Fariz Ismailzade
is a freelance writer based in Baku. He holds a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and currently works for Cornell Caspian Consulting. The views expressed in this article are solely his own and do not represent the views of this organization.
Contact Fariz Ismailzade
Articles by Fariz Ismailzade
Aliyev Announces Major Energy Discovery On State TV
The last several months have been full of good news for the national oil company of Azerbaijan. As the country prepares to celebrate the anniversary of the “Contract of the
Azerbaijan Boosts Its Public Diplomacy Efforts
On July 23, Elnur Aslanov, the head of the Presidential Administration’s Department for Political Analysis and Informational Provision stated: “For the better promotion of history, politics and the culture of
Renewed Calls To Close Metsamor Nuclear Power Station
After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and its disastrous impact on the Fukushima nuclear plant, the international community is once again raising concern about the Metsamor Nuclear Power station
Azerbaijan Intensifies Diplomacy Vis-à-Vis Turkey
As Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, visited the US on April 12 to discuss regional security matters, including the Turkish-Armenian protocols and the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, the
Azerbaijan Seeks New Partners to Diversify its Economy
On March 19, during the launch of construction works for the large shipbuilding factory in the outskirts of Baku, President Ilham Aliyev announced: “At the moment, in Azerbaijan, we are
Azerbaijan’s Public Diplomacy Vis-à-Vis Russia
Azerbaijan recently achieved a major public diplomacy success in late January by organizing the first Russian-Azerbaijan Humanitarian Forum in Baku, which assembled more than 100 representatives of the Russian intelligentsia.
Azerbaijan Seeks Alternative Gas Export Routes: Sending a Signal to Ankara
“We are interested in exporting our resources through different routes,” Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev stated during his visit to Bulgaria on November 13 (AZTV). On the same day, he paid
Turkish-Azerbaijani “Cold War:” Moscow Benefits from Washington’s Indecisiveness
Recent weeks have seen unprecedented and potentially far reaching damage to the Turkish-Azerbaijani strategic partnership. Ever since Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) announced its intension to normalize relations
Obama’s Missile Defense Decision Renews Discussion on Gabala in Azerbaijan
President Barack Obama's recent decision to scrap plans to deploy elements of ballistic missile defense (BMD) in Poland and the Czech Republic has renewed speculation in Baku over the future
Azerbaijan Nervously Watching Turkish-Armenian Rapprochement
The Turkish-Armenian agreement on September 1 to start political consultations aimed at establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries has once again raised concerns in Baku. It is only four
Azerbaijan’s Independent Foreign Policy Strengthened by Recent High Profile Meetings
As Azerbaijan's neighbors, Georgia and Russia, commemorated the anniversary of the military conflict which erupted in August 2008, Azerbaijan showcased its foreign policy as both balanced and independent. Several high
Baku Surprised by Berdimuhamedov’s Inflammatory Statement
On July 24 Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov declared his country's intention to take Azerbaijan to the international court of arbitration (ICA) over disputed oil fields. This announcement has shocked the
Baku Calling for Openness in Turkish-Armenian Relations
Most Azerbaijani politicians as well as the general public believe that the recent developments in Turkey's bilateral relationship with Armenia were aimed only at influencing Barack Obama's April 24 statement.
