AGP Executive Report

Defense Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov and senior commanders are in Türkiye for EFES-2026, meeting Yaşar Güler and discussing military, military-technical, and education cooperation as Azerbaijan joins daytime and nighttime phases with 10,300 troops from 50 countries. Energy Finance: Moody’s and Fitch have marked a major milestone for Azerbaijan’s Southern Gas Corridor with investment-grade ratings for Southern Gas Corridor CJSC, shifting the story from engineering to long-term commercial trust. WUF13 Housing & Cities: In Baku’s World Urban Forum, Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister says reconstruction and the “Great Return” are easing national housing pressure, while Icherisheher’s “Smart Reserve” strategy moves heritage preservation and digital upgrades into a single delivery system. Culture & Youth: The “Art Bridge… Azerbaijan–Türkiye” exhibition opened at the National Carpet Museum, and People’s Artist Gulyaz Mammadova met young talents in Sabirabad. Justice Spotlight: The ICJ questions the fairness of Baku trials of Armenians, calling for better access to appeal hearings.

ICJ Report on Karabakh Trials: A newly released International Commission of Jurists report says Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh political trials in Baku are structurally flawed and function as show trials, spotlighting tight state control over defense and the wider criminal process. Religious Heritage Under Pressure: Armenian Christian leaders and global religious-freedom advocates are condemning Azerbaijan after satellite imagery confirmed the demolition of two major churches in Stepanakert/Khankendi—an escalation of fears that Christian heritage is being erased after the 2023 takeover. Armenia’s June 7 Election: With Armenia’s parliamentary vote looming, coverage frames the race as a test of democratic direction versus pro-Russian opposition, with peace with Azerbaijan and constitutional change at the center. Azerbaijan at WUF13: In Baku, the World Urban Forum keeps driving the housing-and-urban agenda—NGOs get a dedicated forum, and UN-Habitat highlights pathways to tackle the global housing crisis. Turkic Cooperation: Azerbaijan’s leadership at the OTS informal summit in Turkistan emphasized transport corridors, digital transformation, and AI development.

World Urban Forum momentum: Azerbaijan’s WUF13 is driving the week’s biggest cultural-policy story, with the Azerbaijan pavilion welcoming visitors and pitching “smart city/smart village” rebuilding, green energy, and VR-style showcases of Icherisheher and the liberated territories. Inclusive cities push: New WUF13 trainings spotlight disability inclusion beyond ramps—access to education, jobs, healthcare, transport, and public life—while speakers argue housing must be treated as a core development engine, not a side issue. Heritage & recovery: Culture Ministry ties with UNESCO are deepening as Azerbaijan also highlights heritage protection models, and Ukraine’s Chernihiv recovery plans show how cultural restoration is being folded into national programs. Regional diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s ambassador says the Turkey–Armenia border could open after Armenia’s June 7 election and constitutional changes. Human rights pressure: In Iran, Azerbaijani Turk activists received heavy prison terms (81+ years total), keeping the spotlight on cross-border cultural and political tensions.

World Urban Forum momentum in Baku: Azerbaijan’s pavilion is now open to visitors at WUF13, pitching a 1,500-sq-metre vision of sustainable planning—plus “smart city” and “smart village” projects for Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, with VR, masterclasses and culture on the menu. People-first urban policy: Vice President Iliana Iotova told the summit that a city’s real test is whether even the most vulnerable have safety and dignity—and that housing can’t be treated like just another sector. Safety and standards: Bolt launched the first Azerbaijan Safety Conference in Baku, pushing road-safety awareness and app-based protections. Regional ripple effects: Kenya’s fuel-price shock—linked to the wider Iran-US-Israel conflict—has sparked a nationwide transport shutdown and deadly police action. Culture & heritage spotlight: Turkic Houses were framed as a resilience tool at WUF13, while International Museum Day celebrated “Museums Bridging Divides.” Diplomacy: Mirziyoyev and Vucic met in Baku to expand cooperation.

