Day: January 9, 2024

The government of the country has instructed to investigate the incident that occurred this evening at the Republican Perinatal Center, to identify and strictly prosecute those responsible, said Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Trend.

Alakbarov noted that the investigation of the incident was taken under the control of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

A fire broke out at the Republican Perinatal Center in Baku on the night of January 8. Bodies of four children treated in the intensive care unit for newborns of the Center were found.

The post Azerbaijani leadership instructs to prosecute responsible for fire outbreak in Baku perinatal center appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

The US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the US State Department acknowledge their weak basis for criticism of religious freedom in Azerbaijan, Prof. Brenda Shaffer, a faculty member of the US Naval Postgraduate School, noted in an interview, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Trend.

“USCIRF and the Department of State stopped publishing their reports with footnotes since they know that the weak basis for their claims could open them up to legitimate criticism. The latest report on Azerbaijan, for instance, where it does quote sources, refers to the Soros-funded Eurasianet, and the Forum 18, a murky group registered in Denmark. Both are biased,” she said.

According to Prof. Shaffer, for most of the past decade, the USCIRF has recommended to the US Department of State to designate Azerbaijan and the states of Central Asia to be included on its Special Watch List for violations of religious freedom.

“Over the years, some of the Central Asian states have also appeared on USCIRF’s Countries of Particular Concern, which is a more severe designation. USCIRF and consequently the State Department’s focus on Azerbaijan and Central Asia is of course nonsensical. These countries are of course exceptionally welcoming to religious and ethnic minorities. In contrast to most Muslim-majority countries, Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states not only allow freedom of religion, but freedom from religion, and protects the secular from religious coercion. For instance, in many reports over the year, USCIRF and the State Department criticized Azerbaijan for not allowing girls to be covered with hijab in public schools. In contrast, Azerbaijan sees this policy as protecting young girls from potential religious coercion,” she pointed out.

Brenda Shaffer rightly noted that Azerbaijan, as well as Central Asia, have succeded in protecting themselves from violence and terrorist attacks.

“Every year, in its criticism of Azerbaijan and Central Asia, USCIRF routinely advocates for the rights of Islamic extremists, that have used violence. Most of these they advocate for are funded and connected to Iran. For instance, each year the report discusses the Muslim Unity Movement that has conducted terrorist attacks in Azerbaijan, including killing two policemen. In recent months, Iran has been wreaking havoc across half the Middle East – Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. In contrast, the governments in Azerbaijan and Central Asia have been successful in protecting their publics from Iran’s destabilization and violence. I am sure that the people of Azerbaijan and in Central Asia are happy about these policies. Washington really does get it,” the expert explained.

The current report on religious concerns in Azerbaijan is also sloppy and full of contradictions, Prof. Shaffer noted.

“For instance, the report raises concerns about Armenian Churches in Karabakh, yet it refers to the October 2023 United States report that it ‘saw no damage…to cultural or religious structures’ in Karabakh. The USCIRF report has many inaccuracies, including it mentions that 100,000 Armenians lived in Karabakh prior to the September 2023 anti-terrorism operations. This is not correct. At most, 55,000 Armenians were living in Karabakh in September 2023. Of them, 12,000 were soldiers from Armenia, not local Armenians. With their families, the contingent from Armenia itself numbered close to 30,000. Baku allowed them to depart in civilian clothes if they agreed to lay down their arms,” she said.

Further speaking, Prof. Shaffer added that Azerbaijan is home to many other religious communities, despite being a Muslim-majority country.

“Azerbaijan is home to many Christian communities. Azerbaijani Christians were among Azerbaijan’s fighters in the 2020 war, as they identify strongly with their homeland. Azerbaijan is also home to the largest Jewish community in the Muslim world. This community expresses that not only is it safe and free in Azerbaijan, but that the state gives conditions for this community to prosper. If USCIRF and the US Department had their way, and Iran-funded Islamic extremists were able to operate freely in Azerbaijan, these communities would be in danger,” Brenda Shaffer concluded.

The post Brenda Shaffer: State Dept acknowledges its weak basis for criticism of religious freedom in Azerbaijan appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has held an expanded meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.

The meeting was attended by brother of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and son of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Nahyan.

Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said:

– Dear Mr. President, Dear Brother,

Honourable guests,

Welcome to Azerbaijan.

Your visit to Azerbaijan is a historic event, marking the first official visit of the President of the United Arab Emirates to Azerbaijan. I am confident that this visit will contribute significantly to the development of friendship and brotherhood between our two countries.

Yesterday, during the official reception, we thoroughly discussed many issues and once again reaffirmed our strategic partnership.

I am pleased that our personal meetings are becoming regular. Last month, we met in Abu Dhabi.

Seizing this opportunity, I once again congratulate you on the successful organization of COP28. I express my gratitude for the support extended to Azerbaijan regarding the hosting of COP29.

I would like to take this opportunity once again to express special appreciation for your position in the United Nations Security Council, for your support of Azerbaijan.

Today, a multitude of crucial documents have been signed, and a ceremony for the exchange of these documents is scheduled shortly. I am confident that these agreements will form a sturdy foundation for our future cooperation.

