Azerbaijan Culture

To promote ECA's goal of mutual understanding and respect for different cultures, the Uzbekistan School Connectivity Program embarked on a five-month project designed to teach students in the Ferghana Valley about African countries. Starting in December, students at nine Connectivity schools researched 16 African countries to prepare presentations and booths for an African Heritage Fair held on April 30th. More ... [Read More]

Central Asia-Caucasus - US Department of State

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Democracy - US Department of State

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Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan continued to affirm its commitment to an economic transition from central planning to a free market; however, reforms stagnated in practice. Economic growth has been spurred by substantial foreign investment in the hydrocarbon sector, but it is offset by widespread corruption and patronage. While government statistics pointed to continued economic growth during the year, the real economy continues to be affected by a low level of foreign business activity due largely to low oil prices in 1999, a lack of oil industry infrastructure, widespread corruption and a deteriorating business climate. Consistently high oil prices appear to be reversing that trend. The country has rich petroleum reserves and significant agricultural potential. Oil and oil products are the largest export, followed by cotton and tobacco. Other key industries are chemicals and oil field machinery. The government signed new oil production sharing agreements with foreign oil companies and a group of eight oi ... [Read More]

Azerbaijan

The vast majority of the country's Christians are Russian Orthodox whose identity, like that of Muslims, tends to be based as much on culture and ethnicity as religion. Christians are concentrated in the urban areas of Baku and Sumgait. Most of the country's Jews belong to one of two groups: the "Mountain Jews," who are descendents of Jews who sought refuge in the northern part of the country more than 2,000 years ago; and a smaller group of "Ashkenazi" Jews, descendents of European Jews who migrated to the country during Russian and Soviet rule. ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

Guinea is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. Guinean girls are trafficked internally for forced labor as domestic servants and boys for shoe shining and street vending. Some children are also trafficked for forced labor in agriculture and diamond mining camps. Women and girls are trafficked to Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, and Greece for sexual exploitation. On a smaller scale, men are trafficked for forced labor in agriculture. Guinea is a destination country for forced child labor from Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Senegal. The Government of Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Guinea is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for its fail ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Dance has always been an important part of Azerbaijani culture. The Gobustan cave paintings show scenes of men performing hunting dances. The early nomadic folk dances and women’s circle dances continue to be performed today, although only in the past 70 years have men and women begun to dance together in newly choreographed folk dances. Dance is not only a popular art form, but also a significant part of the social life of Azerbaijanis. ...

Shopping for food in Baku can be both fun and frustrating. The open bazaars are colorful and full of excellent fresh fruits and vegetables in season. Bargaining is part of the culture. In the summer and fall there are plentiful supplies of fruit: apricots, peaches, apples, grapes, pears, figs, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, persimmons, lemons, melons, quince, etc. A variety of fresh vegetables are also available in summer and fall (tomatoes, peppers, squash, carrots, cucumbers, beets, cabbage, onions, potatoes, eggplant, and radishes). Fresh greens such as parsley, dill, cilantro, scallions, sorrel, fennel, watercress, basil and indigenous greens are available year round.uring winter and early spring, the selection of fresh fruits and vegetables declines; however, lettuce, spinach, and cauliflower are then plentiful. Recently, imported fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, kiwis, pineapples, mangos, avocados, celery, and iceberg lettuce have been available in ... [Read More]

The Azerbaijan School Connectivity Program (ASCP) – Youth Programs Division – Citizen Exchanges

Students and teachers from AzSCP schools in Baku, Ganja, and Sheki took part in a year-end online project entitled "Religion as a Part of Culture," along with Lincoln High School in Lincoln, CA. The purpose of the activity was for students to investigate the diversity of religions in their countries and communities. The project consisted of three stages. First, students investigated which religions are observed in their communities: what beliefs they entail, what religious rituals are practiced, and what the relationship is between these religions and the culture of the communities as a whole. During this stage students took photos of religious events, architecture, figures, and artwork, and uploaded them into a common online space for general viewing and discussion. Second, students interviewed practitioners of different religious faiths found in their comm ... [Read More]

Azerbaijan

There was slight improvement in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report. While some religious groups reported delays in and denials of registration, several churches have indicated that they either received or expect to receive their registration, they are able to import religious literature, and they meet without government interference. However, local authorities occasionally monitor religious services, and officials at times harassed nontraditional religious groups. The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed to religious freedom; however, there is popular prejudice against Muslims who convert to non-Muslim faiths and hostility towards groups that proselytize, particularly Evangelical Christian and missionary groups. The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government i ... [Read More]