· January, 2009

Stories about Azerbaijan from January, 2009

Azerbaijan: Carbon Neutral Resort

  31 January 2009

otto details the development of a carbon neutral resort and residential development on the Zira Island located off the coast of Azerbaijan. The blog posts mockups of the project and says it will be the first carbon neutral development in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Azerbaijan: Mammed Amin Rasul-zadeh

  31 January 2009

In Mutatione Fortitudo marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mammed Amin Rasul-zadeh by introducing its readers to one of the founding fathers of the short-lived Azerbaijani Democratic Republic in the early 20th Century.

Azerbaijan: Democratization Under Siege

  29 January 2009

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the state of democracy in Azerbaijan and wonders about the country's future now that foreign radio broadcasts have effectively been banned and a referendum to remove the two-term restriction on the presidency is scheduled for March.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Young Bloggers Bridge Geopolitical Divides

  28 January 2009

Nearly 15 years after a ceasefire agreement put the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh on hold, a lasting peace remains elusive and few citizens of either country have the opportunity to meet or communicate with the other. That might all be set to change, however, with DOTCOM, a project funded by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by Project Harmony.

Azerbaijan: Parliamentary Deputy Blogs

  28 January 2009

The USAID Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) blog reports that it has helped five deputies from the Azerbaijani parliament set up their own blogs. The blogs in Azeri are at kamranramazanov.blogmilli.com, mmehdi.blogmilli.com, mmfirdovsi.blogmilli.com, rafikismayilov.blogmilli.com, and vuqarqaracayev.blogmilli.com.

Azerbaijan: Airport Woes

  26 January 2009

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines arrives back in Baku and despairs at the condition of Azerbaijan's main international airport. The blog says the arrivals area is understaffed and that the procedure for visas and passport control is even worse for foreigners.

Azerbaijan: Language Lessons

  25 January 2009

Linda in Azerbaijan details the trials and tribulations of learning Azerbaijani. Despite the difficulties, the Peace Corps Volunteer says she is determined to learn the language at the highest level possible.

Azerbaijan: Martyr's Alley

  25 January 2009

Learning to Walk in Stilettos pays a visit to Martyr's Alley in Baku, a cemetery for those killed in the Soviet crackdown in the Azerbaijani capital on 19-20th January 1990. The blog details the walk to the eternal flame at the end of the alley and posts photographs.

Azerbaijan: Probing Questions & Observations

  24 January 2009

Linda in Azerbaijan compares life in the country with that back home and especially when it comes to often probing questions about an individual's personal life. Despite the lack of privacy often encountered, the blog concludes that Azerbaijanis are nonetheless very friendly and have kind hearts.

Azerbaijan: Referendum

  24 January 2009

Thoughts on the Road updates its readers on the referendum to be held in Azerbaijan in March. Seeking to remove the two-term restriction limit for the president, the blog says that despite voter apathy and a boycott by the opposition for last year's presidential election, opponents of the move are...

Azerbaijan: Jam

  24 January 2009

Sheki, Azerbaijan continues to introduce its readers to some of the many cultural traditions in the country, and especially those involving food. In a new post the blog writes about mürəbbə, a sweet and sour jam.

Azerbaijan: The Big Picture

  24 January 2009

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines comments on the referendum to be held in March to remove the presidential two-term restriction and questions whether the legal procedures ahead of the vote have been adhered to by the authorities. In a second post the same blog details the arrest of a group...

Azerbaijan: Day of Tragedy

  21 January 2009

Commenting on a Global Voices Online post, 27 Months in Azerbaijan offers its own opinion on the 19th anniversary of the Soviet repression of unrest in its former satellite on 20 January 1990. The blog concludes that although the day was a tragedy, it also represented the opportunity for a...

Azerbaijan: Black January

  21 January 2009

As much of the world celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, Azerbaijan mourned the 19th anniversary of an event which ultimately led to its independence from the former Soviet Union. At least 130 people were killed and 700 wounded in what is now known as "Black January," a day which marks a defining moment in the rebirth of the former Soviet republic.

Armenia: Azerbaijani Airliner Lands in Yerevan

  20 January 2009

My The Caucasian Knot comments on yesterday's arrival of an Azerbaijani passenger plane flying directly between Baku and Yerevan. Carrying the American, Russian and French co-chairs charged with the task of mediating between Armenia and Azerbaijan in an attempt to find a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh, such flights have...

Georgia: Beautiful Tbilisi

  18 January 2009

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines, the blog of an Azerbaijani political analyst based in Baku and Istanbul, pays its first visit to Tbilisi, capital of the Republic of Georgia. The blog says that the city is beautiful and has preserved it historical charm while it also notes some of the...

Azerbaijan: World's Oldest Surviving Centenarian?

  17 January 2009

Eternal Remont comments on recent reports in the Azerbaijani media that 126 year-old Kableyinovruzali Aslanova is the oldest living resident in the country. Born in 1882, Aslanova has over 200 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. However, the blog also notes that while Aslanova is reportedly 12 years...

Azerbaijan: Civil Society, Opposition Groups Unite as Referendum Approaches

  16 January 2009

Better known for their bitter divisions and rivalries, civil society and opposition groups in Azerbaijan are slowly uniting as a national referendum aimed at removing the presidential two-term limit approaches. Perceived by many as a threat to democratization in the former Soviet republic and accompanied by a ban on foreign broadcasting in the country, blogs and social networking sites are being used to protest the impending vote.

Azerbaijan: Tea

  14 January 2009

Sheki, Azerbaijan introduces its readers to the tea ceremony in Azerbaijan. The blog says that the country might be one of the world's highest per capita consumers of tea and examines the tradition of how the drink is served. It also looks at the cultural role of tea-houses in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan: Mud Volcanoes

  13 January 2009

Joe's Trippin’ pays a visit to the Qobustan State reserve in Azerbaijan. The blog says that while there are as many as 600,000 rock paintings in the territory of the reserve, its main attraction is nearly half of the world's 700 mud volcanoes. The entry also provides information on how...