TM_06_2012-RFW

www.teas.eu June 2012

03 / 2012

THE WORLD FOCUSES ON BAKU FOR EUROVISION 2012

Also in this issue:Six Azerbaijanis killed in Nagorno-KarabakhHillary Clinton condemns upsurge in violenceEU Ambassador Roland Kobia acknowledges Azerbaijan’s developmentAchievements of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic rememberedNew Nabucco pipeline variant gains widespread support

CULTURE | BUSINESS | PUBLIC AFFAIRS

06 / 2012www.teas.eu

(Photo: Andres Putting – EB

U)

June 2012 www.teas.eu

Welcome to The European Azerbaijan SocietyThe 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.

Forthcoming Azerbaijani events27 JuneDickens in AzerbaijaniThe Poetry Café, 22, Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX19.00hrs. Admission Free.In order to celebrate the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’ birth, Gruntlers’ Theatre Ltd will present readings and performances of excerpts from his most renowned novels, including some in Azerbaijani translations. Speakers will include Sanan Aliyev, Peter Stanford and Geraldine Beskin. E-mail: [email protected] for further details.

28 JuneAzerbaijan – Image and RealityThe Thai Theatre, New Academic Building, London School of Economics, 54 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LJ18.30hrs. Admission Free.Organised by the Caspian Information Centre (CIC), this seminar is intended to give a fuller account of Azerbaijan’s achievements since becoming an independent sovereign state. The main speaker will be Gerald Frost, Director, CIC, who will be joined by Dr Shirin Akiner, Senior Lecturer, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). To register, please e-mail: [email protected].

Newsletter

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://on.fb.me.

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]

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03

Clinton condemns violence escalationDuring her second visit to Azerbaijan, Hillary Clinton, US Secretary-of-State, commented on the upsurge in violence on the Nagorno-Karabakh ‘contact line’ on 4–5 June, which allegedly claimed the lives of five Azerbaijanis and three Armenians.

Speaking to reporters following a speech by Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, she explained: “Regarding security, I reiterated my appreciation for Azerbaijan’s past contributions in Iraq and Kosovo and its vital ongoing work in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan is essential to the transportation of troops and non-lethal supplies that support the international effort in Afghanistan. Today, we discussed the continuing important role of the Northern Distribution Network and emphasised supporting the Afghan people after 2014 when they transition to full responsibility for security.

“We also had in-depth discussions about Nagorno-Karabakh, including the most recent incidents and deaths along the ‘contact line’. As I said earlier this week in Yerevan, I am deeply concerned about the danger of escalating tension, which could have unpredictable and disastrous consequences. This cycle of violence and retaliation must end, and everyone should work to keep the peace and comply with the obligations under the 1994 ceasefire agreement. I have stressed to President Aliyev that the US is prepared to do whatever it can to help reach a settlement based upon the principles of the Helsinki Final Act. And I have asked the President, as I have asked the President of Armenia, to work together to exercise restraint and to take the steps necessary for peace, not conflict.

“Regarding energy, the US works closely with Azerbaijan on energy security. This is a common strategic interest for both countries, and one of the great global challenges of our time. Today, I briefly visited the Caspian Oil and Gas Show, and I conveyed to the President and Foreign Minister our great appreciation

for the central role that Azerbaijan plays in efforts to diversify supplies of oil and gas as well as the routes over which they are transported. The US supports Azerbaijan’s goal of establishing a Southern Corridor for natural gas exports to Europe – a crucial link that will solidify Azerbaijan’s ties to the Euro-Atlantic community. And I look forward to even deeper co-operation in this area.”

Azerbaijan – a good friend and ally to the USDuring an event dedicated to commemorating the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijani–US relations, Congressman Ted Poe commented: “I represent the second district of Texas, which runs into the border between Texas and the Louisiana border – constituting the energy capital of the US. Oil was first discovered there in 1901, and many large US oil companies originated there. What happened in Texas served to transform an agricultural community into one based around oil and gas.

“It’s an honour for me to address this issue on Azerbaijan as, like Texas, the country retains its energy enthusiasm. This presents a common bond with Azerbaijan and its attitude about energy and developing resources. Baku was amongst the original 19th Century boom towns. Then the Soviets came in, shut down the freedom of capitalism, and the old Soviet régime mentality destroyed an industry. I firmly believe that economic and political freedom ranks amongst the God-given rights that have been returned to Azerbaijan.

“I visited the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and understand how Azerbaijan used to be. Our two countries have grown closer since Azerbaijan regained its independence, and the country is now both politically and economically independent. In 2006, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline started carrying Azerbaijani oil to Turkey. As an outsider, I encourage the relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, as this serves to enhance relations in the region and with the US. It is in both countries’ interests to

diversify European markets so that customers are not manipulated by those other actors in the region with the objective of monopolising energy and delivery. The pipelines have built eco-security, but also political security for Azerbaijan, and that is good for the US and for the region.”

Azerbaijani progress highlighted by EU Ambassador Kobia On 17 May in Baku, Ambassador Roland Kobia, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, held a press conference. This was partially dedicated to the publication of the Progress Report on Azerbaijan within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. During his speech, Ambassador Kobia underlined the important work and achievements undertaken by Azerbaijan within the Azerbaijan–EU Action Plan.

Ambassador Kobia emphasised that the Progress Report noted Azerbaijan’s achievements in the domains of the economy, poverty reduction, adoption of the new Customs Code, monetary and financial stability, increased trade turnover with the EU, energy co-operation, and harmonisation with the EU regarding the prevention of crime, money-laundering and terrorism. He also welcomed Azerbaijan’s achievements in the fight against corruption, and its developments in trade, the judiciary, and prison hygiene.

With regard to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions, Kobia noted his support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. However, the European Commission acknowledged that the OSCE Minsk Group had not achieved its objective of achieving a peaceful solution to the conflict. The EU has recently initiated the creation of a new position – that of a special ambassador, whose mission is to focus on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Hillary Clinton reiterated calls for calm during her press conference alongside Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister (Photo: US State Department)

Political News


04 Political News

Azerbaijani Republic Day rememberedThe achievements of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) were commemorated on 25 May in London during an event organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UK, held at Baku Restaurant in Sloane Street. Around 200 Peers, MPs, Diplomats and friends of Azerbaijan attended the event. Republic Day was subsequently celebrated in Azerbaijan on 28 May.

Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917,

there was considerable turbulence across the former Russian Empire, and the only way for Azerbaijanis to stop this violence was to establish their own State and National Army. On 28 May 1918, the Muslim National Council held its opening sitting in Tiflis, and adopted the Declaration on Independence, which proclaimed the establishment of the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) in south and southeast Transcaucasia. This became the first Constitutional Act in the history of Azerbaijan, affirming Azerbaijani statehood. On 16 June, the national council and the cabinet of the ADR were relocated to Ganja – the second biggest Azerbaijani city. The primary goal of the government was to liberate Baku and the other cities of Azerbaijan from Armenian and Bolshevik occupation.

