Visions of Azerbaijan International magazine on Azerbaijan

by Mais Amrahov

Ancient origins

The word bayrag (flag) is Turkic in origin.It is mentioned in the 11th century dictionary Divani-lugat-it-turk (dictionary of the Turkish language) of Mahmud Kashkarli, both in the modern meaning and in literal meanings of the word bayrak – batrak. The word bayrag has the same meaning in most ancient and modern Turkic languages. Batrak, bayrak originated from the verb ‘to stick in’, to thrust ...more ››

by Murad Mehdiyev

Since the signing of the ‘Contract of the Century’ in 1994, Azerbaijan has achieved significant success from implementation of the new oil policy. A branched system of oil and gas pipelines was created to export the oil and gas produced to world markets. Azerbaijan’s oil is now carried west and north by the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan, Baku- Supsa and Baku-Novorossiysk pipelines; its natural gas is conveyed via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Erzurum main gas pipeline. Once a recipient-only of investment, Azerbaijan has used its oil and gas incomes to become, itself, an investor. The State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) ...more ››

by Tural Islamov

Members of the Russian State Duma

The history of Azerbaijani parliamentarianism goes back almost to the beginning of the 20th century, to the formation of the first State Duma in Russia. Six members, including Alimardan bey Topchubashov, Mammad Tagi Aliyev and others from the Azerbaijani Muslim population located in Baku, Yelizavetpol (Ganja) and Irevan (the old name for Yerevan) provinces were successful in being elected to the 1st State Duma. A Muslim faction in the Duma had 36 representatives from different regions of Russia; the Azerbaijani members were the most active ...more ››

by Fiona Maclachlan

One particularly chilly evening in darkest mid-November, a rather privileged group of invited guests queued up in London to enjoy the carpet ride of their lives. The giant posters flanking the entrance to the experience said it all - Flying Carpet to Fairy Tale - and immediately on entry this carpet flyer knew the ride was going to be something rather special. Greeted by hosts and hostesses in gloriously colourful Azerbaijani national costume, I was offered a choice of champagne or the very enticing and much prettier sherbet drinks. I chose the rose sherbet and was immediately transported far away across land and seas to the exotic land of Azerbaijan ...more ››

by Fiona Maclachlan

Who hasn’t heard of the Nobel Peace Prize? Promoting the exciting history of the oil industry in Baku, “The Nobels and Baku Oil” is an exhibition which, since its first opening in Baku in September 2009 ...more ››

by Gulzar Novruzova

As Azerbaijan developed and strengthened its independent status, it also looked to its foreign policy and to restoring links with compatriots living abroad; it declared itself the guarantor of the interests of the world’s Azerbaijanis. While Heydar Aliyev was still chairman of the Ali Mejlis (Supreme Assembly) of the Republic of Nakhchivan he took the lead in establishing World Azerbaijanis` Solidarity Day. The holiday was given state status. At the end of 1999 Heydar Aliyev, by now President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, addressed the world’s Azerbaijanis and noted ...more ››

by Ian Peart

Conducting an interview with Nobert Yevdayev is a fascinatingly daunting pleasure. Knowing where to start in writing about him is rather like the child sitting on the floor surrounded by brightly wrapped packages and wondering which one to open first. Baku-born in 1929, of Mountain Jewish origin, he has had 81 years of life to fill: language teacher, jazz musician, engineer, journalist, technical writer, artist (painter), trader, scriptwriter, events promoter, newspaper editor, art historian and author ...more ››

by Fiona Maclachlan

In Azerbaijan, this former Soviet Union state of 8.7 million people, the people often say proudly that Baku, the capital city, has everything. A unique sea-side city rich in both European and Asian culture and history, Baku boasts a unique and varied architecture - ranging from wide streets with grand mansions with classical Roman and Gothic themes to the UNESCO-protected intimate inner walled city comprising the most ancient and some newer buildings, complete with cobbled streets, narrow alleys and many places of historical interest. For much of the last century, Baku took on a Soviet appearance ...more ››

