Visions of Azerbaijan International magazine on Azerbaijan

by Dr. Yoko Hirose

Azerbaijan occupies a very important position geopolitically because of its oil and gas resources and because of its strategic location between Christianity and Islam, between eastern and western civilizations. Dr Yoko Hirose, associate professor at Tokyo University, looks at ...more ››

by Vusala Zahirova

The restored Qum Basilica in Qakh District was inaugurated on 6 May 2008. The three−naved basilica, one of the earliest monuments of Christian Albania, was constructed in the 4th century.

The first Christian chapels were in homes and catacombs ...more ››

by Fiona Maclachlan

Access to Azerbaijan´s National Parks is opening up. There are currently eight parks open to the public, with Goy-Gol, the newest, added to the list this year. For a newly independent country, these steps indicate a special commitment to conservation. Thank goodness, because this country is so unique and so amazing in many ways. Many areas have been ...more ››

The First Mussulman Republic

by Scotland Liddell

The Hopes and Fears of the Young Azerbaijan Democratic Republic British journalist Scotland Liddell visited the Caucasus in 1918-20, writing for the British press on the region´s three newly independent republics.
An interview by Scotland Liddell with the minister for foreign ...more ››

by Dr. Gasim Hajiyev

Most of modern-day Azerbaijan was once the Kingdom of Albania – not to be confused with the country of Albania in the Balkans. Caucasian Albania included the whole of Karabakh, both Upper or Mountainous Karabakh, now occupied by Armenian forces, and Lower Karabakh. The city of Barda in Lower Karabakh was at one time Albania´s capital ...more ››

by Irada M.Najafova and Ilyas Babayev of Azerbaijan´s National Academy of Sciences

Gaius Julius Caesar (110-44 BC) is one of the best known Roman commanders, politicians and statesmen. His policy of extending the Roman Republic to the west, including his landing in Britain, is well-known. His policy of extending Rome to the east, and specifically ancient Azerbaijan, has received less coverage and is being presented here for the ...more ››

New archaeological finds in the Old City (Icheri Sheher)

by Dr. Kamil Ibrahimov

Azerbaijan´s history is chronicled in stone in Baku´s Old City, a unique example of medieval urban architecture. The city provides invaluable information about Azerbaijan´s history and culture and merits more research. It is our duty to preserve this unique stone city for future generations. The demolition of houses on Neftchiler Ave, M. Magomayev St and I. Magomayev St in the southwest corner of the Old City in ...more ››

by Alexander Murinson

The Azerbaijani and Jewish peoples have a long tradition of tolerance and interaction. Today´s friendly relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Israel are built on centuries of shared Jewish-Azerbaijani existence. Alexander Murinson looks at the history of Jews in Azerbaijan, a history that dates back to Nebuchadnezzar and the fall of Jerusalem.

Ancient peoples with different religions coexisted for centuries on the territory of modern-day Azerbaijan, a result of the conjuncture of history and Azerbaijan´s position at the crossroads of many trade and strategic routes. The majority of the current population of Azerbaijan ...more ››

by Vusala Zahirova

One of Azerbaijan´s unique resources is a rare type of oil - Naftalan - which is renowned worldwide for its medicinal properties. Providing a variation on the concept of bath oil, Naftalan is used both externally and internally. Doctors say Naftalan relieves joint and bone disease ...more ››

(Abridged from the memoirs of Jeyhun Hajibayli, co-author of Leyli and Majnun)

From an early age my older brother Uzeyir and I were interested in music. Karabakh´s scenery, and especially its picturesque capital Shusha, were full of romanticism and creative inspiration for lyrics and poetry.

The most talented singers and musicians are from Karabakh. They include singers Haji Husu and Karyaghdi oghlu and tar player Sadigjan who can even be considered to be geniuses. There were many amateur ...more ››

by Ian Peart & Saadat Ibrahimova

We first met Gudrat Amrahov at a distant relative´s - Azerbaijan really is one big family - but we were totally unprepared for the revelation that took place at the Baku Philharmonia in mid-April.

The 20-year-old had seemed a ´normal´ Azerbaijani lad and ...more ››

by Aydin Kazimzade

Gamar Salamzadeh played an important role in the development of Azerbaijani cinema. She was the first woman film director not only in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus, but in the whole Middle East. To mark the 100th anniversary of her birth, cinema expert and Azerbaijani Honoured Arts Worker Aydin Kazimzadeh looks back at Gamar Salamzadeh´s career.

Gamar Salamzadeh was born on 2 May 1908 in Nakhchivan, where she spent her childhood. Her father Aligulu Gamkusar (Najafov) ...more ››

by Fiona Maclachlan

Plov is another name for pilaf, the internationally famous rice dishes. Plov is considered to be the national food of Azerbaijan and is part of its ancient culture. In the past, before the Russians influenced agricultural practice and cuisine, rice dishes were much more commonplace than ...more ››