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Why does Aliyev bring up unimportant issues against Iran?

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In a lengthy interview with Azeri local media on Tuesday, President Aliyev reviewed the political and economic situation of his country and the developments in the region in 2024. In part of interview about the future of relations between Tehran and Baku, he brought up unimportant issues and stated that "relations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan were deteriorated under the previous Iranian government, and we still do not have very serious relations under the new government; there have been contacts between the two countries, but they were mostly related to economic and transportation issues."

"The deterioration of ties were not our fault," the Azeri president later said, blaming the previous Iranian government for the the current state of relations. Aliyev claimed that the reason for the deteriorated relations between the two countries is Tehran, but even in an official interview yesterday, he once again, without providing any reason, highlighted the incident of the attack on the country's embassy in Tehran two years ago and the recent marginal issues in Ardabil, saying that he and the Turkish president were insulted and that "the Iranian Foreign Ministry's expression of regret was not enough and Tehran must officially apologize."

On  December 29, 2023, during the recent ceremony commemorating the "martyrs of the Chaldaran War and the martyrs of the Resistance Front" in Ardabil, one of the participants of the ceremony, who was not holding any official position, made statements against the leaders of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey, which soon forced Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Ameli, Friday prayer imam and representative of the Leader of the Islamic Republic in Ardabil province, to announce that "The inappropriate language that was used in one of the gatherings this week by an ordinary and unofficial person cannot be considered our official, religious, and belief language and the official position of the Islamic Republic, and such a relationship in the world of diplomacy is completely unconventional and controversial."

Recalling that "the enemies of the Iranian nation are seeking to destroy and undermine Iran's relations with its neighbors," he emphasized, "Everyone knows that the personal statements of individuals are by no means the official stance of any government in the world."

Furthermore, as Aliyev himself said, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has also officially expressed regret over the incident; however, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires in Baku on January 1 and announced its protest. 

Azerbaijan was expected not to allow such remarks from an irresponsible and ordinary person, who is a completely unimportant issue to be brought up to an official level. However, surprisingly, in his official interview yesterday as the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev enhanced this marginal issue to the highest official levels and claimed that Iran should officially "apologize" for the statements of an ordinary person.

To make this false statement believable, Aliyev placed this unimportant issue alongside the attack on the Iranian embassy in Tehran two years ago, in order to kind of prove, that Baku is completely "innocent" in creating the current situation.

In February 2022, following an armed attack on the Azerbaijani embassy, ​​the Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the act and emphasized that an armed individual's attack on the embassy was carried out of personal motives, announcing that Tehran would seriously follow up on the matter and prosecute the perpetrator of the incident; however, Aliyev, recalling this event once again, describes the attack on the Baku embassy as "terrorist" in order to create tensions between the two countries for unknown and suspicious reasons; This is while, according to international norms, such issues can be resolved at lower levels and do not need to be enhanced to an official and high level.

Aliyev blamed Tehran for the current state of the bilateral relations as if these marginal issues were a bolt from the blue. He brings up unimportant issues as if Republic of Azerbaijan, as a Muslim country and neighbor, has observed good neighborliness, and it is Iran that is seeking to worsen relations between the two countries by touching on those issues.

Since in order to understand any phenomenon, one must also consider its previous record and take into account the processes that led to the occurrence of an incident or event. The current state of relations between Tehran and Baku is no exception. It is necessary to ask what other factors are involved in the current situation that Ilham Aliyev deliberately ignores and points the blame at Tehran.

Everybody knows that one of the main bases of the Zionist regime around Iran is the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that many anti-Iranian mischiefs and sabotage attacks can be traced back to the Zionist bases and its headquarters in the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, the Baku officials not only have not taken any action in this regard, but also boast about their relationship with Tel Aviv.

Furthermore, over the past years, the media and television networks of the Republic of Azerbaijan have repeatedly acted against the territorial integrity of Iran and aired special programs for the Azeri-speaking target audience in Iran with their malicious goals. However, Iran has never brought up such meddling activities at an official level and has always emphasized good neighborliness and good relations with neighbors, calling for the peaceful resolution of those problems. It has also advised the Republic of Azerbaijan that the Zionist regime is seeking to disrupt the good relations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan; an issue that the Baku authorities always ignore.  It is an irony, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan thinks that he is in a position to blame Iran for the current situation!

MNA/6341418

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Azerbaijan's President Aliyev calls Armenia 'fascist state, threat to region'

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Jan. 7 called Armenia effectively a "fascist state," claiming that Baku might have no other choice but to "destroy" its neighbor's so-called "fascist ideology."

Azerbaijan and Armenia are bitter rivals, having clashed in multiple territorial and ethnic conflicts since they gained independence three decades ago.

Speaking in an interview with local television channels, Aliyev accused Armenian authorities of being bearers of a "fascist ideology" for 30 years, shaping the country in their image. He also called Armenia a "threat to the region."

