Latest news with #HeydarAliyev
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Embassy of Azerbaijan in Kuwait celebrates Independence Day
Embassy of Azerbaijan in Kuwait celebrates Independence Day KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Kuwait hosted a reception to mark the Independence Day of Azerbaijan. During his opening remarks, Ambassador of Azerbaijan Emil Karimov praised the strong Azerbaijan-Kuwait ties that were initiated through meetings between Heydar Aliyev and the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in the mid-1990s, hailing the 2009 official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Kuwait as a turning point, ushering in a new era of enhanced cooperation. The ambassador highlighted recent diplomatic engagements, including the official visit of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to Kuwait in April 2025, during which the third meeting of the Joint Commission on Cooperation was convened. The visit included high-level meetings with HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, and Abdullah Al-Yahya, Foreign Minister of Kuwait. Ambassador Karimov commended the successful political consultations held in February 2025 between the Deputy Foreign Ministers of both countries, noting the growing momentum in bilateral and multilateral collaboration. He underscored the strong and expanding ties in agriculture, tourism, and education, noting that over 31,000 Kuwaiti tourists visited Azerbaijan last year, extending a warm invitation to Kuwaiti nationals to explore Azerbaijan, facilitated by frequent direct flights. During the event, the ambassador highlighted the historic significance of the day, commemorating the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918, the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim world. He indicated that despite a brief existence, the republic was recognized internationally, including at the 1920 Paris Peace Conference, and laid the foundation for Azerbaijan's modern statehood. Ambassador Karimov emphasized the importance of the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He acknowledged the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who stabilized the country during a period of deep crisis in the early 1990s, setting Azerbaijan on a path of development and growth. The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, and media representatives. At the closing, the Embassy offered cultural performances, traditional Azerbaijani cuisine, and displays reflecting the country's rich heritage and contemporary achievements.
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
‘Kuwait-Azerbaijan ties witness rapid growth in multiple fields'
KUWAIT CITY, May 28: Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Kuwait Emil Karimov has affirmed that relations between his country and the State of Kuwait are witnessing rapid growth and close cooperation in various fields. He pointed out that the official launching of these relations dates back to the first meeting between the national leader of the Azerbaijani people -- Heydar Aliyev, and HH the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, during the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Summit in Casablanca in 1994, followed by important meetings in Copenhagen and New York in 1995. Karimov made the statement at a ceremony organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kuwait on the occasion of the Republic of Azerbaijan's Independence Day. The ceremony was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel recently, in the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, a number of heads of diplomatic missions, and public figures. Karimov disclosed that the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Kuwait in 2009 marked the beginning of a new phase in relations between the two countries, followed by reciprocal high-level visits, including the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister's visit to Baku twice in 2023, and participation in Non-Aligned Movement conferences. He also cited the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah to Azerbaijan to participate in the COP29 Summit, which he described as the first visit at this level and opened new horizons for bilateral cooperation. He thanked Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al- Sabah and the attendees for their participation in the ceremony, indicating that May 28, 1918, witnessed the proclamation of Azerbaijan as the first democratic republic in the Islamic world. He said his country regained its independence on Oct 18, 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He then talked about the challenges that Azerbaijan faced in the early stages of independence, including the chaos and political and economic crises. He pointed out that national leader Heydar Aliyev, who assumed the presidency in 1993, restored political and social stability and put the country on the path to development. On the milestones in recent political cooperation, he cited the first round of political consultations hosted by Kuwait on Feb 13, 2025; which brought together the two countries' deputy foreign ministers.