World Urban Forum in Baku: WUF13 keeps drawing global attention—over 40,000 participants from 182 countries registered, with the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Communities” driving sessions on the housing crisis, climate shocks, and urban governance. Heritage-to-Resilience: At the Turkish Pavilion, a WUF13 panel spotlighted “Turkic Houses,” arguing traditional architecture can strengthen community life and help cities recover sustainably. Gender + Climate: Another WUF13 discussion pushed a gender perspective on climate and housing, stressing that women and girls face disproportionate risks and should shape resilience policies. Culture on the move: International Museum Day is being marked worldwide, including in Azerbaijan, under “Museums Bridging Divides.” Sports + Health: Baku hosted an inclusive anti-doping conference for women and girls, plus a medical symposium on emergency allergology and acute toxico-allergic conditions. Diplomacy: Azerbaijan welcomed Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Baku, with both sides highlighting expanded trade and cooperation. Arts calendar: The 4th Baku Contemporary Music Days opens May 18–24, bringing local and international contemporary composers and performers.

World Urban Forum in Baku: The 13th UN World Urban Forum opened May 17 with one clear message: the housing crisis isn’t just construction—it’s about dignity, climate risk, and resilient cities. UN-Habitat leaders and local officials say solutions must be built into urban policy, not treated like a financial commodity. Diplomacy in motion: President Ilham Aliyev met Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Baku, praising Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties and highlighting a trilateral track with Türkiye for deeper cooperation. Regional spotlight: Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived for a working visit and is set to join WUF13 events. Culture meets policy: Speakers across the forum stressed that cities need community listening, long-term sustainability, and faster implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Elsewhere in the week: Coverage also flagged Turkey’s role in the shifting fortunes of a Kurdish Islamist militant network, while U.S. politics stayed loud on climate.

WUF13 Diplomacy in Motion: President Ilham Aliyev met Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Baku, praising the “harmony of culture and modern urban planning” she saw in the city and linking ties to a wider Azerbaijan–Türkiye–Pakistan trilateral push. Global Housing Focus: UN-Habitat chief Anacláudia Rossbach says the World Urban Forum could help tackle a worsening housing crisis—nearly 2.8 billion people live in inadequate conditions, and the problem is spreading beyond the Global South. New Urban Agenda, Local Meaning: WUF13 coordinator Anar Guliyev argues housing is not just construction, but a climate, economic, and dignity issue tied to education, healthcare, and jobs. Culture & Soft Power: Aliyev also sent a congratulatory letter to Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Suleimenov on his 90th birthday, underlining his role as a Turkic-world literary figure. International Guests Arrive: Bulgaria’s President Iliana Iotova landed in Azerbaijan to take part in WUF13.

Eurovision 2026: The contest is in full swing from Oxford and Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, with the UK again stuck in the nul-points story—this time the jury list includes Azerbaijan among the 23 countries that gave the UK zero. World Urban Forum in Baku: The big local spotlight is WUF13 (May 17–22) under the theme “Housing the World,” with UN-Habitat framing it as a policy-making moment via the “Baku Call to Action.” Turkic civil society: Azerbaijan hosted the 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs across OTS member states, pushing joint humanitarian, social, cultural, and public-sphere projects. Culture in Shusha: The Kharibulbul festival wrapped up with mugham and ensemble performances, keeping Shusha’s cultural comeback in motion. Regional culture diplomacy: Azerbaijan also marked Independence Day and Armed Forces Day in Ankara, with official Turkish-Azerbaijani participation and a minute of silence for martyrs.

