Azerbaijani media review (July 14-23)

Azerbaijani citizens Dilgam Ahmedov, Shakhbaz Guliyev and Gasan Gasanov were detained by Armenian soldiers in the Kalbajar District. Armenian media reported the detention of Shakhbaz Jalal oglu Guliyev andd Dilgam Gardashkhan oglu Askerov in Shaplar (Kalbajr District), News Azerbaijan reports.

Azerbaijani MP Aydyn Mirzazadeh said at the Committee for Protection of the Rights of Azerbaijani Citizens Detained by Armenians that the three citizens were taken captive and tortured.

Ali Gasanov, Azerbaijani vice prime minister, the head of the State Committee for Refugees and Displaced Persons, said that the captives were visiting graves of their relatives. According to the official, one of the captives was killed.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied claims that the three were part of the ministry. Moreover, it stressed that the territory they were detained on belonged to Azerbaijan and people had the right to free movement. The ministry added that they had not violated the state border, Trend reports.

Vice Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Bakhar Muradov said that the international community, the OSCE and the special representative of the OSCE PA for the South Caucasus should react to the detention. He spoke out against the trial of the captives according to the “laws of the separatist regime,” Bakupost.az reports.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Italy last week. He signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The sides signed an intergovernmental agreement on maritime transportation and three memorandums of understanding: a memorandum for economic cooperation between the Azerbaijani Ministry for Economy and Industry and the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, a memorandum on cooperation in culture between the Azerbaijani Ministry for Culture and Tourism and the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, a memorandum for cooperation in sports between the Azerbaijani Ministry for Youth and Sports and the Italian Department Regional Development, Autonomies and Sports – the Sports Office of the Presidency of the Council of Ministries of the Italian, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair became an advisor of the Consulting Group for Transportation of Azerbaijani Gas to Europe last week, News Azerbaijan reports.

The Group will also include German ex-Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Genscher, the chairman of Goldman Sachs International and the executive director of BP. The Consulting Group will help solve political, economic, ecological and social problems that may arise on the first stages of the project. Such problems are likely because the South Stream gas pipeline will run through the territory of seven countries. Tony Blair has good experience in collaborating with the European Union, considering its role in the Caspian Region.

Murabiz Ahmedoglu, the director of the Center for Political Innovations and Technologies said on Thursday that military operations against Armenia were a new tactic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The official noted that tensions on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh and nearby territories are growing. An Armenian lieutenant-colonel and a major were among the victims, according to Ahmedoglu.

Foreigners invested $83.8 billion in the Azerbaijani economy in 1995-2013. $35 billion of the sum was allocated to non-petroleum projects, Azerbaijani Minister for Economy and Industry Shakhin Mustafayev stated in his article published on Wednesday, News Azerbaijan reports.

$10.5 billion of foreign investments were spent on the Azerbaijani economy in 2013. Over half of the sum was invested in the non-petroleum sector.

The minister said in his article that 26% of funds were invested by Turkey, 16% by the UK, 12% by the U.S. Overall, the UK invested $18 billion in Azerbaijan, U.S. $7 billion, Japan $4 billion.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the tragedy at the Moscow Metro last week. He expressed condolences to relatives of people killed in the accident and wished quick recovery to survivors, AzerTAG reports.

Azerbaijan continues construction of a new road to the Russian border. It will be built parallel to the Baku – Guba – Russian section of the border road from the 132nd to the 192nd kilometer, Trend reports.

The road will start at Gendov (Shabran District) and end on the Russian border. Eight overhead roads and 15 bridges will be built. 80% of work with earth has been accomplished. A two-layer asphalt has been laid on 8 kilometers of the road.

Russia and Azerbaijan are starting naval drills in the Caspian Sea. The S001 coastal security ship of the Azerbaijani State Border Service has arrived at Makhachkala Port for drills that start on July 24. The sides will train guards to protect bioresources.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation of EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus Herbert Salber. The sides discussed Nagorno-Karabakh. Aliyev emphasized that Armenia was ignoring international law and statements of heads of the co-chair states, Trend reports.

He emphasized that territories recognized Azerbaijani remained under Armenian occupation. Aliyev warned that the situation in the region could worsen, unless a solution based on international law would be found. Salber reminded that he had visited the region several times and was familiar with the situation. He noted that his structure will contribute to development of cooperation with Azerbaijan and settlement of conflicts.

