World's best airport in a country with best camouflage skills

So The Jakarta Post published this list of 13 best airports in the world. It is awesome to see Azerbaijan's new international airport featured on the list, and I am not surprised our media outlets picked up on the story.

What is however interesting is that how Azernews does not mention much about tourism stats or the point Jakarta Post makes about the importance of airports:

According to Citylab, airports play a crucial role in economic development as it moves people. The number of passengers and flights is said to be related to economic output, wages and income. Fortunately, more and more airports are being upgraded and modernized, giving comfort to passengers and supporting a country's economy.

According to the most recent stats, as shared by the Ministry of Culture, a total of 1.8million tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2017. The highest number of tourists are from Russia, followed by Georgia, Iran, Turkey, UAE, and others.   

And yet, our own citizens prefer going to neighboring Georgia for holidays such as New Year. The close distance, lower prices, friendly environment are certainly important in this decision. Even though Azerbaijan Tourism Association disagrees. It is not the low prices that attract Azerbaijani tourists but the closeness of the country. I think we should ask Azerbaijanis who travel there. I am sure price, quality and diversity would certainly have something to do with it. It is also easier to travel to Georgia as there are no visa requirements and although Azerbaijan is working to improve its visa handling through notorious ASAN service we are yet to see the results and impact on the country's tourism industry.

Now back to the discussion of economic development and the role of the airports. Y'all know about levels of corruption in Azerbaijan so who knows how much money was swept under the carpet during the construction of this airport. And since Y'all know all about how "caring" our leadership is towards its people, I don't have to tell you that the only economic development that can be a topic of discussion in Azerbaijan, is the economic wealth of the ruling family and its closest. 

Independence of institutions are nominal and all of the power is vested within the executive. The imitation of the multiparty system has been stellar even though those who are familiar with the country are aware that this is indeed an imitation and tolerance only extends to those parties who are supportive of the regime and its policies. Within such carefully built system, it is not surprising that the country's economy is and its capital is divided among families and the rumors of vibrant economic development are just rumors (or perhaps they are affecting state coffers only while leaving the general public out). 

According to this report, while in developed countries GDP per capita aligns with the average salary level, in Azerbaijan, the GDP per capita is almost 10 times the average salary. 

So while its great that Azerbaijan's international airport made it into the ranking, it would be grand to see the local media cover the economic development aspect with a bit more realistic analysis but then, if Azernews did that, it is likely it won't be around and available to its readers which is the case with a number of other independent and opposition media. But that's another blog entrance. 

Now, while I recommend visiting my beautiful home, I suggest staying away from glitz and glamor that sometimes can be too much and visit the countryside, go hiking in the mountains and enjoy the delicious national cuisine. And bear in mind that there are many hidden stories of struggle, poverty, and corruption on the streets of the City of Winds. 

Understanding new media

This is a presentation I gave this morning at Bilgi University for a group of civil society representatives from Georgia and Abkhazia visiting as part of the Caucasus School project. 

                            

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                        " href="http://prezi.com/zaorpepnjm2j/new-media-and-social-networks/">New Media and Social Networks on Prezi

Caucasus Edition new Issue is up

Caucasus Edition, Journal of Conflict Transformation launches its new issue. To read more analysis on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by scholars, journalists, diplomats, experts and bloggers, visit the website.

Ali and Nino decades later

When I first read the book Ali and Nino, I found it absolutely fascinating. The narrative, the main characters, the history- whatever it was, the book was a great read. And just recently, it became my reference point for an article I was writing for Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. 

Through the story of Ali and Nino, I looked at the sense of belonging to Europe in the Caucasus and how this perception changed over time. And here is what came out of it:

"The novel 'Ali and Nino' tells about the love between an Azerbaijani and Georgian teenager. Depicted as symbols of Asia and Europe, they meet in the Caucasus ad there can be united. Almost one century after Ali and Nino was published, can the Caucasus be European and can it be united?

'Some scholars look on the area south of the Caucasus mountains as belonging to Asia, while others, in view of the transcaucasian cultural revolution, believe that this country should be considered part of Europe'

With these words, Professor Sanin frames the issue for his class at the Imperial Russian Humanistic High School of Baku described by Kurban Said (pen name for Lev Nussimbaum) in his famous book Ali and Nino [...] The novel tells a love story of an upper- class Azerbaijani muslim teenager, Ali Khan Shirvanshahir, and a Georgian princess, Nino Kipiani, that evolves in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, prior to the Soviet takeover in 1920. The novel takes its readers on a journey across the Caucasus and on to its wider neighborhood, stretching from the shores of the Caspian Sea to Karabakh and to the mountains of Dagestan, where the two get married. The novel's principle characters continue on to Georgia, Persia and finally end in Baku in the midst of war."

The rest of the article is available here: http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/All-news/Baku-is-it-Asia-or-Europe.