The document summarizes events related to Azerbaijan, including: - Ronaldinho will open a soccer academy in Baku in partnership with Qabala FC to develop young Azerbaijani footballers. - An event was held in Geneva to screen a documentary about the Khojaly Massacre and launch a book documenting it as a war crime. Over 100 people attended. - Azerbaijan's independence day on October 18th marked 25 years since gaining independence from the Soviet Union. The EU reaffirmed its cooperation with Azerbaijan.

1. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
HEYDAR ALIYEV CENTRE BY THE LATE ZAHA HADID
– NOMINATED FOR RIBA INTERNATIONAL PRIZE
11 / 2016
www.teas.eu
Also in this issue:
Ronaldinho soccer academy ­– coming soon to Baku
Khojaly tragedy highlighted to UN representatives in Geneva
Tourism potential in the spotlight
The Azerbaijani–UNESCO alliance – shared values, shared objectives
TEAS Literary Competition – now open for prose and poetry
Culture | Public Affairs | Business
Enter the TEAS competition and win £100 of Amazon vouchers
(Photo: Hufton+Crow)

2. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
Printed by
www.turquoisemedia.eu
The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) is a UK-registered pan-European foundation dedicated
to raising awareness of Azerbaijan and fostering closer economic, political and cultural links
between that country and the nations of Europe.
As well as promoting the positive aspects of Azerbaijan, TEAS also highlights the plight of the
875,000 refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the country. These people are
unable to return to their homes and lands because of the illegal occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven surrounding districts by Armenia’s armed forces – in defiance of four UN Security
Council resolutions.
TEAS has three main facets to its operations:
• Culture – TEAS raises awareness of Azerbaijan’s rich and vibrant culture to a worldwide
audience by organising cultural events and operating as a networking centre.
• Business – TEAS supports its membership of European and Azerbaijani businesses. It
provides a platform for organisations to establish links and strengthen their existing business
relationships via a programme of networking opportunities across the regions.
• Public Affairs – TEAS works to increase awareness about Azerbaijan amongst key opinion-
formers, key decision-makers and other political, academic and civil society stakeholders.
In pursuit of its objectives TEAS:
• Organises meetings with interested parties, opinion-formers and decision-makers
• Arranges roundtables, seminars, lectures and conferences
• Publishes pamphlets, reports, bulletins, books and produces films
• Facilitates fact-finding trips by politicians and business people.
Welcome to the TEAS Magazine
Facebook
The TEAS Facebook page is
your chance to learn about the
latest news, events, campaigns
and other Azerbaijan-related
items. Visit and ‘like’ our page
at: http://bit.ly/TEASFB.
Membership and
Sponsorship
TEAS offers a range of
corporate and individual
membership packages,
providing such benefits as
advertising, trade missions,
networking, business sector
advice and hotel discounts.
TEAS also offers numerous
sponsorship opportunities
throughout the year for its
events and conferences. To find
out more, e-mail: membership@
teas.eu.
Firstly, our congratulations go to Murad Muradov, winner of the competition in the October 2016 edition.
To stand a chance of winning £100 of Amazon vouchers, simply answer the following 10 questions, the answers to which will be found
in this issue of the magazine. In the case of a tie, a draw will be made. Previous winners are ineligible to enter, as are TEAS employees
and their families. Please send all entries to editor@teas.eu by 17.00hrs (GMT) on 5 December:
1. Which Brazilian football legend is currently establishing his soccer school in Baku?
2. Which Lithuanian war reporter is featured in the documentary Endless Corridor?
3. Who is the editor of the Belgian magazine entitled Travel?
4. When did Azerbaijan initiate its collaboration with UNESCO?
5. How many countries participated in the 42nd
Chess Olympiad in Baku?
6. Can you name one of the judges for the Khojaly Literary Prize?
7. The music and culture of which country has recently been celebrated at the Rashid Behbudov Azerbaijan State Song Theatre?
8. Which Arabic budget carrier is launching flights from Sharjah to Baku?
9. What is the Azerbaijani ranking in the Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All report by the World Bank Group?
10. Who is the new Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan, Iraq and Turkmenistan?
Win £100 of Amazon vouchers!
24 November: Private View: Five Roads Back Home exhibition (London)
Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL. 18.30hrs. RSVP via EventBrite at http://bit.ly/frbhlondon
Public opening hours: 25–29 November; 10.00–17.00hrs
In July 2012, photographer Philipp Rathmer visited four camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Azerbaijan, who are the
ongoing victims of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding regions. He met the people and heard
their stories. Solely using his camera and a black background, he captured the scenes he saw and tells the story of these people’s fate.
This private view will be held in the presence of the photographer.
24 November: Miri-Yusif in London (with support from DJ China)
The Qube Project, 191 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5NE
20hrs. Book tickets via EventBrite at http://bit.ly/miriyusif
In conjunction with Balo Events and Caspian Khazri, TEAS is pleased to support a concert by the legendary Azerbaijani R’n’B megastar
Miri-Yusif, with support by D.J. China.
Upcoming Events For full details of all TEAS events, go to www.teas.eu/upcomingevents

3. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
03
From the TEAS Director
Lionel
Zetter,
Director,
TEAS
Politics and News
The Azerbaijani team Qabala FC and
Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho are
joining forces to open a Soccer Academy in
Baku. Speaking during a press conference
in the capital, Ronaldinho said: “The main
goal is that those children who join the
academy bearing my name will become
more responsible football players. If they
are hired as professional football players in
the future, I will regard this as my success.
I will help them if they are selected to join
big clubs.
“It is anticipated that the summer football
school, seminars, and courses in my
language – Brazilian Portuguese – will
result in higher-quality, more disciplined
Azerbaijani footballers of tomorrow. This will
also serve to further develop and popularise
the ‘beautiful game’ in the country.”
Tale Heydarov, Chairman, Qabala FC,
commented: “We hope that the Ronaldinho
Football Academy will stimulate young
people’s interest in football. Ronaldinho will
develop the philosophy of the academy by
forming his own team, and will personally
participate in its evolution. The academy
will certainly be based in Baku, and we
would like all different age groups, from
U-11 onwards, to participate in the national
championship.”
On 18 October, Azerbaijan celebrated the
25th
anniversary of gaining its independence
from the Soviet Union. The country had
been briefly independent before from 1918–
20, but the arrival of the Bolsheviks put an
end to that early experiment in democratic
government, which had seen women given
the vote before they had been granted the
franchise in the UK or USA.
This month’s magazine features interviews
with Ambassador Anar Karimov, Permanent
Azerbaijani Representative to UNESCO,
and with female Chess Grand Master
Nargiz Umudova. In Geneva, there was the
launch of the landmark TEAS publication
Khojaly Witness of a War Crime – Armenia
in the Dock and a screening of the award-
winning independent Jeremy Irons-
narrated documentary Endless Corridor,
also focusing on personal testimonies from
the Khojaly Massacre.
In Brussels, an event promoting Azerbaijan
as a tourist destination was held at the
Brussels Press Club Europe for an audience
of tourism professionals. This focused on
the wide range of holidays and facilities
that are now available in the country.
The popularity of Azerbaijan as a holiday
destination has grown rapidly as security
concerns have caused tourists to turn away
from long-established destinations.
Azerbaijan will be ranked 65th
in the World
Bank’s Doing Business 2017 Guide.
Meanwhile the prospective launch of
hybrid power plants across Azerbaijan –
harnessing the power of biogas, solar and
wind energy – has been announced.
On the sporting front, it has been
announced that Ronaldinho will be opening
a football academy in Baku. Qarabag FC
are unique as they have had to play away
from their home for 25 years, due to the
Armenian occupation. In the Europa
League, they beat Greek team PAOK 2–0
in Baku, and went on to achieve a 1–0
defeat in Thessaloniki.
The Khojaly Literature prize – launched
to complement the Khojaly Arts Prize –
has now been extended to include poetry
entries, providing more potential for
creative writers to apply their imagination.
Lionel Zetter
Director, TEAS
Brazilian footballing ace Ronaldinho unveiled his plans alongside Tale Heydarov, Chairman, Qabala FC
Qarabag FC thrashes PAOK FC: 2–0
The Azerbaijani team Qarabag FC – who have been unable to play at home since the
occupation of Agdam by Armenian forces in 1993 – have resoundingly defeated Greek
team PAOK in the third round of Group J in the Europa League. Playing at their temporary
home of the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, goals were scored by Dani Quintana in the 56th
minute and Rahid Amirguliyev in the 87th minute. In the return game in Thessaloniki,
Qarabag achieved a 1–0 defeat, with Michel scoring in the 68th minute.
Ronaldinho soccer academy to come to Baku
Azerbaijani peacekeeping role hailed
Earl Howe, British Defence Minister and
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
has hailed the Azerbaijani contribution to
peacekeeping operations, particularly in
Afghanistan, during a meeting with Colonel-
General Zakir Hasanov, Azerbaijani
Defence Minister, on the sidelines of the
UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial
Meeting in London. The sides exchanged
views regarding the development of UN
peacekeeping activities and the burgeoning
role of Azerbaijan in this. They also
discussed military co-operation between
the two countries.
EU to continue to closely co-operate with
Azerbaijan
On the 25th
anniversary of Azerbaijan regaining its independence from the Soviet Union on
18 October, the website of the European External Action Service (EEAS) stated: “The EU
congratulates Azerbaijan and its people on the 25th anniversary of the restoration of state
independence. Azerbaijan has developed profoundly over the course of these years. The EU
will continue to co-operate closely with Azerbaijan in support of developing strong democratic
institutions, the rule of law, and economic prosperity for the benefit of all Azerbaijanis.
“This year also marks the 25th anniversary of EU–Azerbaijani relations, and 20 years
since the signing of the EU–Azerbaijan Partnership and Co-operation Agreement
(PCA). The EU looks forward to the launching of negotiations on a new agreement with
Azerbaijan, replacing the 1996 PCA and serving to further develop its bilateral relations
in areas of mutual interest, aligned with the principles of the recently reviewed European
Neighbourhood Policy, in addition to international law.”

4. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
The Khojaly Massacre – the worst
single atrocity of the ongoing Armenian–
Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
that claimed the lives of 613 civilians –
was highlighted during an historic event
in Geneva on 13 October. This was
attended by 120 diplomats, representatives
of NGOs, researchers and members of
the Azerbaijani diaspora. It was jointly
organised at the Grand Hotel Kempinski
by the Azerbaijani Permanent Mission
to the UN Office and Other International
Organisations in Geneva and TEAS France.
The death toll of the Khojaly Massacre on
26 February 1992 included 106 women,
63 children and 70 elderly people. This
event comprised a screening of the award-
winning independent documentary Endless
Corridor and the Swiss launch of the book
Khojaly Witness of a War Crime – Armenia
in the Dock, a TEAS Press publication.
Ambassador Vaqif Sadiqov, Permanent
Representative of the Azerbaijani Mission
to the UN Office and Other International
Organisations in Geneva, commented:
“Endless Corridor is not a conventional
type of documentary and does not deal with
statistics, but instead touches upon the soul
of the people impacted by the war. Every
death has a personal story behind it. This
film tells the stories of some of those who
escaped the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly.
In one night, the town was wiped out. The
massacre coincided with the genocides in
Srebrenica and Rwanda, and largely went
unnoticed by the international community.
I recall the visits of reporters for Reuters,
AFP, Human Rights Watch and the New
York Times who investigated Khojaly and
tried to bring it to the attention of the public.
“The negotiations have continued for 25
years. I joined the Azerbaijani diplomatic
service just after these started, and I will
retire quite soon, yet the process continues.
TEAS is doing a marvellous job in putting
Azerbaijan on the radar screen of the world,
and I express my gratitude as an Azerbaijani
citizen.”
Marie-Laetitia Gourdin, Director, TEAS
France, said: “One of the military leaders
at the time was Serzh Sargsyan, the
current Armenian President. This massacre
is not yet recognised by the Armenian
side, but there is indisputable proof that it
occurred. At TEAS, we think that it is only
by remembering and recognising that which
happened will enable a negotiated peace to
be reached.”
Lithuanian war reporter Ricardas Lapaitis
painfully recalled: “I am the living witness of
these terrible events that still haunt me and
changed my destiny. At Agdam Mosque, I
saw the victims as they were brought in.
Many of the dead were without shoes. The
head of one dead girl showed signs of burns
and bullet wounds. One six-year-old girl
had part of her head missing, and there was
a deep wound below her waist. Some of the
dead displayed signs of torture, including
broken teeth, cut fingers and ears. Doctors
said they had treated girls aged 13–16
years who had been raped. Many Khojaly
victims suffered amputations, or had been
shot.
“The Armenians and their accomplices who
participated in the Khojaly Massacre were
in contravention of the Geneva Convention
and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of
the Child, Declaration on the Protection of
Women and Children in Emergencies and
Armed Conflicts and many other articles
adopted by the UN General Assembly.
“There should be a trial at the International
Criminal Court of The Hague to judge those
responsible for the Khojaly Massacre. The
criminals include Serzh Sargsyan, the
current Armenian President and Seyran
Oganyan, Armenian Defence Minister.
The Khojaly inhabitants now live in camps
across the 48 Azerbaijani regions, and await
the cessation of Armenian aggression. I
regularly visit the areas near the ‘contact
line’ between Azerbaijan and the territories
occupied by Armenia. Night attacks,
sabotage, and the burning of houses and
agricultural land by the Armenian military
continues to this day, as does firing on
schools.”
Ian Peart, who co-edited Khojaly Witness
of a War Crime – Armenia in the Dock in
collaboration with the late Scottish writer
Fiona Maclachlan recalled: “Yasemen
Hasanova was 12 years old at the time. The
attacks that had continued for six months
took on a different character in February
1992. Yasemen’s father was part of the local
defence force that had expected an attack.
It soon became clear that survival was
only possible if they escaped. Her mother
refused to leave without her husband, so
Yasemen escaped Khojaly with her uncle.
After passing through streams and snow-
covered forests, they came to a clearing,
and were met by a hail of bullets. Yasemen
survived, physically unscathed.
“The body of Yasemen’s father was only
found some time later. He is now buried
in Martyrs’ Lane, overlooking Baku, as a
national hero. The fate of her mother was
unclear for some years. She then saw
some television footage and recognised her
mother’s body lying in their garden, near
the well. Yasmen said: ‘I never thought any
daughter would be glad that her mother was
dead. At least, she had not been tortured by
the Armenians.’
“Yasemen is now a teacher in a school
for Khojaly survivors. When I asked her
what she tells her pupils about Khojaly,
she replies: ‘I tell them how beautiful
Khojaly was’. The book is as objective as
possible, and contains reports from foreign
media, together with analysis from foreign
academics and human rights activists.”
Mr Peart then read the text of UN Security
Council resolution 822 – one of the four
resolutions stressing the need for immediate
Armenian withdrawal from the occupied
territories. He concluded: “This demand
for the withdrawal of Armenian troops was
passed in 1993. I ask those working for the
UN who are present tonight – what is the
value of a UN Security Council demand?”
04 Politics and News
Khojaly horror comes to the bastion of neutrality – Geneva
Ambassador Vaqif Sadiqov, Permanent Representative
of the Azerbaijani Mission to the UN Office and Other
International Organisations in Geneva commented on the
uniquely personal, emotional nature of the documentary
Lithuanian war reporter Ricardas Lapaitis – whose
testimony is central to Endless Corridor ­– recalled the
horrific scenes of the massacre
Ian Peart, who co-edited Khojaly Witness of a War Crime
– Armenia in the Dock, questioned the validity of the UN
Security Council resolutions passed against Armenia that
have remained unimplemented since 1993

5. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
05Politics and News
Azerbaijan was placed firmly in the tourism
spotlight during the inaugural Azerbaijan
Tourism Forum Brussels, aimed at industry
professionals and hosted by TEAS Benelux
on 20 October at the Brussels Press Club
Europe, in the heart of the European
quarter. Attendees included H.E. Khazar
Ibrahim, Azerbaijani Ambassador to NATO,
and the sponsors and partners were
Azerbaijan Business Hub Netherlands,
Dentons, and Flanders Investment and
Trade (FIT).
The forum came in the wake of the passing
of a Presidential Decree on diversification
of the economy in March 2016, which
identified tourism as one of the eight
priority sectors for development, and a
Presidential Executive Order, passed in
September 2016. This has paved the way
for the foundation of a Tourism Council, the
determination of new air routes, expansion
of seaside and budget tourism and the
development of tourism educational
centres. It is now projected that more than
1.5bn tourists per year will visit the country
by 2020, as the country has now signed
tourism co-operation agreements with 28
nations.
Keynote speaker Marc Verwilghen,
Director, TEAS Benelux and former Belgian
Minister for Foreign Trade, commented:
“Even in the Benelux countries, where
travelling is part of our lifestyle, we are
unaware of the glories of Azerbaijan. The
country lies on a crucial geographical
location at the intersection of multiple
crossroads – between Europe and Asia,
and between East and West.”
H.E. Fuad Isgandarov, Azerbaijani
Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and
the EU reflected: “Azerbaijan is coming
closer to Europe and reflects European
values. I urge our friends from Belgium
and other EU countries to think about the
tourism possibilities of my country. We
are working towards the signing of a free
aviation agreement next year. This will
facilitate new tourism opportunities. All
those in attendance are very, very welcome
to visit Azerbaijan.”
Farid Isayev, Director, Head of Legal
Services, KPMG Azerbaijan and Head of
the Tourism Committee at the Azerbaijan–
US Chamber-of-Commerce (AMCHAM),
said: “AMCHAM has recommended that
the list of countries qualified for the
issuance of ‘visas upon arrival’ should be
increased to include European countries
and the US. We have also recommended
that an ‘Open Skies’ policy should be
implemented, enabling an enhanced
range of air carriers to operate flights,
thereby increasing competition and
reducing prices.”
Issa Smatti, Area Manager, Nomade
Aventure, who has made a full-length film
about the splendours of the Azerbaijani
regions that will soon be broadcast on
TV5 Canada and Voyage, commented:
“For the programme, I visited Khinalug,
situated around 200km from Baku. The
population of this town speak a unique
language, and are very proud of their
unspoiled heritage. There are no hotels,
so living in a homestay is essential. These
are very comfortable, the people are very
pleasant and welcoming, and their cuisine
is wonderful. Azerbaijanis in this region are
delighted to greet foreigners – for them,
this something new.”
Robrecht Willaert, Guest Professor,
University of Leuven and Founder and
Chief Editor of Travel magazine for 25
years, imparted some advice: “In my
view, Azerbaijan is completely unknown in
Belgium. Travellers want a new experience
– Azerbaijan must focus on the unique
strengths of its country, culture and the
people, above all else. If a promotional
structure is implemented in the Benelux
countries, then visitors from there will
surpass all others in five years.”
Elgun Mammadov, CEO, Gilan Hospitality
Group, explained: “A decade ago,
Azerbaijan only received business
travellers. Until 2014, tourists were
predominantly from the CIS countries,
Turkey and Europe. Tourism really spiked
when Azerbaijan hosted the Eurovision
Song Contest in 2012, when over 50m
tourists entered the country during a two-
week period. The European Grand Prix
will continue to be hosted in Baku over the
next five years.
“Gabala has the best tourism infrastructure
of all the Azerbaijani regions, offering
holidays ranging from skiing to medicinal
oil treatments, trekking and the Gabaland
children’s amusement park. Gilan operates
a number of top-quality hotels in Gabala,
Baku and other parts of the country.”
James Hogan, Managing Partner, Dentons
Baku has spent over 25 years in Azerbaijan.
He reflected: “The greatest Azerbaijani
resource is its people, who rank amongst
the most hospitable, accommodating and
interesting in the world. A new law on
tourism is currently awaiting ratification by
the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament).
This will define the role of the State in
determining its role in developing tourism,
together with regulating tour operators
and agencies and expanding international
relations.”
The US-based Azerbaijani journalist
Nikki Kazimova, author of Azerbaijan –
Culture Smart! The Essential Guide to
Customs and Culture, said: “Younger
travellers are more likely to be staying in
homestays in the regions, so it is important
that western tour operators have local
partners on the ground that can help place
culture in context. Hospitality is sacred in
Azerbaijan, and traditional houses have
rooms dedicated to guests. One essential
phrase in Azerbaijan is ‘be my guest.’
Tourism also brings new influences into
the country, and that is wonderful. Many
of the misconceptions about my country,
particularly regarding the role of women
and religion, need to be abandoned.”
Mr Verwilghen summed up by saying:
“The future for Azerbaijan is brilliant,
particularly in the tourism sector, and this
will play a very important role in the future
of the nation. TEAS always aims to place
Azerbaijan on the map, and that has been
the objective for today.”
Azerbaijan – the next great tourism destination showcased in Brussels
Issa Smatti, Area Manager, Nomade Aventure, spoke
affectionately of the hospitality that awaits the intrepid
traveller in the Azerbaijani regions
The message from the panel of tourism experts was
resolutely upbeat
The renowned travel journalist Robrecht Willaert, Chief
Editor of Travel magazine, outlined some inspirational
strategies for promoting Azerbaijani tourism

6. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
06
H.E. Ambassador Anar Karimov was appointed as Permanent
Delegate of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in
2014, having previously been Counsellor and Deputy Permanent
Delegate to the Organisation since 2009. A career diplomat, he
was Second Secretary and First Secretary at the Department of
Human Rights, Democratisation and Humanitarian Affairs at the
Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and before that worked in
the Azerbaijani Embassy to Belgium and Mission to the EU. Neil
Watson spoke to him in his Parisian office to find out more about
the Azerbaijani–UNESCO relationship.
Azerbaijan began to collaborate with UNESCO in 1992, soon
after restoring its independence. Why was it necessary to
establish UNESCO–Azerbaijani relations so expediently?
As you may be aware, UNESCO is a specialised UN agency
contributing to peace and security by promoting international
collaboration in the areas of education, science, culture,
communications and information, and holds unique expertise in
those areas. For over 70 years, UNESCO has been renowned for
its technical and expert support, new technologies and innovations,
and strategic planning. It is the only UN agency with a mandate
that encompasses all educational aspects, ranging from inclusive
education to lifelong learning. Furthermore, existing UNESCO
Conventions in the cultural domain are unique, determining the
nature of those legal instruments that regulate such aspects as
the protection of culture and nature, the safeguarding of intangible
and underwater heritage, promotion of cultural diversity and
prohibition of illegal restitution. Furthermore, UNESCO is the sole
global agency dealing with preservation of the oceans and the
maintenance of biodiversity.
UNESCO does not solely focus on its mandate, programmes
and projects, but also on intellectual reference. Here, numerous
experts and scientists meet and discuss topics of vital importance,
and it is unsurprising that it is unofficially known as ‘the laboratory
of ideas’.
UNESCO is therefore essential, and hence Azerbaijan became
a member country and established a fully-fledged relationship in
1992, soon after regaining its independence. Since then, Azerbaijan
has benefited in myriad ways from its rich and comprehensive
experience, particularly regarding technical expertise.
How would you describe the current state of UNESCO–
Azerbaijani relations?
Since joining UNESCO, our relationship has expanded
exponentially, particularly since 2004 with the nomination of the
Azerbaijani First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva, as the UNESCO Goodwill
Ambassador. This constitutes an essential page in the annals of
the UNESCO–Azerbaijan relationship. Due to the wide-ranging
activities by the First Lady at a national and international level,
aimed at promoting UNESCO values, the level of Azerbaijani–
UNESCO co-operation has become increasingly intensive and
dynamic, reaching new horizons of partnership towards the
advancement of the ideals of peace and solidarity.
Another landmark event was the signing on 18 July 2013 of the
Framework Agreement on Azerbaijani–UNESCO Co-operation in
the spheres of education, science, culture and communication.
In line with the spirit of this agreement, Azerbaijan has become
committed towards providing financial contributions to UNESCO
in support of its global mission in such areas as girls’ education,
the protection of the Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage
of Humanity, gender equality, intercultural dialogue, and natural
disaster prevention.
By signing this agreement, Azerbaijan supported UNESCO
throughout its financial challenges and became a donor country in
furthering its efforts to raise the quality of education in the least-
developed countries.
I would describe our co-operation with UNESCO as twofold.
First and foremost, Azerbaijan seeks to contribute towards the
Personalities – Ambassador Anar Karimov
The importance of glorious, passionate, poetic Azerbaijani
mugham – seen here performed by a youthful Malik Mansurov
(tar), Alim Qasimov (khanende and daf), and Elshan Mansurov
(kamancha) – has also been recognised by UNESCO
Supporting world culture – the pivotal role of Azerbaijan at UNESCO
H.E. Ambassador Anar Karimov is playing an integral role in promoting Azerbaijani culture
at UNESCO and ensuring that the country plays an active role in achieving its aims and
objectives

7. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
Personalities – Ambassador Anar Karimov
UNESCO mission of international co-operation, advancing the
ideals of peace and sustainable development through education,
culture, science and communication. Secondly, it serves to benefit
and share in the expertise of UNESCO, using this platform to
represent its own rich culture and experience.
We are more than confident that Azerbaijan, which is imbued
with a rich and unique cultural heritage, has much to offer the
international community in terms of intercultural dialogue and
tolerance. Due to its location on the crossroads of civilisations,
cultures and religions, Azerbaijan has inherited very strong
traditions of cultural diversity and multiculturalism. Since regaining
its independence, these positive ideals and values have been
strengthened, and no alternative is apparent.
Today, we are aiming to share our experiences with the members
of the international community. This is attributable to the fact that
numerous different ethnic groups and religions have peacefully
coexisted in Azerbaijan for centuries. We perceive the notion of
‘unity in diversity’ as an asset that serves to contribute towards
the development of our country.
These are not merely empty words – a comprehensive policy and
concrete actions support our vision and commitments.
What work does the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to
UNESCO undertake?
The Permanent Delegation is responsible for the overall co-
ordination of the work undertaken between UNESCO and its
national stakeholders. The representatives of my Delegation
attend all the committee meetings organised by the different
Conventions, conferences, and seminars organised at the
UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, and sometimes abroad.
During such meetings, we deliver our position on various aspects
of UNESCO work, and address the contemporary challenges of
promoting international co-operation and solidarity in conjunction
with other member states. Our Permanent Delegation also works
towards the implementation of the aforementioned Framework
Agreement, and co-ordinates the work of Steering Committee,
established with the aim of supervising Fund-in-Trust projects
between Azerbaijan and UNESCO. Here, I would also like to
highlight the important role played by the Azerbaijani National
Commission for UNESCO, created in 1994 and chaired by H.E.
Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister. These serve
to promote UNESCO values and objectives on a national and local
level.
Azerbaijan is very successful at adding cultural elements to the
UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,
including the Copper Craftsmanship of Lahij, Azerbaijani
carpets, the Azerbaijani tar, Kelaghayi and Mugham. What are
the challenges in making submissions for this list?
Since the ratification of the Convention on the Protection of
Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, Azerbaijan has become
committed to its principles and values, and held membership of
the Intergovernmental Committee of this Convention from 2010–
14. During this period, we spared no efforts to contribute towards
the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention. In 2013, we
hosted one session of this Committee in Baku.
Azerbaijan has a rich intangible cultural heritage, and our
objective is to preserve and share its culture with the international
community. The UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity provides a unique opportunity
in this regard. Azerbaijan has inscribed several elements of its
cultural heritage on this list, including the Azerbaijani carpet, tar,
Kelaghayi scarves and Mugham. I would like to dwell a little more
on one remarkable example of Azerbaijani heritage – Chovqan,
a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game – which was added to
the list of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity in need of Urgent
Safeguarding in 2013. That was an important step, bringing the
reality of intangible heritage facing the threat of disappearance
due to military conflict and occupation to the attention of the
international community. I firmly believe that inscription of this
element on the UNESCO list will raise awareness of issues
regarding the extinction of the unique Karabakh horse breed
and mobilise the international community in working towards
safeguarding of this for future generations.
A pivotal role in achieving this listing has been played by the
Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who initiated the
submission and supported nominations throughout the whole
process. In conjunction with her leadership of the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation, Mrs Aliyeva is undertaking much to safeguard our
precious intangible heritage by supporting young artists and
craftsmen. For instance, the beautiful Mugham Centre, which
features high quality acoustics, practice rooms and recording
equipment, and the extraordinary Carpet Museum – which itself
is in the shape of an unfurling carpet – have been opened in Baku
under her initiative, the objective being to preserve and maintain
this rich national heritage.
To achieve successful evaluation by the Intergovernmental
Committee preceding inscription on the List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it is necessary to prepare
comprehensive nomination files of the highest quality. These
should describe the important role and social functions of
the proposed element in the life of several communities, and
within the intangible cultural heritage of Azerbaijan. We closely
07
A carpet from the Armenian-occupied Karabakh region – Azerbaijani carpets are now
included on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

8. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
collaborate with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
whose experts work very hard to prepare nominations in line with
the spirit and criteria specified in the Convention.
I would also like to emphasise the importance of multinational
nominations that provide cross-border co-operation and contribute
towards intercultural dialogue. There are certain achievements
of which we are proud. For example, we closely collaborate with
neighbouring Turkey and Iran, together with the Central Asian
republics to present our common and shared heritage on the
UNESCO list.
Has the Permanent Mission of Armenia been obstreperous in
trying to stop certain elements from being added to the list?
Naturally, when it comes to intangible heritage, there are some
attempts to misappropriate or make claims regarding alleged
‘monopolistic ownership’, which we always condemn as they
contradict the letter and spirit of the Convention and international
co-operation. Armenia is regrettably trying to use this cultural
platform for its political purposes by claiming ownership of, or
denying, certain cultural elements to the Azerbaijani people.
However, these efforts have failed to derail us from our objectives
and have not detracted from our purpose and goals regarding the
safeguarding of our precious intangible cultural heritage.
What is UNESCO doing to preserve Azerbaijani heritage in the
occupied territories?
This is a very painful and sensitive subject for all Azerbaijanis.
Since the 1990s, virtually all cultural sites, mosques, cemeteries
and museums have been destroyed or damaged by the occupying
Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven surrounding
regions. Furthermore, not a single monument testifying to the
centuries-old cultural and religious presence of Azerbaijanis in
the modern territory of Armenia escaped desecration or complete
destruction. I can mention dozens of mosques located in Yerevan,
and numerous cemeteries.
There is only one phrase to explain all this – ‘cultural terror’.
Nowadays, the international community faces the deliberate and
barbaric destruction of cultural heritage in Middle East, and more
frequently uses the terminology of ‘cultural cleansing’. We have
had first-hand experience of the pain and suffering of such cultural
cleansing for over 25 years.
Naturally, we are continuously informing the international
community, including UNESCO, about these facts. On several
occasions, we have proposed the despatch of monitoring missions,
within existing institutional mechanisms, to UNESCO. However,
despite our efforts, such missions have not been realised, due to
the position of Armenian side.
We work actively within the relevant UNESCO platforms to draw
the attention of the international community to gross violations of
the norms and principles of international humanitarian law. In this
context, I would like to highlight our membership of the Committee
of the Second Protocol of the Convention for the Protection of
Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague,
1954).
This has enabled us to promote the adoption of a strategy on the
Protection of Cultural Property in the Occupied Territories. This
document identifies the occupying power as being responsible
for the destruction of cultural property in the occupied territories.
Furthermore, the issue of organisation of the monitoring missions
to the occupied territories has also been brought to the Committee
Agenda.
I would also like to use this opportunity to mention another
important issue. Through its Fund-in-Trust, the Azerbaijani
Government has funded the UNESCO project – now almost
finalised – regarding the preparation of a Military Manual on the
Protection of Cultural Property. We are very proud to provide our
modest contribution towards the realisation of this project, as the
protection of such cultural heritage has never been so timely and
imperative. I believe this constitutes yet another step, and clearly
demonstrates our strong commitment towards the protection of
cultural heritage.
In which international restoration projects has Azerbaijan
been involved?
Alongside the protection and preservation of its national tangible
and intangible cultural heritage, Azerbaijan contributes to the
protection and restoration of cultural heritage in the international
arena. The role of Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijani First Lady and
President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation should be especially
emphasised. Under her leadership, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation
has supported the restoration of Strasbourg Cathedral, together
with the restoration of several art objects of universal value in
the Vatican, the protection of cultural heritage in such disaster-
affected regions as Haiti and across Africa, construction of the
Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre Museum in Paris and
restoration of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Complex in
Bulgaria.
How do you see the UNESCO–Azerbaijani relationship
developing?
As previously stated, the UNESCO–Azerbaijani relationship
is constantly developing, and significant progress has been
achieved, to date. However, there is no room for complacency,
and we are keen to continue and evolve our mission. There is
still considerable untapped potential at UNESCO that is worthy
of exploration, and many projects and initiatives need to be
implemented in this regard.
Furthermore, we will continue our active work within the
Intergovernmental Committees that represent the interests of
my country. It should be mentioned that, in 2015, Azerbaijan –
for the first time in its history – was elected as a member of the
UNESCO World Heritage Committee for four years. We hope to
bring our expertise to the work of the Committee and contribute
towards implementation of the 1972 Convention. The Framework
Agreement was signed for five years, and we will be considering
funding new projects within our Fund- in-Trust in the future.
Visit www.unesco.mfa.gov.az for more information on the work of
the Azerbaijani Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.
08 Personalities – Ambassador Anar Karimov
Emanating from the Armenian-occupied Karabakh region, the Azerbaijani horse-riding sport
of Chovqan was added to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity in need
of Urgent Safeguarding in 2013 (Photo: Eldar Farzaliyev)

9. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
09Personalities – Nargiz Umudova
Born in 1989, Nargiz Umudova is one of
the brightest stars on the women’s chess
scene. Ranked by world chess governing
body FIDE as a Woman Grand Master,
she is rated as 2267 in the standard
game; 2154 in the rapid game; and 2218
in the blitz game. She is currently ranked
at 6377 of all active players in the world,
and 264 amongst female players. Nargiz
became a Woman FIDE Master in 2006,
and a year later was announced as a
Woman International Master. She became
a Woman Grand Master in 2015.
Baku recently hosted the 42nd
Chess
Olympiad at the National Gymnastics
Arena, which brought together
representatives from 175 countries.
Neil Watson interrupted Nargiz from her
practice session:
What originally inspired you to take up
chess?
My father, Mameda Umudov, taught me,
and I started to play with my neighbours.
They were experienced, but I quickly beat
them. When my father saw this, he brought
me to the chess school and I started to
play on a regular basis.
I come from an artistic family, and my
father is a composer and acknowledged as
an Honoured Artist of the Soviet Union and
Honoured Art Worker of the Azerbaijani
Republic. His symphonies, ballets and
violin concerto have been performed in
Baku, Moscow, and many other cities of the
former Soviet Union. My father understood
the connection between chess and music,
and I attended many classical concerts
from the age of five years. I attribute my
perspective on chess to him, and he had
an undeniable impact on my chess career.
What do you feel are the main
psychological benefits of playing chess?
Chess is a simulacrum of life, where
you can have many ups and downs, and
situations can change. This enables the
player to become emotionally stronger and
more prepared for life. Psychology also
plays a big role in chess, and a good chess
player necessarily develops excellent
psychological understanding.
Why is chess so popular amongst the
countries of the former Soviet Union?
The Soviet Union developed an extensive
programme of chess promotion. Chess
players are regarded as being smart and
are highly respected, and many champions
have come from the former Soviet states.
Before the Soviet Union, chess was already
popular in the Russian Empire, and it then
spread to other countries.
What was the first competition in which
you participated?
I started chess in a sports centrum, which
ran a competition for a cup, and I achieved
first place in the girls’ section. My first big
win was in 2001, when I shared third place
in the European Championship in Greece.
Were there any challenges about
being a female chessplayer, either in
Azerbaijan, or internationally?
It was difficult for me to travel alone.
How strong is the national Azerbaijan
Women’s Chess Team?
The team has increased in strength on an
exponential basis, and many young girls
are now very promising. This year, the
team entered the top 10 of the World Chess
Olympiad for the second time in history.
This is a big achievement for Women’s
Chess in Azerbaijan.
Which nation’s players generally
present the greatest challenge?
It is undeniably true that the strongest
teams emanate from Russia and China.
Which path did you follow towards
becoming a Grand Master?
I chose chess-related studies in university,
and was greatly supported by my family
and friends, who enabled me to participate
in many tournaments and championships
across the world.
What are the aims and objectives of
your Chess School?
In 2014, I began a chess club with my
sister Ulkar Umudova, who is also an
International Arbiter. At the outset, we
just had a small room, but we have now
attracted increasing numbers of students
and have two branches. The children’s
game is becoming increasingly stronger,
and this is now the only chess club where
children can start to play from the age of
four years. The Azerbaijani educational
system enables chess to be taught as a
subject. Despite the fact that the children
are enjoying themselves, they can also
learn to strategise efficiently.
In October, the chess club organised a
Chess and Art event, forming part of the
Global Chess Festival, organised by Judith
Polgar, who is generally recognised as the
most successful female Grand Master of all
time. The purpose of this was to demonstrate
the connection between chess and art,
comprising a mini chess tournament, open
chess lessons, painting and marbling.
Each summer, we take the children
to a tournament in Europe, and have
already been to the Czech Republic, the
Netherlands, France, Austria and Spain.
We are now teaching children from many
different countries, including the UK, India,
Turkey, Russia and Hong Kong.
This year’s Chess Olympiad is being
hosted in Baku. How important is this
for the country?
There have been numerous big
competitions in Baku in the recent years,
including the Eurovision Song Contest,
the European Games and European
Grand Prix, and there will be many more.
All of these serve to promote the country,
demonstrating its tolerance and beauty.
How has the Women’s Team fared in this
year’s competition?
We achieved ninth position.
In the face of computer games and other
entertainments, what do you see as the
future of chess in Azerbaijan and on an
international level?
This is currently one of the biggest problems
in the country, and has a detrimental
effect on children. Sometimes they skip
chess homework because they prefer to
play computer games, and we believe
that parents should place restrictions on
this. Chess can also be an addiction, but
it is ultimately beneficial to children on a
psychological level.
Checkmate: Grand Master Nargiz Umudova reflects upon the glories of chess
A pensive Nargiz Umudova strategises her next move
during the Azerbaijani championship (Photo: Lana Chess
Photography)

10. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
The homage by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid to
Azerbaijani National Leader Heydar Aliyev – the eponymously-
named Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku – has been included on
the inaugural shortlist for a new global architectural prize issued
by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Known as
the RIBA International Prize, the shortlisting follows a rigorous
judging process, which saw the RIBA awards committee travel to
30 buildings across five continents before choosing six structures
that will be visited again in November. Setting a new global
standard for architectural achievement, the prize will be judged by
a grand jury of experts, chaired by world-renowned architect, Lord
Richard Rogers of Riverside.
In a press release, RIBA justified the selection of the structure:
“The Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku was completed in 2013 and
offers a vibrant programme of arts, music and performance to
audiences amidst vaulted spaces and distinctive wave-like forms.
The building represents a break from tradition – not least in the
post-Soviet landscape of Baku – and now welcomes over 1000
visitors a day as both a public social space and a cultural nucleus
for the city.
“The complex landscape has been brought together into a single,
fluid composition that appears out of the hill. The building is
distinctive, not only for its scale and undulating form, but for its
use of white cladding and paving, constituting a marked departure
from the traditional architecture and aesthetic of the city. The heart
of the building is found in its sophisticated and welcoming central
auditorium – a warm performance space whose innovative use of
oak to line and sculpt the interior showcases a sophistication in
both vision and joinery.” Visit http://bit.ly/hadidhac to learn more
about this remarkable structure.
Zaha Hadid’s legacy shortlisted for RIBA Architecture Prize
10 Culture
The extraordinary Heydar Aliyev Centre, designed by the
late Zaha Hadid, ‘the Queen of the Curve’, continues to
attract prizes and plaudits (Photo: Hufton+Crow)
TEAS has extended the scope of its Khojaly
Literary Prize 2017 to include categories for
short stories and poetry. Commemorating
the 25th
anniversary of the Khojaly
Massacre – the single greatest atrocity
of the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, which claimed the lives
of 613 civilians – the two competitions will
be judged separately. The revised deadline
for entries now stands as 1 January,
and please visit www.teas.eu/klp for full
information and submission details.
The judging panel will include Bob
Blackman, Chair, Azerbaijan All-Party
Parliamentary Group; Nigar Hasan-Zadeh,
Poet; Sabina Rakcheyeva, Violinist and
Cultural Advisor, TEAS; and Christopher
Arkell, former editor of The London
Magazine and owner of The London
Miscellany. The winning entries will be
read aloud in the UK Houses of Parliament
and published in a compendium that will be
distributed across Europe.
TEAS Literary Competition – poetry and prose categories now open
The contribution of Spain to the creative worlds of music and
poetry has been celebrated in Baku during an event hosted at the
Rashid Behbudov Azerbaijan State Song Theatre. Initially, leading
Azerbaijani poet Nigar Hasan-zadeh spoke about the importance
of the project, explaining that this was an invaluable opportunity
for a Bakuvian audience to experience the breadth of Spanish
culture.
Thereafter, José Luis Diez, Spanish Chargé d’Affaires, spoke of the
close cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Spain, and the prospects
for future co-operation. Francisco Kapil, Spanish language teacher
at the Azerbaijani University of Languages, ​​thanked the organisers
of the event, and explained how Spanish literature and music
served to bring the countries together in a spirit of unity.
The event concluded with an evocative poetry recital by linguists
from the Azerbaijani University of Languages, interpolated with
musical interludes from students at the ​​Baku Music Academy. The
recitations included works by Miguel de Cervantes, Jorge Manrique,
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Federico García Lorca.
Spanish literary passion and music celebrated in Baku
One of the young poets recites an extract from Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes,
following an introduction by José Luis Diez, Spanish Chargé d’Affaires

11. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
Following the waiving of the visa requirement for visitors from the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region, which saw 30,000 tourists
come to Azerbaijan during the Summer/Eid al-Adha holiday peak season, Air Arabia has announced that it will initiate direct flights to Baku
from 23 March 2017. The airline is a low-cost UAE-based carrier, and the flights will run four times a week from Sharjah Airport. Go to
www.airarabia.com to book flights.
11Business
Budget Arab carrier lifts off
It has been revealed that Baroness Emma
Nicholson, the new Prime Ministerial
Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan, Iraq and
Turkmenistan, will visit Azerbaijan in late
2016, according to H.E. Dr Carole Crofts,
UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan. Speaking
to Trend News, she explained that the
delegation would comprise representatives
of about 20 English companies. She
also noted that the second session of
the Azerbaijani–UK Intergovernmental
Commission would take place in Azerbaijan
next year, coming in the wake of the
success of the first session this year in
London.
New UK envoy to bolster trade
According to the Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All
report by the World Bank Group, Azerbaijan has been ranked in 65th
position amongst 190 countries in the global rankings, according
to the criterion of Ease of Doing Business, positioning the country
amongst 29 nations that implemented three or more reforms.
Its highest ranking was according to the criterion of Starting a
Business, where the country achieved fifth position, due to the
efficiencies achieved by the Azerbaijani Service and Assessment
Network (ASAN), which operates from an e-government platform.
Valentine Sultan, Private Sector Development Specialist, World
Bank, explained that Azerbaijan had made it easier to start a
business by eliminating the requirement to use a corporate seal.
She explained: “Azerbaijan has also achieved a high ranking in
the registration of real estate, achieving 22nd
position amongst 190
countries.” The report went on to recognise that Azerbaijan had
sought to optimise international trade processes by introducing an
electronic system for submitting export and import declarations.
The country has also suspended inspection of entrepreneurial
activities for two years, previously considered to be one of the
key hindrances regarding innovative business development.
Furthermore, the recent reforms approved by the President are
expected to radically transform the taxation system by introducing
more favourable VAT rates for socially vulnerable members of the
population, reducing the taxation burden on small- and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) and resolving the issues encountered
during the taxation of trade operations. Go to http://bit.ly/
doingbusinessaz2017 for the full report.
Azerbaijan amongst Doing Business 2017 reformer countries
An Azerbaijani delegation headed by Shahmar Movsumov, Executive Director, State
Oil Fund of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOFAZ); Chairman, Azerbaijani Governmental
Commission on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI); and Chairman,
EITI Multistakeholder Group, have participated in the EITI Board Meeting in Astana,
Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, the participants discussed the validation and status of Azerbaijan as
part of the EITI. The EITI Board agreed that Azerbaijan had achieved meaningful progress
regarding the implementation of EITI Standards, attaining considerable improvements
across several criteria, when compared with the first validation in 2015.
The EITI is a special multilateral and voluntary initiative, supported by a coalition of
companies, governments, investors and civil society organisations, designed to ensure
the achievement of a global standard that will serve to achieve transparency in the oil, gas
and mining sectors. Azerbaijan joined the EITI in 2003, and received the 2009 EITI Award
for its commitment towards EITI principles, criteria and implementation achievements.
Azerbaijan retains EITI candidate status Azerbaijan may become
EDB member by 2017
Speaking to the Izvestia newspaper, Dmitry
Pankin, Chairman, Management Board, Eurasian
Development Bank (EDB), predicted that Azerbaijan
would become an EDB member by late 2017. It is
thought that Azerbaijan will enter into membership
alongside Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel,
Japan, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand
and Vietnam.
Mr Pankin added that bringing new shareholders
would serve to increase the capital of the EDB. He
explained: “With EDB current capital standing at
$1.6bn (£1.3bn), an investment portfolio of $2.1bn
(£1.7bn) and balance portfolio of $1.6bn, reaching a
balance of $3–4bn (£2.4–3.2bn) is perfectly feasible.”
The Air Arabia fleet of jets is set to point
its nose cones towards the most popular
destination for the GCC region – Baku

12. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
Gyunel Rustamova was born in Baku and, following graduation from
the Azerbaijan State Economics University, moved to the UK to pursue
her education in fashion design at the London College of Fashion and
Central Saint Martin’s Universities.
Gyunel has been a UK resident for more than a decade, and
subsequently founded her fashion atelier in London, which is based
in South Kensington. Before venturing into fashion, she enjoyed a
successful career as an artist, predominantly using oil on canvas.
In 2010, Gyunel showcased her work in a solo exhibition entitled
Thirteen at the Cork Street Gallery in Mayfair, for which she garnered
much praise and attention.
Having ventured into women’s fashion, each season sees her
collections being conceived at the atelier, where Gyunel starts with the
process of painting her inspirations. These are then manipulated and
transformed into digital prints from which garments are constructed.
Everything from hand embellishments, and hand-finished details
are developed with luxury and sophistication in mind. Alongside the
seasonal ready-to-wear collections shown during London Fashion
Week, Gyunel has also created a Couture line, made entirely in-house
at her atelier.
Despite her business focus on fashion, Gyunel remains an artist with
a conscience at heart, and that is what led her to organise the Art as
a Medium for Action exhibition at the Hoxton Arches in Hackney, East
London in collaboration with curator Cinthia Willaman. After attending
the press briefing, Neil Watson caught up with Gyunel to find out more.
How did the concept for the project arise?
I initiated the project whilst reading for a Master’s degree course
at Central Saint Martin’s entitled MA in Applied Imagination in the
Creative Industries. The underlying concept of this course is to
“embark on a learning journey that concludes with a very personal
research project that has the potential to change your life.” I wanted to
consider the themes of charities and grassroots activism, philanthropy
and social change, trust and empathy, and the power of art and
images to compel people to make lifestyle changes. These ideas have
always personally interested me, but I am particularly concerned with
the culture of charitable giving – what makes people feel the need to
give to a cause? Is it social obligation, or a sense of philanthropy?
At the centre of all this is the question of that role played by art in
charitable donations.
Art as a Medium for Action is a relational art project and actually
quite challenging to explain to the uninitiated. Can you outline
the three elements of the exhibition yourself?
A ‘relational’ art project is one that involves its audience in some
way. My idea was to bring as many different perspectives on art as
possible into play. For this, we broke up the project into three parts.
Firstly, we interviewed over 100 people in the street. You could
compare our approach to those who ask people to undertake charity
fundraising sponsorship, and many thought this was what we wanted.
Subsequently, we asked people for their views on a selection of
artworks and charity images, and noted their responses. The second
stage was much more intimate, and comprised a set of focus groups.
This involved a small panel of individuals, who were each shown a
12 Personalities – Gyunel Rustamova
Art and action: a kinetic experience
Asher Jay’s Message in a
Bottle is a poignant, immersive,
exquisitely-executed work with
an environmental theme
Gyunel helps set up the exhibition

13. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
13Personalities – Gyunel Rustamova
selection of artworks; graphic novels; short
films and music videos, and other media.
This allowed us to obtain more detailed and
personal feedback. The final stage was the
exhibition itself. It was devised in accordance
with the responses received in the first two
parts of the project, and brought together
important activist artworks that reflected the
themes emanating from the focus groups.
However, the exhibition was also interactive.
We asked guests to write responses to the
works on speech bubbles made of card, and
invited them to add their comments throughout
the exhibition. That was a real success! We
received generally positive feedback, together
with some interesting critical interpretations of
the works. The exhibition also asked guests
to choose a charity to receive a donation – we
paid for these ­– and we invited them to make
a pledge for their chosen charity. Guests were
not forced to make the pledge, but we were
interested to see how the different forms of
actions – donating and pledging – would
make people reflect on the relationship of art
to activism.
The works that were selected were
certainly thought-provoking, such as
Willie Baronet’s We Are All Homeless (a
collection of signs from homeless people);
Larry Torro’s Who Are You Wearing
(against the fur industry); and Asher
Jay’s Message in a Bottle. The concepts
of these works are very complex. How did
you decide what to include?
In the first instance, each artist was selected
because their works represented one of
the chosen themes for the exhibition, and
secondly, because each is a uniquely
powerful example from an activist artist.
Additionally, most of the artists create works
that are far more than simple installations or
objects. For Willie Baronet, the We Are All
Homeless project is about interacting with
the people from whom he buys the signs, and
trying to reconceive the notions of ‘home’ and
‘homelessness’. The signs, as we displayed
them, are simply the surface of his work.
Similarly, Asher Jay was chosen because
she is such a forceful speaker and able
to brilliantly communicate the underlying
concepts of her work to an audience.
Suzanne Lacy is perhaps the best example
of how our chosen artists work beyond
the exhibition spaces. Her phenomenally
important 1977 work, entitled Three Weeks
in May, was about challenging the media
silence surrounding rape cases, as well as
the culture of guilt that enshrouded its victims.
Her work, which we are showing as projected
films, exists as a set of performances, painted
maps, words and signs at the sites of these
crimes, and other media. It constitutes an
example of a three-dimensional artwork that
genuinely challenged ­– and changed – public
perception.
Please tell me the story behind your own
piece of work, based around an Azerbaijani
carpet.
My contribution is a hand-woven novel theme
rug made by my grandmother Semengyul
Huseynli for my brother and I when we were
children. During my childhood, I always
spent my holidays at my grandmother’s
house in Jabrayil, Nagorno-Karabakh, and
this rug always reminds me of that. When
we were forced to leave our grandparents’
home, due to Armenian aggression and the
occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the
seven surrounding districts, this rug was one
of the very few possessions I was able to
take. I always was and am determined to hold
on to this as a reminder of my grandmother,
and of my childhood. For me, it has come
to represent a kind of innocence, and has
always held a special status in my mind. It is
much more than a mere rug to me.
When we began work on this project,
particularly after starting to discuss
representations of refugees in art, it occurred
to me that the significance of the rug lay in its
relationship to two parts of my life – before
the occupation, and after. In one silent image,
it spans the movement my family made as
internally displaced persons (IDPs). For this
exhibition, I embellished the rug with details
surrounding the central image of a house – it
now appears to be ablaze, caught up in the
conflict from which we were transposed. For
me, it represents the idea of home – lost, but
never forgotten, or completely left behind –
and I strongly believe that very soon we all
will be able to return to our lands and recreate
our memories.
Would you say that the exhibition
artworks are contrary to the self-indulgent
nature of much contemporary art, as the
concepts deal with tough, challenging and
anticapitalist subjects?
That’s a difficult question. I understand
why people might think of contemporary art
as broadly ‘indulgent’, but there are many
interesting works that deal with big ideas –
whether political, philosophical, or otherwise.
These are all important topics. But if you
mean to say that the works we showed are
particularly engaging in their challenges to
consumer capitalism, then yes, I think we
chose a selection that are notably powerful.
Larry Torro’s work for the charity People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA),
entitled Who Are You Wearing?, shows an
oversized fox parading down a catwalk whilst
wearing a dead human, as an inversion of the
fur industry. It’s funny, but also grotesque,
and it’s shocking, but also compelling. Images
like these inspire us to rethink our consumer
choices.
Willie Baronet’s work is a little different.
By collecting homeless signs, Baronet is
bringing the voices of homelessness into the
gallery space – he is giving them a voice,
Gyunel’s contribution to the exhibition is based
around one of her most treasured possessions – a
narrative carpet, woven by her grandmother –
rescued from the family home in Nagorno-Karabakh

14. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
14 Personalities – Gyunel Rustamova
whereas they usually would not have one.
The work enables us to rethink a whole layer
of society – the part that capitalism usually
wants to forget or not include, those who do
not have the money to participate in the game
of capitalism, or those who lost everything to
that game. It is transformed into a particularly
powerful piece, whether we choose to read it
as anti-capitalist, or as simply a challenge to
the way capitalism currently exists.
Why did you select Hoxton Arches, and
where else will the exhibition be exhibited?
Hoxton itself is a melting-pot, where many
different walks of life meet on a daily basis.
It’s easy to visit from the centre of London, is
vibrant and artistic, and we felt we would attract
a good and diverse audience by holding the
exhibition there. Once we had decided upon
that area, Hoxton Arches seemed to be easily
the best choice. It is a very beautiful venue,
in an old railway arch not far from the station,
and the space opens up in a number of ways
to accommodate artworks. We were able to
break down the exhibition into three sections
– a sort of introductory space that explains
the exhibition, a second room containing the
majority of the artworks, and a third space
at the rear of the building that housed Asher
Jay’s installation and painting, together with
the charity pledges. This gave a very natural
flow to the exhibition that I believe helped
guests to both understand and absorb what
we were doing. After Hoxton, the exhibition
moved to Cambridge, where several of the
curators with which I work are living. We were
fortunate to use a Georgian-era house owned
by Pembroke College, part of the University
of Cambridge. This was a quieter space than
Hoxton, but allowed guests to take in the art
at a slower pace. It was very good to see the
exhibition work so well in two very different
spaces, like seeing an old friend in a strange
context – familiar, and yet unfamiliar.
You say the exhibition is ‘ongoing’. What
do you mean by this?
In the broadest sense of being a ‘Relational’
project, we hope it will continue in the minds
of our visitors well after it is over! The idea of
the pledges at the end of the exhibition is to
involve people in an action, or set of actions,
that they will take with them from the project.
For instance, PETA, the animal-rights charity,
is asking visitors to pledge to try a vegan
diet for one month. If a handful of visitors
take that pledge, we feel the project will last
a month longer. If only one of them adapts
their lifestyle around veganism on a long-term
basis, then the thinking behind the project will
be perpetuated in their behaviour. This began
with a humble series of surveys relating to art,
and it will end precisely with an ‘ongoing’ set
of actions (at least we hope so!). And that’s
the thinking behind the title. It’s about how art
can lead into real social or political change,
or, in other words, ‘action’.
To find out more about Art as
Medium for Action, go to http://bit.ly/
artasamediumforaction,
A visitor contemplates Larry Torro’s controversial
Who Are You Wearing and Gyunel’s own Untitled

15. 11 / 2016 www.teas.eu
Harlem Désir, French Minister for European Affairs, received Elmar
Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, in Paris. Discussions
were wide-ranging, including analysis of the latest attempts to
find a negotiated, peaceful and lasting solution to the Armenian–
Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, under the auspices
of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, where France sits
alongside Russia and the US. The two diplomats also discussed the
development of Franco–Azerbaijani and Azerbaijani–EU relations.
15Business News
Désir and Mammadyarov discuss Karabakh in Paris
13Personalities – Javid Shahmaliyev 15Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
In an interview with Dmitry Kiselyov, Head, Russian news
agency Rossiya Segodnya, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
reiterated: “We will never agree with granting independence
to Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Armenian side is well aware of
this. A reasonable compromise will ensure the security of the
population of Nagorno-Karabakh; implement various Azerbaijani
investment projects in the territory and attain peaceful co-
operation between the two peoples, following the liberation of
territories beyond the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region.
This corresponds with the proposals upon which we are working
and have been proposed by the mediators.”
President Ilham Aliyev went on to cite that the main reason
for the ongoing impasse in the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, since the ceasefire and creation of
the OSCE Minsk Group in 1994, is that Armenia has remained
resolutely obstreperous regarding the negotiation process.
He continued: “Our position is that people should be able to
return to where they previously lived. The Armenian population
lived in the region for 200 years, whilst the Azerbaijani people
were there much longer, although this is not really the point. For
example, 95 per cent of the Shusha population was Azerbaijani.
They were driven out, their houses were either captured or
destroyed, and currently, other people live in their residences.
This must end, the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh
can live there as was previously the case, and we are not
against that.”
President Ilham Aliyev considered the situation from the
humanitarian perspective of the Armenian population. “What
benefit did Armenia derive from this conflict? Millions of
Azerbaijanis suffered, but did the Armenians become happier
due this situation? Did they become more secure or prosperous?
Of course, this was not the case. Without the normalisation
of relations with Azerbaijan, there can never be any regional
development. They will always live under a degree of pressure,
expecting something to happen. We want peace in the region,
our position remains constructive, but we want our territories
back. Armenia also wants peace, but it has repeatedly said that
it will not return the territories of another nation. That is the
difference between us.
“There can be no compromise on the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, but there can be a compromise on issues of local
government, self-government of the Nagorno-Karabakh region,
and in the future – if we agree – it can become an autonomous
republic. The Armenian leadership is fully aware of this, but they
manipulate public opinion, create an image of the enemy, distort
the essence of the negotiation process and present information
as if Azerbaijan wants to almost annihilate the Armenian
population or to expel them. This is simply not true.”
President Ilham Aliyev: reasonable compromise is possible
Speaking toAzerNews,AmbassadorAndrzej
Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, commented
that many high-ranking political officials
from various countries are now supporting
the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group,
tasked with establishing a negotiated peace
in the Armenian­–Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh. He commented: “The
OSCE Chairmanship is paying constant
attention and receives detailed information
about developments. Dr Frank-Walter
Steinmeier, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office,
visited the region, and resolution of the
conflict was high on his agenda.”
Referring to OSCE information, Mr
Kasprzyk stressed that the situation along
the ‘contact line’ between Azerbaijani and
Armenian forces has been relatively stable
since May 2016, although there are still
reports about ceasefire violations and
casualties. Looking from the humanitarian
perspective, he said: “Every casualty is a
tragedy, and causes grief and sorrow for
the family and friends of the deceased. I
share these sorrows.
“I would like to stress that the monitoring
exercises are not investigations, nor are
they a peacekeeping measure. They
provide a ‘snapshot’; an effective and
consistent method of accessing information
regarding the situation on the ground. With
the support of the sides, we will continue
our activities.”
Kasprzyk: Karabakh conflict subject to debate in many international
organisations
Harlem Désir, French Minister
for European Affairs, and Elmar
Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister discussed the
developments in the conflict
in a positive, convivial manner
(Photo: F. De la Mure/MAEDI)