Deep Concern in Baku after CSTO News
The summit of the heads of states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on February 4 in Moscow brought unexpected, yet alarming news for Baku. The members of the
Rush for Nabucco: Azerbaijan’s Position Strengthens
On January 22 President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov paid a one-day visit to Baku. The issue on the agenda was obvious: diversification of the gas supply to the EU and
Baku Emphasizes Economic and Humanitarian Assistance to Georgia
The Azerbaijani government recently announced further steps aimed at strengthening its strategic ally and neighbor Georgia and improving the post-war conditions there. This tangible help to Georgia, Baku believes, is
Who’s Who in the Azerbaijani Opposition
On October 15, Azerbaijanis will go to the polls to elect their next president. Seven candidates are running for the most prestigious and powerful position in the country. Who will
AZERBAIJAN LEAPS FORWARD IN MAKING ITS ECONOMY ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESS
As presidential elections approach in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev scored a major winning point in domestic politics. It was announced by the World Bank that Azerbaijan has set a world
THE GEORGIAN-RUSSIAN CONFLICT THROUGH THE EYES OF BAKU
The escalating conflict in Georgia--with its unexpected military developments and great humanitarian losses--seems to have caught Azerbaijani officials and the public off guard. Azerbaijanis are not new to the world
AZERBAIJAN SEES ARMENIA DIFFERENTLY AFTER ELECTIONS
“Democracy in Azerbaijan is at least no worse than in Georgia, but the comparison with Armenia is almost impossible,” said Khazar Ibrahim, the head of the press service of the
AZERBAIJAN’S RELATIONS WITH MINSK GROUP HIT NEW LOW
Azerbaijanis have long distrusted the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk group, co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States. All three countries have large Armenian diasporas and
ARE KARABAKH SKIRMISHES MEANT TO DRAW ATTENTION FROM YEREVAN?
Azerbaijanis increasingly see the recent wave of cease-fire violations in Karabakh as an attempt by Yerevan to divert attention from the domestic turmoil that has erupted since Armenia’s February 19
RUSSIAN SOFT-POWER INCREASING IN AZERBAIJAN
Following Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004, political analysts predicted that the Kremlin would step up its efforts to conquer the hearts and minds of people living in the post-Soviet region.
KARABAKH AGAIN THE FOCUS OF FOREIGN POLICY
After rather a calm year in 2007, conflict over Karabakh is once again emerging as a primary foreign policy focus in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Last year, Azerbaijani and Armenian
AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC ONCE AGAIN DEBATING FATE OF RUSSIAN LANGUAGE
On the first week of the new year, residents of Azerbaijan were shocked to discover that the popular weekly TV program “Chto? Gde? Kogda?” (What? Where? When?) was missing from
BAKU SAYS TIME NEEDED TO DISCUSS NEW MINSK GROUP PROPOSAL
The new proposal from the OSCE’s Minsk group, put forward to the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan at last week’s OSCE summit in Madrid, needs to be studied in
GUL PAYS SYMBOLIC VISIT TO BAKU, BUT PRAGMATISM REMAINS
On November 5 the newly elected president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, paid a three-day visit to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It was his first visit to a foreign country
AZERBAIJAN’S LEADERS FEAR SPREAD OF RADICAL ISLAM, ESPECIALLY IN MILITARY
On October 27 Azerbaijani law-enforcement agencies announced they had foiled a terrorist plot targeting the U.S. and British embassies, as well as the Baku offices of several major oil companies.
ONE YEAR TO GO, BUT AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENTIAL RACE ALREADY HEATING UP
As Azerbaijan’s ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party celebrates the fourth anniversary of Ilham Aliyev’s presidency, political parties and groupings in the country are already looking ahead to the 2008 presidential election.
AZERBAIJAN’S GROWING ECONOMIC CAPACITY HAS YET TO AFFECT KARABAKH RESOLUTION
On September 4 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the national budget of the country in 2008 would reach $12 billion (Day.az, September 4). Just three years ago, the budget
SPORTS BECOMES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OPPORTUNITY FOR AZERBAIJAN
Baku hosted the world wrestling championship September 17-23, reopening the long-standing dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the status of Karabakh. According to the rules of the tournament, all sportsmen
OIL MONEY TO FUND NGOs AND OPPOSITION PARTIES IN AZERBAIJAN
Different groups in Azerbaijan are clamoring for their share of the massive flow of oil revenue generated by the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Lobbying from the ministries for additional
FOREIGN TV CHANNELS CLOSED IN AZERBAIJAN: POLITICS, ECONOMICS, OR SOMETHING ELSE?
