Day: February 24, 2024

Azerbaijan and Italy have very strong relations, dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences of ADA University, Matteo Vittuari said during the Italian-Azerbaijani Horticultural Exhibition, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Azernews.

“Not only ADA University, but also several Italian universities, such as the University of Bologna, Milan Polytechnic University, Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Università di Luis, and La Sapienza University of Rome, are involved in the Italo-Azerbaijani University project. This program requires strong collaboration between our countries’ educational institutions, as well as cooperation between businesses and other stakeholders. The program members represent a variety of corporations, municipal governments, ministries, and research organizations,” he noted.

The dean stressed the importance of today’s events at ADA University for Azerbaijan-Italy agricultural cooperation, as well as the value of technology and innovation in this sector.

“Given the staging of COP29 in Azerbaijan, attention should be paid to the contribution of the agriculture sector to the country’s environmental sustainability and social development,” Matteo Vittuari added.

Meanwhile, the Italian-Azerbaijani Horticultural Exhibition took place as part of the closing ceremony for the Baku module of the Sustainable Horticultural Systems certification program, which was presented jointly by ADA University and Bologna University.

About 20 Italian and Azerbaijani horticulture companies participated in the exhibition, which was organized for the first time by ADA University and the Italian exhibition McFruit, with support from the Italian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (ITAZERCOM), Caspian Agro, and the Agency for Export and Investment Promotion (AZPROMO).

The post Matteo Vittuari: Azerbaijan and Italy enjoy potent relations appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

Independent Arabia newspaper published an article about peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the influence of France on this process, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Trend.

The article largely focuses on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recent official visit to France, his meeting with President Emanuel Macron, and their statement. It should be remembered that France and Armenia are linked by historical ties, and because more than 600,000 Armenians live in France, France is contributing to the buildup of Armenia’s armament, which the Azerbaijani side interprets differently. Official Baku accuses France of encouraging Armenia’s belligerent attitude and inciting it to wage war on its neighbors.

The publication interviewed Elchin Amirbayov, the Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments, on this topic. The interview reflects the thoughts of the Azerbaijani official, who once served as ambassador to France, on peace negotiations. Amirbayov noted that after Azerbaijan liberated the Karabakh region, which had been under Armenian occupation for 30 years, opportunities arose for concluding a final peace agreement. In this context, he pointed to the last meeting of the leaders of the two countries within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.

Touching upon the emerging opportunities for the development of bilateral relations and the conclusion of a peace agreement, as well as the ties between Azerbaijan and France, Amirbayov recognized the importance of the current manifestation of goodwill on the Armenian side, since the achievement of peace depends on the political will of Armenia.

In the interview, the official representative of Azerbaijan also stated that Armenia has not officially relinquished its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, as several papers adopted in Armenia between 1990 and 2000 contain geographical and territorial claims against Azerbaijan. These laws are still in effect, which can be considered one of the major impediments to reaching a peace agreement. On the other hand, the appearance of these documents is interpreted as a sign of Armenia’s unwillingness to reach an agreement. Furthermore, these documents constitute a significant violation of international law because the world community recognized Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory when Azerbaijan joined the UN in 1992. Meanwhile, Armenia continues to occupy Azerbaijani villages and has filed a case against Azerbaijan with the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

Clarifying the absurd statements of the Armenian side about Azerbaijan’s claims on the territory of Armenia, Amirbayov said in an interview that Azerbaijan stands for the opening of all transport routes as a positive result of the peace agreement. Armenia, which keeps its borders closed with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and has convenient connections only with Iran, faces a dilemma on this issue.

In conclusion, the Azerbaijani official stated that the signing of a peace agreement and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries could bring many benefits, and the region would gain importance for transit cargo transportation. Thus, connecting the main part of Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan through communications can stimulate the development of the Middle Corridor and the transportation of goods from China to European countries. Amirbayov expressed confidence that the economic and commercial aspects of this issue will be of interest to Armenia.

The interview also spoke about the work done in the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, Shusha, and the gradual return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands, including the fact that by 2026, the return of 140 thousand people will be ensured.

The post Achieving peace depends on political will of Armenia appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

A new mass grave was discovered in the Khojaly town in Karabakh, where Armenians committed a massacre, killing hundreds of civilians, Azerbaijani authorities said Friday, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting Daily Sabah.

A statement by Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office said its district office in Khojaly received information on Wednesday about human remains discovered during excavations in the city center near a former carpet factory.

The dig was conducted as part of restoration and construction efforts in Khojaly, the statement said, adding that a team from the office, other government bodies, and the Azerbaijan delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were forwarded the location.

The statement further noted that the investigation discovered bone fragments, which were then collected for laboratory examination and expert analysis.

“As a result of the procedural actions carried out until now, the human remains discovered in the area belong to at least four people (one of them, presumably, a 4-5-year-old child); it was determined that they were being tortured, tied with ropes, and buried at least 25 years ago,” it added.

The criminal department of the Prosecutor General’s Office has launched a full investigation into the incident, with updates to be publicly available.

The Karabakh region had been the site of mass killings and burials since the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s, during which the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh – a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan – and seven adjacent regions, including Khojaly.

The town was the site of a two-hour Armenian offensive that killed 613 Azerbaijani civilians – including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly people – and seriously injured 487 others, according to Azerbaijani figures.

Some 150 of the 1,275 Azerbaijanis that the Armenians captured during what has now been called the Khojaly massacre remain missing, while eight families were completely wiped out.​​​​​​​

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