Latest news with #Azerbaijan
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Azerbaijan leader says he wants Russia to admit it accidentally shot down passenger plane killing 38
KHANKENDI, Azerbaijan, July 19 (Reuters) - Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, on Saturday said he wanted Russia to publicly acknowledge that it had accidentally shot down an Azerbaijani passenger plane in December last year, killing 38 people on board, and to punish those responsible. President Vladimir Putin apologised at the time to Aliyev for what the Kremlin called a "tragic incident" over Russia in which an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed after Russian air defences opened fire against Ukrainian drones. But he stopped short of saying Russia had shot down the aircraft. Aliyev, speaking at a news conference in the city of Khankendi during an event called The Global Media Forum, made clear that he wanted much more from Moscow whom he accused of inaction following the downing of the airliner. 'We know exactly what happened — and we can prove it. Moreover, we are confident that Russian officials also know what happened,' Aliyev said. 'The real question is: why didn't they do what any responsible neighbour should do?' He said Azerbaijan expected the incident to be formally acknowledged, for those responsible to be held accountable, for compensation to be paid to victims' families and those injured, and for Moscow to reimburse the cost of the destroyed aircraft. 'These are standard expectations within the framework of international law and good-neighbourly relations,' he said. Flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to the Chechen capital Grozny, crash-landed near Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia, where Ukrainian drones were reported to be attacking several cities. Thirty-eight people were killed and 29 survived. Ties between Moscow and Baku have seriously deteriorated in recent months after Russian police detained a group of ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Russia and accused them of various historic crimes. Speaking at the same event, Aliyev said he wanted a transit corridor to be opened between Azerbaijan and its exclave of Nakhchivan that would run via Armenia. Aliyev said: 'We are talking about unimpeded state access from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan. And we understand this literally — we are talking about a connection between parts of one country.' He said that, if and when it is set up, that Azerbaijani train passengers should not be exposed to physical danger from Armenian civilians whom he accused of throwing stones at such trains in the Soviet era and called for 'reliable and verifiable' security guarantees. 'This is an absolutely legal and fair demand,' Aliyev said. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on July 16 that the U.S. had offered to manage the potential transport corridor. The potential corridor, which Baku is keen to secure, would run roughly 32 km (20 miles) through Armenia's southern Syunik province, linking the majority of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave that borders Baku's ally Turkey. The transit link is one of several stumbling blocks to a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, neighbours in the South Caucasus region who have fought a series of wars since the late 1980s and remain arch rivals. The countries said in March they had finalised a draft peace deal, but the timeline for signing it remains uncertain.
Times of Oman
18 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in Arab audit institutions meeting in Baku
Baku: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the first joint meeting between the Arab Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ARABOSAI) and the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI), which was held from July 18 to 19 in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. The Sultanate of Oman's delegation was headed by Zahra bint Mohammed Redha Al Lawati, Deputy Chairperson of the State Audit Institution for Supervision of Institutions, Investments and Companies. During the meeting, visual presentations were given by the Knowledge Building Committee, the Capacity Building Committee, the Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee, and the Institutional Development Committee. The presentations reviewed the tasks assigned to them and ways to develop the ongoing work between ARABOSAI and ASOSAI. The meeting also included a review of the experiences of supreme audit institutions on "responding to climate change through audit work" and "using artificial intelligence in audit work," in addition to discussing green infrastructure initiatives. The Sultanate of Oman's participation in these joint meetings affirms its continued commitment to actively contributing to international efforts to promote the principles of oversight and accountability, and to exchanging expertise with counterpart institutions. This supports the development of the financial oversight system and contributes to achieving the best practices adopted by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken a new route in their quest for peace
