Azerbaijan has demanded a formal apology from Iran for its recent statements in connection with Baku’s hosting of the Eurovision song contest. A spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday called the statements “insulting” and said the government expects an apology from Tehran as soon as possible. Azerbaijani protesters rallied outside the Iranian Embassy in […]
Azerbaijan Demands Apology From Iran Over Eurovision
Posted May 24th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment
Iran Recalls Envoy to Azerbaijan Amid Dispute
Posted May 22nd, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC-5)
Iran has recalled its envoy to Azerbaijan, amid a dispute between the neighboring countries as Baku prepares to host the Eurovision song contest. Iran’s embassy in Baku says Ambassador Mohammad Bagher Bahrami left for Tehran on Monday for talks on what the embassy called the “insult of religious saints.” Azerbaijani protesters rallied outside the Iranian […]
Azerbaijan Denies Giving Israel Military Air Access
Posted March 29th, 2012 at 11:35 am (UTC-5)
Azerbaijan has denied a report that it granted Israel access to air bases near the Iranian border. A spokesman for the Defense Ministry in Baku said Thursday that the report in U.S.-based Foreign Policy magazine is inaccurate. On Wednesday, the magazine cited unnamed senior diplomats and security officers as saying the U.S. has concluded that […]
Minsk Group Calls for End to Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Posted March 22nd, 2012 at 12:20 pm (UTC-5)
Foreign ministers from the United States, Russia and France are urging Azerbaijan and Armenia to take steps to end the conflict over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe made the call in a statement issued Thursday to mark the […]
Azerbaijan Unveils Iran-Backed Plot
Posted March 14th, 2012 at 8:05 am (UTC-5)
Azerbaijan says it broke up an Iranian-backed plot to attack the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Baku. Azerbaijan’s national security ministry made the announcement Tuesday even though the arrests took place in January. It said 22 Azerbaijan citizens were arrested in connection with the alleged plot, charged with suspicion of plotting attacks. Wednesday’s statement said […]
Azerbaijan Elected to UN Security Council
Posted October 24th, 2011 at 7:10 pm (UTC-5)
Azerbaijan has won a two-year seat on the United Nations Security Council after the other candidate from Eastern Europe, Slovenia, dropped out of the running. Azerbaijan was elected in the 17th round of voting Monday with 155 votes in the 193-member General Assembly. Slovenian diplomats complained about the voting system and the campaign for the […]
Obama Recognizes Azerbaijan Independence Day
Posted October 20th, 2011 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama has extended his best wishes to Azerbaijan as the country marks the 20th anniversary of its independence. In a White House statement Thursday, Mr. Obama recognized Azerbaijan’s achievements since gaining independence, which he said demonstrates the extraordinary promise and determination of the Azerbaijani people. The president also said the United States […]
EU Calls for Appeals for Jailed Azerbaijan Protesters
Posted October 12th, 2011 at 11:25 am (UTC-5)
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief has called on Azerbaijan to provide a “fair and transparent” appeal process for 13 activists jailed for participating in an unauthorized pro-democracy protest. In a statement Wednesday, Catherine Ashton said she reiterates the importance the EU attaches to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. She said the EU […]
Azerbaijan Opposition Activists Jailed Over Protest
Posted October 10th, 2011 at 3:45 pm (UTC-5)
A court in Azerbaijan has sentenced four opposition activists to jail terms ranging from 18 months to three years, in the latest convictions resulting from an unauthorized pro-democracy protest. The men were sentenced Monday for their alleged roles in an April demonstration in Baku inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The […]
European Rights Body Sees no Progress in Azerbaijan
Posted September 30th, 2011 at 9:40 am (UTC-5)
Europe’s main human-rights body expressed concern Thursday about a lack of progress on the human-rights situation in Azerbaijan. Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg urged Azerbaijan to act urgently to uphold fundamental human rights, such as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Hammarberg said the government in Baku has failed to implement recommendations […]
