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President Aliyev Meets With Harvard Professor
Joseph Nye, Creator of ‘Soft Power’ Theory
 President Ilham Aliyev has met on May 16 with Harvard Professor Joseph S. Nye, the creator of the international relations theory of “soft power”.
Nye, the former dean of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, now holds the position of University Distinguished Service Professor.
This was Nye’s first visit to Azerbaijan, which focused on familiarization with the ongoing development of the country. In his meeting with President Aliyev, Nye described Azerbaijan as an important country for the United States and stressed the significance of strengthening bilateral relations.
President Aliyev noted that visits such as Nye’s are extremely important in terms of enhancing overall relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S.
Nye, a world-renowned political scientist, is best known for coining the term “soft power”, which is the ability of a country to indirectly influence the behavior or interests of other countries through cultural or ideological means.
Nye now co-chairs, along with former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, the Commission on Smart Power at the Center for International and Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C.. The commission focuses on ways to blend both soft and hard power to form an integrated policy to strengthen U.S. influence, image and effectiveness in the world.
Previously, Nye served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Chair of the National Intelligence Council, and Deputy Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology.
Report: South Korea Secures $530 Million
in Deals in Azerbaijan
South Korean firms have signed contracts worth $530 million in Azerbaijan during the last stop of a regional trip by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, officials said May 19, the Korea Times reports.
While in Baku, Han met with President Aliyev and discussed ways in which Korean firms can assist in further accelerating Azerbaijan’s economic development, the article said.
The article further stated:
Executives of South Korean firms accompanying Han signed contracts to build railroads, shipyards and other social and industrial infrastructure, as well as to develop natural resources.
"Azerbaijan is currently undertaking various projects to enhance its infrastructure," an official from the South Korea’s Ministry of Knowledge and Economy said. "This visit is expected to pave the way for South Korean firms to obtain more business opportunities and form stronger ties with Azerbaijan."
With Han and ranking Azerbaijan officials on hand, Kolon of South Korea and Azersun, Azerbaijan's largest private company, held a signing ceremony for their joint $270 million project to build a business and resort complex called "Dream Island” on the Apsheron Peninsula.
Korea Land Corp. also signed a $33 million deal to participate in a project to build a government complex, while SKC&C, Daewoo International and other Korean firms also signed contracts to begin business projects in Azerbaijan.
In the area of energy development, Korea National Oil Corp. struck a deal with Azerbaijan's state-owned oil firms to develop oil fields. Over the next three years, the two countries will conduct joint exploration projects in the Caucasus, which has large reserves of gold, silver, lead and other metals.
First Azerbaijani to Study at West Point Military Academy
 Huseyn Panahov, a third year student at the Business Administration Department of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, has become the first Azerbaijani to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point.
For more than two centuries, prestigious West Point has been training professional military officers, experts in economics, sciences and engineering, as well as cultivating the next generation of leaders, including many who go on to become U.S. politicians and Army generals.
Panahov, who speaks fluent in English and has outstanding academic and sports records, will receive a full scholarship from the U.S. government. He intends to study economics while at West Point.
His entry into the academy marks a key stage in strategic Azerbaijan-U.S. relations and presents a tremendous opportunity for Azerbaijan's military and political development.
Panahov has in the past been very active in civil society, establishing the Young Azeri Volunteers Association, volunteering for the "Help for Disabled" Camp, working with the Handicapped Scuba Association in Turkey, participating in the Azerbaijan Business Case Competition; attending the Eurasia Environment Conference in Turkey and the World Youth Congress in Morocco, and attending leadership courses at the International Republican Institute.
Ski Resort on Shahdag Mountain to be Built by 2010
 The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has taken a decision to create the Shahdag Summer and Winter Tourism Complex, which will operate under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The May 19 decision to create the complex means that the new winter and summer sports, tourism and recreational resort to be opened on Shahdagh Mountain in the Guba/Gusar regions in time for the 2009/2010 winter season.
The cost of the project is estimated at up to $2 billion. Government investment in the project will allow for the infrastructure creation such as roads and ski lifts. Hotel accommodation, food concessions and entertainment will be put out to tender.
An Austrian company has already created a master plan for the project. First stage development envisions a town that can accommodate up to 1,000 tourists, while a second stage development plan would allow for up to 5,000 visitors.
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