Welcome to the Winter edition of the Azeri Observer.

The crisp chilly air is here to remind us all that winter has well and truly arrived! It’s the season for warm hats and cozy nights’ in, and indulging yourself with hot chocolate by the fire. As we all prepare for the coming new year celebrations (it will be here before you know it) it is a beautiful sight to see the shimmering evening lights of Baku, twinkling with the beginnings of the upcoming festivities.

We are honoured to reveal to you the exciting features of this quarter’s issue, as you turn the pages that should keep you entertained for the long evening’s ahead. We are particularly proud to introduce our cover story; the driven and dynamic Mr. Martin Kleinmann, the CEO of the Absheron Hotel Group. Here he exclusively shares with the Azeri Observer, his brand new hotel opening in spring 2020, and his passion for Azeri food and travel. We have learned about ‘le coup de foudre’ by Mrs. Ines Eissa, the Egyptian Ambassador’s spouse, in describing her love of Baku which struck her at first sight; discovered new levels of the peace process with Ms. Afaq Ahmadova; delighted in the Ukrainian diaspora in Azerbaijan with the Ukrainian Ambassador, Mr. Vladyslav Kanevskyi, as well as learning about the Azeri population in Hungary with the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Hungary, Mr. Vilayat Guliyev. We also remember the great Maestro, Mstislav Rostropovich, as lovingly told by his daughter, Olga Rostropovich, and revelled in the tradition of Posadas with Mexican Ambassador, Mr. Rodrigo Labardini. We also had the pleasure of discovering Egypt’s narrative on tourism, with Egyptian Tourism Minister Ms. Rania Al-Mashat, and let’s not forget the German Ambassador, Mr. Wolfgang Manig speculating on further potential trade opportunities between Azerbaijan and Germany. As well as many more enlivening features.

So zip up your jackets, pull that scarf a little bit tighter, and brace yourself for that winter chill!

Editorial Team