Monthly Archives: March 2012

17-YEAR-OLD AZERBAIJANI PIANO STAR SHINES BRIGHT IN FRANKFURT

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On the evening of 24 March, the Mozart Room of the Old Opera House (Alte Oper) in Frankfurt am Main resounded to the sound of eight of the most talented piano students studying in music colleges across Germany or their international partner universities. These were the finalists in the prestigious Deutscher Pianistenpreis (German Piano Award), now in its second year, worth €20,000 (£16,700). Organised by the International Piano Forum Frankfurt, the sponsors included The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). Continue reading →

U L T R A M E M O R Y

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12/04/2012 - 20/05/2012 - Indépendance Palais, Astana                                                                invitumkazw1

├ Michel CASTAIGNET ┤ Joseph CHOI ├ Anne-Charlotte FINEL ┤ Herve IC ┤

├ Nataliya LYAKH ├ Cyril HATT ├ Galim MADANOV ┤ Almagul MENLIBAEVA┤

├ Saule SULEIMENOVA ├ Gaisha MADANOVA ├ Alexander UGAY ┤

Gallery Nivet-Carzon presents french-kazakhstan contemporary art exhibition /Ultramemory/

with the support of Akimat (Mayor) of Astana and the French Embassy in Kazakhstan.

/Ultramemory/ reveals interaction of painting, photography and memory.

‘Painting is becoming closer to poetry, now that photography has freed itself from the need of storytelling’ Georges Braque

‘Photography is the conscience of painting. She constantly reminds the latter what it should not do. So that painting takes its responsibilities.” Brassai.

According to the myth of the daughter of Butadès the Potter from Sycione, painting was invented by outlining a shadow. Photography didn’t exist then but already gave birth to painting. Continue reading →

OSCE Secretary General in meeting with Tajikistan President says strategic partnership must be further developed, discusses OSCE engagement with Afghanistan

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DUSHANBE, 27 March 2012 – The OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier in a  meeting with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon today emphasized the need to further develop the strategic partnership between Tajikistan and OSCE in

osce-secretary-general-lamberto-zannierpolitico-military, economic and environmental, and human areas, and shared views on the OSCE engagement with Afghanistan.

“I attach great importance to the strategic partnership between Tajikistan and the OSCE, and look forward to further developing this relationship in a co-operative approach based on dialogue, mutual understanding and trust,” Zannier said. He commended the Government of Tajikistan for its support for the Office in Tajikistan and stressed the importance of the OSCE-Tajikistan Task Force as an “innovative and important platform” for identifying priorities for work with the host country’s officials and civil society, and the OSCE Office.

He also discussed with the President the implementation of the OSCE Ministerial Council 2011 Decision on strengthening OSCE engagement with Afghanistan. “Tajikistan’s support and direct engagement in implementing this Decision is central for its success,” Zannier stressed. Continue reading →

Precious Afghanistan, an Afghanaid fundraising event

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London’s Porchester Hall, Bayswater, was transformed into an Afghan
bazaar for an evening as part of a celebration of Afghanistan’s
gemstone industry.

Hundreds gathered on 15 March for Precious Afghanistan, an Afghanaid
fundraising event, to purchase traditional and modern jewellery,
textiles and crafts, and antique books, amid an atmosphere of dance,
music, a catwalk fashion show, auction, and Afghan-inspired canapés. Continue reading →

Rising Petrostate Kazakhstan Mulls Nuclear Power

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According to Kazakh Industry and New Technologies Minister Aset Isekeshev, Kazakhstan will make a decision on whether to build an atomic power plant this year.

Speaking to a group of reporters in the capital Astana, Isekeshev said, “As a matter of fact, we are not rejecting atomic energy, as we have big uranium reserves with long-term prospects. A decision regarding the possible construction of a nuclear power plant will be adopted this year. For the time being, we are working on the supposition that we could have atomic energy produce 4 percent of our total output of electricity by 2030. However, what kind of a plant it should be, in which region it should be built, what type of a reactor it should have and many other questions, including considering safety issues, still lie ahead.”