Following the successful liberation of Baku and other cities by the Caucasian Islamic Army, comprising Azerbaijani and Turkish troops, the capital of the ADR moved from Ganja to Baku. On 7 December 1918, the first session of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) was held, being the first parliament based on democratic principles to be established in the

entire Muslim East. The Parliament included representatives from the main ethnic groups in the country.

International recognition of the ADR was soon achieved and, on 11 January 1920, the Supreme Council of the Paris Peace Conference resolved to recognise the independence of Azerbaijan. During its brief period of existence, the leadership of the ADR managed to create a well-operated state machine, establishing relations with more than 20 countries. On 26 June, the government established the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, and amongst the achievements of the ADR were the granting of the franchise to all men and women over the age of 18 years, predating such developments in the UK and US; the separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers; the opening of Baku University; and the receiving of government scholarships to study in leading European universities. Unfortunately, the ADR only lasted for 23 months, its life being curtailed by the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Red Army on 28 April 1920.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev placed a wreath at the monument to the ADR in Baku

NEWS FROM BRUSSELSIn order to celebrate the end of the Belgian academic year, TEAS Belgium has gathered a number of Azerbaijani students for lunch in the presence of H.E. Emin Eyyubov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium, and Head of Mission to the EU.

The initiative was undertaken to facilitate an exchange of views between 15 students from the College of Europe in Bruges and the Free University of Brussels (VUB) regarding their experiences and impressions from their time in the city. The students were invited to a lunch buffet in order to share perspectives on their stay in Belgium. TEAS’ aim was to promote fruitful dialogue between these bright Azerbaijani students, who are destined to become tomorrow’s policy-makers.

Ambassador Eyyubov commented: “Today, young people have so many opportunities. If bright Azerbaijani youths are present in Belgium, this offers them a unique vision on Belgium, the EU and the world. It helps them to fulfil their ambitions and spread the voice of Azerbaijan.”

Roman Huna, Head, TEAS Belgium, explained: “These young, talented Azerbaijanis lived in Belgium for a year, and studied at various faculties in the most prestigious Belgian universities. In its role as an information platform, TEAS has brought together these exceptional people and facilitated the exchange of ideas between these young Azerbaijanis, all of whom have a most promising professional career ahead of them.”

For many years, Azerbaijani students have come to Belgium to study, thereby promoting educational and cultural exchange between the two countries and with EU institutions. Indeed, Brussels, as a European capital, hosting the main EU bodies, provides a unique experience for young professionals aiming to participate in European policy-building.

Gunel Naghiyeva, Student at the College of Europe in Bruges remarked: “We thank TEAS for this initiative. My fellow students and I are very grateful about this chance to share our visions with experienced people in order to understand what our future could bring.”

In the future, TEAS Belgium will continue to promote this type of dialogue, playing a leading role in promoting constructive dialogue by organising Azerbaijani events to raise awareness of the unique, rich and varied culture of Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus.

The lunch gave Azerbaijani students in Brussels a chance to exchange opinions and meet H.E. Emin Eyyubov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium (sixth from right)

NEWS IN BRIEFAliyev meets CameronOn the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Chicago,

Azerbaijani President Aliyev met UK Prime

Minister David Cameron. During their meeting,

they praised the development of bilateral

relations between the two countries, expressing

confidence regarding their further development

and co-operation. Noting the fruitful results of

UK–Azerbaijani energy co-operation, the sides

commented on the joint efforts of Azerbaijani and

British oil companies, in particular BP, regarding

realisation of the proposed Southern Corridor of

pipelines, which will bring Caspian resources to

Europe. They also discussed the current state

of Afghanistan and how they will co-operate to

establish peace and safety in that country.


During the past three years TEAS has opened branches located in Baku, Berlin, Brussels and Paris. Each has different strategic objectives and is experiencing challenges that are specific to its political environment. This piece takes a glance at TEAS France, where TEAS Magazine spoke to Eliza Pieter and Christine Blumauer:

Why was it important for TEAS to establish an office in Paris?TEAS’ main objective is to raise awareness about Azerbaijan to European audiences. We realised that, overall, Azerbaijan is relatively unknown in France. Opening an office in Paris represents the first step towards informing the French people about the great opportunities Azerbaijan has to offer and the links that can be created between both nations. It was imperative for TEAS to establish an office in France, due to that country’s important role on an international level. Also, France is one of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, tasked with establishing a peaceful solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions. TEAS’ presence in France plays an important role in shedding new light on this conflict.

What are the main objectives for your office?The main objectives are to bring Azerbaijan closer to the consciousness of the French people. We cannot blame them for having insufficient information about Azerbaijan if they are not given the requisite tools to learn more about the country. It is vital for TEAS France to develop its events and activities to showcase the diversity of Azerbaijan in terms of what it has to offer, both culturally and economically. Azerbaijan frequently suffers from stereotypes or misconceptions, and our aim is to break those and reflect the true nature of the country.

We also want to draw the attention of public opinion and decision-makers to a humanitarian tragedy that has been all too often overlooked, that is the consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the fact

that, for the last 20 years, 875,000 Azerbaijanis have been internally displaced persons (IDPs) or refugees. Whilst France and other Western European nations were busy dealing with the tragedies and aftermath of the Balkan wars in the 1990s, it is also important to remind the French nation that, not so far away from their borders, other tragedies were also taking place, the consequences of which are still being felt 20 years later. Little has been undertaken over the past two decades to address this issue.

What are the challenges in your country?The first challenge is to put Azerbaijan on the map. The name of the country itself is often mistaken for other countries in Central Asia, whereas Azerbaijan lies in the South Caucasus. Then, it is no secret to say that a number of French citizens are of Armenian origin (500,000–800,000 people) and it can become increasingly difficult to voice the opinion of Azerbaijan when, for decades, France has had close ties with Armenia and only heard its side of the story.

What type of events are you organising to alter existing conceptions of Azerbaijan?We are organising events focusing on themes that may be of interest for different audiences. For example, soon after we had launched the office, TEAS collaborated with a European think-tank to organise a cinema night, focusing on the screening of an Azerbaijani film. We also organised a roundtable on energy in conjunction with another think-tank specialising on that topic, in order to draw attention to the current and future role of Azerbaijan in achieving European energy supply diversification.

TEAS France also managed to find the traces of Yvonne Botto-Shirmmamadova, a French lady who married an Azerbaijani soldier in 1947 and decided to follow him back to Soviet Azerbaijan. Love, politics and history conspired to make her return to France impossible. After 63 years of absence from France, TEAS searched for her relatives in France and organised everything to facilitate

the return to her homeland. This story made headlines in the French media. TEAS is currently preparing a television documentary on her life.

To what extent are the realities of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict fully understood in your country?I readily confess that there is considerable work ahead in explaining the location of Nagorno-Karabakh and the realities of the conflict. There is a great deal of confusion as to who invaded whom, and simply a total absence of knowledge on this issue. However, I must admit that there is a real eagerness from the stakeholders I have met to learn and understand more. There is also a marked wish to understand why the populations of Armenia and Azerbaijan, who lived side by side for centuries, became enemies almost overnight.