Political scientists and wider civil society from Armenia and Azerbaijan don't often see eye to eye. After decades of war between the two countries their grievances run deep, with each side blaming the other for continued rounds of conflict. But experts in Yerevan and Baku can now agree on one thing: the meeting held in Abu Dhabi on July 10 between their heads of government was a moment of respite for the South Caucasus. After months without a major meeting between the two sides (the leaders met briefly at the margins of the European Political Community summit in Tirana in May), Abu Dhabi was able to host their most comprehensive gathering in known history, attended by representatives who cover all key aspects of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. Still, expectations should be managed. The two sides may yet be very far from signing a peace agreement, though a draft was announced earlier this year. There are thorny issues, like border demarcation, that remain unresolved. And there are competing visions for how the future of transport links should evolve. Nonetheless, the Abu Dhabi meeting has revived the diplomatic track, giving new hope for peace and stability, while calming fears of an imminent outbreak of war. The risk of military escalation has come down considerably; as recently as December, foreign diplomats in Yerevan predicted that a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan would likely take place by summer. But Abu Dhabi changed the atmospherics and the overall direction of talks. The risk of military escalation has come down considerably At a joint dialogue last weekend, Azerbaijani, Armenian and Turkish think-tank experts discussed the impact of the Abu Dhabi dialogue. 'There is comfort with the UAE as a benign, trusted facilitator,' reflected one attendee, Ahmad Alili of the Caucasus Policy Analysis Centre in Baku. 'It was quite a good start and creates a new precedent for bilateral talks.' One notable shift was the idea that the road to peace now could run through the global south, rather than the traditional interlocutors in Russisa and the West. Starting in the 1990s, the peace process had been jointly managed by Washington, Moscow and Paris as co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. The arrangement reflected an idealistic notion that gained popularity after the collapse of the USSR that Russia and the West could collaborate to solve problems in the former Soviet republics. But a new era of intense competition between the US and Russia derailed such thinking. The animosity accompanying the war in Ukraine, in particular, has cast a shadow over the South Caucasus, too. Washington has worked to expand its influence in Armenia and push out Russian influence wherever it could. The US and Russia are hardly able to talk to each other; co-hosting diplomatic initiatives between Armenia and Azerbaijan appears to be out of the question. Instead, the two superpowers have launched parallel and often contradictory negotiation tracks, jostling for the opportunity to broker a landmark deal that would invariably be shaped to their liking. For Russia, it would be a deal that gave Moscow privileged influence over new transit routes and border crossings between Armenia and Azerbaijan – if their currently sealed border were to re-open. The US, in contrast, would want to shape a deal that minimises Russia's role in the region across multiple spheres. That would include much less reliance in Armenia on the Russian troops patrolling its borders with Iran and Turkey, as well as the Russian military base that has been in the country since the 1940s to maintain peace and stability. Were it to oversee a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which would also likely unfreeze relations between Armenia and Turkey, Washington would shape a new regional order in Russia's backyard. That setup would seamlessly connect Europe and Turkey, a Nato ally, to Central Asia. These are the stakes in an Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal, and they illustrate the extent to which the South Caucasus could see a step change in any deal – even one brokered without superpower involvement. Stability begets development, and with a much-needed calm in the South Caucasus the peace dividend would be significant. Over time, trade routes that run from East-to-West and North-to-South could shorten transit times across key geographies. After the recent turbulence and conflict dynamics in Iran, this would provide the region with an undergirding of stability. The talks in Abu Dhabi were also a remarkable first for direct diplomacy. It was the first major public meeting in which Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan engaged in extended one-on-one talks, without Russians, Americans or any other third-country nationals in the room. This was a key demand for Azerbaijan, which has long wanted to deal with its neighbour on a bilateral basis. This may favour Baku given the imbalance of power between the two states – Baku has far greater military and energy resources to hand – but Armenia still benefits from the process. Yerevan is much better off with direct talks than with a complete break in the peace process, as it staves off the steep cost of armed conflict. Short-term success in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process