· December, 2007

Stories about Azerbaijan from December, 2007

Caucasus: 2007 Blog Review

  31 December 2007

With 2008 less than a day away at time of writing, it seems only appropriate to take a look back at the blogging highlights in the Caucasus for 2007. Certainly, although blogging is still largely underdeveloped, the year has seen some major highlights, especially with regards to stories that also...

Georgia: Election Polls

  29 December 2007

Comparing the situation with Armenia and Azerbaijan, Christine Quirk at Asking Tough Questions in Tough Places comments on the value that opinion polls might have during elections in the South Caucasus. The former head of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Azerbaijan turned political analyst says such polls serve a...

Armenia: Burning Bridges

  24 December 2007

Archuk's blog comments on recent hearings in the Armenian National Assembly on relations with Turkey and considers that focusing on potential financial reparations does more harm than good in the quest for “historical justice.” The blogger remembers that even a famous Armenian freedom fighter killed during the Karabakh conflict concluded...

Armenia: Action Puts Bloggers In Media Spotlight

  21 December 2007

In countries such as Armenia where the mainstream broadcast media is firmly under the control of government-connected businessmen and/or officials, while the traditional print and online media largely reflects the opposition in the country, there is no doubt that blogs have an important role to play in the dissemination of...

Armenia: Another Blogger Outraged at Azerbaijan Event

  21 December 2007

Blogian weighs into the controversy that surrounded the opening of a Days of Azerbaijan funded by the British Embassy in Yerevan earlier this week. Supporting the action of those bloggers who protested the event in person, Simon says that such an event is unthinkable on the second anniversary of the...

Armenia: Protest Highlights Blogging

  18 December 2007

The Armenian Observer comments on yesterday's protest by four Armenian bloggers against a Days of Azerbaijan event hosted at a local school in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. The blog says the protest “brought massive media attention to the understanding of blogging […] as a form of civil activity in Armenia.”

Armenia: Bloggers Protest Days of Azerbaijan

  18 December 2007

Oneworld Multimedia reports that a group of Armenian bloggers have protested the Days of Azerbaijan currently being held at a school in Yerevan. However, while the bloggers do not represent every Armenian with a blog, it is interesting to note that certain media outlets neglected to report the incident at...

Azerbaijan: Highest Flag

  18 December 2007

Baku Fragments reports that the “highest and largest flag” has been raised in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital. The flag flies at a height of 61.5 meters.

Armenia: Days of Azerbaijan

  18 December 2007

Despite the unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, Oneworld Multimedia comments on press reports that a school in the Armenian capital is currently staging an event, Days of Azerbaijan in Yerevan. The blog wonders if there will now be a Days of Azerbaijan...

Armenia: The Kurdish Question

  16 December 2007

In response to a post by Paul Goble on the apparent belief that Armenia's Kurdish minority is obstructing a peace deal with Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, Oneworld Multimedia identifies a number of inaccuracies in the analysis.

Kazakhstan: Nabucco Pipeline Lacks Commitments

  14 December 2007

Steve LeVine notes that this week's Washington appearance of Valekh Aleskerov, Azerbaijan's former chief oil negotiator, highlighted the absence thus far of concrete commitments by Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to a prospective Trans-Caspian gas pipeline.

Azerbaijan: Media Freedom

  13 December 2007

Leigh's new adventures in Azerbaijan says that the authorities in Baku reacted quickly in releasing an imprisoned Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist after comments from the U.S. Ambassador on media freedom in the country.

Georgia: All Eyes on Kosovo

  11 December 2007

Steady State says that the failure to come to a decision on the status of Kosovo might well send Russia and the West on a collision course. With the need to resolve frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus on the international agenda, what happens with Kosovo has implications in this...

Caucasus: Election Roundup

  10 December 2007

With all three republics in the South Caucasus gearing up for elections next year, Marilisa Lorusso's Blog rounds up the latest news. In particular, coverage is given to persecution of journalists in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan, the continuing saga of Imedi TV in Georgia, and the rejection of a...

Azerbaijan: Schools

  5 December 2007

Social Science in the Caucasus looks at a recent international study of schools in Azerbaijan and says that the results are concerning.