The Azerbaijani strongman issued thinly veiled threats against Armenia, saying that "fascism must be destroyed. It will be destroyed either by the Armenian leadership or by us. We have no other choice."

In September 2023, Baku's forces captured the Nagorno-Karabakh region, de jure Azerbaijani territory that, at the time, was de facto ruled by ethnic Armenian authorities and had been a key point of contest between the two countries.

Almost the entire 100,000-strong Armenian population fled the region following Azerbaijan's lightning offensive.

As Yerevan and Baku lead bilateral talks on normalizing relations and settling outstanding border disputes, Armenian authorities have accused Azerbaijan, currently the stronger player in the region, of planning further hostilities.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said last December that the Azerbaijani side received proposals on two unresolved issues in the negotiations but has yet to respond.

"If Azerbaijan also doesn’t have intentions to attack Armenia, then the likelihood of escalation in the region is zero," Pashinyan said in an interview last month.

Aliyev also called on France and other countries to stop providing arms to Armenia and take back the weapons already provided. Yerevan has deepened security cooperation with the West after its traditional ally, Russia, did not step in to prevent Azerbaijan's attack in 2023 despite having peacekeepers deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh.

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Mystery surrounding the U.S. Ambassador: Why is Libby leaving Baku? – Aze.Media

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The main arguments revolve around alleged violations of human rights, media freedom, electoral rights, and the imprisonment of journalists and human rights activists.

On December 10, marking International Human Rights Day, the U.S. State Department awarded the Secretary of State’s Human Rights Defender Awards to prominent human rights advocates from several countries. Among the recipients were Rufat Safarov, an Azerbaijani human rights defender and co-founder of the “Defense Line” organization, and Sevin Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of “Abzas Media.” Antony Blinken praised both individuals during the ceremony.

The Secretary of State also directed harsh criticism at the Azerbaijani government, accusing it of human rights violations.

The pressure against Azerbaijan is being coordinated at the highest levels in the U.S., with Blinken personally spearheading the campaign. Western diplomats and politicians frequently use the pretext of democracy and human rights to exert pressure on nations—a tactic that has been seen repeatedly over the past three decades.

The increasing pressure on Azerbaijan stems from several reasons. Chief among them is the response to the liberation of Karabakh and surrounding regions. Many Western countries, led by the U.S., have struggled to accept this reality.

Another significant factor is Azerbaijan’s firm stance against Washington’s preferences in the ongoing peace talks with Armenia. The Aliyev administration has openly opposed Blinken’s peace initiatives, a position that has angered the State Department and the Biden administration. The U.S. is acutely aware that it may lose ground in the South Caucasus to the Russia-China alliance. Hence, it is working tirelessly to maintain control over processes in Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku.

Azerbaijan’s leadership role in regional and global processes since the 44-day war, coupled with its growing influence and strategic importance as a bridge between Asia and Europe, has heightened tensions in Washington. Plans surrounding the Zangezur Corridor further explain the aggressive and unjust attitude of the U.S. and EU toward Azerbaijan. The desire to secure a foothold in the geopolitical “corridor wars” is driving both Washington and Brussels to extremes.

These and other factors are compelling the West to take preemptive measures, fearing it may be too late in the future. They recognize that Azerbaijan is on the path to full independence and that no global power will be able to dictate terms to it in the next phase.

President Ilham Aliyev’s precise and deliberate foreign policy is yielding results. Baku’s influence is now being felt as far as the Middle East, where significant alliances are reportedly being formed. Agreements with Israel, a regional leader, have also been highlighted, as evidenced by Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev’s recent visit to Israel. Consequently, the U.S. and its European satellites are systematically striving to keep Baku under pressure.

Deputy Secretary of State for Human Rights, Dafna Rand, touched on these points in an interview with the “Turan” News Agency. She explicitly stated that Washington would increase its pressure on Baku and continue to support civil society in Azerbaijan, despite the government’s objections.

In her words: “Despite Baku’s dissatisfaction, the U.S. will continue to support civil society in Azerbaijan.” Rand also highlighted the work of the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan and a key embassy staff member on human rights issues, emphasizing their dedication.

She stated: “We have a very good ambassador in Azerbaijan, Mark Libby, who has prioritized human rights during his tenure in Baku.”

Rand went on to discuss the embassy’s human rights officer, who recently completed their service, noting their contributions to highlighting the dire conditions of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and prisoners, particularly during COP29.

It’s worth noting that Ambassador Mark Libby recently announced his departure from Baku, citing health reasons, with reports suggesting he is battling cancer. However, some speculate that his departure may also have political motivations. Experts argue that it’s unlikely his early departure is solely due to health issues.

