, Shoreditch, jointly organised by Azerbaijan House and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UK, which attracted a capacity audience.

After a minute’s silence, Dr Ali Tekin Atalar, Chair, Azerbaijan House, commented: “20 January is a very significant day in the Azerbaijani calendar, for it was the day that Baku’s residents came to the streets, seeking lives of independence and freedom. The people came together to bring about the end of Soviet rule in Azerbaijan, and responded to calls to unite. They achieved independence – their objective – within two years of the Black January events.”

H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, continued: “We remember the victims who died 22 years ago today. I was an eyewitness to the events, and these people sacrificed their lives for the independence of Azerbaijan. In the US State of New Hampshire, the official motto is ‘Live Free or Die’, and I thought of Black January when I saw this on a car license plate for the first time. It was totally unexpected – Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union at the time, and we did not anticipate that the State would turn its troops on its own citizens.

“Azerbaijanis never thought the impact of their actions would have such far-reaching ramifications. Soon after Black January, the Gorbachev government and Soviet state collapsed. This led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold

He commented: “First and foremost, the issue at hand is commercial real estate in developed European countries that have very transparent real estate markets. Other markets will be considered in the future. Various markets are being studied, and negotiations are being held with potential partners.”

Hauser: Azerbaijan is a reliable partner to GermanyOtto Hauser, the Honorary Consul of Azerbaijan in Stuttgart, has stressed the importance of Azerbaijan as a reliable partner to Germany in an interview with the German newspaper Wochenzeitung Heidenheim. Hauser commented that Azerbaijan has proven itself in the field of energy, stating that Germany should look to further diversify its energy policy in order to decrease its dependence on Russian resources. Hauser also detailed the rapid development that is taking place in Azerbaijan and the country’s preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, which will take place in Baku in May. He advised that Azerbaijan has a great potential for development and investment, acknowledging: “Baku is growing rapidly, and the infrastructure and tourism sectors are expanding. Since 2005, the Azerbaijani economy has grown by more than 113 per cent.”

CBA prepares state programme for cashless paymentsThe Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) is in the process of preparing a state programme for cashless payments during the period 2012–16. Kamala Gurbanova, Head of Payment Systems and Calculations Department, CBA, announced that the programme would outline the expansion of electronic payment services in Azerbaijan. Speaking in Baku, Gurbanova advised: “The increase in Azerbaijan’s population, and the access opportunities that exist for economic agents in electronic payment services, together with the integration of state and commercial structures offering electronic payment services, necessitates the implementation of several complex systems.”

The CBA programme will focus on all development opportunities regarding cashless payments in Azerbaijan, including infrastructure opportunities regarding the provision and uptake of electronic payment services. The CBA advised that over 4.5m payment cards are currently being used in Azerbaijan, which account for over AZN6.7bn (£3.8bn) worth of transactions per annum.

TEAS’ second business forum to include a Turkish focusThe second TEAS Business Forum will take place at No.4, Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7BQ, on 2 May 2012. Subtitled Azerbaijan and Turkey’s combined strength – a message of hope during an international recession, the Forum is organised in collaboration with the Concerto Group and in partnership with the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UK. It will cover range of topics, including energy; updates on strategic growth sectors; ICT; and agriculture and food processing. Speakers will update delegates on aspects of the Azerbaijani and Turkish business climate. Registration is free, and further information will be published in future issues of the TEAS Magazine. To find out more on attending and sponsorship opportunities, contact Vanessa Raine on vanessa.raine@teas.eu.

Mercedes-Benz engineering to move the Azerbaijani spiritAn Azerbaijani NGO, Property Market Participants (PMP), has released the results of its research study of the Azerbaijani used car market. This monitored the sale of 13,500 vehicles, 28.2 per cent of which entered the market in December 2011, showing that that the most popular used car in Azerbaijan in Q4 2011 was the German-made Mercedes-Benz, accounting for 31.8 per cent of sales in the sector.

