Day: May 25, 2023

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to not use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over their common border.

Muzaffar Yunusov, a spokesman for Sughd governor, says Rajabboy Ahmadzoda, the governor of Tajikistan's Sughd province, and Abdikarim Alimbayev, the governor of Kyrgyzstan's Batken region met at the Guliston-Qizilbeli border crossing point (BCP) on May 24.

According to him, the parties agreed not to use drones and heavy military hardware in border areas.

illustrative photo / US Air Force

The governors of the two regions reportedly also discussed maintaining stability on the border and ensuring public safety, among other issues.

According to some sources, the Tajik side, in a statement from the Sughd regional administration, noted the need for the joint use of water resources.

It is to be noted that many border areas in Central Asia have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the Fergana Valley, where the borders of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan meet.

The border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been the scene of unrest repeatedly since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

The September 14-17, 2022 violence marked the worst hostilities between the two countries, which have had more than 140 border-related conflicts in the past decade.

Recall, Tajikistan in September last year accused Kyrgyzstan of violating its airspace by using drones following deadly clashes.

Kyrgyzstan used Turkish-made Bayraktar TB-2 drone in at least one instance to fire an MAM-L laser-guided bomb at the Tajik village of Ovchi Qalacha in Sughd's Bobpjon-Ghafourov district. Investigators with advocacy group Human Rights Watch have said at least 10 civilians may have been killed in that attack, which they described as a probable war crime.

Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan reportedly bolstered its fleet of Turkish-made military drones with acquisitions of an unspecified number of Aksungur and Anka UAVs.

Tajikistan is likely to have its own reserve of UAVs too. Media reports said in May 2022 that the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqheri and Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo have inaugurated a plant manufacturing Iranian unmanned military aerial vehicle Ababil-2 in Tajikistan.

Source: Asia-Plus

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic sent a letter of congratulation to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, APA reports.

The letter of congratulation reads:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia and on my personal behalf, I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the occasion of the Independence Day and send my best wishes for the prosperity of your country and wellbeing of its citizens.

I am proud of the level of relations and cooperation we achieved in the year behind us, in which we marked 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. I still vividly remember your visit to the Republic of Serbia on November 23, 2022 when we signed the Memorandum between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council. My visit to Baku on December 20-21, 2022 and our successful discussions on strengthening cooperation in all areas of mutual importance demonstrate a continuing and steadfast development of overall relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will continue to enhance our exceptional political dialogue on a strategic level, as well as our overall cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere. These efforts are reflected in numerous economic projects as well as in the 7th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Trade and Economic Cooperation recently held in Belgrade.

I look forward to your expected visit to the Republic of Serbia this year, when we plan on holding the first meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council, which will provide an additional opportunity for further development of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan in all areas of mutual interest.

Dear Mr. President, allow me to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate you and the citizens of your country on the great jubilee celebrated this year – 100th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijani national leader and your father Heydar Aliyev. We remember him as an extraordinary statesman and visionary, whose political wisdom and strategic approach lad foundations for an independent, modern and prosperous Azerbaijan. The monumental Heydar Aliyev Center, which I visited for the second time in December 2022, impressed me once again. Allow me to also remind you that a monument to Heydar Aliyev adorns one of the most beautiful parks in Belgrade, Tašmajdan Park.

I would also like to use this opportunity to reiterate my appreciation for your country’s principled support for the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and for your commitment to international law which was confirmed by your recent voting against the decision to initiate the procedure for the admission of the so-called Kosovo to the Council of Europe. The Republic of Serbia will remember this act, regarding it as a gesture of sincere and persevering friendship, based on mutual trust and respect. Rest assured that the Republic of Serbia will continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Source: Azeri-Press News Agency

His Excellency, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

I sincerely congratulate you and all the Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the national holiday of Azerbaijan - the Independence Day.

Thanks to your visionary leadership, Azerbaijan has made significant strides in socio-economic reforms as well as on a global scale in recent years.

I am pleased to note that deep historical roots of friendship, language and cultural similarities have predetermined the current nature of interstate relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The thirty years of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan are characterized by establishment of strategic partnership. These ties will further develop and strengthen through our common efforts for the benefit of our peoples.

I wish you robust health, tranquility, success in your high state activity as well as peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Azerbaijan.

Sincerely,

Sadyr Japarov

President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

Dushanbe's Central Cathedral Mosque will officially open on June 8, according to the Committee on religious Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan (CRA)

An official source at a CRA says they are making preparations for the official opening of the mosque and are looking for a visit of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to Dushanbe.

'Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani heading Qatar's state delegation will arrive in Dushanbe on an official visit in early June,' said the source. 'The mosque will officially open with the participation of the Qatari delegation most likely on June 8. President Emomali Rahmon and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will inaugurate the mosque.'

