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Editorials

Bananyar Updates - by Vugar Gojayev
What is Happening in Bananyar? - by Vugar Gojayev
From Dolma and Eurovision to Da Vinci Wars - by Elmar Chakhtakhtinski
Battle for Democracy Fought Through Internet - by Vugar Gojayev
Blood, Oil, and Borat in Azerbaijan - by Alexander Zaitchik
Historic Breakthrough Controversies: Will Azerbaijani Lands Be Free Soon - By Leyla Aliyeva
Contract of the Century: Myths and Realities - By Dr. Gubad Ibadoglu
Speech at the University of Richmond on Adnan and Emin - by Elmar Chakhtakhtinski
Open Letter To A Judge - by Leyla Yunus
Plight of Bloggers Gains International Support - by Vugar Gojayev
Azerbaijan's Steady Descent Into Authoritarianism - by Elmar Chakhtakhtinski
Matter Matters, Existence Exists - by Erkin Gadirli
F For Freedom - by Tahsin Ashurov
U.S. Leaves South Caucasus to Russia... By Doing Nothing - by Gorkhmaz Asgarov
New NGO Law Might Cripple Civic Organizations In Azerbaijan - by Vugar Gojayev
"We Had It Once..." - by Gorkhmaz Asgarov
"West Should Withdraw Support For Regime In Baku" - By Bart Wood
History Overshadows Hope On Turkey's Armenain Border - by Daren Butler
Council of Europe: Sleeping Beauty - By Andres Herkel
In Memory of Elmar Huseynov - By Vugar Gojayev
In the Name Of Holy Pipeline - by Leyla Aliyeva
Extending A Hand To the Islamic World - by Amb. Anne Derse
When Balance Policy Blows Up In Your Face - by Gorkhmaz Asgarov

Azerbaijan - Turkmenistan of the Caucasus - by Gorkhmaz Asgarov

George Washington or Islam Karimov? - by Gorkhmaz Asgarov
In Defense of Hope and Dignity - by S. A. Mirzayev
Heydarism - by S. A. Mirzayev

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Turkish Prime Minister Blackmails European Union PDF Print E-mail

 BRUSSELS. January 19, 2009: Turkey will review its support for the Nabucco gas pipeline to Europe if the energy portion of its EU accession talks remains blocked, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday in a rare visit to Brussels, Reuters reports.

The Turkish prime minister also raised doubts about the economic viability of the project, which is seen as one of Europe's best hopes for limiting its dependence on Russian gas.

The European Union has stepped up efforts to diversify its energy sources since Russia's invasion of Georgia last summer and amid a dispute between Moscow and Kiev that has curtailed supplies across Ukraine to Europe.

The EU is backing the Nabucco pipeline, which is expected to have the potential to carry 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Caspian or Middle Eastern gas annually to an Austrian hub via Turkey.

"If we are faced with a situation where the energy chapter is blocked, we would of course review our position," Erdogan told a conference in Brussels when asked if his country would block the project if energy talks with the EU were not opened.

Diplomats say Cyprus has been blocking the opening of talks in the energy area because of a row with Turkey on gas exploration at sea. Energy is one of the 35 areas, or so-called chapters, in Turkey's accession talks.

Erdogan questioned whether there was enough gas available in order to justify the Nabucco project, which enters Europe via Turkey.

"The information is that the countries that say that they will provide sufficient amounts of natural gas do not have enough natural gas to provide," he said.

"In the Nabucco project there needs to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas flowing, but it's not there."

Analysts say only 3 bcm has been sourced for the pipeline, compared to a bare minimum of 15 bcm needed to get it started.

Iran remains a potential source of gas for Nabucco, and Erdogan criticized those countries that oppose taking Iranian gas for political reasons.

Erdogan's comments on Turkish accession to the EU come after Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou told Reuters in an interview last month his country would not agree to let talks on energy start until an oil exploration dispute was resolved.

Cyprus has accused Turkey of harassing hydrocarbon research vessels four times since Nov. 13. Turkey has said the ships, on two known occasions, encroached on its continental shelf.

Cyprus's Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have lived apart since a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus in the EU and have the power to veto the enlargement talks.