How would you describe your country’s relationship with Azerbaijan?I would say France has a good relationship with Azerbaijan, but this needs to be stepped up. It is true that, since Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991, there have been several reciprocal state visits. The former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, visited Azerbaijan last October, but this visit was very short. We are hopeful that the new French President, François Hollande, will take an interest in the region and visit Azerbaijan early in his mandate. Frédéric Mitterrand, former French Minister of Culture, paid a visit to Azerbaijan last March, reiterating that both countries are extremely eager to share their national heritage.

On the business front, ties are also thriving, and French businesses are marking an increased interest in the country, being eager for more information on the possibilities of sharing their expertise. TEAS France is very much looking forward to organising increasing numbers of events on all aspects of Azerbaijan in France!

TEAS France highlighted the incredible story of Yvonne Botto-Shirmmamadova, who returned to France after 63 years

05TEAS AROUND EUROPE: FRANCE

To contact TEAS France,

e-mail: [email protected].


OIC requests the return of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugeesThe Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) has requested that Azerbaijani internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees should be permitted to return to their homes. According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the comments were made in the Ashgabat Resolution, adopted during the organisation’s international conference, entitled Refugees in the Muslim World, which took place in the Turkmen capital on 11–12 May.

The adopted document recalls the resolutions and documents of the Council of Foreign Ministers on the Aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan, expressing concern over the plight of 875,000 Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees expelled from the occupied territories in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and their subsequent humanitarian problems.

The document concludes: “We call for the Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees to return to their homes in safety, honour and dignity, and reaffirm our total solidarity and support for the efforts undertaken by the Azerbaijani government and people of Azerbaijan to this end.” The OIC also demanded the full implementation of the relevant OIC, UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions.

Armenian forces shoot five Azerbaijani troops The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has accused Armenia of violating its border and shooting dead five of its soldiers. According to reports, Armenian ‘saboteurs’ killed four soldiers in one incident, with a fifth Azerbaijani soldier being shot dead in another. Hillary Clinton, US Secretary-of-State, who was visiting the South Caucasus at the time, went on to call for restraint.

A statement from the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry explained that an “Armenian sabotage group” had tried to enter Azerbaijani military positions at around 06:30hrs on 5 June in the village of Asagi Askipara, in the Qazax district of western Azerbaijan. It went on to

explain: “However, they sustained casualties and retreated.” Four Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in the fighting.

The fifth Azerbaijani soldier was killed in a separate shooting incident in the Qazax district, the Ministry said, without giving details. The Armenian Defence Ministry accused Azerbaijani forces of attempting an incursion across the border. Hillary Clinton commented: “I am very concerned by these incidents and have called on all parties, all actors, to refrain from the use or threat of force. There is a danger that it could escalate into a much broader conflict that would be very tragic for everyone concerned.”

This was followed by the death of a sixth Azerbaijani on 8 June, when a landmine explosion killed 19-year-old Saadatdin Mammadov. According to Teymur Abdullayev, Spokesman, Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, the incident occurred on the ‘contact line’ in the direction of the Tovuz region. The Goranboy Region Military Commissariat had conscripted Mammadov into military service. Following this, two Azerbaijani officers were severely injured in mine blasts near Goranboy on 11 June. Zafir Mammadov, Chief, Azerbaijani Military Engineering Service lost a leg, whereas Ilgar Verdiyev, Departmental Commander for the same section, lost an arm.

Clause in NATO Chicago Declaration supports Azerbaijani perspectiveElman Abdullayev, Spokesman, Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has commented that the Final Declaration of the NATO Chicago Summit accurately reflects the progress of negotiations regarding settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Abdullayev explained that the opinions of Edward Nalbandian, Armenian Foreign Minister, could potentially damage the negotiation process regarding the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. He explained: “Such statements by the Armenian Foreign Minister are completely baseless. This article absolutely corresponds with the L’Aquila and Muskoka declarations, negotiations process, and updated Madrid Principles.”

The spokesman said the Azerbaijani side highly appreciated this support, stating: “This declaration shows that NATO continues to demonstrate its fair position. Several countries, including the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries of France and the US, also signed the declaration.” The summit was attended by Azerbaijani President Aliyev, but not by Armenian President Sargsyan.

The Declaration states: “We remain committed in our support of the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Moldova, and will continue to back efforts towards achieving a peaceful settlement of these regional conflicts, based upon these principles and the norms of international law, the UN Charter, and the Helsinki Final Act.”

Lithuania seeks deeper EU involvement in the South CaucasusAudronius Ažubalis, Lithuanian Foreign Minister, has revealed that Lithuania is a strong proponent for more extensive EU involvement in the South Caucasus region. Speaking to Eurodialogue.org, he commented: “We regard the EU Eastern Partnership as an indispensable instrument from which to develop relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

“Lithuania fully supports closer South Caucasus rapprochement with the EU, including negotiations on Association and Visa Facilitation agreements. As a holder of the EU Presidency in the second half of 2013, Lithuania will support political association and further economic integration between the EU and interested partner countries, including closer economic ties and increased mobility.”

Ažubalis recognised that the persistence of protracted conflicts remains one of the greatest threats to security and co-operation within the OSCE area. He said: “With regard to Nagorno-Karabakh, we have worked closely with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and made our contribution towards preventing the volatile situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh from worsening.”

He noted that a joint statement was agreed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers in the margins of the Vilnius Ministerial Council on 6 December, where the heads of delegations agreed on the need to continue the negotiation process in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group and improve the climate towards achieving peaceful conflict resolution.

The OIC reiterated its staunch support for the Azerbaijani position during its meeting in Ashgabat

06 Nagorno-Karabakh


Congress of European Azerbaijanis issues statement on ShushaThe Berlin-based Congress of European Azerbaijanis has issued a statement addressed to Azerbaijanis living in Europe to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the occupation of Shusha. According to the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Diaspora, the document says: “Shusha, currently held under Armenian occupation, has a particular position in Azerbaijani history. Founded by Panah Khan, the founder of the Karabakh Khanate, it was occupied by

Armenian forces on 8 May 1992, supported by the 366th regiment of the former Soviet army. At least 200 people were killed, 600 were wounded, 150 became invalids, 552 children were orphaned, and more than 20,000 people became refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).”

The document was signed by Samira Patzer-Ismailova, President, Congress of European Azerbaijanis, and continued: “The Congress of European Azerbaijanis calls on international organisations to demand that Armenia should withdraw its forces from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. The congress also calls on all Azerbaijanis in Europe to

inform the public communities, governmental and non-governmental organisations of the countries in which they reside about the crimes perpetrated by Armenians against the people, history and culture of Azerbaijan.”

