TWO INFLUENTIAL FIRST LADIES - MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA AND ASMA-AL-ASAD

The Syrian president is visiting Azerbaijan with his wife as guests to the Azerbaijan president Iham Aliyev and his wife -Mehriban Aliyeva. Mr. Bashir al-Assad with his wife Mrs. Asma-al-Asad and their entourage will be in Azerbaijan for a 2 days working visit.

Both Iham Aliyev and Bashir al-Assad have got prominent women by their sides who are re-defining women of the East. In a wider perspective, both are good advocate in the promotion of the role of Islamic women in politics. Besides involvement in politics, both women had already to their credentials successful career paths; Mrs. Aliyeva is a qualified medical doctor, while it is well known that Mrs. al-Asad was born, bred and educated in London.

Yes, both first ladies are very beautiful. But that is only an added characteristic to the influence and power Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva and her counterpart Mrs. Asma-al-Asad command in their respective countries. Both first ladies champion various courses in their various nations. Mehriban Aliyeva is the UNESCO representative for Azerbaijan, she is the president of the Heydar Aliyev fund and she is also a parliamentarian; while Asma-al-Asad is an advocate for various rights, including rights for Syrian women. Another correlated action with both first ladies is that they are both spokesperson for the Islamic agenda of their respective nation.

Comparing the Baku meeting of the first ladies to the global attention that Michelle and Carla Bruni the spouses of the US president, Barack Obama and the French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, Mehriban and Asma may not have attracted that magnitude of global attention as they stood side by side, but one thing is certain is that their role in the political spheres of this part of the globe is of noteworthy.

RUSSIA STRATEGICALLY EXPANDS ITS ENERGY STRENGTHS

Early this year in the peak of winter, Russia had closed its flow of gas passing into Europe from Ukraine. The temporary closure saw most part of Europe without gas, despite the severe winter that Europe was experiencing at that period in time.

Gazprom, the national oil and gas Company of Russia federation is a big player in the energy industry globally; but particular its influence in the determination of the energy market prospects of its immediate competitors, for example the Azerbaijan national oil and gas Company called SOCAR is well-known. The EU national had thought out Azerbaijan as an alternative to the Russia energy, which of course it is a good move because of the vast deposit Azerbaijan has got over the Caspian basins. However, the EU is not forth coming with a strong intent towards engaging the Azerbaijan government in formidable partnership. There are various pipelines proposed to be laid from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan into the wider community market but all these ventures are in one way or the other undermined by Russia influence.

The Russia strategy that was in display this week as they signed a gas agreement with Azerbaijan is one of good foresight and strategy. Despite the independence of Azerbaijan from the Soviet Russia, Russia continues to wedge a strong influence in its former republics. Same is also observable in the other republics in proximity with Russia with probably the exception of Georgia.

Russia expansion is not just in the region Caucasus. The recent visit of Mr. Dimitir Medvedev to some selected Africa nations including Nigeria with one of the world highest deposit of oil and gas; Russia friendliness with Iran; the positive advances of Kremlin towards Venezuela; all these are signals that Russia is strategizing globally to become a force in terms of energy. Categorically, with moves such as the gas agreement with Azerbaijan, Russia is fully placed to influence most policies that will come out from the Caucasus because the EU had dragged its feet over the years.

As nations continue to depend on each other in the absent of energy independence, Russia will one day hold a vital key to greatly influence global matters. In the event of the spat between Russia and Ukraine, there was little the world community particularly EU could do to convince Russia to re-consider in its action on closing its gas pipes. Instead, what was observable was that Russia held the directives and could detect the conditions.

UPDATED: VOTE ON NGO BILL LIVES TO SEE ANOTHER DAY!

The Azerbaijan parliament is proposing a bill to regulate the NGO sector of the nations. If the bill is passed, new laws will be put in place that many have presumed as a means to curtail civil society activity in Azerbaijan.

Some of the new laws in the proposed bill include that: NGOs are required to limit their funds from abroad to about 50% of total finical requirements; foreigners will be prohibited from creating NGOs; any NGO found in violating the new rules will be penalized with outright ban or in some cases years of prohibited operations.