CRA head Sulaimon Davlatzoda told reporters in Dushanbe on February 3 that most likely Dushanbe's Central Cathedral Mosque will officially open in the second quarter (April-June) of this year. He noted that an official visit of Qatar's state delegation to Tajikistan is planned for this period.

It is the joint project of Tajikistan and Qatar and according to international practice, the official opening ceremony will take place with the participation of both parties.

The mosque is completely ready to open and it was expected to officially open in August 2020, but the official opening ceremony was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Qatar's DAR Investment and Development L.L.C was the general developer and Tajikistan's STS-Inshoot was general contractor. Besides, seven sub-contractors have participated in construction of this mosque.

This US$100 million project has been implemented under direct control of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. The Persian Gulf State of Qatar has reportedly put up 70 percent of the cost of the project, with Tajikistan raising the rest.

President Emomali Rahmon began construction of the mosque not far from downtown Dushanbe in October 2011, a month after officially raising the country's flag on a 165-meter flagpole in Dushanbe.

Tajik leader demonstrated a hidden skill when he took control of an excavator to start digging the foundation for the building.

Dushanbe's Central Cathedral Mosque is located in the area of 12 hectares and in addition to the prayer halls the Mosque also features library, museum and social halls.

The mosque will be able to accommodate more than 100,000 worshipers

Critics are saying the mosque is an extravagance and that the money would be better spent on poverty reduction.

It was supposed that Dushanbe's Central Cathedral Mosque will be Central Asia's largest mosque. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan constructed and officially opened the Central Asian largest mosque in Astana on August 12, 2022. Kazakhstan's first president Nursultan Nazarbayev attended the inauguration of the mosque, which was timed to coincide with 24th anniversary of the city's foundation.

The Astana mosque spans an area of almost ten hectares, and is topped by a 90-meter central dome and eight smaller domes. The mosque surrounded by four minarets with 130 meters in height each.

The white structure took three years to build and is reportedly large enough to accommodate up to 235,000 worshipers.

Source: Asia-Plus

The trial of freelance journalist Khurshed Fozilov is being held being at the Khujand-based pretrial detention facility. 'The trial began today morning,' Khurshed's relatives told Asia-Plus by phone Thursday afternoon.

One of them said that they had not been officially invited to attend the trial; however, they had come to the pretrial detention facility.

'The defense lawyer was admitted to the court, but we were not admitted. The reason for this was not explained. Earlier it was said that the court will be open,' he added

The Panjakent prosecutor's office completed investigation into the case of Khurshed Fozilov two weeks ago and it moved to the Panjakent city court.

Khurshed's defense lawyer, Ms. Dilafrouz Samadova, had earlier made a formal request to the judge presiding over the trial to conduct legal proceedings in the city court in Panjakent in the presence of his relatives and friends, but not in the Khujand-based pretrial detention facility. The judge reportedly denied this motion.

Following this, the journalist's mother has published a video message, asking President Emomali Rahmon to take the investigation into her son's case under control and release him.

Recall, a 37-year-old Khurshed Fozilov, a freelance journalist, who has cooperated with several independent media outlets, including the independent website Akhbor, which is based abroad, was detained by the SCNS officers in the Tajik northern city of Panjakent on March 6. He is charged with public calls for forcible changes to the constitutional order in the country through the media and or the Internet (Article 307 (2) of Tajikistan's Penal Code).

On what basis the case was initiated against him under this article is still unknown. This article provides for imprisonment for the term of between three and eight years.

Khurshed Fozilov applied to the Sughd chief prosecutor's office through his defense lawyer with a complaint about illegal detention, violation of his right to privacy and coercion to testify against himself.

International human rights organizations have urged Tajik authorities to release Tajik freelance journalist.

In a statement released on March 17, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says Tajik authorities should release journalist Khurshed Fozilov and stop prosecuting journalists in retaliation for their work.

'Coming just months after Tajik authorities sentenced several journalists to lengthy prison terms without making public any compelling evidence against them, journalist Khurshed Fozilov seems trapped in the same cycle,' said Ms. Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. 'Tajik authorities must disclose the exact reason for Fozilov's arrest or immediately release him, alongside all other imprisoned journalists.'

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) and Front Line Defenders (FLD) released a joint statement on March 24, noting that 'the government of Tajikistan should immediately release independent journalist and human rights defender Khurshed Fozilov and cease the reprisals against independent journalism in the country.'

A report released by the CPJ on December 14 last year says arrest and conviction of independent journalists and bloggers makes Tajikistan the leading jailer in Central Asia. The report, in particular, notes that the prisoners were tried secretly behind closed doors in detention centers, not courts, and sentenced to lengthy prison terms amid allegations of torture.

Tajikistan was ranked 152nd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' 2022 World Press Freedom Index, and Not Free in Freedom House's 2022 Global Freedom Status, with a score of 8/100.

