United States Claims #1 Spot For First Time as World's Top Country Brand Nov 6, 2009
- Canada Holds on to Second Spot and Australia Slips to Number Three - - Global Study Expanded to Cover Regional Rankings Including Asia Pacific, Sub-Sahara Africa and the Americas. This category remains one with tremendous potential not only for tourism but investment, trade and policy. (Canada Newswire)
Karzai Brother: Drug Lord, CIA Darling? Oct 29, 2009
Marc Grossman was leading it, 100 percent, bringing people from East Turkestan into Kyrgyzstan, from Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan, from Azerbaijan some of them were being channeled to Chechnya, some of them were being channeled to Bosnia. From Turkey, they were putting. (CBS News)
No debate: Liven up these forums Oct 29, 2009
AFTER A SPATE of lackluster political debates in Massachusetts, local TV viewers may envy the people of Azerbaijan. In 2003, a live presidential debate in that country grew so heated that the two participants hurled their water glasses at each other and launched an all-out brawl, causing the television network in charge to yank the program off the air. (Boston Globe)
A dangerous new Afghan road opens Sep 18, 2009
The proposed central supply route circumvents both Pakistan and the Russian Federation and would consist of a time-consuming shipment of supplies from Georgia's Black Sea coast to Azerbaijan, across the Caspian Sea to the port of Turkmenbashi and south through the Karakum desert to Afghanistan's far northwest. This plan seemed feasible for all of its inherent geopolitical complications and variables (both Georgia and Azerbaijan do not control all of the their territory), but now the Taliban are... (Asia Times Online)
Q&A: US missile defence Sep 17, 2009
Moscow suggested that the US could use a Russian-rented radar site in Azerbaijan, which shares a border with Iran. Former President Putin also offered use of a radar site in southern Russia and proposed working with the US and other European countries on a joint defence system. (BBC News -- Europe)
US steps up its Central Asian tango Aug 25, 2009
The US can now work on a transit corridor for Afghanistan from Georgia and Azerbaijan via Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan that bypasses Russian territory. Writing for the New York Times, Andrew Kuchins of the Center for Strategic and International Studies recently underscored that skepticism of Russian intentions - "how much Russia wants to see the US succeed in Afghanistan" - runs high in Washington. (Asia Times Online)
Profile: Mir Hossein Mousavi Aug 3, 2009
Mr Mousavi was born in the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran and moved to Tehran to study architecture at university - he specialises in Islamic architecture. Mr Mousavi has said his wife is one of Iran's most enlightened women. (BBC News)
China dips its toe in the Black Sea Aug 1, 2009
There is already some evidence of this coordinated Western approach toward Russia in the European Union's "Eastern Partnership" project, unveiled in Prague in May, the geographical scope of which consists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine, and which aims at drawing these post-Soviet states of "strategic importance" towards Brussels through a matrix of economic assistance, liberalized trade and investment and visa regimes that stop short of accession to the EU but... (Asia Times Online)
Turkish foreign policy: Dreams from their fathers Jul 24, 2009
It has become even more crucial as a potential transit route for Europe-bound natural gas from energy-rich Azerbaijan and Central Asia, as well as from Iraq (and eventually Iran) ... Its energy dreams are tightly linked to its ethnic cousins in Azerbaijan ... In a dramatic shift, Turkey even dropped its long-running precondition that Armenia must withdraw from the territories that it occupied in the 1990s after its war with Azerbaijan over the mainly Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. (The Economist)
Iran and Russia, scorpions in a bottle Jul 24, 2009
They are in fact opposed to the new Caspian states - Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Iran and Russia also face the threat of hardcore Sunni Islam. (Asia Times Online)
Will Nabucco pipeline deal free Europe from Russian gas? Jul 14, 2009
A main unanswered question is whether governments and energy fields in the supply states of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan can or will reliably divvy up and deliver gas over time. There's an expected intense bidding war, in some cases over gas fields whose yields are not yet concretely confirmed. (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Breaking barriers Jul 5, 2009
Mr Manoyan also says there are other prerequisites to the border reopening - namely that Armenia's unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh must be settled first ... Few doubt that landlocked Armenia - whose borders are closed with Azerbaijan as well as Turkey - would benefit economically from improved relations. (BBC News)
Central Asia Jul 5, 2009
An agreement this week for Russia's Gazprom to buy offshore Azerbaijani gas, coming hard on the heels of Europe's failure to sign up with Turkey on the Nabucco pipeline project as scheduled, looks like a dagger going to the heart of Europe's gas supply plan ... Ankara's reluctance to provide fair transit for Azerbaijani gas, and its apparent choice of strategic partnership with Russia, could also result in Turkmenistan's continued isolation from Europe - not to mention Turkey's ... Turkish... (Asia Times Online)