A lot of International NGO operates in Azerbaijan and most enjoy a considerable degree of support from the national government. The government support for civil society over the years had also encouraged various national NGOs to spring up. The positive development in the sector was reflected in the summer report of 2009 by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).

Update: A bill has recently been passed in the Assembly based on NGO reforms. But the strict measures in the initial bill for operation of NGO was entirely jetisoned due to pressure exactly on paliarmentaries from various quarters including extablished INGO and civil society groups.

IRAN HURTS HER “NOT SO” CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS NEIGHBOR AZERBAIJAN

Iran has temporary recalled its Ambassador to Azerbaijan as a protest to the visit of Israeli president Mr. Shimon Perez to the Azerbaijan territory. The Iran officials have based its reason for the withdrawal on an inflammatory statement made by the Israeli president towards Iran.

Prior to Perez visit to the Azerbaijan territories, the Iranian chief of staff was in Azerbaijan to persuade the Azerbaijan government on a need to block the visitation the Israeli officials. No concrete reason was provided by the Iranian chief of staff other than Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president wants the meeting to be called off. It is also on record that Mr. Ahmadinejad had once called for the arrest of his opposition in the last contested election simple because Mr. Hossein Mousavi had question his judgment over Israel. The reason given then was nobody has the permission to insult a president.

The Israeli president was in Azerbaijan on his tour to some selected nation around Asia and Eastern Europe. Since Mr. Ahmadinejad became the president of Iran, the relationship between both nations Iseal/Iran has become so tensed that Mr. Ahmadinejad has in so many occasion voiced outright hatred towards Israel.

Azerbaijanis in Iran is estimated at about 60% of the total Iranian population. The Iranian government has never strongly supported Azerbaijan with its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. A vast number of the Azerbaijani population living in Azerbaijan views this as Iranian support towards the Armenians.

AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT PASSES A BILL OF IMPROVEMENT TO THE EDUCATION SECTION

Last week the Azerbaijan parliament passed a bill of improvement with the education system of the country. The bill was initially passed in December of 2008 but was considered for slight changes before it is finally passed into law.

The particular aspect of the new bill that was considered for improvement was on establishment of educational institutions especially by foreigners. Foreigners and foreign entities are allowed begin schools, colleges and institutes, but licenses are granted for only 3 year period upon which the beneficiaries of license must re-apply. The foreigner or foreign entities must have a legal domestic agency that has to jointly coordinate the entire process of applying. Furthermore, upon the grant of license to operate, staff of the institute must comprise at least 85% of locals.

Another aspect in the improved bill is geared towards the moderation of private institutes. Whereas state run institutes operate with no duration in focus, institutes created by private citizens are granted license for duration of 5 years. Upon its license expiration, these private institutes are to re-apply for license.

Other aspects of the education law remains, for instance, the secondary duration remains 9 compulsory years, and 2 optional years wherein a person can decide to opt for a 2 year vocational school.

The Azerbaijan educational system hasn’t change much and is still largely based on the soviet system of education. But some government universities such as Baku State University and most private universities are beginning to introduce the Bologna system as is practiced in Europe. It should be said that teachers did not have it so good during the communist USSR, and as such, even today, the teachers and lectures are still not well paid. Despite the tremendous positive improvement in their financial status, but a lot still need to be done in other to keep them in bracket with other sectors of the economy.

AZERBAIJAN GOVERNMENT REVIEWS ITS MIGRATION LAWS

The Azerbaijan immigration laws are undergoing a major review recently and come 1^st July, a new set of laws would be put in place for all persons coming into Azerbaijan for different purposes.

Monitoring the UK website Azerbaijan, migrants will observe that UK citizens will now require obtaining VISA from the Azerbaijan embassy in London before they are granted entrance into the country. This has not been the case before, as VISA can previously be granted from the point of entry.