Seven years after the implosion of the USSR the Kazakh government first announced plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant near Lake Balkhash in central Kazakhstan in 1998 but following massive public protests the project was canceled. Eight years later, in November 2006 the government adopted a plan to build a nuclear power plant in the Mangistau region seven miles from Aktau, on the premises of the former fast-neutron power generation plant MAEK. The plant no longer generates electricity, its fuel is being recycled and the plant itself has placed under the national nuclear company Kazatomprom. Continue reading →

Welcome, Spring! or, How Novruz is celebrated in Azerbaijan

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So, the big spring holiday comes,
Everybody is already waiting for you!
Welcome, Novruz and all its friends,
Novruz Bayram has come to Azerbaijan!                Navruz in Baku

One of the most ancient holidays in the world is the holiday of Novruz – a holiday to celebrate the New Year; the first day of spring. Scientists estimate that this holiday has been celebrated for over 3700 (and perhaps up to 5000) years. In ancient Babylon this holiday was celebrated on 21st of Nisan (March, April) and lasted for 12 consecutive days. Different rituals were followed on each of the 12 days. There is much information about Novruz as a pre-Islamic holiday in classical eastern literature and scientific works by authors such as Firdousi, Rudaki, Avitsenna, Nizami Gjandzhevi, Saadi, Hafizi. Translated from the Persian language, Novruz literally means “new day,” and in Turkic countries the spring holiday was called, “Turan”. Customs connected with the celebration of the Novruz holiday such as, jumping through fire, collective dancing called “Jally” and mass entertainment games have been found depicted in rock drawings found at Gobustan (A town in Azerbaijan, 60 km to the south of Baku. The drawings date from the 12th millenium BC), which is considered one of the most ancient centres of a world civilization.

Azerbaijan possesses rich traditions connected with Novruz. People during previous centuries preserved their ancient traditions, transferring them from generation to generation. Continue reading →

Novruz celebrated by over 600 in London

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The Victorian foundations of Gibson Hall in the City of London were shaken to their core on 15 March during an event staged to celebrate the ancient festival of Novruz. The evening was jointly organised by The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UK, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Republic of novruz-small-1Azerbaijan.

More than 600 Azerbaijanis and representatives from across London’s international and diplomatic communities attended the event, making it one of the largest Novruz festivities to be held in the capital. The attendees enjoyed traditional food, music, and stunning dancing by the Şərq Çırağı Children’s Dance Group – direct from Baku. Children from the Caspian-Khazri school in London, demonstrating that the expatriate community is keeping the language and culture alive, also recited Azerbaijani poetry.

Although the origins of Novruz remain shrouded in mystery, predating the advent of Christianity and Islam, it is generally recognised as celebrating the New Year and the time of rebirth at the start of spring. In Azerbaijan, this festival for all the family is celebrated with a five-day Public Holiday, and symbolic acts include tree-planting, egg-painting, and the making of such pastries as pakhlava. Samani (wheat grass) normally forms the centerpiece of the festive table. Continue reading →

Member of British House of Lords Vivien Stern visits Uzbekistan

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Member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Group “UK-Uzbekistan” Baroness Vivien Stern visited Uzbekistan from March 14 to 17.

The famous British politician held series of meetings in the Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, the committees of the Senate, the Commissioner for Human Rights of Oliy Majlis, the Institute for Monitoring Current Legislation under the President of Uzbekistan during the 4 days of her visit, reported the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan on March 19. Continue reading →

A LIVING REMEMBRANCE OF THE KHOJALY VICTIMS – 20 YEARS ON

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On the morning of 15 March, members of the Azerbaijani community travelled to a clearing in St. Albans, north of London, to plant the final 13 of 613 saplings. This event was organised by The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS). Each of these saplings represented one of the men, women and children whose lives were cut short 20 years ago during the massacre in Khojaly, in the Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In a solemn ceremony, these living memorials were dedicated to the victims, and a plaque on a stone plinth was unveiled. After planting the final tree, Tale Heydarov, Chairman and Founder, TEAS, commented: “This year, 613 trees are being planted to commemorate the victims of Khojaly on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. This will be a memorial for the future, and we will return to this site each year. It is important to keep their memory alive.” Also present to plant the final saplings were representatives of Azerbaijani student societies in London, including the Chairpersons of the societies at University College, London; the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS); The University of Westminster; and Goldsmith’s, University of London. Continue reading →