Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 29 2008

Official presentation of European Azerbaijan Society takes place in
Britain’s House of Lords

[ 29 Nov 2008 16:19 ]

London. Kemale Guliyeva-APA. The official presentation of the European
Azerbaijan Society (EAS) was held in Britain’s House of Lords, APA
reports.
The event was attended by UK MPs, public and political figures,
businesspeople representatives from London-based diplomatic corps,
international organizations and Azeri community.
Tale Heydarov, Chairman of the European Azerbaijan Society, said the
EAS was originally established as the London Azerbaijan Society in
2004, aiming to promote Azerbaijani culture mainly to British
audiences.
According to him, earlier this year the Society took a decision to set
up the EAS so as to broaden its activities to reach out wider
audiences.
`The Society aims to promote Azerbaijan as a modern, forward facing
country with tremendous economic opportunities and a strong cultural
heritage, to promote international relations with Azerbaijan to a wide
political, media and cultural audience, to bring together Azerbaijanis
living in Europe, and to involve them in promoting Azerbaijan and to
raise awareness and end the apathy of the West towards the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,’ he added.
He also underlined the significance of the Society’s publications to
raise awareness about Azerbaijan in Europe.
According to him, a magazine `Visions of Azerbaijan’ is published in
English every three months and distributed to libraries, scientific
research centers around the world, a book called `Azerbaijan: 100
Questions Answered" was published in English and Russian, and a new
collection of articles by foreign authors about the Nagorno Karabakh
Conflict will soon be published in the UK.
The publications are slated for spreading through bookstore networks
in Europe.
He also noted that the Society distributes monthly business and
membership bulletins among political and business groups.
Speaking about the undertaken projects, he underlined a documentary My
Surreal Duty by British director Nick Trion.
The documentary with music by American Jeffrey Werbock deals with the
lives of Azerbaijanis displaced from Karabakh by Armenian aggression.
The firm is scheduled for completion in January.

Addressing the event chairman of British-Azerbaijani Society Lord
Fraser underlined that establishment of the European Azerbaijan
Society in London was a significant event for the country’s
recognition in the world. Lord Fraser appreciated the society’s
activity in informing the Europe of the truths about
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and said there was a
great need for it. Noting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity as the
most important principle, Lord Fraser underlined the significance of
Diaspora’s activity in finding fair solution to the problem. Lord
Fraser supported the idea of establishing the European Azerbaijan
Society and said he was always ready to support and patronize the
society’s work.

Azerbaijan’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the
United Kingdom Fakhraddin Gurbanov expressed his gratitude to Lord
Fraser for his pleasant attitude towards our country and noted with
pleasure that it was the second Azerbaijan-related event held in the
House of Lords in November. Fakhraddin Gurbanov said the embassy would
support the activity of the European Azerbaijan Society in the United
Kingdom and added that the embassy had already held a joint event with
the society. Azerbaijani violinist Sabina Rakchiyeva studying at the
University of London for PhD played works by outstanding Azerbaijani
composer Gara Garayev at the concert on the composer’s 90th
anniversary. The ambassador said the documentary film `My Surreal
Duty’ about Azerbaijani refugees and mugham was one of the most
significant projects of European Azerbaijan Society. The ambassador
underlined that the film showed the hard life of the Azerbaijanis
displaced from Karabakh due to Armenian aggression and their great
musical heritage as the unity.

At the end of the event director of the documentary film Nick Tiron
demonstrated a piece of his work. The participants were given
brochures published by European Azerbaijan Society in London `Business
bulletin’, `Azerbaijan’s role in the Caucasus and international
policy’ and `Nagorno Karabakh’ and book `Azerbaijan: 100 Questions
Answered’.