by Thomas Goltz

Road Notes from the New Silk Road Summer Students

Editor’s note: the following vignettes derive from the notes and diary entries of the eight Montana State University participants on the pilot summer trip from Azerbaijan to Istanbul via Georgia, along with one short entry of the Georgian delegate’s first impressions of her American colleagues ...more ››

by Karim Shukurov

The question of “Armenia as Western Azerbaijan” Until 1918, there was neither Armenia, nor a state called Armenia, in the South Caucasus. The demographic situation in the Irevan khanate of Azerbaijan, which constituted the main part of the current territory of Armenia ...more ››

by Abbas Gurbanov

Gurban Bayram, the Festival of Sacrifice or Eid al-Adha – considered the most sacred of holidays in the Islamic world - is celebrated in all Muslim countries. Sacrifice in various forms has existed in all celestial religions. However, in Islam this rite has a particular essence and significance. Endless love for Allah and a deep belief and faith in his power are the basis of this rite. The holiday is one of cleansing and purification for all. People have celebrated Gurban Bayram here since Islam was introduced to Azerbaijan ...more ››

by Akram Rahimli (Bije)

The 21 Azer movement (the 12 December 1945 revolution) is seen as the culmination of the national-democratic movement in Southern Azerbaijan (Iran). The Mashruta revolution of the early 20th century (1905-1911) and the subsequent Khiyabani movement (1917-1920) were in essence just stages in the revival and revolutionary and processes leading to the 21 Azer. In other words, the 21 Azer was their logical continuation. It was no coincidence that most of the issues on the agenda of Azerbaijan’s national government in 1945-1946 overlapped those in the programmes and goals of previous movements ...more ››

by Ian Peart

On Friday 12 November 2010, the only place to be was Goychay, Azerbaijan. Those who missed the town’s 5th annual Pomegranate Festival will surely mourn and make a note in their 2011 diaries, as soon as the date of the 6th Festival is announced. Those who attended are grateful for their good fortune, and will make the same note. Visitors from the capital are doubly grateful – as with many experiences in Azerbaijan, the journey is often at least as eventful and interesting as the destination ...more ››

by Ian Peart and Saadat Ibrahimova

The second half of October dangled another tantalising musical menu before Baku’s jazz aficionados; with more than twenty concerts scheduled for those two weeks, there were some agonising choices to be made – where to allocate those precious manats? With a mixture of local (eg. Salman Gambarov) and international (Dianne Reeves), upcoming (Elchin Shirinov) and established (Monty Alexander), it was not easy. This correspondent stretched the wallet to five concerts and got agonisingly close to a regretfully missed sixth ...more ››

by Aydin Talib-Zadeh

“Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past”.
Robert T.Kiyosaki

Theatre development in Azerbaijani culture has a very long history. It begins with the theatrical elements of open-air folk performances, the zorkhana games performed by pehlevans (wrestlers and weightlifters), folk sketches, religious ceremonies and rites, from ashugs (Caucasian folk poets and singers) playing the saz ...more ››

by Sarah Oghuz

Gayyur Yunus engages with this age-old Azerbaijani art as a craftsman with his own style of painting. His works are an organic combination of the natural colours of his native land, the gentle dreams of its people and the vision of an ancient oriental culture which has survived the trials of the centuries. Ordinary everyday events are endowed with deep philosophical import. Daily cares and household chores are generalized and become madrigals painted about people, their hopes and their deeds. Gayyur Yunus’s painted madrigals - the artistry of the characters ...more ››

by Ahmed-Jabir Ahmedov

The country’s cuisine has a long and noble history and culinary culture is a matter of great pride in the Azerbaijani household. No one who tries the delicacies produced here ever forgets the aesthetic appearance or taste and is always back for more. Alongside the historical monuments, culture and modern development, the cuisine of Azerbaijan is an equally intriguing discovery for visitors.
Thus we decided to run a series of articles about the gastronomic delights to be found here. We hope it will help visitors when they browse a menu, as well as ...more ››