The same new measures also apply to the US citizens and the EU citizens. Irrespective of purpose of entry to Azerbaijan, all migrants are expected to be dully granted entrance permission from respective country embassies. Additionally, the VISA durations is fixed for no more than 30 days, and can only be extended upon prove that persons need to stay beyond the 30 days.

Other nations, such that has not fallen into EU, UK or US, who had not in the past enjoyed the privilege of obtaining VISA at point of entry, the situation remains unchanged as they will still be required to obtain VISA from the nearest Azerbaijan Embassy to their country of origin or resident.

It should be noted that over time, the Azerbaijan government continues to review its general laws. The reason is because at the commencement of its democracy in 1992 so many loopholes were created due to the haste at which the government of that time seeks to stabilize the nation. The war with Armenia over the Azerbaijan occupied territory was also a big diversion.

There are various other measures to be implemented with the new migration law. Areas such: as work permit, number of extension of VISA, total years permitted to reside in the country, mode of VISA renewal, etc.

However, not all foreigners presently residing view the law as very favorably. There is a school of thought among expert workers that the laws are means to discourage more migrants into the nation. Whatever is the case, the issue is that the new migrations laws would be a more stringent process than the previously existing laws.

Azerbaijan located in the Caspian shores is a striving nation due to the large revenue derived from the sales of its large deposit of Oil and Gas. The total population of the nation is estimated at approximately 8 million persons.

AS IRAN DISINTEGRATES, THE WORLD COMMUNITY MERELY WATCHES?

Iran is witnessing a protest its leader had not foreseen, not even in the distant future. The protest is a show of displeasure over the election between the current president Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country former prime minister, Mr. Hossein Mousavi. Mr Ahmadinejad who is everything about the Islamic revolution and also an anti-Israel has the support of the ruling council made up of mullahs and headed by supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but Mr. Mousavi, a reformist has rallied the support of youths including a large portion of the women.

Suffice it to say that the protesters are largely made of youths and are outrage about the election result that has Ahmadinejad winning the election with as high as 64% of the total vote.

The protest has taken the mullahs unawares because they probably might have thought that the hard path that has been the approach of the leadership and the subjugation of the peoples will and freedom over time should have discouraged this type of scenario. The protest is an indication that the people and not the government have the ultimate and final say over the direction of the nations. Over the years in Iran, the youths, including women have watched as their freedom was taken away from them. Women were compelled to hijab even against their wish, satellite cables were confiscated as such depriving youths access to the global events; entertainment, a thing for the youths was clamped down, and the people were pressed towards taking the hard lines. Furthermore, the continuous disgust of Ahmadinejad towards Israel was also seen as unwarranted by the youths who think it wise that the world presently desire to be at peace with one another.

So as Iran disintegrates, the Iranians look up to other nations for help. The US president Obama has come up with the strongest statement on the issue, stating that the world is watching. However the brave Iranians desire more from the world community besides just watching. The totalitarian government of Iran will implore any means, including very harsh measure to silent the voice of these protesters. This is why the world community must come up with emphatic statement about the issue and not just stand by and watch as innocent people get punished for demanding their God given right to all mankind.

YOUTHS PROTEST FLOWER DAY IN AZERBAIJAN

Some youths protested at various spots where the “Flower day” holiday was been celebrated mainly at “Sahil bagi” and the central Boulevard of the capital city -Baku. The 10^th of May has been marked annually as flower day in Azerbaijan and has been declared as a national holiday. Coincidentally, the 10^th of May is also a day that marks the birthday of the father of the president –Ilham Aliyev. His father Heydar Aliyev was the past leader of the nation.

The youths who protested were questioning the reason for the celebration when nothing tangible has been achieved in the investigation of the shooting at the Oil Academy that claimed lots of innocent lives. The protest is the first of its kind in modern Azerbaijan.

Most of the protesters were arrested at the Heydar Aliyev Park, in Baku which is located just opposite the Azerbaijan Central Bank. The statue of Heydar Aliyev is boldly visible to any onlooker around the area. The protesters had comprised of both boys and girls, and it’s been reported that about 15 – 20 persons were arrested.