Armenian actions regarding Shusha remain provocativeDespite the outrage of Azerbaijanis across the world, the Armenian army held a military parade on 9 May in Khankendi, Nagorno-Karabakh, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of invading Shusha. This was attended by Bako Sahakyan, President of the occupying force; Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan; and Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, amongst others.

Sahakyan commented: “We liberated Shusha, our ancient fortress, a cultural and spiritual centre that had been in captivity for years, that is reviving and getting a new breath of life today. In this sense, the defence army, the most important guarantor of our nation’s freedom, security, pride and achievements, was formed.” Armenian President Sargsyan remained belligerent: “Victory in the Great Patriotic War opened new opportunities for development of our nation. It was a historic opportunity that allowed Armenia and its people in the following years and decades to register impressive achievements in almost every area. Our entire nation brought its contribution to the victory through enormous sacrifice.

“On 9 May 1992, the heroic deeds of their grandfathers and fathers were repeated by modern-day freedom fighters, multiplying the glory and honour of the Armenian army.

“The liberation of Shusha once again opened new doors for our people’s peaceful, creative work and the development of the nation. This victory too was achieved through the greatest sacrifice of our people.”

Many historic mosques in Shusha have been neglected and vandalised during the 20 years of occupation

NEWS IN BRIEFOccupation force holds regular exercisesThe defence army of the occupying force in

Nagorno-Karabakh will continue to hold regular

military exercises, according to Senor Hasratyan,

Press Secretary for the occupying forces. The

statement was made in response to reports in

the Azerbaijani media that Armenian forces are

conducting exercises using heavy artillery in

the Shahbulag Mountain and Uzundere areas.

Hasratyan explained: “Along the lines of the

annual plan, the ‘Defence Army’ subdivisions

undertake regular exercises in order to enhance

their combat-readiness.”

07Nagorno-Karabakh

Shusha rememberedOn 19 May, a solemn remembrance took place at Azerbaijan House, Shoreditch, London, entitled Remembering Shusha, attended by H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, and Dr Ali Atalar, Chairman, Azerbaijan House, amongst others. This commemorated the 20th anniversary of the occupation of Shusha, the largest town in Nagorno-Karabakh, by Armenian forces on 9 May 1992. The event began with a video on the Khojaly Massacre, issued by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which explained the systematic relocation of Armenians to the South Caucasus under the Tsarist Russian Empire, the attempts to gain territory to form the ‘Great Armenia’ and the belligerence of the Dashnakian party. It also explained how Sir Winston Churchill believed that Armenians in the region would stem the spread of Communism. The video went on to graphically show some of the 613 Massacre victims.

Following this, a film entitled The Damage Caused to Historical and Cultural Heritage in the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan was shown, produced by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This comprised photos from the late 1980s of the most famous buildings and monuments in Shusha, such as the Ganja Gates, the Saatly Mosque, Panah Khan’s

Palace and the statues to Uzeyir Hajibeyli, composer of Layla and Majnun, the first opera of the Muslim East (1908) and the famous singer Bulbul. The scenes were juxtaposed with recent, covertly-taken, photos of occupied Shusha, showing the devastation wreaked upon these unique Azerbaijani constructions.

Ambassador Gurbanov commented: “It is now 20 years since the occupation of Shusha. This is particularly painful for Azerbaijanis, as the town was the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, and home to such musicians as Hajibeyli and Bulbul and the poetess Natavan. As could be seen in the film, the panorama of the city demonstrates its architecture, surrounded by the beauties of nature.

“Azerbaijan believes that a peaceful solution is the best way forward. It is most regrettable that the Armenian invaders did not preserve out heritage, and inflicted destruction on our ancient buildings. In Azerbaijan, we have a different attitude. Armenian churches are restored by the state, and they are safe and sound for future generations to appreciate. We will continue the peace process through diplomacy, and remember those who died in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”


08 Business News

Prime Minister Cameron recognises Azerbaijan’s vital economic roleUK Prime Minister David Cameron has acknowledged the ongoing role of Azerbaijan in ensuring the future of international energy security. The statement was issued to mark the opening of the 19th Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition in Baku. He commented: “Azerbaijan is at the heart of a region whose energy resources will play a vital role in the world economy in the years to come. Azerbaijan has been playing a central, active part in unlocking these resources for the benefit of all. The landmark intergovernmental agreement negotiated late last year, coupled with the announcement of work towards developing the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TAP) for the transportation of Shah Deniz gas to Europe, will help make the Southern Gas Corridor a reality.

“This marks a step change in the diversification of European energy supplies. It is also an important agreement towards enabling development of the region’s hydrocarbon reserves. We are delighted that BP, the largest single foreign investor in Azerbaijan, has been so closely involved.”

BTE expenditure for 2012 estimated at $61.7mAccording to BP, the amount of capital expenditure on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline amounted to $7.1m (£4.6m) during the first quarter of this year. Capital expenditure on the pipeline during 2012 is estimated to total $61.7m (£39.4m). To date,

the maximum rate of pumping through the pipeline amounted to just over 1m barrels per day. So far, the BTC pipeline has transported 193m tonnes of oil, which have been loaded into 1870 tankers. Construction of the pipeline began in April 2003, and it was filled with oil in May 2005.

During the first quarter, capital expenditure on the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline amounted to $1m (£639,266), with estimated total capital expenditure for 2012 at $13.1m (£8.4m). In January–March, the average capacity of the pipeline amounted to 15 million m3. The BTE pipeline is more than 700km long, and currently used to transport the gas produced from the Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Georgia and Turkey.

New Nabucco variant confirmed by BPBP has confirmed that the latest version of the proposed Nabucco pipeline will have considerably more limited scope than previously anticipated, only reaching Europe’s border with Turkey. In a speech on the BP website, Iain Conn, Head, Refining and Marketing, BP, revealed that his company was no longer considering Nabucco as an option for the transportation of 10bn m3 (bcm) of gas to Europe per annum. Conn went on to reveal that BP was considering two projects to deliver gas to South and Central Europe, together with a pipeline across the Adriatic Sea to Italy. However, only one of these three options would come to fruition.

BP and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) favour the South East European Pipeline (SEEP), which runs from Turkey’s border with Bulgaria into Hungary and Romania. To keep costs as low

as possible, SEEP would be pieced together like a jigsaw, using mainly existing pipelines. The second contender is a scaled-down version of Nabucco, known as Nabucco West. Shorter than its 3,900km forebear, this would start at Turkey’s border with Bulgaria, thereafter transporting gas further into central Europe. BP revealed that the Shah Deniz partners would choose between these two options in July.

The winner will move into the next round against the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), a project backed by Germany’s E.ON and Swiss EGL. A final decision will be taken in mid-2013. Confidence in the original plan for Nabucco has been ebbing, as investors baulked at its high cost of around €15bn (£12.1bn). Hungary’s MOL subsequently stated its willingness to withdraw from the project, and there were fears that other consortium members could adopt a similar policy. Gas from Azerbaijan should still be delivered to Europe under the new plan, but the level of supply proposed by BP is expected to be a third of that originally envisaged for Nabucco.