Obama faces a Persian rebuff Jul 1, 2009
Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan have greeted Ahmadinejad's victory. Moscow eventually concluded the regime wasn't threatened. (Asia Times Online)
Meet the Dems’ 60th vote Jul 1, 2009
Under a deal signed between Russia and Azerbaijan on June 29, Russia will pay Azerbaijan $350 per thousand cubic meters of natural gas the highest price Russia has paid for natural gas from the Caucasus or Central Asia. Moscow hopes the deal will choke off other potential export routes for Azerbaijani natural gas, as control over energy exports to Europe is one of Russias most powerful political levers ... The planned Nabucco pipeline, it was hoped, would transport Azerbaijans gas... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Crunching the numbers Jun 26, 2009
Yet in the 2005 elections, an Azeri candidate, Mehr Alizadeh, received only 28% of the votes in the province of East Azerbaijan. A weakness of the report is that that despite the lack of specific rural voting data in previous elections, remedied this year for the first time, the study claims privileged knowledge that neither in 2005 nor in 2009 did Ahmadinejad carry rural Iran. (Asia Times Online)
Tell us about your summer job Jun 26, 2009
Other color changes that did not work out, i.e. Belarus, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan (all in 2004) were not reported on (deleted as news items). The South American oil producing country of Venezuelas 2005 Marigold Revolution and then 2007 and again 2008 ones, all not producing the regime change were in contrast to the other failed revolutions were much reported on in US media. (Columbus Telegram, NE)
Suspicions behind Iran poll Jun 21, 2009
For example, in Mr Mousavi's home province of East Azerbaijan, which is known to have fierce regional and ethnic loyalties to the reformist candidate, he polled far worse than expected. And the liberal cleric Mehdi Karroubi polled 5% in Lorestan, despite having won 55% there in the first round of voting in 2005 when he also stood as a candidate. (BBC News -- Americas)
Analysts pore over 'ambiguous' Iran results Jun 18, 2009
Official results from Friday's polls show that the city and its surrounding province of East Azerbaijan -- dominated by ethnic Azeris like Moussavi -- voted 57 percent to 42 percent to re-elect hard-line incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It's a result many observers of Iranian politics find incongruous, but just one of the things that have raised eyebrows among Western analysts. (CNN -- World)
Iran's vote count looks fishy Jun 18, 2009
He beat Mousavi, a former prime minister and ethnic Azeri, in Mousavi's home province of East Azerbaijan, including the provincial capital, Tabriz -- urban areas were thought to be Mousavi's strength -- by 435,000 votes to 420,000. The 24. (News & Observer)
Speed of Iran vote count raises suspicions Jun 17, 2009
Mousavi said the results also may have been affected by a shortage of ballot papers in the provinces of Fars and East Azerbaijan, where he had been expected to do well because he is among the country's Azeri minority ... Interior Ministry results show that Ahmadinejad won in East Azerbaijan. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Who's who in Iran Jun 17, 2009
He was born in East Azerbaijan Province and moved to Tehran to study architecture at university. He is married to Zahra Rahnavard, a former chancellor of Alzahra University and political advisor to Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami. (BBC News -- Americas)
Statement From the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United States Jun 16, 2009
It claims that the change in proposed FY10 economic aid to the countries of the Caucasus compared to FY09 is +20 percent for Azerbaijan, +19 percent for Georgia, and -38 percent for Armenia ... ANCA compares appropriated funds for FY09 with requested funds for FY10 in the case of Armenia, while for Azerbaijan and Georgia only requested funds are compared ... Distorting Azerbaijan's and Georgia's democratic credentials, while shielding Armenia's, is a continuation of these double-standards. (PR Newswire)
Nate Silver: The statistical evidence is intriguing but, ultimately, inconclusive Jun 16, 2009
He's ethnic Azerbaijani, as are the overwhelming people in his home province ... About a third of its population is Azerbaijani -- Shiites but who speak a Turkic language at home, not Farsi ... Neither did Mousavi from Azerbaijan, or Rezaee from Khouzestan. (Harper's Magazine)
Can Iran's Minorities Help Oust Ahmadinejad? May 30, 2009
The presidential candidate was greeted last Monday at the airport by a jubilant throng, chanting "Azerbaijan is awake, and is supporting its son!" That slogan, shouted in the Azeri language, might sound a little discordant, given that Mir-Hossein not of Azerbaijan, but of Iran. But the enthusiasm of his home-state crowd in East Azerbaijan may help explain at least in part why Moussavi is currently the strongest challenger to incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 election ... In... (Time.com)