may be elusive. One of Azerbaijan's preconditions for signing a deal has been a change in the text of Armenia's constitution, eliminating references to the Armenian declaration of independence adopted in 1990. That would require a public referendum that could take place in June 2026, at the earliest, when a government panel is expected to submit a draft for a new constitution. But there could be flexibility around even this sticking point. Having a revived process is already a major step forward, enabling parties to craft new solutions to their old concerns. During a press conference in Yerevan on Wednesday, Mr Pashinyan mentioned that the preliminary signing of a peace agreement was discussed in Abu Dhabi. This reinforces that the meeting has put the peace process on stronger footing. Holding talks in the light of Abu Dhabi makes it more likely that Armenia and Azerbaijan will find their way forward, as it highlights the opportunity that lies ahead if they can prioritise the future over the past. Global powers interested in the development of the South Caucasus should continue to deliver a clear message: stability will bring prosperity to Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the time for military escalation is over. Armenia has shown its willingness to make steep concessions for the sake of peace. Azerbaijan should be satisfied by its victories in 2020 and 2023, pivot toward an orientation toward peace and use this unique opportunity to turn the page on the animosity in the South Caucasus.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Azerigaz and Esyasoft sign $480m Smart Gas Network contract
Azerigaz Production Union (Azerigaz), under the umbrella of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), and United Arab Emirates-based Esyasoft have entered into a $480m (816m manat) contract to develop a smart gas network in Azerbaijan, reported the Azerbaijan State News Agency. The contract involving the design, installation and commissioning of a smart gas network is set to introduce advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency, reduce losses and enhance customer satisfaction. Spanning approximately 14 years, the project includes the installation of two-and-a-half million smart meters as well as system support phases. This substantial investment will facilitate the digitalisation of Azerbaijan's gas network, incorporating smart sensors, a digital solutions lab, personnel training, international knowledge exchange and the application of AI. Additionally, the initiative will ensure secure data storage within the government cloud and establish a modern control centre. Consumers stand to gain from the smart gas network through more precise billing, real-time usage tracking, expedited issue resolution and digital access to consumption data. The project underscores Azerigaz's commitment to modernising its services and enhancing public satisfaction with its offerings. The contract signing, which took place on 17 July, builds on a prior cooperation agreement between SOCAR and Esyasoft during COP29 in Baku. SOCAR president Rovshan Najaf, Azerigaz PU director-general Azer Mammadov and Esyasoft Holding Group CEO Bipin Chandra officiated the signing. In related developments, SOCAR has reportedly forged new partnerships with ExxonMobil and BP to continue oil and gas exploration in Azerbaijan. These collaborations are expected to maintain the nation's oil production at around 582,000 barrels per day for the next five years, supported by Western energy investments. "Azerigaz and Esyasoft sign $480m Smart Gas Network contract" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
BP to sell US onshore wind business to LS Power for undisclosed sum
July 18 (Reuters) - BP (BP.L), opens new tab has agreed to sell its U.S. onshore wind business to U.S.-based power grid operator LS Power, as part of its ongoing divestment strategy, the energy major said on Friday, without disclosing a deal value. BP has come under criticism from investors for its underperformance in recent months, leading to a strategy revamp with promises to cut debt, increase cash flow and a major pivot back to oil and gas after an ill-fated foray into renewables. The company is targeting $3 billion to $4 billion in disposals by the end of this year. It has pledged to divest $20 billion worth of assets by 2027 under CEO Murray Auchincloss' plans. "The absence of consideration in the press release is unusual given the potential size of the transaction," HSBC analyst Kim Fustier said. "This may suggest that the portfolio could be worth less than typical multiples for onshore wind assets," Fustier said, adding that another disposal will likely be needed to reach the disposal target this year. BP struck a deal with Apollo Global Management (APO.N), opens new tab in March to sell its stake in a firm invested in the TANAP gas pipeline linking Azerbaijan and Turkey for $1 billion. bp Wind Energy, the business being sold, will be owned and operated under LS Power's portfolio company Clearlight Energy, BP said. The deal comprises 10 operating wind assets with a combined gross generating capacity of 1.7 gigawatts, BP said. Shares of the London-listed company were up 1.9%, with other energy companies also tracking a rise in oil prices.
