Araz Azimov

Early life

Azimov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 13, 1962. In between 1978-1984, he studied at the Oriental Studies faculty of, with the former name, Azerbaijan State University, current Baku State University. During his study period, he was majoring on the Persian language and studies. After the graduation, he started to work at the Foreign Service department of the Azerbaijan State Teleradio Company until 1989.

Political career

Azimov started his diplomatic career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijani SSR in 1989. He served there as a second and first secretary at the Department of Information until 1991. In 1991-1992, Azimov worked as a deputy director at the same department. Afterward, in 1992, he was appointed the director of the Department of International Organizations in the Ministry. Since 1994, he is the Deputy Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. His diplomatic rank is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Personal life

Araz Azimov is married and has one child. In addition to his native tongue Azerbaijani, he speaks fluent English, Russian, Persian and Turkish.

Azimov attention in American media

Mr. Azimov received attention in the American media in 2011 in a Forbes magazine article. The article attributes Samir Sharifov and George Soros to engaging in political activity that could "push the region toward war." Mr. Azimov is quoted in the article as saying that Soros' involvement with Sharifov might push the region toward war: “Armenia is interested in war, more so than Azerbaijan. They want to gain further justification of the occupation in Karabakh, so they would be looking for an opportunity to provoke. So war is a possibility but it will only start with a provocation."