British oil group BP signed a deal with Azerbaijan on Thursday to explore and develop a big Caspian Sea gas field, cementing the oil giant’s leading position in the energy-rich former Soviet republic. The 30-year agreement on the deepwater Shafag-Asiman field was signed in the presence of new BP chief executive Bob Dudley and was his first deal since taking the helm earlier this month after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster forced out his predecessor Tony Hayward.
Azeri Consul General Speaks at Cal State Long Beach
Speaking to university students at California State Long Beach (CSULB) last Wednesday, Azerbaijan’s Consul General in Los Angeles touted his country’s strategic significance to the world and spoke of a “centuries old tradition of tolerance in his society, reported the Trend News Agency.
Matthew Bryza’s Not-At-All-Surprisingly Rough Road to Baku
Former Wall Street Journal and New York Times Caucasus and Central Asia correspondent Steve LeVine published on his “Oil & Glory” blog at Foreign Policy Wednesday a piece detailing the “unusual turbulence” experienced by Matthew Bryzain during his nomination process to serve as US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and the unease that some of the big U.S. newspapers are showing over the 14-month vacancy in the post.
Turkish Diplomat Stresses Vital Role of Arax Free Zone in Iran-Turkey Ties
Turkey’s new consul-general in Iran’s northwestern city of Tabriz on Tuesday underlined the important role of Iran’s Arax Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the further expansion of ties between Tehran and Ankara, saying his country plans to encourage Turkish private sector investment in the Iranian zone.
Azeri Embassy Files Complaint Over Agreement Between Universities in Russia, Karabakh
Azerbaijan’s embassy in Moscow has called on the Russian Foreign Ministry to investigate a cooperation agreement between a university in southern Russia and one in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry was quoted by the Azeri Press Agency as saying Tuesday.
Obama, Aliyev Meet In New York As Washington Seeks To Improve Ties
US President Barack Obama has urged Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to do a better job protecting human rights in his country during a rare face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Organization of the Islamic Conference Again Condemns Armenia
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has accused Armenia of unleashing aggression against Azerbaijan and described Nagorno-Karabakh as an “occupied” Azerbaijani territory at an annual meeting of the foreign ministers of its predominantly Muslim member states, RFE/RL’s Armenia service reported Monday.
Karabakh Conflict Plays Out At European Court
One day after finding Turkey guilty of not protecting the life and freedoms of Hrant Dink, the European Court of Human Rights began hearings on two separate cases Wednesday centering on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Turkey, Azerbaijan Set Up Strategic Council
Turkey and Azerbaijan signed Wednesday a framework agreement on the establishment of a high-level strategic cooperation council, a goal Turkey is aiming to pursue with all its neighbors, reported the Hurriyet newspaper.
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Thwart Pan-Turkish Expansion
Turkey’s dream of uniting the Turkic world has hit a snag with the exclusion of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan from a new mechanism to be established Thursday to bolster ties between Turkey and Central Asia.