NGO Cooperation Push: At the 2nd OTS Solidarity Forum in Baku, Fuad Mammadov said Azerbaijan is ready to launch joint NGO grant competitions with Turkic partners—projects would be carried out in the partner country under local rules. World Urban Forum in Baku: WUF13 opens in Baku on May 17–22 under “Housing the World: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Communities,” with tens of thousands of experts expected and a “Baku Call to Action” aimed at turning housing and climate pressure into policy commitments. Cultural Diplomacy in Shusha: The 9th “Kharibulbul” festival wrapped up in Shusha, spotlighting mugham and performances by Azerbaijani, Uzbek, and Turkmen ensembles. Turkic Integration, Now Digital: Turkic leaders meeting in Turkistan are shifting from culture-only ties toward AI, cybersecurity, and digital corridors—while Erdoğan also urged stronger coordination as crises and new digital risks grow. Press Freedom Spotlight: International media groups highlighted jailed Philippine journalist Frenchie Cumpio, underscoring how culture and rights stories travel globally.

Eurovision Shockwave: Azerbaijan’s Eurovision hopes were dealt a blow as the country failed to qualify from Thursday’s second semi-final, while Bulgaria’s DARA surged into the Grand Final with “Bangaranga.” Shusha in the Spotlight: The 9th “Kharibulbul” International Music Festival wrapped up in Shusha, with mugham and ensemble performances (including “Rast” and “Garabagh”) underscoring the city’s cultural comeback and international pull. Turkic Integration, Now Digital: At the OTS summit in Turkistan, leaders pushed a new phase of cooperation—AI, cybersecurity, and even a “Digital Turkic Corridor” and digital museum portal—framing tech as the next layer of shared security. Culture Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture highlighted deeper ties with ICESCO, including heritage restoration and plans for a security-focused session at WUF13 in Baku. Environment Watch: A roundtable ahead of WUF13 put environmental awareness and youth participation at the center of sustainable urban living.

Eurovision Shock (Azerbaijan): Azerbaijan’s entry was eliminated in Thursday’s second semi-final, joining Armenia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Switzerland in missing Saturday’s grand final. Turkic Summit Push: In Kazakhstan’s Turkistan, Erdoğan urged tighter Turkic unity as crises and AI-driven digital risks grow, while Türkiye’s Fidan met OTS foreign ministers ahead of the leaders’ talks. Culture on the Move: Shusha’s Kharibulbul International Music Festival continues, with “Shusha, My Love” screened and the Turan Ethno-Folk Ensemble performing in front of Khurshidbanu Natavan’s Palace. Heritage Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s Culture Ministry delegation took part in ICESCO’s Kazan conference, highlighting Shusha’s Islamic World Cultural Capital status and plans for a security-focused session at WUF13 in Baku. Arts Spotlight: The film “Taghiyev: Oil” was presented in London, bringing Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev’s story to a UK audience. Regional Narrative Fight: Russian media is again targeting Azerbaijan over “Armenian cultural heritage” claims as peace talks and direct ties move forward.

Carpet Diplomacy in Istanbul: Azerbaijan’s “Memory of Motif” carpet exhibition opened in Istanbul, running until May 18, showcasing rare works from curator Elnara Rasulova’s collection and antique pieces, with the Kharibulbul Azerbaijan Culture Union backing the display. Parliament-to-Parliament Ties: Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova met Slovakia’s National Council Speaker Richard Raši, who said Slovakia-Azerbaijan relations are at their highest level after a strategic partnership push; a memorandum was signed. Global South Climate Push: Mukhtar Babayev opened the Global South NGO Platform in Baku Urban Week, calling it “a force for action” and stressing that climate work needs public participation. World Cup Culture Moment: The US is waiving visa deposits for eligible World Cup fans with tickets, while Madonna, Shakira, and BTS are set for the 2026 final halftime show. Shusha on Stage: Shusha kicked off the 9th Kharibulbul International Music Festival, bringing Azerbaijani and international performers to the city’s cultural spotlight.