Azerbaijani citizens Dilgam Ahmedov, Shakhbaz Guliyev an Gasan Gasanov were detained by Armenian soldiers in the Kalbajar District. Armenian media reported detention of Shakhbaz Jalal oglu Guliyev andd Dilgam Gardashkhan oglu Askerov in Shaplar (Kalbajr District), News Azerbaijan reports.Azerbaijani MP Aydyn Mirzazadeh said at the Committee for Protection of the Rights of Azerbaijani Citizens Detained by Armenians that the three citizens were taken captive and tortured.Ali Gasanov, Azerbaijani vice prime minister, the head of the State Committee for Refugees and Displaced Persons, said that the captives were visiting graves of their relatives. According to the official, one of the captives was killed.The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied claims that the three were part of the ministry. Moreover, it stressed that the territory they were detained on belonged to Azerbaijan and people had the right for free movement. The ministry added that they had not violated the state border, Trend reports.Vice Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Bakhar Muradov said that the international society, the OSCE, special representative of the OSCE PA for South Caucasus should react to the detention. He spoke out against trial of the captives according to “laws of the separatist regime,” Bakupost.az reports.Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Italy last week. He signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The sides signed an intergovernmental agreement on maritime transportation and three memorandums of understanding: a memorandum for economic cooperation between the Azerbaijani Ministry for Economy and Industry and the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, a memorandum on cooperation in culture between the Azerbaijani Ministry for Culture and Tourism and the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, a memorandum for cooperation in sports between the Azerbaijani Ministry for Youth and Sports and the Italian Department Regional Development, Autonomies and Sports – the Sports Office of the Presidency of the Council of Ministries of the Italian, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports.British Prime Minister Tony Blair became an advisor of the Consulting Group for Transportation of Azerbaijani Gas to Europe last week, News Azerbaijan reports.The Group will also include German ex-Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Genscher, the chairman of Goldman Sachs International and the executive director of BP. The Consulting Group will help solve political, economic, ecological and social problems that may arise on the first stages of the project. Such problems are likely because the South Stream gas pipeline will run through the territory of seven countries. Tony Blair has good experience in collaborating with the European Union, considering its role in the Caspian Region.Murabiz Ahmedoglu, the director of the Center for Political Innovations and Technologies said on Thursday that military operations against Armenia were a new tactic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.The official noted that tensions on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh and nearby territories are aggravating. An Armenian lieutenant-colonel and a major, according to Ahmedoglu.Foreigners invested $83.8 billion in Azerbaijani economy in 1995-2013. $35 billion of the sum was allocated in non-petroleum projects, as stated by Azerbaijani Minister for Economy and Industry Shakhin Mustafayev in his article published on Wednesday, News Azerbaijan reports.$10.5 billion of foreign investments were spent on Azerbaijani economy in 2013. Over half of the sum was invested in the non-petroleum sector.The minister said in his article that 26% of funds were invested by Turkey, 16% by the UK, 12% by the U.S. Overall, the UK invested $18 billion in Azerbaijan, U.S. $7 billion, Japan $4 billion.Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the tragedy at the Moscow Metro last week. He expressed condolences to relatives of people killed in the accident and wished quick recovery to survivors, AzerTAG reports.Azerbaijan continues construction of a new road to the Russian border. It will be built parallel to the section Baku – Guba – Russian border road from the 132nd to the 192nd kilometer, Trend reports.The road will start at Gendov (Shabran District) and end on the Russian border. Eight overhead roads and 15 bridges will be built. 80% of work with earth has been accomplished. A two-layer asphalt has been laid on 8 kilometers of the road.Russia and Azerbaijan are starting naval drills in the Caspian Sea. The S001 coastal security ship of the Azerbaijani State Border Service has arrived at the Makhachkala Port for drills that start on July 24. The sides will train guards to protect bioresources.Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation of EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus Herbert Salber. The sides discussed Nagorno-Karabakh. Aliyev emphasized that Armenia was ignoring the international law and statements of heads of co-chairs states, Trend reports.He emphasized that territories recognized Azerbaijani remained under Armenian occupation. Aliyev warned that the situation in the region could worsen, unless a solution based on the international law would be found. Salber reminded that he had visited the region several times and was familiar with the situation. He noted that his structure will contribute to development of cooperation with Azerbaijan and settlement of conflict