The study also demonstrated a significant growth in the marketing of Russian manufactured AvtoVAZ vehicles, formerly known as Volzhsky Avtomobilny Zavod (VAZ), which achieved a 4.1 per cent rise. Nine major automobile brands accounted for 83.7 per cent of advertised vehicles on the used car market, with the remaining 16.3 per cent being divided between 80 vehicles manufactured by 20 firms. The

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study also reported that the average price of a used car in Azerbaijan had reached $16,150 (£10,500).

SOCAR successfully places EurobondsIn early February, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) announced the successful placement of Eurobonds on the London Stock Exchange. The five-year bond, priced at $500m (£316m) will reach maturity on 9 February 2017.

According to SOCAR, the Eurobond sale attracted huge interest from investors, with the total volume of orders reaching $4.6bn (£2.9bn) from 290 investors. The Eurobond issue will yield 5.45 per cent per annum. The placement of Eurobonds was split between investors in the UK (46 per cent); elsewhere in Europe (38 per cent); US offshore investors (12 per cent); and Asia (4 per cent). As a result of playing 63 per cent of the Eurobonds, investor participation was split between the following financial institution types – banks (16 per cent); insurance companies and pension funds (11 per cent); and hedge funds (10 per cent). The SOCAR Eurobonds were issued by Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, being managed by Nomura International and Société Générale.

EU to sign free trade zone agreement with AzerbaijanRoland Kobia, Head of the EU Office in Baku, has announced that the EU has pledged to sign a free trade zone agreement with Azerbaijan after its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The ninth round of talks between Azerbaijan and the WTO is scheduled to take place in late February. Azerbaijan has held observer status at the WTO since 1997; and accession talks commenced in 2004. Previous accession talks have led to corresponding protocols being signed between the WTO and Turkey, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Georgia.

SOFAZ to diversify investment portfolioThe State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) is to diversify its investment portfolio in 2012, according to Israfil Mammadov, Chief Investment Officer, SOFAZ. Mammadov advised that the fund’s diversification policy for 2012 would include a move towards new financial instruments, including gold, stock markets, and real estate.

Daniel Patat, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of France to the South Caucasus and Turkmenistan, was amongst the influential speakers at the inaugural TEAS Business Forum in 2011

Investments in Azerbaijan’s economy reach $20bn Investments in the Azerbaijani economy reached $20bn (£13bn) in 2011, according to Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijani Minister for Economic Development. Speaking at a cabinet meeting dedicated to Socio-Economic Development 2011–12, Mustafayev informed ministers: “About $15.7bn (£10bn) of total investment fell to the non-oil sector, and $4.3bn (£2.7bn) to the oil sector. About AZN5.9bn (£4.7bn) was invested in transport, ICT, tourism, irrigation, energy, ecological and other spheres through state capital investments. Approximately AZN1.7bn (£1.4bn) was assigned to social projects.”

Mustafayev also announced that eleven loan agreements, worth $1.7bn (£1.1bn), were signed in 2011, with the co-operation of international financial institutions. These loans will be used to fund the development of the transport, energy, telecommunications, agricultural, social, and other sectors.

He noted that: “The accelerated rate of Azerbaijani economic development has enhanced its financial potential and created favourable conditions for investment in foreign countries. Azerbaijan has become a country that exports investment.”

Mustafayev went on to comment: “In 2011, Azerbaijani investments made in the economy of other countries amounted to $6bn (£3.8bn). These were made in the Balkans and the North Caucasus region of Russia. The relations established during visits to these regions will enhance opportunities for Azerbaijani investments in the economies of these foreign countries.”

Investment opportunities highlighted in US pressAzerbaijan’s investment potential was highlighted in February 2012 by specialist US investment news provider, 24/7 Wall St. The article stressed the Caspian region’s overall investment potential, quoting ex-Vice President Dick Cheney’s remark: “I can’t think of a time when we’ve had a region emerge as suddenly and become as strategically significant as the Caspian.”

The article went on to emphasise Azerbaijan’s attractiveness as an investment centre in the Caucasus, commenting that, out of all of the countries in the region, Azerbaijan had gone to the greatest lengths to attract Western investment.