Eurovision Spotlight: JIVA will represent Azerbaijan in Semi-Final 2 tonight, performing as entry No. 02, with the public urged to vote for “02” via TV/YouTube and official voting channels. Women’s Rights: Speaker Sahiba Gafarova says advancing women’s rights remains a state-policy priority, highlighting women’s roles in politics, recovery, and the “Great Return” program. Urban Future in Focus: Azerbaijan has declared 2026 the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” ahead of WUF13 in Baku, tying housing, sustainability, and inclusive governance to global city goals. Culture & Tech: The Culture Ministry held a WUF13 panel on using digital tools to protect cultural heritage, including work on inventories and digital mapping in liberated territories. Arts on the Move: Shusha’s Kharibulbul International Music Festival kicked off today, while Baku’s “Baku Contemporary Music Days” runs May 18–24. Industry Branding: SOCAR’s Training, Education and Certification Department unveiled a new identity as the Caspian Training and Certification Center (CTCC).

Urban Planning Push: Azerbaijan has declared 2026 the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture,” setting the stage for WUF13 in Baku with a focus on safe, resilient housing and sustainable city design. Cultural Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s film industry got a spotlight in the UK trade press as “Screen International” highlighted the country’s cash-rebate incentives for productions. Heritage & Tech: The Culture Ministry’s heritage protection service won a Global Brand Award for its “Unified Cultural Registry,” linking thousands of sites into one digital system. Regional Links: Azerbaijan and Tajikistan discussed expanding agricultural cooperation, while Turkey’s new customs rules with Armenia point to more direct trade. Media & Rights: A travel ban was imposed on the mother of jailed journalist Aytaj Ahmadova, underscoring ongoing pressure on independent media. Global Culture Notes: Spain overtook Malta as Europe’s top country for LGBTQIA+ rights in ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map.

Film & Culture Spotlight: Britain’s Screen International dedicated its May issue to Azerbaijan, highlighting the country’s film cash-rebate reforms—up to 40% of production costs back—and positioning Baku as a growing destination for international crews. Regional Cultural Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s delegation joined the ICESCO General Conference in Kazan, with Culture Minister Adil Karimli taking part as the body re-elects its Director General and launches “Kazan–2026: Culture Capital of the Islamic World.” Urban Sustainability Through Art: Baku’s Eco-Art Festival, hosted at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum ahead of WUF13, put culture and ecology side by side with UN-Habitat and government participation. Shusha’s Music Moment: The Kharibulbul International Music Festival is set to kick off in Shusha on May 14, with rehearsals already underway at Jidir Plain and performances spanning local and international artists. Heritage & Rights Debate: Azerbaijan’s State Service for heritage protection won a Global Brand Award for its Unified Cultural Registry, while fresh controversy continues around cultural destruction claims in Artsakh. Eurovision Politics in the Air: Vienna’s Eurovision semi-final 2 dress rehearsal is underway, with Azerbaijan’s JIVA among the press-visible acts as the contest remains split over Israel’s participation.

Ayurveda Diplomacy: India’s Ambassador Abhay Kumar visited the Ayurveda Centre in Shabran, meeting doctors and staff and discussing new training, outreach, and wellness-tourism links to deepen people-to-people ties. Regional Talks: Azerbaijan and Greece held foreign-ministry consultations in Athens, reviewing dialogue and cooperation in trade, humanitarian work, science, education, plus energy and transport projects. UK Partnership Update: UK Ambassador Fergus Auld wrapped up his mission, praising a Strategic Partnership framework built on defense/security, trade/investment, and innovation/education. Culture & Cities: Ahead of WUF13, Baku’s “Eco-Art” festival at the National Carpet Museum blended art with ecological thinking, while Vienna hosted a “Day of Azerbaijan” for Eurovision 2026 representative Jiva. Rights in Europe: ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map put Spain top for LGBTQIA+ rights, while Azerbaijan and Russia sit at the bottom. Community Watch: In Georgia’s Bolnisi, residents protested alleged unannounced mining work over environmental and transparency fears.