In March, Tajikistan was downgraded from 'repressed' to 'closed' by the CIVICUS Monitor, a global research collaboration that rates and tracks fundamental freedoms in 197 countries and territories. 'Closed' is the worst rating a country can receive by the CIVICUS Monitor.

Source: Asia-Plus

On May 22, 2023, the Forum on tourism opportunities of Tajikistan was held in Riyadh at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the framework of the working visit of a delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The objective of this forum was to present the tourism opportunities of the Republic of Tajikistan in Saudi Arabia and to strengthen cooperation between official institutions and the private sector representatives of the two countries engaged in tourism and attracting tourists and investors from Saudi Arabia to Tajikistan.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

The Grammy-Award winning chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica will perform in Baku at the Heydar Aliyev Center on June 9.

The soloists of the Baku concert will be the founder of the Lithuanian Kremerata, violinist Dzeraldas Bidva and a well-known cellist, winner of multiple music competitions Giedre Dirvanauskaite.

The concert will also feature the Baku Chamber Orchestra, to be conducted by Azerbaijan`s honored artist Fuad Ibrahimov, who has a creative friendship with Kremerata Baltica.

Founded in 1997 by renowned violinist Gidon Kremer, the Kremerata Baltica Chamber Orchestra is considered to be one of Europe`s most prominent international ensembles. The orchestra includes 23 talented young musicians from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Maestro Kremer intentionally selected young, enthusiastic musicians to stave off the dreaded 'orchestritis' that afflicts many professional orchestral players. Essential to Kremerata Baltica`s artistic personality is its creative approach to programming, which often ranges beyond the mainstream and has given rise to world premieres of works by composers such as Arvo Pärt, Giya Kancheli, Peteris Vasks, Leonid Desyatnikov and Alexander Raskatov.

Kremerata Baltica first appeared on stage of Austria`s Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival and since then has become well known for its energy and joy in playing. The orchestra was formed as an educational project promoting the cultural life of the Baltics. Since its establishment Kremerata Baltica has played in more than 50 countries, performing in 600 cities and giving more than 1000 concerts worldwide. The orchestra's wide-ranging and carefully chosen repertoire is also showcased in its numerous and much-praised recordings. The Kremerata Baltica also serves as a medium to share Gidon Kremer`s rich artistic experience with the new generation and, at the same time, to promote and inspire the musical and cultural life of the Baltics.

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency

Creditors of "GnayBank", which is in the process of liquidation, must apply to the Deposit Insurance Fund of Azerbaijan (DIFA) by July 18.

This is stated in the appeal of the DIFA to creditors.

As a reminder, by the decision of the administrative board of the Baku Court of Appeal of May 18, the DIFA appointed the liquidator of "GnayBank".

Note that the DIFAund accepts creditors' claims at the head office of "GnayBank" at the address: Baku city, Narimanov district, Ashug Aly street, 45.

Source: Turan News Agency

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia and on my personal behalf, I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the occasion of the Independence Day and send my best wishes for the prosperity of your country and wellbeing of its citizens.

I am proud of the level of relations and cooperation we achieved in the year behind us, in which we marked 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. I still vividly remember your visit to the Republic of Serbia on November 23, 2022 when we signed the Memorandum between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council. My visit to Baku on December 20-21, 2022 and our successful discussions on strengthening cooperation in all areas of mutual importance demonstrate a continuing and steadfast development of overall relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will continue to enhance our exceptional political dialogue on a strategic level, as well as our overall cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere. These efforts are reflected in numerous economic projects as well as in the 7th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Trade and Economic Cooperation recently held in Belgrade.

I look forward to your expected visit to the Republic of Serbia this year, when we plan on holding the first meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council, which will provide an additional opportunity for further development of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan in all areas of mutual interest.

Dear Mr. President, allow me to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate you and the citizens of your country on the great jubilee celebrated this year - 100th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijani national leader and your father Heydar Aliyev. We remember him as an extraordinary statesman and visionary, whose political wisdom and strategic approach lad foundations for an independent, modern and prosperous Azerbaijan. The monumental Heydar Aliyev Center, which I visited for the second time in December 2022, impressed me once again. Allow me to also remind you that a monument to Heydar Aliyev adorns one of the most beautiful parks in Belgrade, Tašmajdan Park.

I would also like to use this opportunity to reiterate my appreciation for your country's principled support for the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and for your commitment to international law which was confirmed by your recent voting against the decision to initiate the procedure for the admission of the so-called Kosovo to the Council of Europe. The Republic of Serbia will remember this act, regarding it as a gesture of sincere and persevering friendship, based on mutual trust and respect. Rest assured that the Republic of Serbia will continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Please accept, dear Mr. President, the assurances of highest consideration.

Aleksandar Vucic

President of the Republic of Serbia

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency