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issue 5, year XIX, 2012 |
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HEYDAR ALIYEV - THE NATIONAL LEADER OF THE AZERBAIJANI PEOPLE
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Heydar Aliyev, born on 10 May 1923 in Nakhchivan, is considered to be the national leader of the Azerbaijani people. In 1992, he was elected as chairman of the New Azerbaijani Party. On 3 October 1993, he became president of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani people loved their leader for what he did for the country. Aliyev was awarded many medals and international awards.
SPEECH OF ABULFAS GARAYEV - MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM OF AZERBAIJAN
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H.E. EMIL KARIMOV, AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
Interview by Valentin Kostov
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20 YEARS OF BILATERAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION BETWEEN BULGARIA AND AZERBAIJAN
By the Department "European Countries", Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria were established on 5 June 1992. Since then, the two countries have signed over 40 agreements. The main focuses of the bilateral partnerships are education, culture, economy and energy. The high-level visits have helped to further develop the mutual contacts.
AZERBAIJAN FROM THE PAST TO THE PRESENT
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On 28 May 1918 in Northern Azerbaijan the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic was founded. Two years later the country joined the Soviet Union. On 18 October 1991 the country’s independence was proclaimed.
THE NOBEL BROTHERS - PETROLEUM MAGNATES OF AZERBAIJAN
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Have you heard of the Nobel brothers? Did you know that they had the biggest petroleum company in Azerbaijan? After building pipelines, the brothers began exporting oil and oil products to Europe, India, China, Iran and many other countries. With the money they earned, they founded the Association of the Nobel Brothers in Baku, which now annually awards the Nobel Prize in recognition of scientific and cultural advances.
GREAT MEN FROM BAKU - MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH AND LEV LANDAU
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Mstislav Rostropovich is a famous Azerbaijani cello player and an orchestra conductor, born in 1927 in Baku. During 1971-1973 he played in the National Symphony Orchestra of Azerbaijan. One year later he was forced to migrate to the USA. He loved Azerbaijan and regularly visited Baku throughout his life.
Lev Landau was a great physician and a Nobel laureate, born in 1908 in Baku. Landau worked in the field of atomic and nuclear physics. In 1962 he was awarded a Nobel Prize for his theories for condensed matter, particularly that of liquid helium.
THE AZERBAIJANI ECONOMY
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The petroleum industry always has had a leading role in the Azerbaijani economy. In 1846 the first oil rig in the world was drilled in Baku. Thirty years later the Nobel brothers built an oil company. In 1901 Azerbaijan was producing over 50% of the oil in the world. Heydar Aliyev’s government helped to further develop the petroleum industry.
NATURE AND TOURISM
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Nine out of eleven existing climate zones are present in Azerbaijan. This explains the variety of relief forms, plants and animals in the country - over 4,200 types of plants and 607 types of animals. Kura is the biggest Azerbaijani river and Gioi-Gioil is considered to be the biggest lake. Azerbaijan is also rich in natural resources.
THE KARABAKH HORSES
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The Azerbaijani region Karabakh is famous for its special horse breeds. In the past only the Khans of Karabakh were allowed to ride them. Today the horses of Karabakh participate in different international competitions and are known all over the world.
SHUSHA - THE HEART OF AZERBAIJANI KARABAKH
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Shusha is the main city of the Azerbaijani region Nagorno-Karabakh. The city was once the capital of the Karabakh khanate. Over time, it became the home to many Azerbaijani intellectuals, poets, writers and musicians. After the Russian conquest of the region in 1813, part of the Armenian population of the surrounding countries settled in Nagorno-Karabakh. Today 20% of the Azerbaijani territory is occupied by Armenia.
THE AZERBAIJANI CARPETS
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Azerbaijan is also famous for its unique carpets. According to the archaeologists, the weaving of carpets in the country began in the Bronze Age. In the 16th century the carpet weaving industry developed further. The Azerbaijani carpets vary throughout the regions of the country. Nowadays Azerbaijan exports carpets for all over the globe.