Rand’s remarks reinforce this suspicion, suggesting Libby may have been involved in activities that displeased the Azerbaijani authorities, known for their intolerance toward foreign ambassadors’ interference in domestic matters. Since 2006, U.S. ambassadors to Azerbaijan have generally avoided meddling in politics or internal affairs. Libby’s departure raises questions about whether his actions diverged from this longstanding practice.

Notably, Libby had previously stirred controversy in May by declining to visit Shusha, citing an unwillingness to participate in what he referred to as a “show.” This statement sparked public outrage in Azerbaijan, with President Aliyev responding directly from Shusha: “The visit of any ambassador to Shusha should not be presented as a favor to us. If they wish to come, they may, and if not, we don’t need them. Their presence or absence changes nothing. We are the ones who hold authority here.”

This is not the first time a U.S. ambassador has left Azerbaijan prematurely. In 2006, former Ambassador Reno Harnish departed abruptly, reportedly declared persona non grata due to alleged interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs, including accusations of involvement in a failed revolution attempt during the 2005 parliamentary elections. At the time, it was reported that compelling evidence was presented to the U.S., leaving no choice but to recall Harnish.

History, it seems, often repeats itself.

Azer Aykhan

Translated from Globalinfo.az

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Baku's Tightrope: How Azerbaijan Navigates Its Relationship With Israel - EA WorldView

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Flight and voice data from the Embraer E190 that crashed in Kazakhstan have been recovered - Air Data News

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The work to recover flight and voice data from the two black boxes of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 jet that crashed in Kazakhstan on December 25 was completed on January 4, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) reported on Monday.

The data and voice recorders of the aircraft, registration 4K-AZ65, were recovered by CENIPA, which is responsible for investigating air accidents in Brazil.

According to the FAB, all data was sent to the authority investigating the crash in Kazakhstan with the support of other entities.

The report that will contain the conclusions of the investigation has no deadline for release, but the Azerbaijani government stated that the aircraft, which was on flight J28243 between Baku and Grozny, was hit by Russian air defenses in Chechnya.

Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Azerbaijan, but without admitting guilt in the case.

There were 67 people on board the E190 jet, manufactured in 2013, and 29 of them managed to survive the crash in an area near Aktau airport, in Kazakhstan.

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The two pilots who died in the crash appear to have tried to control the jet after losing the actuators, but were unable to avoid a violent impact with the ground.

It was the third crash of a jet from Embraer’s E-Jet family in more than 20 years in service. The other two cases involved crew error on a flight from China and an intentional act in an accident in Africa.

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Президент Азербайджана заявил, что вина за авиакатастрофу в Актау "лежит на представителях РФ": "Мы требуем человеческого поведения"

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Президент Азербайджана Ильхам Алиев заявил, что представители России несут ответственность за крушение самолета Azerbaijan Airlines в Казахстане. Об этом он сказал во время встречи с членами семей погибшего экипажа и выжившими бортпроводниками.

"Я не хочу пока раскрывать все материалы уголовного дела, первичное расследование и результаты его мне доложены, но могу с уверенностью сказать, что вина за то, что азербайджанские граждане погибли в этой катастрофе, лежит на представителях Российской Федерации", – заявил он. 29 декабря Алиев потребовал от РФ "признания вины, наказания виновных и выплаты компенсаций".

Самолет Embraer 190 авиакомпании Azerbaijan Airlines, выполнявший рейс из Баку в Грозный, потерпел крушение в Актау 25 декабря. В результате авиакатастрофы погибли 38 пассажиров, выжили 29 человек. Reuters и Euronews со ссылкой на источники в Азербайджане писали, что самолет был сбит российской системой ПВО. По их данным, лайнеру не разрешили приземлиться ни в одном из российских аэропортов, а приказали лететь через Каспийское море в направлении Актау.

Алиев подчеркнул, что во время введения плана "Ковер" воздушное пространство над Чечней должны были закрыть и предупредить об этом капитана самолета, но, несмотря на повреждение судна, его экипажу удалось долететь до Актау. "Скорее всего, пилоты знали, что им не выжить в этой катастрофе, – отметил он. – В такой ситуации совершить аварийную посадку и дотянуть до берега самолет, который практически был неуправляем в результате постороннего воздействия в воздушном пространстве России, требовало как профессионализма, так и героизма".

Кто принял решение направить самолет в Актау, по его словам, покажет расследование. Бортовые самописцы были отправлены в Бразилию. Алиев отметил, что на этом настаивал Азербайджан, несмотря на все предложения передать "черные ящики" Межгосударственному авиационному комитету (в этом случае расследованием авиакатастрофы занялась бы Россия).

Президент Азербайджана указал, что "попытки государственных структур России замять этот инцидент и настаивать на абсурдных версиях" вызывают "удивление, и сожаление, и справедливое возмущение". Ильхам Алиев также заявил, что власти страны требуют справедливости: "Мы требуем наказания виновных, мы требуем полной прозрачности и человеческого поведения".

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