Russia’s ORT television, the successor to the first TV station in the Soviet Union, was officially closed in Azerbaijan as of July 11. The decision came as a result of
INTELLIGENTSIA EXCHANGE SPARKS DEBATE, RAISES HOPES IN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
The surprise and controversial exchange of intelligentsia delegations between Azerbaijan and Armenia on June 28 generated heated debates in both societies. The move, the first of its kind in the
NEW OPPORTUNITIES OPENING FOR AZERBAIJANI-TURKMEN RELATIONS
Although the political establishment in Azerbaijan was chagrined by the May 12 agreement among Turkmenistan, Russia, and Kazakhstan for plans to construct a new gas pipeline to export Turkmen gas
DESPITE CEASE-FIRE ANNIVERSARY, SITUATION REMAINS TENSE IN KARABAKH
Last week, Armenia and Azerbaijan marked the 13th anniversary of the cease-fire signed between the two governments in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, in 1994. But not only does the situation
AZERBAIJAN MOVES TO SHAPE IMAGE OF ISLAMIC WORLD
On April 26 a major international conference, “The Role of Media in the Promotion of Tolerance and Understanding,” opened in Baku, Azerbaijan. The conference was held under the auspices of
ARMENIAN DIASPORA GROUPS FACE NEW AZERI CHALLENGE
On March 9, the first meeting of a new “Forum of Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organizations” convened in Baku, Azerbaijan. But as one participant described the event, “Lots of talk, but I
TEHRAN REMINDS AZERBAIJAN TO KEEP DISTANCE FROM WASHINGTON
On February 22, Azerbaijani media outlets reported that Iranian helicopters had violated the air space of Azerbaijan and by flying over the southern town of Astara for over 20 minutes.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON TOP OF ALIYEV’S AGENDA
On February 13, the government of Azerbaijan organized a major conference on the implementation of the “State Program on Regional Socioeconomic Development.” The program was adopted in 2004, immediately following
EVEN STEEP PRICE HIKES IN AZERBAIJAN CAN’T UNIFY OPPOSITION
The start of 2007 has brought new opportunities for Azerbaijan’s opposition parties to revive their activism. The decision of the State Tariff Council to increase prices for gasoline, electricity, and
REGIONAL LEADERS SEAL KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI-BAKU RAILWAY DEAL
Last Saturday, January 13, representatives from the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey took a significant step forward in the realization of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway project, which will link Asia
POLITICAL CHANGES IN TURKMENISTAN OPEN NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR AZERBAIJAN
The sudden and unexpected death of Turkmenistan’s President Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) on December 21, 2006, has opened a window of opportunity for both domestic reforms and changes in Turkmenistan’s relations
AZERBAIJANI-RUSSIAN RELATIONS ENTER TURBULENT PHASE
Azerbaijani-Russian relations, increasingly warm in the past five years, are about to enter a difficult phase that could turn both countries into regional rivals. There are three reasons for the
HUNGER STRIKE DISTRACTS AZERBAIJANI ACTIVISTS FROM FOCUSING ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS
Azerbaijani opposition activists and journalists have launched a hunger strike to protest the recent pressure on the media and opposition parties from the State Committee for the Management of State
FINALLY, PROGRESS ON KARABAKH PEACE TALKS?