Can Iran's Minorities Help Oust Ahmadinejad? (Time.com) May 30, 2009
The presidential candidate was greeted last Monday at the airport by a jubilant throng, chanting "Azerbaijan is awake, and is supporting its son!" That slogan, shouted in the Azeri language, might sound a little discordant, given that Mir-Hossein not of Azerbaijan, but of Iran. But the enthusiasm of his home-state crowd in East Azerbaijan may help explain - at least in part - why Moussavi is currently the strongest challenger to incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 election ...... (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Israel plays on Obama's Iran policy May 22, 2009
From Iran's vantage point, the US has filled the vacuum of traditional enemies directly, by forming a menacing security belt around Iran that covers Central Asia and even the Caucasus, in light of the US's and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's military projections with countries such as Azerbaijan. What is more, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is on a two-week tour of Iran's Kurdish region, has blasted the US for engaging in a "conspiracy" along Iran's western borders... (Asia Times Online)
A handshake shakes a region May 20, 2009
Over the past few weeks, energy-rich Azerbaijan has turned up the flame under this geographic cauldron. It was furious with Turkey for agreeing in April to a "road map" to normal relations with Armenia, which backs a separatist Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan called Nagorno-Karabakh ... So Azerbaijan has used the only leverage it has oil and gas to influence Turkey. (Christian Science Monitor)
Seven-times winners Ireland dumped out of Eurovision May 16, 2009
Pre-contest favourites Norway, plus Albania, Lithuania, Moldova, Croatia and Azerbaijan also made the cut ... Norway Greece Ukraine (pictured) Estonia Lithuania Azerbaijan Albania Denmark Moldova Croatia ... Bookmakers Ladbrokes are tipping Norway's singing violinist Alexander Rybak as the favourite for the big night, followed by Greece, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the UK.. (BBC News -- Europe)
Ohio elections spat involves Turkish history May 15, 2009
Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since closing their border in 1993 because of a Turkish protest of Armenia's occupation of land claimed by Azerbaijan. Showing: lect. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
US rejoins UN's human rights forum May 13, 2009
Azerbaijan lost its bid for membership from the Eastern Europe group, and Kenya lost from the Africa group. Human rights groups split on US return. (Christian Science Monitor)
Malta returns to Eurovision final May 13, 2009
Some of the favourites for the title, including Norway, Greece and Azerbaijan, will be in the starting line-up for the second qualifying contest. TUESDAY'S QUALIFIERS. (BBC News)
Czech interim gov't faces uneasy mission May 9, 2009
The launch, meant to stabilize the EU's eastern borders and enhance multilateral and bilateral cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, was hailed by EU leaders. However, the plan's "sphere of influence" has irked Russia, which regards it as a potential security threat. (Xinhuanet, China)
Summit to draw ex-Soviet republics closer to EU May 7, 2009
The six ex-Soviet republics to whom the partnership would apply are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine countries with widely differing relationships both with Moscow and the West. Particularly problematic are Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
* World News Quick Take May 6, 2009
RUSSIA US envoy keen on radar The US should study a Russian proposal that it share a radio installation in the Central Asian state of Azerbaijan, US envoy Rose Gottemoeller said on Monday in an interview with the Interfax agency. I understood from talking to Russian counterparts that the offer is still on the table, said Gottemoeller, the assistant secretary of state for verification and compliance. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Country profile: Georgia May 6, 2009
The US now has a major strategic interest in the country, having invested heavily in an oil pipeline from Azerbaijan via Georgia to Turkey ... It is no coincidence that Georgia has started receiving an increasing proportion of its gas from Azerbaijan ... He joined the government as energy minister in 2004, after the election of President Mikhail Saakashvili, and went on to negotiate major gas supply deals with Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. (BBC News -- Europe)
Turkey and Armenia: Mountain chess May 6, 2009
It involves America, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey. Unlike chess-players, though, all the participants can win in this game, it is hoped, if they agree on a common aim: peace between Turkey and Armenia, which would help to thaw the frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the (mainly Armenian) territory of Nagorno-Karabakh ... This was sealed by Turkey in 1993 to show solidarity with Azerbaijan, which had just lost 20% of its territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh. (The Economist)
Germany slashes growth forecast Apr 30, 2009
Gun attack at Azerbaijan academy. Obama 'pleased - not satisfied. (BBC News -- Europe)
Indelible ink Apr 30, 2009
