CELEBRATING THE ISLAMIC REPULBLIC OF PAKISTAN CULTURAL DAY IN BAKU, AZERBAIJAN

The Baku International Students Club a section of the Erasmus Student Network, on the 24th of May held the “Cultural Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”. The ceremony was held in Baku the capital city of Azerbaijan.

The event was one of such similar events that have been planned by the Baku International Students Club in order to show case the different cultures of different nationalities of International students having their education in Azerbaijan. The ceremony was an initiative of the members of the Baku International Students club with close support from the Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan and the Pakistani community.

Organizing such events is very tasking and thus requires a great deal of time and monetary resources. The members of BISC irrespective of their other academicals schedules were relentless in their effort to ensure that the occasion gets a befitting hosting. The events started with series of meeting by the BISC executives and the officials of the Pakistani embassy in Azerbaijan. Access to the Pakistani embassy was made possible through the contacts of the members of BISC who were also from the Islamic republic of Pakistan.

The event commenced with an introductory remarks from the president of Baku International Students Club (BISC), Ms. Ayseba Mirzayeva, who is also the National Representative of Azerbaijan for the Erasmus Student Network (ESN).

Baku International Students Club (BISC) was founded in 2006 by a group of friends from the Baku State University, Baku, Azerbaijan. This group of friends acted as volunteers with the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) one of the leading NGOs in Azerbaijan. Although the IEPF has established three main activity directions on media; conflict resolution; and refugees/IDPs problems and Community Development; these volunteers were primarily involved with the Refugees/IDPs and Community Development programs.

Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a non-for-profit pan-Europe organization. ESN is based on the idea of cultural tolerance and exchange with student helping students. ESN is an international non-profit association, founded in Copenhagen on the 10th of February 1990. The organization has its official seat at Rue du Trône 98, Brussels, Belgium. In September of 2007, BISC became the 34th member of the ESN; BISC was accepted after a consensus agreement by all National representative present at the Annual General Meeting of ESN in Switzerland.

The audience present at the Pakistan Cultural Day celebration needed to be acquainted with the essence of the ceremony, the conveyor and then what the organization BISC represents. Nigar Bagirova, the Public Relation Officer of the BISC had a presentation on Baku International Student Club.

During the volunteering works by this group of friends with IEPF, they had identified problems that need to be addressed in their community. Azerbaijan was witnessing a progressive phase in its development and upon this there became so many influxes of foreigners into the country who wants to have their higher education in Azerbaijan. However these persons are having faced problems with their integration process due to certain issues such as language barrier, lack of orientation, non availability personal contacts and relationship. The consequence of these gaps was that international students were passing through challenges. Through contact and regular interaction with some of these international students, the group initiated the idea of creating an organization. However, in order to officially perform its activities, the organization had to be registered with the ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan as a non-for-profit organization.

In 2007, Baku International Students Club officially passed its registration with the ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan and was officially granted permission to perform its activities.

So as to help it direct its activities, the Baku International Students Club (BISC), formulated for itself the following aims and objectives:

• Encourage and support the exchange of Azerbaijan students around universities in Europe and the reintegration of homecoming students;
• Support the easy settlement and good integration of foreign students into Azerbaijan; Create collaboration link with worldwide student youth clubs and networks;
• Inform them about Azerbaijani youths and on the creative potentiality of the Azeri new generation;
• Take active part in International peace processes, organize and carry out projects that will directly be of benefit to the immediate community;
• Attend International Solidarity of students with no regards to religions, language, race, sex, and citizenship;
• Conduct events on studying the truth about the country and carry out promotional activities.

BISC first major activity that involved the foreign students was the organization of the “Commemoration of the Khojaly tragedy”. Khojaly tragedy will remain a significant event in the history of Azerbaijan because it was a day that innocent Azeris from the Nagorno-Karabakh regions were killed, causing sorrows all through the territory of Azerbaijan. BISC through the event on commemorating of the Khojaly tragedy wanted to inform the foreign students on the true story of that incident. Through presentations and open access discussions, the foreign students learnt from their Azeri counterparts the reasons why the Khojaly massacre has become a matter that is passionate to the Azerbaijanis.

The meeting on that fateful day launched BISC towards its proposed aims and objectives. The foreign students who took active part in the meeting thereafter enrolled for membership and hence BISC was beginning to take a course.

Several other events followed thereafter; organizing of the “Novruz Bayram week”, project on the “Transition on to Bologna Process as one of the Parts of Integration to the Indivisible European Education Space” –organized as a research on the move towards the Bologna system of Education in Azerbaijan; publication of the book “Silk Way of the Science” –as a report on the findings on Bologna educational system in Azerbaijan.

In the end of 2007, BISC had a trip to the Quba region of Azerbaijan. The trip was in fulfillment of a project activity financed by the Open Society Institute-Assistance Foundation, Project Harmony, Catholic Relief Service Organization and Educational Center for Youth; the project was to promote Integration among the Students and Strengthening of Network through an Informal Trainings. The success derived from the project was very encouraging as both the Azeri students and the foreign students freely discussed issues that concern the educational system in Azerbaijan as well as sharing experiences between nations.

