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HE'S AT IT AGAIN! AIRMILES ANDY JETS OFF TO VISIT 'TORTURE' LEADER ON UNEXPLAINED MIDDLE EAST DETOUR
By Rebecca English
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2066987/Hes-Airmiles-Andy-jets-visit-torture-leader-unexplained-Middle-East-detour.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
28th November 2011
The Duke of York has courted controversy again by using a private jet
to take him on a secret visit to Azerbaijan en route to an official
tour of the Middle East.
Despite stepping down from his controversial globe-trotting trade
role, Andrew was on his fourth taxpayer-funded foreign trip in just
eight weeks when he made the unexplained detour last week.
His office has refused to discuss why he failed to arrive in Qatar
until last Sunday, a full four days after he left the UK in his luxury
executive plane.
Links: The Duke with Azerbaijan's controversial President Aliyev on
an earlier visit .
But the Mail understands that the prince made a detour to the
former Soviet state of Azerbaijan, where he has forged links with
the country's controversial president through his former role as a
UK trade and investment envoy.
When he finally did make it to his destination he undertook five days
of engagements before taking a further five days off in Abu Dhabi on
holiday, where he is currently still sunning himself.
More...Prince William co-pilots rescue helicopter after one dies and
five are missing in Irish Sea boat disaster
To deflect criticism, the Queen's second son says he will be picking up
the bill for the jet himself and only charging the cost of a standard
business class ticket to and from Doha to the British Government.
But the disclosures will inevitably add to disquiet over the prince's
role as a working royal, particularly his relationships with the
leaders of dubious regimes, as Azerbaijan is considered to be one of
the most corrupt countries in the world.
Enlarge All expenses paid: Prince Andrew has been on more trips
than last year since quitting as a UK trade envoy Andrew has visited
its leader, President Ilham Aliyev - accused of torturing political
opponents and election rigging - eight times in the last six years,
with two of the trips described as 'entirely private'.
During one stay he was reported to have visited a luxury spa owned
by President Aliyev, which employs a blind Russian masseur described
as having 'the best hands in the world'.
The regularity of his visits has led media in Azerbaijan to speculate
that he may have business links to the oil-rich state, including a golf
resort on the Caspian Sea. However Buckingham Palace has denied this.
Andrew is being accompanied on his trip by his assistant private
secretary, Laura Hutchings, his Scotland Yard security detail and a
male diplomat.
He arrived in Qatar last Sunday. He is believed to have stayed at the
five-star Four Seasons hotel, which boasts a private beach and marina,
where a suite costs upwards of �600 a night.
Over the next three and a half days he had a busy schedule of meetings
to promote British business interests in the region.
On Wednesday he flew to neighbouring Abu Dhabi for another day
and a half of engagements. But instead of flying back to the UK on
Thursday evening, he has stayed on in the country for up to five days
as a guest of its royal family. A spokesman confirmed this, saying:
'The Duke of York's official programme has ended. He is spending his
time in Abu Dhabi privately.'
Palatial: The Duke will spend five days in Abu Dhabi on holiday after
his official engagements end Although the prince has stepped down as
trade ambassador, he is still a senior working member of the Royal
Family and his expenses on official duties are met by taxpayers. A
business class flight to the UAE would cost around �3,000.
A spokesman for the prince said the trips were all planned in advance
of his decision to quit the trade role.
The official refused, however, to discuss his alleged trip to
Azerbaijan, saying he spent his time there 'privately' and adding:
'There would have been no cost to the taxpayer.' On Abu Dhabi, the
spokesman said: 'We would not discuss how he got there, except to
say the taxpayer has funded the equivalent of a commercial fare.'
From: A. Papazian
By Rebecca English
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2066987/Hes-Airmiles-Andy-jets-visit-torture-leader-unexplained-Middle-East-detour.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
28th November 2011
The Duke of York has courted controversy again by using a private jet
to take him on a secret visit to Azerbaijan en route to an official
tour of the Middle East.
Despite stepping down from his controversial globe-trotting trade
role, Andrew was on his fourth taxpayer-funded foreign trip in just
eight weeks when he made the unexplained detour last week.
His office has refused to discuss why he failed to arrive in Qatar
until last Sunday, a full four days after he left the UK in his luxury
executive plane.
Links: The Duke with Azerbaijan's controversial President Aliyev on
an earlier visit .
But the Mail understands that the prince made a detour to the
former Soviet state of Azerbaijan, where he has forged links with
the country's controversial president through his former role as a
UK trade and investment envoy.
When he finally did make it to his destination he undertook five days
of engagements before taking a further five days off in Abu Dhabi on
holiday, where he is currently still sunning himself.
More...Prince William co-pilots rescue helicopter after one dies and
five are missing in Irish Sea boat disaster
To deflect criticism, the Queen's second son says he will be picking up
the bill for the jet himself and only charging the cost of a standard
business class ticket to and from Doha to the British Government.
But the disclosures will inevitably add to disquiet over the prince's
role as a working royal, particularly his relationships with the
leaders of dubious regimes, as Azerbaijan is considered to be one of
the most corrupt countries in the world.
Enlarge All expenses paid: Prince Andrew has been on more trips
than last year since quitting as a UK trade envoy Andrew has visited
its leader, President Ilham Aliyev - accused of torturing political
opponents and election rigging - eight times in the last six years,
with two of the trips described as 'entirely private'.
During one stay he was reported to have visited a luxury spa owned
by President Aliyev, which employs a blind Russian masseur described
as having 'the best hands in the world'.
The regularity of his visits has led media in Azerbaijan to speculate
that he may have business links to the oil-rich state, including a golf
resort on the Caspian Sea. However Buckingham Palace has denied this.
Andrew is being accompanied on his trip by his assistant private
secretary, Laura Hutchings, his Scotland Yard security detail and a
male diplomat.
He arrived in Qatar last Sunday. He is believed to have stayed at the
five-star Four Seasons hotel, which boasts a private beach and marina,
where a suite costs upwards of �600 a night.
Over the next three and a half days he had a busy schedule of meetings
to promote British business interests in the region.
On Wednesday he flew to neighbouring Abu Dhabi for another day
and a half of engagements. But instead of flying back to the UK on
Thursday evening, he has stayed on in the country for up to five days
as a guest of its royal family. A spokesman confirmed this, saying:
'The Duke of York's official programme has ended. He is spending his
time in Abu Dhabi privately.'
Palatial: The Duke will spend five days in Abu Dhabi on holiday after
his official engagements end Although the prince has stepped down as
trade ambassador, he is still a senior working member of the Royal
Family and his expenses on official duties are met by taxpayers. A
business class flight to the UAE would cost around �3,000.
A spokesman for the prince said the trips were all planned in advance
of his decision to quit the trade role.
The official refused, however, to discuss his alleged trip to
Azerbaijan, saying he spent his time there 'privately' and adding:
'There would have been no cost to the taxpayer.' On Abu Dhabi, the
spokesman said: 'We would not discuss how he got there, except to
say the taxpayer has funded the equivalent of a commercial fare.'
From: A. Papazian