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“No matter what door is opened, an Armenian surely appears from there. They have an infinite and innumerable quantity of people --  literary critics, scientists, political, public, and cultural figures, actors, footballers, even show business celebrities,” Azerbaijani columnist Javid Ramzanli writes for kultura.az. 

The author particularly notes that the winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize in Poetry was an Armenian -- Peter Balakian -- for his “Ozone Journal.” “Knowing people are aware that Pulitzer is the most authoritative award in the field of literature, journalism, photography, etc. in the US. Being a Pulitzer laureate means having a world recognition, and having all the doors opened,” Ramzanli writes.

Drawing comparison with the Azerbaijani society, the author notes that education, erudition with a vast diapason of world view, learning languages, studying arts are a norm and are permanently encouraged among the Armenians. Whereas the Azerbaijanis “try to compete with the Armenians for some reason not in those spheres, but in the field of ‘dolma-badimjan-zurna-balaban’.”

The author emphasizes that even if the Armenians are considered enemies in Azerbaijan, it is necessary to learn from them. However, he thinks that Azerbaijan has almost lost the convenient historical moment, which is already slipping out of its hands. “Billions of oil dollars have been spent not on the cultivation of the healthy thinking, specialists, an educated and perspective generation, but on singers, and luxury, which served as a satisfaction of the country’s own ego. Instead of investing in people, they invested in marble and concrete,” the author writes adding that the authorities refuse to send the Azerbaijani youth to study abroad owing to the absence of financial resources. 

The author writes that the Armenian diaspora, on the contrary, meeting young people with at least a small thirst for study in the most remote places of Armenia, takes them to America, Europe, etc., creates all the opportunities for them to study and become respected people, who can present the Armenian nation in the world. The Azerbaijani officials “destroy their home” and complain that the world favors the Armenians.

Ramzanli also analyses the events unfolded during the early April escalation in the Karabakh conflict zone. According to him, Azerbaijan itself is to be blame that the international press representatives could visit Armenia without any difficulty and write news from there, whereas such obstacles are created for access to Azerbaijan that people refuse to go there.

He also notes that on one hand, the war generated euphoria, but on the other hand, the number of the killed young men caused a feeling of tragedy in the society. As a result, the authorities found scapegoats – Ali Karimli and the Turkish singer Hadise. They carried out a rally in front of Karimli’s house, and “raised a howl” discovering the Armenian flag on Hadise’s dress.