Average export price of Azerbaijani oil increases by 20 per centA correction to the State Budget 2012, prepared by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Finance, has led to a change in the budget forecast for oil prices of 20 per cent, rising from $80 (£51.2) to $100 (£64.8). A government source commented: “Despite the volatility in world oil prices, and even their tendency to lows, an increase in the forecast does not constitute a danger to the state budget. We’ve already spent almost half a year with the oil export price at $120 (£77.8) per barrel. Due to this, even if world oil prices fall to $80, the average export price of Azerbaijani oil in 2012 is unlikely to be less than $100 a barrel.”

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Finance went on to state that this move would result in the country’s budget increasing by AZN600m (£495.4m). Its profits will amount to AZN17bn (£14bn), and expenditure to AZN17.7bn (£14.6bn). The budget would also increase, due to additional tax revenues from the oil and non-oil sectors. This budgetary expansion is attributable to the need to cover unforeseen costs resulting from the restoration of housing and socio-economic infrastructure affected by the earthquake in north-west Azerbaijan on 7 May; additional measures to address the consequences of a catastrophic flood of the Kura and Arax rivers in 2010; and the need to eliminate the effects of rising groundwater in Baku and its suburbs; together with additional expenditure on defence and security.

Prime Minister Cameron’s statement stressed Azerbaijan’s future role in ensuring pan-European energy security


Azerbaijan goes for goldAnglo-Asian Mining has revealed that it received approval from the Azerbaijani authorities to proceed with development plans at the Gosha mine, which is anticipated to produce 10,000–15,000oz. (283.5–425.2kg) of gold per annum. The mining company revealed that the agreement originally stipulated that it must commence development and production from Gosha within one year from 25 April 2012. However, the company successfully requested that the Azerbaijani government should defer this until the first half of 2013, when the agitation leaching plant at the neighbouring Gedabek mine, also operated by Anglo-Asian, is commissioned. This will significantly enhance gold recovery efficiency.

Reza Vaziri, CEO, Anglo-Asian Mining, commented: “Receiving approval to push ahead with the development of Gosha is the next step towards fulfilling our strategy of building a multiple gold mine company, unlocking the intrinsic value of our large

portfolio in Azerbaijan.” The company has revealed plans to open seven mines in western Azerbaijan containing estimated gold reserves of 430 tonnes, with the objective of increasing annual gold production in Azerbaijan to 300,000oz. (8.5 tonnes) by 2015. Anglo-Asian Mining, an AIM-listed company, is controlled by R.V. Investment Group Services, and the Azerbaijani government owns a 49 per cent stake in its operations. Anglo-Asian Mining began gold production at the Gedabek gold and copper mine, 350km west of Baku, in July 2009.

Azerbaijani–Mexican space collaborationThe Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies is supporting the collaboration between Azerkosmos – the Azerbaijani Space Agency – with the Mexican Space Agency. This follows a meeting between Ali Abbasov, Azerbaijani Minister of Communications and Information Technologies (ICT), and Javier Mendieta, General Director, Mexican Space Agency. Abbasov commented: “The development of political and economic relations between the two countries is positively affecting the establishment of co-operation over ICT issues. This is necessary to encourage the mutual investment opportunities of Azerbaijani and Mexican companies in the ICT sector, which play an important role in expanding the markets of both countries.”

During the meeting in Baku, Abbasov informed the Mexican side about the latest developments in the Azerbaijani space programme. These are expected to culminate with the launch of Azerspace – the first Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite – which will enter orbit at the end of 2012. The Mexican delegation also visited the Azerbaijani National Aviation Academy and the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory.

Azerbaijan discusses $17bn refinery with European banksSOCAR has undertaken talks with European banks, including BNP Paribas (BNP), Société Générale (GLE), UniCredit, and Credit Agricole (ACA), regarding the obtaining of funding for a $17bn (£11bn) refinery and petrochemicals complex, according to Tofiq Qahramanov, Vice-President, SOCAR. He went on to reveal that 30–40 per cent would be provided by the state, with the remainder coming from foreign lenders.

Qahramanov commented that construction of the oil and gas refineries would start in mid-2013, being used to process an estimated 10bcm of natural gas and 10m tonnes of oil per annum. He also revealed that the refinery, scheduled for commissioning in 2017, could be used to refine Russian and Kazakh oil, in addition to that from Azerbaijan.

It is hoped that the new mine will result in a considerable increase in Azerbaijani gold production

www.teas.eu February 2012

09Business News

Hg2 | BAKU

“Excellent city guides for stylish travellers”– HARPERS BAZAAR

“A minor bible” – THE NEW YORK TIMES

Hg2.com Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…


Mugham brought to the South BankOn 18 May, the foyer of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, located at the epicentre of London’s cultural life on the South Bank, resounded to the meditative and passionate sound of Azerbaijani mugham in a concert sponsored by TEAS. Following an introduction by Lucy Duran, presenter of the BBC Radio 3 programme World Routes, Gochag Askarov and his Ensemble of accomplished musicians performed a wide range of evocative traditional compositions, including Dastgah Bayati Shiraz, an extended piece, and Mahur Mugham, with which Gochag previously achieved first prize at the Samarqand Festival in Uzbekistan in 2009. They also played some shorter vocal rhythmical pieces, known as Tasnifs, and an instrumental composition in brio (virtuoso) style, in front of the attentive multinational audience of around 120 people.

Having performed to wide acclaim at the WOMAD Festivals in the UK, New Zealand and Australia, vocalist Gochag Askarov has cut several CDs and appeared in the TEAS-produced award winning film The Mystical Music of Mugham Comes to Montana, which may be viewed at https://teas.eu/content/films. He is renowned as one of the foremost living exponents of classical mugham, with a voice of unmatched purity and passion.

Azerbaijani mugham is a highly complex art form that combines classical poetry with musical improvisation. Mugham is performed according to a modal system although, unlike Western modes, the mugham modes are associated both with scales and an orally-transmitted collection of melodies and melodic fragments that performers use during their improvisations. The dramatic unfolding of the composition is typically associated with increasing intensity and rising pitches, and a form of poetic-musical communication develops between performers and initiated listeners.

Three major schools of mugham performance developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, emanating from the regions of Karabakh, Shirvan, and Baku. In particular, the town of Shusha, in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, was renowned for the quality of its instrumentalists, singers and composers. In 2003, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognised mugham as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Exuberant Swedish entrant Loreen won Eurovision 2012 with her song Euphoria (photo Andres Putting – ENU)

All eyes on Azerbaijan for Eurovision 2012

10 Culture

The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 took place in the newly-constructed Crystal Hall in Baku on 26 May, before an audience of 23,000 in the hall and an estimated 160m viewers across the world, making it the world’s most-watched non-sporting event.

This year’s contest was the farthest east the contest had been held since it was established in 1956. Due to the three time-zone difference between Baku and central Europe, the event got underway at midnight local time and lasted well into Sunday morning, so that it could take place during primetime in Central Europe. With 26 acts, the finals also featured the largest Eurovision field, to date.