The item recalled Hoshbakht Yusifzade, First Vice-President, State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic’s (SOCAR), comments on 2 February, in which he outlined Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbon reserves, currently estimated at 10bn tonnes oil equivalent (toe): “So far, recoverable oil and gas condensate reserves in Azerbaijan have been estimated at 2bn tonnes, and gas at 2.6bn m3 (bcm.) Now, oil and condensate reserves have been assessed at 2bn tonnes and gas at 3.5tn m3 (tcm), and the country’s overall reserves are estimated at 10bn toe.

With regard to the Azerbaijani objective of increasing natural gas production by 11 per cent during 2012, due to further offshore Caspian projects coming online, Yusifzade stated: “Gas production will total 28.3bcm in Azerbaijan in 2012, 8bcm of which will be derived from the Shah Deniz field; 13.1bcm of which will be associated gas from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) block of fields, and another 7.2bcm of which will come from fields developed by SOCAR.”

The report in 24/7 Wall St. also went on to note that Peter Bateman, UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, had recently recalled that: “The UK is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan, and BP’s partnership with Azerbaijan has been a huge success story for both parties. Azerbaijan is a home or a regular destination for a large British business community. Azerbaijan is strategically important, not just for the UK, but for Europe as well, since the country holds a key to diversifying Europe’s energy

supply.” As 24/7 Wall St. states, “If Her Majesty’s ambassador is so optimistic, what greater reassurance do investors need?”

Azerbaijan becomes permanent member of UN COPUOSOn 12 January, Azerbaijan became a permanent member of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). The passing of Resolution 66/71 saw Azerbaijan move from observer status to permanent membership of the Subcommittee; Azerbaijan obtained observer status of COPUOS in 2011.

Heydar Ismayilov, Head of Department for Co-ordination of State Enterprise Activities, Azerbaijani Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies, told Trend News: “It is quite acceptable that Azerbaijan, as a permanent member of the organisation, will be involved in the realisation of various projects. This could eventually turn the country into one of the most active members of the global space family.

“Azerbaijan is making its first steps in the space industry, and strives to be at the same level as countries with developed space programmes, including the US, Japan, France and Germany. A number of countries have expressed an interest in the technical specification of our satellite (Azerspace), and demonstrated an interest in utilising its resources in the future.”

Azerbaijan is scheduled to launch Azerspace, the country’s first satellite, in Q4 2012. The American company, American Orbital Sciences, is manufacturing Azerspace and the French company, Arianespace, will assist with the satellite launch. Azerspace will be placed at the orbital position of longitude 46˚ east, used in conjunction with MEASAT, the Malaysian satellite operator.

Azerspace is a telecommunications satellite, and is designed to provide digital broadcasting capabilities, internet access, data transmission facilities, the creation of multiservice networks, known as very-small-aperture-terminal (VSAT), and government communication channels. The satellite’s service areas include countries in Europe, Central Asia and Africa.

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Shahin Mustafayev (left) during a meeting with Reinhold Mitterlehner, Austrian Federal Minister of Economy, Family and Youth

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AZERBAIJAN: QUICK FACTS Official name: The Republic of AzerbaijanCapital: BakuArea: 86,600km2

Population: 9.2mDensity: 104 inhab./km2

Urban population: 51.8 per centPopulation of main cities, excluding suburbs: Baku (2,500,000); Gandja (300,000); Sumgait (270,000); Mingacevir (95,000)Religions: Religions: Muslim (93.4 per cent), Christian (4.8 per cent), Others (1.8 per cent)Principal exports: Oil, gas, aluminium, carpetsOfficial language: AzerbaijaniBusiness languages: English and Russian

Monetary indicators 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Average annual exchange rate for US$1 0.86 0.82 0.81 0.80 0.79

Exchange rates as of 12.2.12: AZN1=US$1.27; US$1=AZN0.79; AZN1=£0.81; £1=AZN1.24; AZN1=€0.96; €1=AZN1.04

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