New York Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Unusual gifts received by US presidents include a gold snuff box, giant pandas, elephant tusks and personalized rugs
The White House may be courting controversy with President Trump's plans to accept a luxury jumbo jet from the Qatari government, worth $400 million, as the potential new Air Force One — but his administration wouldn't be the first to welcome lavish gifts from foreign leaders. The practice goes all the way back to the founding of the country in 1776, with US leaders receiving all manner of exotic and expensive gifts from royalty and heads of government around the world. Abraham Lincoln politely declined a gift of a herd of elephants from the King of Siam, modern day Thailand, in 1862. But he kept 'a sword of costly materials and exquisite workmanship,' a photo of the monarch's family and two elephant tusks, according to a letter Lincoln sent to King Mongkut. Advertisement 8 A handmade rug featuring a likeness of Bill and Hillary Clinton was a gift from Azerbaijan's president Heydar Aliyev in 1997. 8 To commemorate Richard Nixon's visit to China, the Chinese government presented the US with giant pandas Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing in 1974. They were donated to Washington's National Zoo where they lived for more than two decades. AP In 1880, Queen Victoria sent an intricately carved, 1,300-pound wooden desk to President Rutherford Hayes that was constructed from the oak timbers of the HMS Resolute, an Arctic exploration vessel. The desk was still in use in the Oval Office under the Biden administration but was temporarily removed in February for refinishing, according to reports. Advertisement British Prime Minister Winston Churchill presented Franklin D. Roosevelt with a painting he did of Marrakech's Koutoubia Mosque in 1943. Hollywood actor Brad Pitt bought the work in New Orleans for $2.95 million as a gift for his then-wife Angelina Jolie, who sold it a decade later for $11.5 million. 8 In 1880, Queen Victoria presented US President Rutherford Hayes with a 1,300 pound desk that is still used in the Oval Office. Getty Images Richard Nixon accepted a gift of two giant pandas from China in 1972 following the US president's visit to the Communist country. Female panda Ling-Ling and her male mate Hsing-Hsing were given to the National Zoo in Washington DC. In 1997, President Clinton and wife Hillary received the gift of a handmade rug with their pictures woven into the tapestry as a gift from Azerbaijan's leader Heydar Aliyev. The six-by-five-foot rug was completed in a single day by a team of 12 women, according to reports. Advertisement President George W. Bush received 300 pounds of raw lamb in 2003 as a goodwill gesture from Argentina's then president Nestor Kirchner. Bush also received a puppy from Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov. At the end of his presidency Bush and his wife Laura then bought the two-month old Bulgarian Goran shepherd, named Balkan of Gorannadraganov, from the government and gave it to friends in Maryland. His father, George H.W. Bush was gifted a Komodo dragon by the President of Indonesia in 1990. 8 Britain's wartime leader Winston Churchill presented his US counterpart Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a painting of a Marrakech mosque in 1943. The painting was sold at auction in 2021 by Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie for $11.5 million. 8 In 1862, Abraham Lincoln politely declined a gift of a herd of elephants from the King of Siam. Getty Images Advertisement One of the most lavish and controversial gifts was a gold and diamond snuff box given to Benjamin Franklin after his nine-year diplomatic tour of duty in France. In 1785, King Louis XVI gave the Founding Father the elaborate parting gift which featured a miniature image of the monarch encrusted with 408 diamonds 'of a beautiful water.' It raised questions about corruption and foreign influence on officials in the newly formed American government, wrote Fordham Law professor Zephyr Teachout in her 2014 book, 'Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin's Snuff Box to Citizens United.' 8 Founding Father and diplomat Benjamin Franklin came under fire for accepting a lavish snuff box as a parting gift from Louis XVI when he returned to the US after serving nine years in Paris. Getty Images Despite the hand-wringing over whether the gift entailed undue foreign influence, Franklin insisted upon keeping the box. The incident later contributed to the passage of the Emoluments Clause in the US Constitution, which prohibits federal government officials from accepting any gift from the representative of a foreign state without the consent of Congress. Franklin's daughter Sarah, who inherited the snuff box, gradually removed the diamonds to sell or give to family members. Hundreds of years later, only one diamond box is now at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. 8 Robes lined with cheetah fur given to Donald Trump from Saudi Arabia during his first trip abroad as president in 2021 turned out to be fake. General Services Administration 8 President Trump said he is in the process of negotiating with Qatar for a new jumbo jet that would double as AirForce One while he is in the White House. Later, the plane would be donated to a Trump presidential center. AP Advertisement Federal law requires executive branch officials to disclose any gift from a foreign government valued at $480 or more. Presidents are allowed to keep gifts to display at a presidential library, but cannot keep them for personal use unless they pay the fair market price. Trump has said that the $400 million new Air Force One plane would be donated to his presidential center or library after his term. Despite his administration's insistence that the jet is a gesture of goodwill to the US government, ethics watchdogs have raised concerns about transparency and foreign influence, particularly given Qatar's efforts to bolster its profile in Washington over the past decade. Advertisement More recently, Trump received a sword, dagger and three robes lined with white tiger and cheetah fur from Saudi Arabia's royal family on his first trip abroad as president in 2017. The president held onto the items until he left office and did not disclose them as gifts but gave them to the General Services Administration. The pieces were later seized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which found that the fur was fake, according to reports.
