On Dec. 3 The EuropeanAzerbaijan Society (TEAS) celebrated five years since its foundation during aglittering event in the stunning setting of the LocarnoSuite in theForeign and Commonwealth Office – scene of the signing of the Treaty of Locarnoin 1925.
Initially founded by TaleHeydarov during his studies at the London School of Economics, the societyevolved into the London Azerbaijan Society, before becoming TEAS in 2008. TEASis dedicated to increasing awareness across Europe on the businessopportunities and culture of Azerbaijan, and developing understanding of theongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the plight of around one million refugeesand Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Over 300 guests attended the event,including Peers, MPs, diplomats, businesspeople and friends of the country.
Lionel Zetter, Director,TEAS opened the event. Tale Heydarov, Chairman, TEAS, set the context bydescribing the achievements of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic of 1918–20,which gave all women equal voting rights 10 years before the UK. Landmarks inthe modern era were the signing of the Contract of the Century in 1994, driven through byPresident Heydar Aliyev, who took the country from post-Soviet chaos tostability. President Ilham Aliyev has continued this policy by strengtheningthe economy and transforming the country’s appearance and infrastructure. Mr.Heydarov said: “TEAS is five years old and has offices in six countries. Itpromotes Azerbaijani culture, and fosters trade and investment between ourcountry and Europe. We highlight Azerbaijan’s religious tolerance, and ensurethat the West realizes the help that Azerbaijan has provided support to thecampaigns in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. TEAS also points out the role thatAzerbaijan plays in securing European energy security.
“In return, we ask onlythat the West does not forget around one million refugees and IDPs who are theongoing casualties of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and that they help us worktowards a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Armenia, based on theprinciples of international law and the outstanding UN Security CouncilResolutions.
“TEAS is proud of itscountry’s achievements. Of course there are also those with other agendas,determined to be negative, and who have a strange blind spot when it comes tothe human rights of our refugees and IDPs – how can they be true friends ofAzerbaijan? We, on the other hand, see many points of common interest ofbenefit to Azerbaijan, to the UK and other European countries. We seek only topromote knowledge about our country, including the business opportunities itoffers to the wider world.”
Fakhraddin Gurbanov,Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UK, acknowledged: “This is a magnificent venue,and TEAS has done a great job in promoting Azerbaijan during the past fiveyears. I was at the launch myself, and I am pleased to say that relationsbetween the UK and Azerbaijan are becoming stronger every day. In particular,TEAS has made an invaluable contribution through person-to-person relations. Iam very pleased that Azerbaijan has TEAS to support it in the UK and acrossEurope, and look forward to the next five years.”
Edmund Hosker, Director,International Energy, EU & Energy Resilience, commented: “Azerbaijan is amajor energy producer, and is where mechanised oil extraction and modern oiltransportation began. It is excellent that the planned Southern Corridor willbring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. Azerbaijan will play an integral role inensuring European energy security, both as a producer and as a transit route.This year has been important, as it has seen the protocols signed regarding theconstruction of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Pipeline(TANAP) that will facilitate delivery of these resources from the Shah Denizgas field in the Caspian Sea. The UK remains the greatest contributor ofForeign Domestic Investments (FDI) into Azerbaijan. Over 300 UK businesses arenow in this country, and this figure is set to grow.”
Christopher Pincher MP,Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Azerbaijan and Member of theEnergy and Climate Change Select Committee: “It is a great pleasure for me tocelebrate with TEAS. During the past 22 years of Azerbaijani independence fromthe Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has developed immeasurably. However, there remainsone outstanding issue – the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – and the UKseeks a peaceful resolution of this situation.
“Azerbaijan presentstremendous opportunities for western companies – the Shah Deniz gas field isthe second largest in the world. Azerbaijan is a secular and tolerant nation –one only needs to see the mosques, synagogues and churches in Baku. It is astable nation in a geopolitically sensitive part of the world. It is incumbenton the APPG for Azerbaijan to promote the country in cultural, political andbusiness terms. I look forward to celebrating further successes for TEAS andfor Azerbaijan in five years’ time.”
After the speeches therewas a screening of a short film, demonstrating how London-headquartered TEAShas evolved over the past five years, including the launching of branches inBaku, Paris, Berlin, Brussels and Istanbul. Altogether, TEAS has organised over50 events since its foundation, attended by more than 27,000 guests, therebysubstantially raising awareness of the country throughout Europe. To this end,it has also conducted extensive academic research and launched educationalinitiatives.
The event started andconcluded with a vibrant exposition of Azerbaijani traditional and classicalmusic, together with evocative compositions by the Argentine composer AstorPiazzolla, performed by Azerbaijani violinist Sabina Rakcheyeva, Arts and Cultural Advisor, TEAS,with the DecoEnsemble.
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