US AZERBAIJANIS WORK TO KEEP TRADITIONS ALIVE
By Mike O’Sullivan
Voice of America
Oct 24 2006
The modern state of Azerbaijan is just 15 years old, but the country,
a part of the former Soviet Union, has maintained its distinctive
traditions. Azerbaijani Americans are working to keep alive their
culture and help others understand the nation’s problems and
potential. Mike O’Sullivan spoke with Azerbaijani Americans who
attended a recent conference in Los Angeles.
Asmar Eyvazova (l) and Nazrin Baghirova
Nazrin Baghirova is studying educational administration at the
University of Utah. She tells people about her country and its ancient
capital, Baku, and often get quizzical looks, but says it is a great
way to start a conversation.
"It is always exciting for me to give them information [about] where
I’m from and showing them the location of Azerbaijan on the map,
and seeing their reaction – oh, wow," she said.
Her friend, Asmar Eyvazova, works at center for distance education at
the University of Texas, Arlington. When Asmar talks about Azerbaijan,
reactions range from blank stares to limited recognition.
Some people know, for example, that Azerbaijan has abundant oil
supplies. A few realize that its population is mostly Turkic-speaking
and Muslim. On occasion, she meets people who have traveled to
Azerbaijan.
"Those who have been to our country, they just really express it
immediately that, oh, you are very hospitable," she said. "People
are really nice and they like having guests and offer the best things
that they have in their houses."
Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea and Iran, Georgia, Armenia, Russia
and Turkey. The region was in the news in the late 1980s and early
1990s, and the news for Azerbaijan was mostly bad.
A separatist movement of ethnic Armenians declared independence in
the Azerbaijani enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where they formed the
dominant group. Fighting erupted and Azerbaijan lost 16-percent of
its territory to Armenia. The dispute is unresolved, despite a 1994
cease-fire, and Azerbaijan is now coping with more than half a million
displaced people.
Elin Suleymanov Other Azerbaijanis are scattered around the world,
and many have come to the United States to settle or study. Elin
Suleymanov is consul general for Azerbaijan in Los Angeles. He
estimates there are from 200,000 to 500,000 Azerbaijani Americans,
a figure that includes ethnic Azeris from Iran.
"They share the language and the culture, and attitude, and cuisine and
everything else," he said. "And increasingly they share the identity."
He says Azerbaijanis come from a difficult neighborhood, and part
of the reason for holding this Los Angeles meeting is to get Azeri
Americans to tell their story. He urged his countrymen to get involved
in U.S. civic life and make sure their congressional representatives
get to know them.
One participant at the conference is not from Azerbaijan, but is
helping educate the world about the Caucasus nation.
Betty Blair Betty Blair edits a quarterly publication called Azerbaijan
International. She and her husband, an Azerbaijani, started the
magazine in 1993 to answer questions like this one she has encountered.
"Is this in Africa? Where is it? What is it," she said.
She says when she and her husband started the magazine, fighting was
raging with Armenia, and Americans often heard the Armenian side.
"That other side of the story was not being presented," she said.
"And we just started very simply, 16 pages."
Traditional Azerbaijani dancing Now, each issue the glossy magazine
has 100 pages of articles and pictures on Azerbaijani history,
literature, and culture. The couple also runs what is billed as the
world’s largest website about Azerbaijan, called
Blair says that over the years, Azerbaijan has been under the rule of
czars, shahs, caliphs and khans, and now, is coping with the problems
of independence.
The country has been called an authoritarian democracy. Critics say
its oil wealth remains largely undeveloped and that the nation is
mismanaged and plagued with corruption.
But Azerbaijani Americans say their ties with their homeland are still
strong, and that they hope to play a role in the country’s development.