THE CITIES OF AZERBAIJAN
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The capital city Baku is the political, administrative and cultural center of Azerbaijan, which is why it is worth a visit.
Ganja is the second biggest city in Azerbaijan and is the hometown of the famous poet Nizami Ganjavi.
The city of Shaki is known for its colored windows and the production of silk.
Nakhichevan is the cultural center of Azerbaijan with a university, a science center, many theatres, museums and galleries.
Lankaran is a beautiful port city on the coast of the Caspian Sea, where different handicrafts are well developed.
NIZAMI GANJAVI - AZERBAIJANI REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RENAISSANCE IN THE EAST
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Nizami Ganjavi is one of the greatest Azerbaijani authors. He was born in 1141 in the city of Ganja and was the Azerbaijani representative of the renaissance in the east. He believed that humans were created to live a happy life. The main motifs of his poems were current and eternal philosophical questions. Among his most famous literary works are the poems "Leyli and Majnum" and "Khamsa".
THE MUSICAL GENRE MUGAM
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Mugam is a musical folklore genre, which Azerbaijanis are proud of, and is usually performed by one singer and two performers. Mugam is often combined with other genres like classical or jazz music. In 2003 UNESCO declared this genre as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
THE NATIONAL AZERBAIJANI COSTUME
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The history of Azerbaijan is reflected in the traditional costume of the country. In the past the clothes differed in the separate regions of Azerbaijan. The female costume consisted of a shirt, a skirt and a waistcoat. Azerbaijani ladies also wore jewelry and hats. Men in Azerbaijan were usually dressed in a shirt, a waistcoat, trousers and a mantle. The hat was a very important masculine accessory.
THE SPRING HOLIDAY NOVRUZ
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The Azerbaijani holiday Novruz is one of the most important feasts in the country. It marks the beginning of the spring season. The preparation for the holiday starts a month earlier. By tradition, the Azerbaijani people clean their homes and put on the table pilaf and various sweet meals.
THE AZERBAIJANI HONCHA - A GIFT FOR HAPPINESS
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By tradition just before every wedding the family of the groom gives the bride a special gift, called "Honcha". Honcha is a basket full of fruit and all kinds of pastries. It is usually prepared by the women in the family of the groom, given for a happy life and a successful marriage.
TRADITIONAL AZERBAIJANI CUISINE
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The Azerbaijani cuisine is one of the richest and most ancient cuisines in the world. The national Azerbaijani dishes are quite piquant, but very delicious. Among the traditional Azerbaijani dishes are pilaf, dolma (minced meat), lavangi (a special kind of filling) and kutabi (a special kind of pancake).
FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM AZERBAIJAN:
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SHAKH ISMAYIL KHATAI
ABBAS-GULU-AQA BAKIKHANOV
MIRZA FATALI AKHUNDOV
HAJI ZEYNALABDIN TAGHIYEV
HOUSEYN KHAN NAKHCHIVANSKI
ALI -AQA SHIKHLINSKI
MAMMAD EMIN RASULZADE
THE COLORFUL AZERBAIJANI CULTURE
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The Azerbaijani national culture combines the best traditions of the East and the West. This text gives information about the traditional and modern Azerbaijani music, theatre, opera, ballet and architecture.
LITART PRESENTS: AZERBAIJAN LITERATURE
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As every other nation, the Azerbaijanis are proud of their national folk songs, myths, legends and proverbs. The history of Azerbaijan has been reflected in the folklore and the literature of the country. In the 60s and 70s the Azerbaijani literature developed further. Nizami Gandjevi is considered to be the most famous author in Azerbaijani.
POEMS BY NIZAMI GANJAVI
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PHOTOATELIER PRESENTS: BAKU IN THE BEGINNING РћF THE 20TH CENTURY
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ATELIER PRESENTS:
TO BE DEVOTED: A MEETING WITH THE ARTIST ZLATKA STOYKOVA
By: Ognian Stamboliev
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THE SCULPTOR NIKOLA DIKOV
By: Dotchka Kisiova-Gogova
Page 68
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| Translated by Ilina Vasileva |
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