Our cooperation is multifaceted, spanning many areas. In the recent past, significant strides have been taken in the energy sector, particularly in the field of green energy. In October of last year, a 230-megawatt solar power plant was inaugurated in Azerbaijan, made possible through investments from your country. This is just the first step. Based on the signed contracts and memoranda of understanding, investments from your country are planned to facilitate the production of 10 gigawatts of green energy in Azerbaijan.

Two more important documents were signed in Baku last month. Based on one of these documents, signed between the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan, a Joint Investment Fund was established with a financial capacity of one billion dollars. The second noteworthy document is related to the information and communication sector.

We highly appreciate this because under your leadership, your country has attained remarkable success, establishing itself as one of the most developed and successful nations in the world. I know that your successful experience serves as an example for many countries.

I am confident that your visit will cement our strategic partnership and further enhance the friendly and brotherly relations between our two peoples. Once again, welcome.

X  X  X

Addressing the meeting, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said:

– Mr. President, I am very pleased to visit Azerbaijan. I express my gratitude to you for the hospitality and warm welcome. I am particularly pleased with the negotiations we had yesterday during the official reception and the agreements we have reached regarding the prospects of relations between our two countries. Mr. President, I wish your country and your people a successful year.

We would like to highlight the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership signed today between the two countries. The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding gives strategic significance to the relations between our countries. We will mobilize our efforts to develop ties and cooperation in trade, economic, industrial, agricultural, cultural, and educational sectors.

The relations between the two countries are progressing in an upward trajectory, and we witness continuous development and success in various areas. In the United Arab Emirates, we are also ready to develop cooperation between the two countries across various areas for the prosperity and flourishing of both nations and peoples.

As you have noted, the development of our relations is in its infancy. We, in turn, are mobilizing our efforts towards strengthening relations and creating new bridges between our countries.

Mr. President, I would like to once again extend my congratulations to you as Azerbaijan was chosen as the venue for COP29 this year. This, in turn, is a testament to the world’s trust in Azerbaijan, and I wish you success on this occasion. As we noted during our previous meeting in Dubai, Azerbaijan is certainly capable and ready to host such prestigious events.

Mr. President, I want to once again express my gratitude for the hospitality, warm reception, and especially for the wonderful more than two hours that we spent together yesterday – I truly enjoyed our two-hour meeting.

Mr. President, as I mentioned yesterday, consider all the experience of the United Arab Emirates at your disposal. We are ready to share our expertise with you in all areas, especially regarding the organization of COP29.

As you know, the United Arab Emirates has extensive experience in many fields, and we are always ready to share it with brotherly countries like yours. However, there are also certain aspects and areas where we, too, are learning. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

X  X  X

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

X  X  X

The meeting was followed by a ceremony to exchange signed documents as part of the visit.

The trip featured the signing of several key agreements, including the “Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates”, “Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Finance of the United Arab Emirates”, “Protocol of Intent between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates”, “Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between ADA University and Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy”, “Memorandum of Understanding on Investment Cooperation on electricity transmission projects between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Investment of the United Arab Emirates”, “Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation on enhancing the use of renewable and clean energy potential of Azerbaijan and enabling Green Energy Export Operations”, “Calendar of Events for the implementation of 1GW solar and onshore wind projects in Azerbaijan” and the “Strategic Cooperation Agreement between ADNOC and SOCAR”.

The negotiations continued during a one-on-one meeting.

The post Presidents of Azerbaijan and United Arab Emirates held expanded meeting appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

PARIS — Emmanuel Macron appointed 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal as his new prime minister on Tuesday, as the French President seeks to breathe new life into his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections.

The move will not necessarily lead to any major political shift, but signals a desire for Macron to try to move beyond last year’s unpopular pension and immigration reforms and improve his centrist party’s chances in the June EU ballot.

Opinion polls show Macron’s camp trailing far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s party by around eight to ten percentage points.

Attal, a close Macron ally who became a household name as government spokesman during the COVID pandemic, will replace outgoing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

One of the country’s most popular politicians in recent opinion polls, Attal has made a name for himself as a savvy minister, at ease on radio shows and in parliament.

He will be France’s youngest prime minister and the first to be openly gay.

“Gabriel Attal is a bit like the Macron of 2017,” said MP Patrick Vignal, referring to the point at which the president first took office as the youngest leader in modern French history, at the time a popular figure among voters.

Vignal, who belongs to Macron’s Renaissance party and first met Attal more than ten years ago, added that the education minister “is clear, he has authority.”

Attal and Macron would have a combined age just below that of Joe Biden, who is running for a second mandate in this year’s U.S. presidential election.

Macron has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since losing his absolute majority shortly after being reelected in 2022.

“The Macron-Attal duo can bring a new lease of life [to the government],” said Harris Interactive pollster Jean-Daniel Levy.

But opposition leaders were quick to say they did not expect much from the change in prime minister, with Macron himself taking on much of the decision-making.

“Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal or someone else, I don’t care, it will just be the same policies,” Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure told France Inter radio.