Turkey has said Cyprus' oil exploration could upset reunification efforts because natural resources should belong to all residents of the island -- Greek and Turkish Cypriots (Turan).

 
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Azerbaijan in International Media

"He Asked for a Blessing Before He Died," Babek Bekir, RFE/RL, Feb 2, 2010

"Turkey-Armenia Pact Hits Snags," WSJ, Jan.27, 2010

"Bahamas Rejects US Extradition Bid for Victor Kozeny," ABC News, Jan. 27, 2010

"Did the World Get What it Wanted?" RFE/RL, Jan. 20, 2010

"U.S., Norwegian Officials Kept From Azerbaijani Village," RFE/RL, Jan. 13, 2010

"The Middle Class..." by Charles Recknagel, RFE/RL, Jan. 12, 2010

"Dynasty In North Africa," by Wolfram Lacher, Guardian, Jan. 4, 2010

"Low Turnout and Alleged Violations Mar Azerbaijani Local Elections," RFE/RL, January 4, 2010

"Azerbaijan: Webcams Used for "Transparent" Municipal Elections," by Mina Muradova, Eurasianet, Dec. 23, 2009

"Blogger's Appeal Conviction as Europe Slams Baku on Media Rights," by Jessica Powley Hayden, Eurasianet, Dec. 22, 2009

"Azeri bloggers test limits of democracy" By Tom Esslemont, BBC, Dec. 21, 2009

"Arms Siezed In Thailand Were Iran-Bound," by D. Michaels and M. Coker, WSJ, Dec. 21, 2009

"Azerbaijan is not America's Friend," by Aslan Amani, Washington Times, Dec. 19, 2009

"EU Parliament Puts Spotlight on Azerbaijan," RFE/RL, Dec. 16, 2009

"Turkey Has No Ottoman Nostalgia," by Suat Kiniklioglu, The Daily Star, Dec. 14, 2009

"Russia Halts Gas to Armenia," Straits Times, Dec. 14, 2009

"Blair Told by Azeri Victims: Give Your Speaker Fee to Charity," by Nick Meo and Robert Mendick, Telegraph Daily, Dec. 13, 2009

"Blair is Paid Thousands of Pounds in Azerbaijan," the Independent, Dec. 6, 2009

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Videos

January 22, 2010 - RSF Video on Picketing in front of Azeri Embassy In Paris (Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli)

Dec. 21, 2009 - BBC Video-report On Media Restrictions In Azerbaijan

Dec. 17, 2009 - MEP Marietje Schaake Speaks on Human Rights In Azerbaijan

Dec. 17, 2009 - Joe Higgins's Speech at European Parliament on Human Rights in Azerbaijan

Dec. 10, 2009 - Student Rally at Essex University in Support of Arrested Azeri Bloggers

November 21, 2009 - AZAD Chairman's Speech at Richmond University (Sep. 11, 2009)

November 20, 2009 - Documentary Film About Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli

September 28, 2009 - Hikmat Hajizadeh talks about his son Adnan Hajizadeh

September 22, 2009 - Elmar Mammadyarov Faces Human Rights Questions at Columbia University

September 4, 2009 - Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli Taken to Court In Handcuffs

August 28, 2009 - Action of Protest in Washington DC In Support of Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli - 2

August 28, 2009 - Action of Protest in Washington DC In Support of Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli - 1

"Donkey Video," Over Which Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli Were Arrested

July 31, 2009 - Action of Protest in London for Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli

July 21, 2009 - Al-Jazeera report on arrest of Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli

June 30, 2009 - Local NGO Leaders Protest NGO Amendments in Azerbaijan

June 29, 2009 - Amnesty International Picketing In Front of Azeri Embassy in Great Britain

Commemoration of College Shooting Victims by Azeri Diaspora In US - May 10, 2009

Student Protest Against Flower Holiday in Baku - May 10, 2009

Student Rally At the Oil Academy In Baku - May 1, 2009

BBC Report on Constitutional Referendum In Azerbaijan - March 15, 2009

Opposition Protest Against Constitutional Changes - Dec. 24, 2008

Oil Contamination In Azerbaijan - Al Jazeera, October 29, 2008

Al Jazeera Report on Corruption in Azerbaijan - October 29, 2008

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