BISC has made it a priority to embark on as many activities that will promote cultural tolerance among youths irrespective of nationality, religion, race or gender. Therefore, through its regular meetings, BISC has mapped out a series of forecast activities to be implemented.

The ceremony of the Pakistani day was a landmark in a series of such planned events lined up by BISC to be implemented. BISC has acquired experiences through its previous activities and other events it had hosted like the welcome pack celebration of the BISC induction into ESN, the New Year Party of the BISC, etc. In these previous events, the Pakistani members of BISC had demonstrated willingness to commence the intended National Days celebration, thus the reason for the first in its kind, the Pakistan Cultural Celebration.

Because it was a day to celebrate the Pakistani culture, subsequent events on this particular day was targeted principally on the exposition of the Pakistani culture. The hall fro the ceremony was well decorated with the Pakistani flags, art and crafts, even innovations from the emerging Pakistan textile market was on display.

Hamza, a member of the BISC gave an extensive presentation on Pakistan, highlighting the historic past and present of the Islamic republic of Pakistan. Other presentation that took place was: the role of women in Pakistan; the founding father of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Pakistan a land of great opportunities. The Pakistani community also helped prepare the kids to present a short drama on wedding ceremony in Pakistan. Also there were lots of dance from the Pakistani students present as the national music sounded from the sound systems.

Finally all present were entertained with varieties of Pakistani dishes courtesy of the Pakistani community in Azerbaijan.

The Baku International Students Club -BISC, although relatively new in its creation, it has accomplished some relatively success in its activities. Since its creation, the Baku International Students Club has carefully identified international students having education in Azerbaijan, particularly in Baku. The universities where these students are registered were contacted and links was immediately created.

BISC is gradually establishing itself as one of the prominent youth organization in Azerbaijan. Through its activities, besides the good collaboration BISC enjoys with universities, it also closely collaborates with ministries in Azerbaijan engaging in youth affairs particularly the ministry of youth and sports and ministry of Education. BISC has also participated in various international conferences, meeting, seminars and international youth events.

Reclamation of the occupied territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh; so near yet so far!

The war over the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) is lasting over the foreseen time and it has taken different twist. No one had imagined that sixteen years after that terrible event and fourteen years after the ceasefire was agreed upon by both the Azerbaijan and Armenia that the last of the stories from the NK wouldn’t have been told. The dream picture of the NK and its environs is a peaceful environment where the true occupants are going about their activities without fear or molestations. But even today, we still get reports of sporadic shooting still occurring with killing of both Armenians armies and Azerbaijan armies that have become the occupants of this partly deserted territory.

Since the invasion of this Azerbaijani territory by Armenia troops with of course the help of Russia, the resolution of the conflict is never ending. So many factors are the reason behind the still unresolved issue. Some are based on world politics but majority of the reason lies on one party refusing to accept the truth; the truth that they have consciously acted against laid down norms in treaties and agreements, that they have regularly violated the sovereignty of their neighboring nation and they have chosen to illegally remained in a territory that was never theirs.

The factor that has undermined the peace process so as to help elongate it will be classified into the following factors:
Armenia stubbornness;
National and Regional politics;
Media coverage;
World politics and the role of Russia

ARMENIA STUBBORNNESS

We have heard of how Armenia continues to violate the ceasefire agreed by both parties to cease from the continuous use of weaponries; on so many instances the Armenia soldiers continue to tempt the Azerbaijan soldiers towards retaliation. It is astonishing to state that Armenia has adamantly remained in the Azerbaijan territory since after the invasion and has stubbornly chosen to remain in order to stretch its neighbor’s patience to a simple logical conclusion of “daring to see what you (Azerbaijan) can do”.

Not to say that strength for strength, might for might, military artillery for military artillery that Azerbaijan does not have upper hands over the Armenia. However Azerbaijan has not thought it necessary to assume the character which they had once been a victim to during the Russia occupation of the entire Azerbaijan Republic and to a larger extent the Caucasus regions. Azerbaijan government has followed the right path in essence; it wants all necessary diplomatic peaceful deliberation to be exhausted because that’s genuine than an alternative use of force to reclaim its rightful possession.

Armenia has seen every additional year of the unresolved conflict as a victory and this has shown how they have purported to the elongation of the issue. However, if the Armenia had made a good effort to cautiously see issues from a peaceful perspective, considering the long run than the short run benefits, the Armenia would have known that they stand to benefit from an end to the conflict.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL POLITICS

The role of the politicians as a factor that has helped prolong the never ending conflict cannot be ruled out. Many will associate the elongation of the process as a way of tactics for the politicians to play time while subjecting the general masses to the issues as a diversion from making other meaningful democratic progress.

Instability in any region has never amounted to any significant gains no matter how slight this instability could be. The price for turbulent and war tells on the economical gains of any nation. For instance, using America as a case study, America is almost on the verge of recession because it is involve in two wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. Many will agree that lots of national revenue is squandered on the establishment of peace that should be directed to other meaningful economical spheres like health care, housings, infrastructure, etc.