Following the fireworks in Baku harbour and a performance by the State Dance Ensemble, UK entrant Engelbert Humperdink, aged 76 years, who is best-known for the late 1960s No.1 pop hits Release Me and The Last Waltz, was the competition’s opening act, starting things off with a subdued ballad entitled Love Will Set You Free that did not go over well with voters – he ended up finishing second to

last. The Russian entry, Party for Everybody, by the Buranovskiye Babushki, featured six traditionally-dressed grandmothers, singing and dancing to a disco beat. This concluded with the performers pulling a sheet of cookies out of an oven. They finished a distant second behind the Swedish winning entry, entitled Euphoria, performed by Loreen.

The Azerbaijani entry – When the Music Dies – performed by Sabina Babayeva, which featured the renowned mugham singer Alim Qasimov, came in a very respectable fourth place. Entertainment during the scoring process was provided by Azerbaijani rock star Emin, who premiered his new song Never Enough from the forthcoming CD After the Thunder.

The final results were based on a 50:50 split between the decisions of a jury and telephone voting from television viewers, who could not vote for their home country. Loreen garnered a near-record 372 points, and in 2013 the contest will be held in Stockholm for the sixth time.

The East Hill Gallery in London ranks amongst the UK’s foremost showcases for 20th Century Russian Art. The owner is Olga Mamonova Baker, a leading collector and exhibitor of 20th Century Russian art who is also the author of 20th Century Russian Art: An Intimate World of Impressionist Painting.

From 7–21 June, the Julian Hartnoll Gallery in 37 Duke Street, St. James’s, London, SW1Y 6DF, will play host to an exhibition entitled Russian and British Art: The World is Not

Enough, organised under the auspices of the East Hill Gallery. This will include two rarely-seen paintings from the major Russian artist Mikhail Kazansky (1932–2003), some of whose works are included in the prestigious State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The two oil paintings, taken from the Caspian Oil Fields series from the 1950s are The Houses on the Pier and Oil Fields of the Caspian Sea, portraying the Oil Rocks development.

To find out more, e-mail: [email protected].

Socialist realist evocations of Baku on the UK market

The passion of Gochag Askarov’s marvellous voice captivated all those in attendance


Baku: Finding the balance between old and newby Luke Fisher, Chief Editor, escXtra.com

When Azerbaijan won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest, there was immediately a sense of the unknown in the Düsseldorf press centre. Most Eurovision journalists knew that it would be the most easterly contest to date, and that Baku would be the host city. However, it would be fair to say that there was quite a lot of angst outweighing the excitement of visiting a new country.

Azerbaijan isn’t exactly top of the holiday destinations list for most Europeans, and very little was known to Eurovision fans about the country; apart from “Good evening, this is Baku calling” during the scoring, usually accompanied by a backdrop of the city from above and invariably fireworks going off over the bay. Enter a small group of people who did know what it was like in Azerbaijan.

In 2008, I was one of a 15 or so strong group who were invited to Baku by Ictimai Television to attend the inaugural Eurovision national selection contest to be organised in Azerbaijan. This was the first year that Azerbaijan participated in the event, becoming the third Caucasian country to join in successive years. At the time, we thought that it was very nice of the Azerbaijanis to invite us over to witness their selection process, and that they wanted to bring some extra coverage to their debut. However, once

the questions started to arrive in May 2011 about Baku and Azerbaijan, I realised that actually this had been a very clever move, as those of us who previously attended were able to impart some factual information, intrigue developed regarding the 2012 location. The questions about Baku ranged from the ridiculous, such as “Are there hotels?” to more interested queries regarding the food, or vague enquiries, for example, “What’s Baku like?”

My overwhelming memory of Baku in 2008 can be summed up in one word – construction. The city was noticeably being rebuilt and restored in many areas, with smart new buildings being erected where old Soviet tower blocks once stood. I can remember that we were taken to lunch at the top of the Radisson Hotel, with a spectacular view over the city, witnessing just how much construction work was being undertaken.

Fast-forward 12 months, and the Eurovision Song Contest had moved in to Baku. A brand new 23,000 seat arena was constructed on an area of land that was a distant mark on the landscape of my 2008 pictures, and the city was adorned with billboards emblazoned with the 2012 logo and motto Light your fire. Upon landing at Baku airport, I immediately noticed that the airport had been given a facelift since my last visit, but also that there was still construction going on, with work on a new terminal already being underway. The main roads to the city had not only been rebuilt (or at the very least, relaid), but new modern buildings had sprung up along the roadside, together with beautiful parks and monuments

all the way towards the city. People were sat outside in these parks at ten in the evening, letting their children play and watching the world go by.

As we embarked on our fortnight in the city, I began to notice just how momentous the changes to the city were – much more than I’d first imagined. I had previously stayed at the Park Inn Hotel by the seafront, next to Freedom Square. Whilst the Square and its impressive building were still there, either side were two huge hotels – the Hilton and Marriot

11Culture

Azerbaijani entrant Sabina Babayeva gave an impassioned performance (Photo: Thomas Hanses – EBU)

The Russian Buranovskiye Babushki were a favourite to win amongst Eurovision pundits (Photo: Thomas Hanses – EBU)


– constructions that one would imagine in Dubai, yet were now in Baku. Some building work had been taking place near the hotel in 2008. Now, in 2012, I could see exactly what had resulted – a huge new shopping centre, Baku Boulevard – featuring almost every designer chain that you would expect to find in Western Europe, together with a bowling alley and restaurants. Behind the shopping centre was a long sea boulevard, awash with trees, grass, and fountains – none of which were there in their current form in 2008. Finally, dominating the Baku skyline, were three completely new developments – the Flag Square, Crystal Hall, and Flame Towers, all of which had been constructed since 2008.

There was one area of town that had changed little, and I found this most pleasing. The Baku Old City (İçəri Şəhər) remains the charming place that I remembered from before. Some buildings had been restored, but it was still the place to go at night, featuring market stalls and restaurants in a truly beautiful setting. There was something quite magical

in walking through the gates in the old walls to enter the Old City, which was beautifully lit at night.

It was whilst walking around the Old City that Baku finally ‘struck me’. Baku is a city that has dusted itself off after the Soviet era, resulting in the erection of some fabulous buildings and construction of a whole host of beautiful public spaces, yet has retained its heritage in the Old City. Azerbaijan, simply put, has found the balance between old and new in its capital. It is also a city that still offers room for discovery and an ancient feel, whilst simultaneously featuring a centre that would not look out of place anywhere in Western Europe.

However, the one element that impressed almost every visitor to Eurovision in Baku more than anything else wasn’t to do with the shiny new buildings, the Old City, or the Contest itself – it was the people. Everywhere we went, we were greeted by smiles, people asking us questions in broken English, or

asking if they could have their photos taken with us. From the volunteers working at the Press Centre to the average person on the street, my entire web team and I felt extremely welcome in Azerbaijan throughout our stay. Waiting for the Metro, other travellers came to lend their assistance and make sure we knew how to get from A to B; passersby gave directions to anyone looking a little lost; and those working at the event itself were only too happy to help with any problem we had in the Press Centre.

