A press tour, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for Russian
journalists, is the second such project in 2011, a member of the
Expert Council of Trend, Alexei Vlasov, said. "On the 9th of May Baku
was visited by students of the History Faculty of Moscow State
University, who performed in front of Azerbaijani veterans of WWII.
The present press tour is a continuation of this tradition, an
opportunity for Russian journalists to get to know the current
realities of Baku and with residents of the city. Some of these
journalists may have visited Azerbaijan 10-15 years ago and some of
them have not yet had the opportunity to become acquainted with the
current realities of Baku," the associate dean of the History Faculty
of Moscow State University, editor-in-chief of the
information-analytical agency Vestnik Kavkaza, Alexei Vlasov, told
Trend .
Vlasov said that the press tour gathered about a dozen Russian
journalists from the television and print media. It should be noted
that for them this trip is a window into the world of Azerbaijan.
Vlasov added that everyhting is new, everything looks different than
it does on the internet or television, as Baku and Baku residents are
a special world, a special universe.
Everything changes with time, but the basis, the foundation of the
Baku spirit remains untouched and it is very important to capture this
continuity of tradition in any format, he said. "That is why we can
only support and welcome the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation," he said. According to Vlasov, one window into the
Azerbaijani world is the airport and the road from the airport to the
city. The beauty of this route already puts visitors on a positive
path. One can see that the money the country receives from
hydrocarbons are spent on infrastructure projects, the creation of
comfortable conditions for those arriving in Baku and, of course, it
- Hide quoted text -
tunes into a certain mood, Vlasov said.
"Undoubtedely the old buildings of Baku are fantastic, especially for
those who are familiar with Baku from the old movies, such as for
example, The Diamond Hand. Comparing the present realities of Baku
with the movie shots one realizes how careful the authorities of Baku
treat its monuments,"- he said. According to Vlasov, a walk around
town without a guide is the best way to catch the spirit of Baku, to
understand some hidden meanings, which the city gives you.
"Maybe it sounds pompous, but that's how a man feels on a firts visit
to Baku. Later you plunge into the city ambience, but for the first
time you must fell in love with it" - he said. The main plus of Baku,
according to Vlasov, is the feeling of safety.
"The attitude of the locals is very friendly and comfortable. They
always smile to you and help. And this is a general feeling of the
city, where there is little dirty, dark streets, which are still seen
in some of the CIS countries capitals, nothing to hide here," - said
Vlasov. He added that this bright white city tunes in a positive mood
just by its color and light.
The friendliness of people is mated here with respect of traditions.
"I am not talking only about buildings but also about a special seal
of the spirit of Baku. It is firmly grounded in people, even in the
younger generation - Vlasov said. - As for the cons, I am not an
advocate of active construction in the historic center, but I
understand the reasons of the mayor's office which is trying to solve
the housing problem. Baku should host more visitors, it should host
the Eurovision. But still, from the perspective of a historian, it is
a point of breaking with the authentic monuments; we went through it
in Moscow."
It is a very difficult and serious problem, Vlasov said. The first
impression should always be refreshed by a regular communication, he
said. Baku, according to Vlasov, this is the city that evokes a desire
to come back here again and again. "It's a kind of sickness in the
best sense of the word, and perhaps you will understand it returning
all the time. This year I decided to spend a holiday in Baku. This is
a tribute to the recognition of the city, which accepted me and for me
Baku is not only a subject of professional interest, but also a very
comfortable place,"- said Vlasov.
According to Vlasov, the most vivid impression of Baku today is its
embankment. The Old Town is an example of a large open-air museum, but
it does not feel old, he said. "But when you enter the boulevard, you
start to understand, that probably in the 50s - 60s just in the same
fashion people were walking here with their children on the promenade,
breathing this wonderful air and as a historian you are happy to feel
a momentous transfer in time," - said Vlasov.