Gun attack at Azerbaijan academy. Q&A: Advice about swine flu. (BBC News -- South Asia)
Britain would consider taking Gitmo detainees Apr 28, 2009
They are from Azerbaijan, Algeria, Afghanistan, Chad, China, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Several European nations, including Portugal and Lithuania, have said they will consider taking such detainees. (MSNBC -- International)
No through road Apr 28, 2009
Turkey wants its talks with Armenia to be conducted in parallel with negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, the disputed territory where the two nations fought a war in the early 1990s. Populated by ethnic Armenians, it lies outside Armenia's borders, within territory internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. (BBC News -- Europe)
U.S. seen strengthening U.N. rights council Apr 1, 2009
Its current roster includes Azerbaijan, China, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Cuba, Djibouti, India, Mexico, Russia and Egypt. (Reporting by Laura MacInnis; Editing by Janet Lawrence). (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Mars domes may be 'mud volcanoes' Mar 27, 2009
On Earth, the largest concentration of mud volcanoes is in Azerbaijan and the adjacent Caspian Sea ... "In Azerbaijan, there is so much methane coming out that they can catch fire," said Dr Allen. (BBC News)
* Azerbaijani poll scraps term limits Mar 20, 2009
Azerbaijani poll scraps term limits ... Opposition figures complain that the West has done too little in criticizing their leaders autocratic rule because it relies on Azerbaijans gas AFP , BAKU Friday, Mar 20, 2009, Page 6 ... Azerbaijani musicians perform in front of a polling station at the Referendum on Constitutional Amendments in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Azerbaijan votes on scrapping presidential limits Mar 18, 2009
BAKU, (AFP) Azerbaijan were voting Wednesday on a proposal to scrap the two-term presidential limit, which if approved would pave the way for President Ilham Aliyev to extend his family's grip on power here ... Aliyev's father, Heydar, was a Soviet-era leader of Azerbaijan and president for 10 years after the country won independence in 1991 ... Supporters of the changes say they are aimed at making Azerbaijan more democratic by allowing voters to choose whoever they wish to be president. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Somalia: UN Workers Released Just Hours After Abduction Mar 17, 2009
After they were released, the UN confirmed that the staff members are Ali Dekow of Somalia and Marc Andre Post of France, both of whom work for the World Food Programme (WFP), as well as UN Volunteer Paul Bampo of Ghana and Miragha Babayev of Azerbaijan, who both work with the UN Development Programme (UNDP). "The United Nations is very grateful for the efforts and intervention of the local authorities who used their influence and reach to ensure our dedicated staff was cared for and ultimately... (allAfrica.com)
Russia says it wants to keep radar in Azerbaijan Mar 12, 2009
Russia wants to extend its lease of a Soviet-built military radar in Azerbaijan after a current lease agreement ends, the Russian foreign minister said Thursday. Sergey Lavrov said on a trip to Azerbaijan that Russia would like to continue using the early-warning radar in Gabala after the lease expires in 2012 ... Lavrov's Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, said Thursday that the extension of the lease agreement isn't on the agenda yet. (International Herald Tribune -- Travel)
Modern shine for a multicultural jewel Mar 3, 2009
Each September for more years than he is willing to count, Alim Qasimov, one of Azerbaijan's most revered singers, took the stage at the Theater of Opera and Ballet in Baku and kicked off the local concert season by performing the role of a crazed young lover in Uzeyir Hajibeyov's opera "Layla and Majnun." Based on a classic love story popular throughout the Middle East and Central and South Asia, the work is a jewel of Azerbaijani culture. Hajibeyov's birthday, Sept. 18, is celebrated as a... (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
Liberia's Taylor trial adjourned Feb 11, 2009
Azerbaijan air force head killed. Fire aftermath 'too distressing. (Yahoo News -- Liberia)
Azerbaijan air force head killed Feb 11, 2009
The commander of the Azerbaijani air defence force has been shot dead outside his house in the capital, Baku, officials and local media have said. Lt-Gen Rail Rzayev was shot in the head by an unknown gunman while getting into his car at around 0800 (0400 GMT), the Turan news agency said. (BBC News)
reported today Feb 10, 2009
Azerbaijani Media Kept Away From Obama Campaign Manager - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty ... Azerbaijani Media Kept Away From Obama Campaign Manager ... Local media say the invitation is from the Association for Develop 00004000 ment of Civil Society in Azerbaijan, which acts as a mouthpiece of Aliyev's presidential office. (Harper's Magazine)
Dylan Loeb McClain: Chess Feb 8, 2009
But in the last few years, a new generation has nosed its way into the upper echelon, led by Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, 21; Magnus Carlsen of Norway, 18; and Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine, 19. A new group of young players is poised to join these trailblazers. (International Herald Tribune -- Arts)