Whilst the contest itself was well-staged, and the city was the most enthusiastic Eurovision venue we’ve travelled to in recent times, it’s the memory of the people that every visitor to Eurovision in Baku will be taking home with them, and remembering for many years to come.

The magnificent Baku Crystal Hall

A rapidly-changing city – Baku harbour seen in 2008 (left) and in 2012

12 Culture

Luke Fisher is the Chief Editor of escXtra.com, one of the leading websites dedicated to the Eurovision Song Contest and Junior Eurovision.


Getting ‘the Hump’ at Eurovisionby David Parry, Chairman, Gruntlers’ Theatre Ltd

Until recently, the Eurovision Song Contest would make the British mind think of little more than the affable Terry Wogan introducing a bewildering array of slightly odd musical turns from the Continent. Kids never watched it as it was seriously ‘uncool’ territory! The same approach seemed to extend to the parents, who had the TV tuned to this programme as reasonably pleasant background noise. To add confusion to injury, the UK has nearly always ended up at the bottom of the scoreboard, since its last victory in 1997. This has served to fuel half-paranoid suspicions that ‘foreigners’ were secretly planning to dethrone the Monarch and reduce this country to a servile vassal of Brussels.

However, in our politically astute age, cultural diplomacy appears to have stolen the stage from Eurovision, whilst convoluted concepts of Enlargement openly contradict more sinister notions of a ‘Fortress Europe’. Putting its head riskily above the parapet, therefore, plucky Azerbaijan decided to pull out all the stops when hosting this glittering circus for 2012, following its musical triumph last year. The location could not be faulted. Baku is

spectacular! Sitting on the sparkling shores of the Caspian Sea, it is a city blending ancient architectural treasures with visions of a high-tech future. Also, its inhabitants are young, energetic and intelligent, speak English and Russian with skill, and look towards Europe (particularly the UK) with genial enthusiasm. In part, this explains the outstanding hospitality shown towards its guests. This warmth of welcome is both genuine and engagingly honest, usually featuring lashings of tea served with shekerbura sweets. Unsurprisingly then, this proud city had taken the motto ‘Light your fire!’ to heart. Indeed, Baku was determined to stand centre-stage in these proceedings. As a near-perfect epithet for the Land of Fire, this slogan burned in both graphic and banner form across towers, streets and public squares.

Saturday evening came, and it goes without saying that the Crystal Hall was stunning! Equally, I had the good fortune to find myself in a skybox: a vantage point allowing me to notice that, although the televised images were good, they clearly did not do justice to the set, which flamed with red, orange and yellow fires throughout the night. Moreover, each televisual postcard started with a shot of Azerbaijan, whilst a caption underneath displayed ‘Land of Poetry’, ‘Land of Abundance’, and so on. This was continued by the name of a town, or geographic feature, showing the culture and landscape of the country. One postcard, with a stroke of genius, focused on the Nagorno-Karabakh region without mentioning the Armenian military occupation plaguing this area and the seven surrounding regions.

By the time this year’s hopefuls were ready to rock, an electrical expectancy singed the air. This was ignited, somewhat surprisingly, by the Eurovision anthem. Hey, you needed to be there! Once again, Derrida proved uncannily correct when claiming that context is everything. Then, the magic happened! Even predictable protocols could not extinguish the moment. A soaring voice scorched young wags and older raconteurs alike. Mr Engelbert Humperdinck, our very own Anglo-Indian crooner, burned the room to ground zero with a ballad entitled Love Will Set You Free, and echoes of Release Me and The Last Waltz sparked throughout the auditorium. What is more, in a mere three minutes, this ballad went through three classic key changes, while the chorus implored listeners: “If you love someone, follow your heart. Because love comes but once, if you’re lucky enough.” Of course, I recalled ‘The Hump’ – as he is

affectionately known to his fans – from days of yore. If memory serves me correctly, there was a certain rivalry between him and the immortal Tom Jones. Yet, thanks to Eurovision, this smartly-dressed King of Romance strode the stage afresh, reminding us all that, in his 45-year career, ‘The Hump’ has sold 150m records worldwide. Furthermore, he has received four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe for Entertainer of the Year and has a star on both the Hollywood and Las Vegas Walks of Fame. I could hardly believe it – I had got ‘The Hump.’

In comparison, other acts shuffled on the stage and went. The early favourite, from Russia, the Buranovskiye Babushki, featured six traditionally-attired grandmothers, and were the most entertaining, whilst the cheap theatrics of the Swedish act Loreen (the eventual winner) were not to my personal taste in the least. Yet, we were robbed! Historical alliance won the day and political necessity dominated the Muse.

I had greater reluctance to leave the Land of Fire than had been the case during my earlier visits. As Chairman of Gruntlers’ Theatre, I had been overwhelmed by the imaginative power of this event and the obvious display of intended friendship. The Azerbaijanis are to be congratulated on several levels, as they are starting to take their rightful place among the community of modern nations, and also for staging a show that made me rethink my prejudices against pop culture.

Big-voiced veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck performed the UK entry Love Will Set You Free

(Photo: Thomas Hanses – EBU)

To find out more on Gruntlers’ Theatre Ltd., e-mail: [email protected]

13Culture

Baku’s newly-acquired fleet of London taxis in their Eurovision livery


Toghrul Huseynli – a great hope for Azerbaijani musicPianist Toghrul Huseynli, born in Baku in 1994, ranks amongst the rising stars of Azerbaijani classical music. Having begun his performing career at the age of two years, Toghrul’s talent has shone forth and his dedication to the world of classical piano is undeniable.

A graduate of the Bulbul Music School and the Hajibeyli Academy of Music, Toghrul is now studying at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne under Professor Nina Tichman, a graduate of the revered Juilliard School in New York. TEAS caught up with him following his performance as the youngest finalist in the prestigious Deutscher Pianistenpreis (German Piano Award) in Frankfurt. Organised by the International Piano Forum Frankfurt, the sponsors included TEAS and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR).

What does it mean for you to participate in the Deutscher Pianistenpreis 2012?It would be accurate to say that this has been one of the most important performances of my life, and that being able to share the stage and partner with distinguished professionals from across the world represents a turning point. Despite being the youngest competitor, I decided to participate, and it was a wonderful and great responsibility to represent Azerbaijan in Germany, where I am currently studying. I did not feel any sense of competition, since the organisers had already informed us that we were going to participate in a concert.

In fact, this is the reason why the three days of

competition passed in a friendly atmosphere. On my side, preparations were made with the utmost seriousness and professionalism, and I received some intensive training from Professor Nina Tichman, to whom I wish to express my gratitude. I was also honoured to represent the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne.