Whereas Azerbaijan has gained significantly in its economical revenue with the oil boom, this is not same with the Armenia. Armenia relies heavily on aids and grants and particularly on trades with Russia. This is why it heavily dances to the tune of the Russia. Russia in turns manipulates the Armenia and plays politics with the NK issues in order to still play a dominant role in the region.

If the truth must also be told, the boom in economical oil revenue for Azerbaijan has hampered any good relationship it hopes to enjoy with Russia. Russia will always want to remain a force to be recon with especially in the regions of the Caucasus. With the EU continues dependent on the oil, Russia has successfully used its wealth from the region to arm twist the EU into downplaying some of its policies. Therefore with Azerbaijan oil boom, Russia perceives a loop hole to its regional strategy.

However Armenia cannot properly justify for all the largesse it continuously receives. The Armenia government ranks among the world top corrupt government. The majority of the Armenia masses live in poverty and yet the government, ruling class, and the elites accumulate great wealth. An unresolved NK crisis benefits these class of individuals because its remains a means for personal enrichment for the corrupt leaders.

MEDIA COVERAGE

The problem of the NK has not really gotten the kind of attention it should be accorded by the foreign media. Events like the Chechnya, Kosovo, even in Africa like Sudan, Rwanda, etc have all received adequate focus but a similar event in the massacre of innocent civilians, an event that last so short but yet its devastation was so immense has not receive adequate and proportionate coverage.

Lives were lost in the thousands, atrocities were committed, and to crown it all, Azerbaijan had a world record number of internally displaced civilians in its nation. What other calamity other than these could have happened for the foreign press to have given it the needed attention?

Perhaps the international media is simply playing the dumb so as to incline itself to the dictates of the “who is who” in world policies; the members of the UN security council including Russia has not called (tagged) it that, as to be necessary to be accorded a global coverage in order to call it what it is –a genocide!

Also Armenia has concentrated its whole effort in feeding the world with its own propaganda. Of course Armenia who assumes to have everything to gain in the prolonged delay to lasting peace will obviously ensure that it remains an antagonist to the peaceful resolution of the NK territorial disputes. Armenia has got a great community in the USA, with the USA being what it is as the core for emancipating of global news, the Armenia in the Diaspora has indulge itself in the use of this advantage to draw more world sympathy, more favorable media coverage and more on the spotlight. Additionally, the Armenians in France are good at their lobbying and propagations of their story therefore to their scores; they have convinced France towards making favorably proclamations to the advantage of the Armenia.

The consequence is that the Armenia story, which of course is a “photo shopped” variant, is the more familiar story to the global press.

WORLD POLITICS AND ROLE OF RUSSIA

Also America and France has equally not been equivocal with the truth in NK issues. Just recently, UN had a vote cast on the Armenia/Azerbaijan territorial dispute. The outcome was favorable to the Azerbaijan but US and France had voted against the vote. It keeps one wandering if the US and France are not speaking from both sides of the mouth; as the co-chairman of the MINSK OSCE group, they say things that are good to the ear of any party they are in contact with.

Russia too has long stated where its allegiance lies and does not pretend about it. The truth of the whole NK conflict is so real to the Russia because no one knows the history better than Russia who was the main culprit in igniting the war in first place.
So, why all these hank-panky dealings on this issue by, of course the world powers? Why are they so afraid to speak out to what is the truth. Probably just how Russia has bullied its way into influencing decisions in International organization like the NATO, it is also having similar influence in the final decisions of the MINSK OSCE group. USA and France has decided to play safe because in as much as the situation has not received the required world attention, Russia very well knows how vital the NK remains in the region. No nation will want a confrontation with Russia, particularly not based on the Azerbaijan issues.

Peace has remained elusive not because it can not be achieved but because the above stated reasons has hampered peace. These factors can inevitable be surpassed through truthfulness and openness to the issue by all parties involved in the process of achieving peace.

The bulk of the challenge to repossess the occupied territory lies with the Azerbaijanis. It is their problems and no matter how much the International community shows concern, it will never amount to a meaningful success; “It is he who wears the shoes that knows where it pinches him”. The Armenia has not shown good commitment to the whole issue as the Azerbaijan has done; the Armenia government and the Armenians as a whole is not as passionate to the matter as the Azerbaijanis do. This is a clear indication of who actually is right from the onset, who is telling the truthful story and who has a good intent. Perhaps the Azerbaijani government has gotten it all wrong with the reclamation process. It is a situation of wrong choice of approach to the situation.

Both the Azerbaijan and Armenia will definitely benefit from the final resolution of the NK conflict. Any one who has visited these regions and its surroundings will definitely confirm to how beautiful the territory is. It’s an untapped territory for tourism, large scale agriculture, etc; it is even home to exotic animal and bird species. Not to add the thousands of persons that will have to finally return to their original homes.