Recent statements by Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian at the Armenian National Assembly have raised hopes in Azerbaijan that a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict is near. Specifically, Oskanian
AZERBAIJAN BECOMING POPULAR DRUG TRAFFICKING ROUTE
Last week the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan broke up a transnational network funneling illegal drugs from Iran toward Europe via Azerbaijan. Two citizens of Azerbaijan were arrested in
NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY OF AZERBAIJAN RALLIES FOR AZERIS IN IRAN
Parliamentary elections in November 2005 brought severe negative consequences for the Azerbaijani opposition. Most opposition parties are in a state of collapse; others have seen their activities stagnate because they
NGOs IN AZERBAIJAN CRITICIZED FOR CONTACTS WITH KARABAKH
Public protests have erupted in Azerbaijan after the chair of the Azerbaijan branch of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly visited the disputed Karabakh region and met with the leadership of the
AZERBAIJANIS TAKE SIDES IN ISRAELI-LEBANESE WAR
The ongoing military operations between Israel and Lebanon have sparked popular protests and heated debates in Azerbaijan. Although a predominantly Muslim country, Azerbaijan prides itself on being a secular country
BAKU’S CHAOTIC CONSTRUCTION BOOM DRAWS INCREASING CRITICISM
In recent weeks, more and more political parties, members of the intelligentsia, and media outlets have begun to criticize the haphazard, chaotic construction boom in Azerbaijan’s capital city, Baku. Increasing
EXPULSION OF TURKISH ELECTRICITY COMPANY PROMISES GEOPOLITICAL LOSSES FOR AZERBAIJAN
After months of mutual accusations, arrests, investigations, and political statements, the Turkish electricity company Barmek has broken its contract with the Azerbaijani government to manage electricity supplies for Baku, the
WITH FEW OUTLETS TO VOICE OPPOSITION, AZERBAIJANI STUDENTS STAGE HUNGER STRIKE
In an otherwise calm post-election period, Azerbaijan’s students are emerging as the only loud critic of the government. For the second time this year, students have staged a hunger strike
ISRAEL SHOWS INTEREST IN AZERBAIJANI ENERGY AND TRADE PROJECTS
While attending the annual Caspian Oil and Gas show in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on June 8, Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said that his country was
AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC OUTRAGED BY SLAUGHTER OF AZERIS IN IRAN
A peaceful demonstration by Azeris in the Iranian city of Tabriz and the subsequent violent crackdown on the protestors by Iranian law-enforcement agencies has resulted in public outrage in Baku,
ALIYEV’S RECENT SCHEDULE: BALANCED FOREIGN POLICY OR BAD TIMING?
Last Friday, May 5, Azerbaijan hosted the ninth summit of the ten-member Economic Cooperation Organization. The meeting convened in Baku and was attended by Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan; Mahmoud
DESPITE INITIAL PROTEST, OPPOSITION LEADERS CHANGE TONE AFTER ALIYEV’S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
Opposition parties in Azerbaijan were not happy with President Ilham Aliyev's invitation to visit the United States and were even hostile about the warm welcome he received from the White
ALIYEV’S INVITATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE: A BLESSING OR A CURSE?
Officials in Baku are rejoicing. Three years after his election, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has received an official invitation to visit the White House and meet with U.S. President George
NEW TENSIONS COMPLICATE RELATIONS BETWEEN BAKU AND TEHRAN
More than 600 representatives of Azerbaijani diaspora organizations in 49 countries assembled in Baku on March 16 for the second World Azerbaijani Congress. The event was organized by the State
AZERBAIJAN SIGNALS EASTWARD TILT WITH PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO JAPAN
President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Japan on March 8 marks another milestone in Azerbaijan's slow re-orientation toward Asia. During the visit, he met with Japanese Emperor Akihito, Prime Minister
RULING PARTY CONTINUES TO LOSE GROUND IN AZERBAIJAN
Recent sweeping changes in the ministerial positions in Azerbaijan's government have brought a new dynamic to the country's internal political developments. Whereas these developments highlighted the growing and consolidating position
MUSAVAT DECIDES TO JOIN NEW AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT
After weeks of mutual accusations and growing distrust, the founding members of Azerbaijan's largest opposition coalition Azadliq (Freedom) -- Musavat, Popular Front and the Democratic Party -- have filed for
U.S., RUSSIAN DEFENSE LEADERS COURT BAKU WITH INCENTIVE OFFERS
Several high-level foreign military dignitaries visited Baku in late January, indicating the start of a new global struggle over Azerbaijan. First came Charles Wald, deputy head of U.S. military forces
RESIDENTS ANGRY AS AZERBAIJAN HIKES GASOLINE PRICES
The new year has brought new economic surprises for the average Azerbaijani citizen. The Council on Tariffs decided on January 6 to double the price of diesel fuel (from 20
IS ALIYEV GOVERNMENT MEDDLING IN AZERBAIJAN’S BUSINESS SECTOR?