Jordan Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Azerbaijani ambassador praises ‘deepening' ties with Jordan
By JT - May 07,2025 - Last updated at May 07,2025 AMMAN — Azerbaijani Ambassador to Jordan Eldar Salimov has praised the 'deepening' ties between Jordan and Azerbaijan, describing their relationship as a 'model' of bilateral cooperation. He credited the growing partnership to the committed leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Speaking during a ceremony on the occasion of the 102nd birth anniversary of Azerbaijan's late president Heydar Aliyev, Salimov noted that the two countries have 'significantly' accelerated their collaboration, especially in the last two years, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The ceremony, held by the Azerbaijani embassy in Amman, paid tribute to president Aliyev, widely regarded as the "National Leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan." The diplomat stressed that the late president prioritised fostering 'strong' ties with Middle Eastern countries, with Jordan playing a 'key' role. He recalled a 'pivotal' meeting nearly three decades ago between His Majesty the late King Hussein and President Aliyev in Casablanca during an Islamic summit, calling it the starting point of the 'enduring' friendship between the two nations. Salimov highlighted Aliyev's legacy as a statesman who laid the groundwork for Azerbaijan's global diplomatic engagement, particularly with Arab and Islamic countries. He also expressed appreciation for the Jordanian authorities and the Greater Amman Municipality for honouring Aliyev by naming a street in Amman's New Bader neighbourhood after him, an act he described as a symbol of the 'close and brotherly' ties between the two countries. Describing Aliyev as a 'visionary and devoted leader,' Salimov praised his commitment to Azerbaijan's independence and development. Under his leadership, the country underwent a 'major' transformation and emerged as a 'key' player in the international community, the diplomat said. The ambassador reflected on Aliyev's contributions, including advancing Azerbaijan's economy, boosting its cultural identity, expanding education opportunities for youth, and initiating major infrastructure and industrial projects. Born on May 10, 1923, Aliyev held senior positions during the Soviet era before guiding Azerbaijan to independence. He became chairman of the Parliament in 1993, assumed presidential responsibilities, and was elected president in October of the same year, later securing re-election in 1998.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
A strategic outlier: Why Muslim-majority Azerbaijan stands by Israel amid the Gaza war
The bilateral relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel has long flown under the radar, but the war in Gaza has cast new light on this unlikely alliance. At a time when much of the Muslim world has vocally condemned Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip, Azerbaijan—despite being a Muslim-majority country—has remained notably restrained in its criticism. The silence is not incidental. It is a calculated outcome of years of deepening diplomatic, military, and energy cooperation between the two Foundations of an unlikely alliance The seeds of the Azerbaijan–Israel partnership were planted over three decades ago, in a discreet meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev in New York. With no shared borders, religion, or ethnic ties, the two countries still saw the potential for mutual benefit: Israel needed a stable source of energy, while Azerbaijan sought cutting-edge military then, the relationship has matured into one of Israel's most strategic partnerships. Azerbaijan supplies about 40%–50% of Israel's oil needs, mostly transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline through Turkey to the Mediterranean. Even during the Second Intifada and other turbulent periods in West Asia, Azerbaijani oil shipments to Israel remained steady. This continuity underscores Baku's long-standing commitment to separating its energy diplomacy from broader ideological Azerbaijan has become a major buyer of Israeli arms and surveillance equipment. From 2015 to 2019, 60% of Azerbaijan's arms imports came from Israel. Israeli-made drones and other systems played a decisive role in Azerbaijan's military victory in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war against Armenia. In September 2023, the two countries signed another arms deal, strengthening their already substantial defence cooperation. Azerbaijan is also increasingly partnering with Israel in high-tech sectors such as aerospace and energy exploration, including new natural gas ventures in the Eastern Gaza war and Azerbaijan's calculated silenceThe ongoing Gaza conflict that began after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks—resulting in the death of 1,200 Israeli civilians—has led to global condemnation of Israel's retaliatory actions. Western allies like the United States, France, and the United Kingdom have all expressed concern over the humanitarian toll in