Azerbaijan has over the years experienced a relatively calmness with the popularity of the president very high among the citizens. The country is experiencing a relative prosperity from the revenue derived from the sales of its abundant Oil and Gas resources. To the credit of the government, a lot of developments have been achieved during the period of the administration. This is why any unrest that will agitate the people will easily be clamped down by the security personnel.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM SHOOTING AT THE AZERBAIJAN OIL ACADEMY

On the 30th of April, 2009, the entire Azerbaijan was thrown into turmoil as the population heard the news of shootings at the State Oil Academy. The incident had occurred in the early hours of Thursday between the periods of 9 – 10am. Students were already seated for their early morning classes when the horrified incidents took place. Until now there is no definite story as to what happened. The killer is known. The most popular story has it that the killer shoot himself after trigger happily killing dozens of others, both staff and students.

As we sympathize with the families of those who have lost their love ones, it is wise to put some questions in perspective. It could be anybody, but why is there no concrete news as to what actually happened? Why is there still no defined motive for the killings? Who were those involved? And to what extent has investigations revealed other “assumed” accomplice?

The first story that was popularized just immediately after the news broke out was that the killer was from African descent. In as much as it has already been proven to be false, but why did the media not verify a fact before reporting? I have followed this same incident from BBC, Euronews and CNN, but none of these International news agencies reported the Azerbaijan press version. The scenario simple portrays the degree of professionalism of some in the Azerbaijan news reporters, obviously low. A sensitive issue as that should be thoroughly verified as facts before it is put in the public domain. The reporters of the media organization that broke the false news should burry its head in shame. Until now, they haven’t even repudiate or put out an open apology for the false information. Let us hope that they learn a lesson though and next time, they think through to ensure that only facts are put into the public domain.

It is also shameful that a university as popular and as famous as the Oil Academy has no installed surveillance camera in and around the premises. Because based on eye witness account, there were strange persons who left the scene unidentified but these information can’t be followed through in the absence of actual video evidence to back the eye witness claims. The advantage of technology is to simplifier life and life issues, so it should be sufficiently used.

It is hoped the government learns from the incident. High security measures are to be put in place at the university premises. Not just universities, but in all public institutions and organizations.

REMEMBERING THE MARTYRS OF JANUARY 20TH IN AZERBAIJAN

Its now 19 years since the sons and daughters of Azerbaijan gave their life for freedom. These martyrs were victims of the then Kremlin aggression. A defeat on human freedom was a typical characteristic of the communism ideology. Therefore on every hint on the people’s inclination to emancipation, Kremlin had acted with severe military actions.

On that faithful, the 20th of January 1990, the Azerbaijan population woke up to witness a great number of the Russia army in their capital Baku. The direct order wasn’t exact but the consequences of the day was so clear –there were hundreds of innocent civilians -men, women and children killed particularly in the center of the capital city. There were fathers went to work and never returned; children went to school, bidding their parents good bye without realizing that that was the last good bye they will ever wish them. Women went to market and never returned; wives and husbands were separated by death prematurely. 

Today as America celebrates the inauguration of Barack Husein Obama, the first black president in the history of the USA; it shows the extent human freedom has come.  That “all man is created equal and that no man, race, or tribe is more superior to another” is a God’s free gift to mankind and must be enjoyed by all. 

Irrespective of where it happened, an injustice anywhere is injustice to mankind. This is why the whole world ought to join Azerbaijan and remember these freedom fighters. They gave their life not just for Azerbaijan but that the whole world will live in freedom. Like every other freedom fighters through out history, these Azerbaijan martyrs died for the simple believe that the good legacies they fight for will one day be reaped by the generations to come after them.

So, remembering the martyrs of January 20th creates an opportunity for good reflection by the Azerbaijan government, the Azerbaijani population and the entire world. The food for thought here comes in the form of a self intended question which is “am I living my life so as to preserve the good fight people before me had fought so I can live in freedom and still live a better place for the generations to come?”