The post-parliamentary election period in Azerbaijan was marked by an unusually harsh crackdown on a group of high-profile businessmen. Foremost, the assets of the country's largest private oil company, Azpetrol,
LONG-EXPECTED PERSONNEL CHANGES BEGIN IN AZERBAIJAN
Immediately following Azerbaijan's November 6 parliamentary elections, President Ilham Aliyev began cadre changes in the government. Some local experts believe the changes are long overdue. On December 14, he replaced
AZERBAIJAN JOINS ARMENIA AS NEW MEMBER OF DISCREDITED UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
On April 29, Azerbaijan became a member of the UN Human Rights Commission. Azerbaijan's representative to the United Nations, Yashar Aliev, described the vote as an "important step." The election
AZERBAIJAN’S ALIEV SEEKS POLISH HELP FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
After visits to Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliev reversed course and paid a visit to a European country -- Poland -- on March 30. The trip
AZERBAIJAN AND CHINA MOVE TO INCREASE SECURITY AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION
President Ilham Aliev's March 17 visit to China marked a new, more expanded phase in relations between Azerbaijan and China. Although contacts between the two countries have remained relatively friendly
PROMINENT EDITOR MURDERED IN AZERBAIJAN, RUMORS SWIRL ABOUT POSSIBLE SHOOTERS
On March 2, Elmar Huseynov, editor of the popular weekly Monitor, was shot to death while returning home in Baku around 7 pm. Politicians and ordinary citizens alike were horrified
NEW SURVEY IN AZERBAIJAN SHOWS RISING INFLUENCE OF ISLAM
While local and international analysts continue to debate the pluses and minuses of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev's January trip to Iran, the non-governmental research organization Far Center, based in Baku
OSCE DELEGATION BEGINS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SETTLING KARABAKH DISPUTE
The week-long OSCE fact-finding mission on Karabakh ended February 6, leaving both Armenia and Azerbaijan impatiently waiting for the final report. Ten experts from Finland, Italy, Sweden, and Germany, as
AZERBAIJAN CELEBRATES DIPLOMATIC VICTORY, BUT WHAT NEXT FOR KARABAKH?
For the last several days, Azerbaijani politicians and the general public have been celebrating a diplomatic victory. After several hours of intense and heated debate on January 25, the Parliamentary
PRESIDENT ALIEV VISITS IRAN, DESPITE U.S.-IRANIAN TENSIONS
While local newspapers and political analysts continue to speculate about whether the United States will attack Iran during President George W. Bush's second term, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev departed for
NEW ELECTION COALITIONS IN AZERBAIJAN PROMISE HEATED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Two newly formed election coalitions have awakened Azerbaijan 's seemingly indifferent political scene, promising heated parliamentary elections later this year. On January 10, 26 NGOs and representatives from various political
RUSSIAN OIL THROUGH BTC PIPELINE: A POLITICAL SCHEME OR ECONOMIC STRATEGY?
Speaking at his quarterly press conference, David Woodward, President of BP-Azerbaijan, surprised attendees with the announcement that BTC Co. shareholders, together with the British-Russian oil company TNK-BP, were considering the
OPPOSITION WITHDRAWS FROM AZERBAIJANI MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, TAKES NOTE OF UKRAINE DEVELOPMENTS
More than 38,000 candidates are expected to contest 22,000 seats in Azerbaijan's December 17 municipal elections. Once again, the opposition has decided to boycott the vote. The independent daily Zerkalo
AZERBAIJAN TAKES KARABAKH CASE TO THE UN: A STEP BACK OR FORWARD?
Perhaps for the first time in the past ten years, Azerbaijan has departed from the traditional path of peace negotiation on the Karabakh conflict and taken its case to the
DEMOCRATIZATION TRENDS IN AZERBAIJAN: HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?
By Fariz Ismailzade The presidential election due to be held in Azerbaijan in 2003 will be an important test for the nation's nascent democracy. Incumbent President Haidar Aliev will be