As reported by Azerbaijan Statistic Board, the growth in construction sector for 9 months from the beginning of 2010 totaled 31.9%! At the same time, the research of Azerbaijan Property Market Participants Public Union shows an average 18 per cent growth for construction materials prices for the same 9 months period. It means that real construction work increase is not so impressive taking into account the sharp rise in prices of basic construction materials. Oil Republic is clearly, and little by little evolving in Dutch disease, which sooner or later the Government must fight. But the construction market of Azerbaijan still really shows some significant growth. Ambitious construction projects feed by oil dollars likens Baku with many Arab world "oil cities". One of the largest construction companies in Azerbaijan is Pasha Construction, which is a part of Pasha group and according to recent publications of WikiLeaks, belongs to one of the most powerful families of Azerbaijan - Pashayev family, with head of the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva (nee Pashayeva). The power and richness of any State somehow equates with the construction of skyscrapers. About twenty years ago the United States held apparent superiority in the competition of the highest skyscrapers in the World. But today China, the Middle East and Asian countries entered into this competition and left United States behind new high rise construction records. Azerbaijan also entered into this competition and is trying to live its own sign in the list of world architecture masterpieces. In photos below you can see several just completed and under construction projects in Baku. Photo Sources: www.skyscrapercity.com; www.azerb.com; www.mehriban-aliyeva.com Baku. SOCAR Tower (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan). Height 200 m, 40 up ground and 2 underground floors. Construction began in mid-2010. Heerim Architects & Planners Co. Ltd. Port Baku Complex with residential, public and commercial premises. Tower with 33 floors. General contractor Pasha Construction. Construction start 2010. Planned completion date 2012. Flagpole in Baku With height of 162 m currently (2010) the tallest in the world. Previous tallest record holder was Ashgabat flagpole with height of 133 m. However already in 2011 a 165m high Dushanbe flagpole will bit Baku record. Kazakhstan built its flagpole in Astana earlier what is the main reason of only 111m height. Which will be the next higher!? Baku. Flame Towers Three towers with heights 235 m, 220 m and 208 m, podium with 78 m height. Developer Diaholding Group. Construction starts in 2008. Planned completion date 2011. Baku. Crescent Tower Height 203 m with 43 floors. Construction start 2009. is planned for late 2009. Planned completion date 2013. Project operator Aecom. Baku.XI Park Plaza 2 towers with 55 and 35 floors. Design by Korean Changjo Architects Inc. . Construction starts in 2007

On November 17 in Nairobi, Kenya, at a meeting of Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding by UNESCO, a list of 47-cultural traditions of peoples around the world was approved. The art of creation Armenian Khachkars (cross-stones) was also included in the list, as the centuries-old tradition of the Armenian people, transmitted from generation to generation. As reported in the official site of UNESCO, among more than 50,000 Khachkars in Armenia, each has its own pattern, and no two are alike. The source also notes the height of the cross-stones up to 1.5 m, but most likely the authors have forgotten about such magnificent works of art as cross-stones in monastery complex Sanahin (complex included in the list of UNESCO's historical heritage by in the year 2000) or Goshavank, that astonish not only by their bigger size but also by perfect craftsmanship. Also note that when information like this appears in such well-known news portals as REGNUM.RU, (http://www.regnum.ru/news/fd-abroad/armenia/1347782.html) the news must be accompanied by photographs, that really would help the reader better understand the centuries-old fine art of khachkar creation. Also, we'd like to mention a sad fact of recent vandalism of this "cultural heritage". Since 1987-2005 in the territory of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, thousands of beautiful cross-stones of the monastery complex Nor Jugha have been completely destroyed, and the facts of this heinous vandalism, for many years was "pestering" by Armenian government to UNESCO and other concerned international organizations. More than 500-hundred Armenian cemetery with khachkars and 218 Armenian churches were destroyed in Nakhichevan. The reason for the complete destruction of the cross-stones and churches by Azerbaijani side is certainly understandable; it's a destruction of all identification evidences for centuries-old Armenian stay on this land. But we want to live in the world where everything that relates to the history and culture will be really appreciated, to live in the world where neighbor nations will respect each other, and will recognize real history and existing reality. Watch the video of the destruction of khachkars in Nor Jugha.

As reported by Newsgeorgia.ru, Georgia's exports of goods to Azerbaijan for January-August 2010/2009 increased by 29,5%, amounting about $ 155million. An increase has made $ 35.3 million. From the same source can be seen what this significant increase is reasoned by. For example, car reexport from Georgia to Azerbaijan almost doubled (from $ 39.3 million to $ 69,2 million) and an import of steel rebar has sharply increased by $ 13.2 million, (from $ 1 million to $ 14,2 million). Such a large increase in import of steel rebar from Georgia is likely due to regular production suspensions of the largest steel manufacturer in Azerbaijan, Baku Steel Company (with a rather low quality of metal), as well as the opening of Geosteel steel mill in Georgia in 2009. Georgian-Indian Geosteel also maintains an active policy of selling its products in Armenia with the help of intermediate Armenian company Mikmetal. Baku Steel Company was founded in 1998 and started operating in 2001. The main raw material of the plant is scrap metal, purchased from the local market, and, according to Honored Builder of Azerbaijan Emil Akhundov, this causes low quality of product. Since August 2009 the company changed ownership type and became an offshore "Baku Steel Company Limited" company with registration in the Isle of Man with new leader, a citizen of Germany, Axel Borowski, who was replaced by Suleiman Akhmedov in July 2010. Reference: The Isle of Man is a dependent territory of Great Britain with a high degree of autonomy. The island is located in the Irish Sea, not a member of EU and has its own tax legislation. On the basis of survey of visitors of Trip Advisor authoritative portal, Men island took the honorary eighth place in the world for its attractiveness!

The head of Georgian State Electorsystem company (GSE) Sulkhan Zumburidze and Vice President of Azerenerji Marlen Asgarov signed a memorandum on further development of cooperation between Azerbaijani and Georgian systems to create an "energy bridge" with Turkey, Turan reported. According to GSE, the point is Azerbaijan's joining the construction of Akhaltsikhe-Borchkha electric transmission line that is to connect energy systems of Georgia and Turkey.