Gaza. Muslim-majority countries from Iran to Indonesia have issued fierce denunciations of Israeli policy, with some cutting diplomatic or trade ties Azerbaijan's official response has been muted. President Ilham Aliyev has called for an end to the 'tragedy in Gaza,' but refrained from condemning Israel. Notably, Baku voted in favour of a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire—its only major international gesture—but has continued business as usual with Tel are several factors behind Azerbaijan's relative silence. First, Azerbaijan's leadership shares Israel's concerns over Islamist extremism. Having dealt with radical elements within and around its borders, Azerbaijan views Hamas not simply as a resistance group but as a destabilising, fundamentalist actor. This ideological common ground helps explain why Baku does not publicly echo the sentiments of other Muslim Azerbaijan's foreign policy is heavily influenced by pragmatism. The country has cultivated ties with both Israel and Turkey, even positioning itself as a behind-the-scenes mediator between the two. President Aliyev has facilitated diplomatic thawing between Ankara and Tel Aviv in the past, capitalising on the close ethno-linguistic and strategic ties Azerbaijan shares with Turkey. This intermediary role depends on maintaining credibility with both sides—condemning Israel publicly would jeopardise energy factor and accusations of complicityAzerbaijan's extensive energy ties with Israel have also come under scrutiny in light of the Gaza war. Civil society groups and international advocacy organizations, including Progressive International and Stop Fuelling Genocide, have criticised Azerbaijan for continuing oil exports to Israel, which they claim indirectly fund Israel's military operations. Satellite evidence even tracked an oil tanker traveling from Azerbaijan's Heydar Aliyev terminal to an Israeli port just weeks after the October 7 attacks—its tracking system suspiciously turned off during the state oil company SOCAR denies direct sales to Israel, claiming third-party traders manage the transactions. Turkish officials have echoed similar denials, emphasising that neither Turkey nor SOCAR can monitor or control where the oil ultimately goes due to contractual limitations. Turkey's Minister of Trade has stated that halting the BTC pipeline would breach international agreements and expose Turkey to legal consequences. Still, these legal technicalities have done little to stem criticism from activists and this, the Azerbaijani public has shown minimal resistance. Unlike the widespread protests in Turkey or Jordan, Azerbaijan has witnessed only isolated voices of dissent. Online polls conducted by media outlets in Azerbaijan reveal surprising public support for Israel, with two-thirds of respondents expressing sympathy. The Israeli embassy in Baku has even reported receiving flowers and messages of solidarity from local quietism is also reinforced by limited media coverage. State and pro-government media in Azerbaijan have largely ignored the Gaza war, helping to shape a national discourse that aligns with official policy. In a region where public opinion can drive foreign policy decisions, Azerbaijan stands out as a state where elite interests, rather than grassroots pressure, determine international depth beyond symbolismThe Israel–Azerbaijan partnership is not simply about shared interests—it reflects a deeper convergence of strategic worldviews. Azerbaijan, surrounded by volatile neighbours like Iran and Russia, sees value in aligning with a technologically advanced and diplomatically influential power like Israel. For Israel, Azerbaijan offers a rare Muslim-majority ally that does not allow the Palestinian issue to cloud bilateral has returned the favour by treating Azerbaijan as a vital partner. Israeli leaders have repeatedly emphasised Baku's strategic importance. In 1998, the Israeli Foreign Ministry designated Azerbaijan a key country. More recently, former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid called Azerbaijan 'an important partner,' while other senior officials have spoken of 'strategic relations.'This sentiment is increasingly institutionalised. Israel set up its embassy in Baku in 1993, and Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Tel Aviv in 2023. High-level visits, such as President Aliyev's meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in February 2024 and energy ministerial discussions in April, indicate a growing comfort between the two silence on the Gaza conflict is not a contradiction—it is the byproduct of a long-standing and evolving strategic partnership with Israel. Rooted in energy interdependence, military cooperation, and geopolitical pragmatism, the relationship transcends religious and cultural differences. As the Gaza war continues to polarise the global landscape, Azerbaijan's stance illustrates the limits of religious solidarity in the face of hard geopolitical realities. For Baku, national interest trumps ideology—and for Israel, Azerbaijan remains not just an ally, but a rare strategic friend in the Muslim world. advertisement
