Azerbaijani media review for March 31 – April 6

Mubariz Ahmedoglu, director of the Center for Political Innovations and Technologies, told News Azerbaijan that no military, economic or geopolitical sanctions against Russia would have a big impact. The West does not have enough resources in the Black Sea to curb Russia. The expert predicts that the North Caucasus would become the second region for global players to make a stand off. This includes the Circassian issue connecting Syria and the North Caucasus, Turkey and Syria. Azerbaijan may become a target for both Russia and the West.

The Yeni musavat paper says that Russia will press more on Azerbaijan over the events in Ukraine, because Baku supported Kiev, said Zakhid Orudzh, a member of the Azerbaijan Parliament Committee for Defense and Security. Mikhail Zabelin, an Azerbaijani MP, told Mediaforum that Nikita Khrushchev’s transfer of Crimea to Ukraine was unjust, just as with the transfer of Zangezur to Armenia. MP Rasim Musabekov told Turan that the annexation of Crimea did not mean a new world order, because Russia had not recognized the independence of Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh and other territories. Russia showed that it could violate the international law in the same way as the West. The legislator doubts that Russia can start another Cold War due to its scarce financial resources, political blocs and absence of ideology.

Samir Aliyev, an expert of the Public Association for Assistance to Economic Initiatives, told Baki Heber that the dollar isolation of Russia would make Azerbaijani goods less competitive. He reminded that Azerbaijan was one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan.

Nail Veliyev of the Baku office of the Asian Development Bank, told Fineco that sanctions would only affect Azerbaijan if they reduce their oil prices. David Oldfield of the ADB doubts that sanctions could have any serious impact on Azerbaijan. He noted that Azerbaijan was less dependent on Russia than Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev awarded Alexander Zasokhov, second President of North Ossetia, with the Dostlug Order last week for contributing to Azerbaijani-Russian relations, Trend reports. Turan reported that Aliyev passed the national strategy for development of an information society for 2014-2020. The program will increase the volume of information industry 4.5-fold, compared with today’s $1.9 billion.

Political analyst Tofik Abbasov expressed confidence that Russian legislator Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s statements towards Azerbaijan could not affect the country’s relations with Russia, day.az reports.

Rosvertol (Russia) sold twelve Mi-35M helicopters worth about $300 million to Azerbaijan in 2013. The State Border Service of Azerbaijan ordered 24 such helicopters in December 2011.

Baku held the 13th AITF-2014 and the Horex Caucasus-2014 exhibitions last week. 351 companies from 38 states, including Russia, were represented. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban attended the exhibitions.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Baku at the end of last week, haqqin.az reports. He discussed military and political cooperation. Aydin Mirzazadeh, an MP, told 1news that his visit to Azerbaijan after the elections was a tradition. Mubariz Akhmedoglu told the Echo paper that Erdogan discussed the Hizmet movement, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

News Azerbaijan reported that Mehriban Aliyeva attended the third session of the Baku-2015 European Games (taking place in Baku in June 2015) last week.

Ramaz Chanturia, director general of Roschaykofe, told Echo that tea sales had dropped by 4.7% to 163,000 tons in 2013. Russia was exporting about 5% of its tea. Russia exported 134,000 tons of tea to Azerbaijan in 2013. Russia imported 2,900 tons of tea. Azersun produced 4,100 tons of tea in 2011.

Mubariz Ahmedoglu, director of the Center for Political Innovations and Technologies, told News Azerbaijan that no military, economic or geopolitical sanctions against Russia would have a big impact. The West does not have enough resources in the Black Sea to curb Russia. The expert predicts that the North Caucasus would become the second region for global players to make a stand off. This includes the Circassian issue connecting Syria and the North Caucasus, Turkey and Syria. Azerbaijan may become a target for both Russia and the West.The Yeni musavat paper says that Russia will press more on Azerbaijan over the events in Ukraine, because Baku supported Kiev, said Zakhid Orudzh, a member of the Azerbaijan Parliament Committee for Defense and Security. Mikhail Zabelin, an Azerbaijani MP, told Mediaforum that Nikita Khrushchev’s transfer of Crimea to Ukraine was unjust, just as with the transfer of Zangezur to Armenia. MP Rasim Musabekov told Turan that the annexation of Crimea did not mean a new world order, because Russia had not recognized the independence of Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh and other territories. Russia showed that it could violate the international law in the same way as the West. The legislator doubts that Russia can start another Cold War due to its scarce financial resources, political blocs and absence of ideology.Samir Aliyev, an expert of the Public Association for Assistance to Economic Initiatives, told Baki Heber that the dollar isolation of Russia would make Azerbaijani goods less competitive. He reminded that Azerbaijan was one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan.Nail Veliyev of the Baku office of the Asian Development Bank, told Fineco that sanctions would only affect Azerbaijan if they reduce their oil prices. David Oldfield of the ADB doubts that sanctions could have any serious impact on Azerbaijan. He noted that Azerbaijan was less dependent on Russia than Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev awarded Alexander Zasokhov, second President of North Ossetia, with the Dostlug Order last week for contributing to Azerbaijani-Russian relations, Trend reports. Turan reported that Aliyev passed the national strategy for development of an information society for 2014-2020. The program will increase the volume of information industry 4.5-fold, compared with today’s $1.9 billion.Political analyst Tofik Abbasov expressed confidence that Russian legislator Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s statements towards Azerbaijan could not affect the country’s relations with Russia, day.az reports.Rosvertol (Russia) sold twelve Mi-35M helicopters worth about $300 million to Azerbaijan in 2013. The State Border Service of Azerbaijan ordered 24 such helicopters in December 2011.Baku held the 13th AITF-2014 and the Horex Caucasus-2014 exhibitions last week. 351 companies from 38 states, including Russia, were represented. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban attended the exhibitions.Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Baku at the end of last week, haqqin.az reports. He discussed military and political cooperation. Aydin Mirzazadeh, an MP, told 1news that his visit to Azerbaijan after the elections was a tradition. Mubariz Akhmedoglu told the Echo paper that Erdogan discussed the Hizmet movement, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.News Azerbaijan reported that Mehriban Aliyeva attended the third session of the Baku-2015 European Games (taking place in Baku in June 2015) last week.Ramaz Chanturia, director general of Roschaykofe, told Echo that tea sales had dropped by 4.7% to 163,000 tons in 2013. Russia was exporting about 5% of its tea. Russia exported 134,000 tons of tea to Azerbaijan in 2013. Russia imported 2,900 tons of tea. Azersun produced 4,100 tons of tea in 2011