Why did you select the repertoire for the competition?For the contest, each pianist was required to prepare a programme of 50 minutes and the perform for the final night at the Alte Oper Frankfurt. My performance was well-received, and the programme was colourful, comprising musical examples from various periods. Firstly, I performed Robert Schumann’s Allegro op.8, and this emotional piece was followed by Frédéric Chopin’s ‘Tragic’ Polonaise op.44. Later, I performed Sergei Rachmaninov’s Andante Cantabile in B Minor from the Six Moments Musicaux. The finale was Franz Liszt’s Paraphrase from Verdi’s Rigoletto. I was permitted to select one piece from this programme for the final performance, and I decided upon the Polonaise. This embodies Polish traditional music and classical music traditions, and I attribute special importance to it.

Where did you study?I have been involved in music since the age of two years, and before deciding on a piano career had been a soloist at the Aysel Children’s Theatre at Baku and participated in various concerts. My sister was already studying the piano, and I started to practice on this from the age of four years, having seen the instrument at home. Two years later, I attended the Bulbul Music School, and participated in various competitions in Russia and Georgia, achieving some

success in the competition, dedicated to the composer Nazim Aliberdibeyov. Following my graduation, I studied piano at the Baku Music Academy. However, I achieved the pinnacle of success in July 2011 when I became a first year student at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne.

Where have you performed?I have participated in concerts since the beginning of my education, and my first concert took place at the Baku office of BP. Following this, I performed with the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra at the State Philharmonic Hall; at the Chapel House of the German–Azerbaijani Union; and at the Baku Music Academy. When I was ten years old, my first overseas concert took place at the International Music Festival in Tbilisi, Georgia, where I earned bronze medals and was invited to participate in the following year’s event. I was later invited to participate in various international contests, one of which was the Yuri Bashmet Competition in Minsk, where I had the honour to share the stage with Yuri Bashmet (violin/viola), Viktor Tretiakov (violin), Vasily Lobanov (piano), Alexander Buzlov (cello) and other maestros. I have also successfully participated in the annual Rostropovich Music Competition in Russia.

In 2009, you also achieved fourth place in the inaugural pianists’ competition at the Gabala International Music Festival. How would you describe this festival?Organisation of this music festival in Gabala, one of the most historic regions of Azerbaijan, is extremely important, and it was a great honour to participate in the pianists’ competition. This provided an opportunity to compete with musicians from across the world. I was the only Azerbaijani amongst the five finalists, and I felt a great deal of responsibility. I predict that this competition will flourish and attract participation from across the world. This is very important, as achievements in the classical music sphere could increase awareness of Azerbaijan on an international level.

How are you raising awareness of Azerbaijani classical music?Azerbaijan’s rich heritage of classical music has profoundly contributed to and directed my career. Azerbaijani classical music began with the works of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, and the dominant composers during the 20th Century were Kara Karayev and Fikret Amirov. The first opera in the East was written in Azerbaijan, and all women in 1918 received voting rights before their counterparts in the US and UK. Such developments and interactions with other cultures helped Azerbaijan form its unique identity. I am proud to incorporate musical pieces from Azerbaijani composers into my repertoire, and I sincerely believe that this music belongs in the same league with other world classics.

17-year-old pianist Toghrul Huseynli receives a bouquet following his performance as a finalist in the Deutscher Pianistenpreis

14 Personalities – Olivier Mestelan


KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. It operates in 153 countries, employing 145,000 people in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with the KPMG International Co-operative (KPMG International), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct, separate company and describes itself as such. KPMG has been operating in Russia for more than 20 years. During the past few years, KPMG in Russia and the CIS has been one of the fastest-growing practices in KPMG across the world. In the CIS, KPMG now has offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnoyarsk, Almaty, Astana, Atyrau, Bishkek, Kiev, Donetsk, Lviv, Yerevan, Tbilisi and Baku, employing collectively over 3,700 people. TEAS caught up with Vugar Farman Aliyev, Managing Partner, KPMG Azerbaijan, to find out more:

What is your company’s specialisation?KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and ranks amongst the Big Four auditors. KPMG has been active in Azerbaijan and the CIS since the 1990s after recognising, early on, that this is a market with massive growth potential. KPMG began its Azerbaijani operations in 1997, re-energised its presence in 2011, and remains one of the market leaders, as it is able to attract the most experienced people.KPMG has three lines of services: audit, tax, and advisory. Its advisory services are further subdivided into three service groups

– Management Consulting; Risk Consulting; and Transaction and Restructuring.

What is the size of your company?KPMG is a global firm with over 140,000 employees in 153 countries. In the CIS, it employs more than 3,700 highly professional people, located in seven countries and 19 offices across the CIS region, including 40 professionals in Azerbaijan.

What are the special strengths of KPMG?During the past eight years, the KPMG auditing practice has established a leading position in the CIS market. Since then, it has aggressively invested in the Tax and Advisory services and teams, matching its own resources to satisfy the fast-changing needs of clients and markets.

Where do you sit in the Azerbaijani marketplace?Although the market for professional services firms remains turbulent, the increased appetite for consultancy services has definitely given these firms a boost. Today, the market has strengthened significantly, following several years when clients were mainly engaged in cutting costs and reorganising their financial and business operations. This is a market where firms can win if they have the right range of services and possess the capacity to meet the needs of clients who are increasingly eager for international expansion.

KPMG Azerbaijan has strong energy, financial services and consumer industry practices and occupies one of the leading positions in Azerbaijan.

Are you experiencing any competition from outside of Azerbaijan?As a global firm, we are operating in a very competitive environment, but KPMG has the resources with which to overcome such competition.

Do you have a presence in other countries?KPMG Azerbaijan forms part of KPMG Europe Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), which comprises 28 countries, including KPMG offices in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway, Russia and other countries. This provides KPMG Azerbaijan with a unique opportunity to bring new technologies, knowledge and experience of Western European companies to Azerbaijan.

Why Azerbaijan?

What was the impetus behind your establishment in Azerbaijan?KPMG regards Azerbaijan as having significant potential, particularly regarding the development of the non-oil sector.

How do you view the business climate in Azerbaijan?Azerbaijan remains the leading foreign direct investment (FDI) destination in the region. During the past decade, the total FDI stock in Azerbaijan has exceeded $25bn (£16.2bn). Azerbaijan has achieved gradual improvement in developing the overall legal framework for investment activities in the country over the past few years, with several practical regulations being implemented to liberalise business conduct.

The Azerbaijani government has managed to open up the economy to international business, and introduced investment-friendly laws and regulations. Generally, the Azerbaijani legislation has established a permissive national FDI régime. This also exists regarding the privatisation of state-owned property.

KPMG Azerbaijan Limited

Kempinski Hotel Badamdar,

Office Building, 4th Floor,

1C, M. Mushfig Street,

Baku, AZ1006,

Azerbaijan

Tel: + 994 124048910/11;

Website: www.kpmg.az

The KPMG Azerbaijan boardroom The KPMG Azerbaijan headquarters

15Corporate Profile – KPMG

Vugar Farman Aliyev, Managing Partner, KPMG Azerbaijan

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