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Azerbaijan discusses issue on depriving Armenian classic writer
Shirvanzade of title of National Writer
20:08 15/02/2013 » SOCIETY
After Ekrem Eylisli, the Azerbaijani author of the novel "Stone
Dreams" which is about the massacre of Armenians, was deprived of all
state awards on the agenda was put also the issue of depriving
Armenian classical writer of, Alexander Shirvanzade of the title of
`National Writer of Azerbaijan.'
Website AzNews.az, tried to find out the disposition of the
Azerbaijani intelligentsia on this issue. Thus, the poet Ilyas Tapdig
stated that there is no need to recall the past. `Azerbaijan has
forgotten Alexander Shirvanzade and we should not remember him again.
His work `Namus' was presented on the Azerbaijani stage for many
years. He lived before us. There is no need to reanimate this topic
now.
Another Azerbaijani poet Musa Yaqub said that at first they should
reason why they deprive of the award the first Azerbaijani national
writer Alexander Shirvanzade. `He is originally Armenian. You need to
reason why and on which basis do you deprive him of the reward.
Grigorian was awarded title of national writer as well. Let's not poke
into this matter,' the Azerbaijani poet said.
Ekrem Eylisli is national writer (since 1998) and Honored Artist of
Azerbaijan, holder of the highest order of Azerbaijan `Istiglal'
(2002) and the order of `Shokhrat' for his outstanding merits in the
literature of Azerbaijan. Recently, on the website of Russian magazine
`Friendship of Nations' was published his novel titled `Stone Dreams'
in which the author describes the massacres of Armenians in Baku in
1990 and in Nakhichevan in 1919. The author in his novel speaks
positively about the Armenian people and their culture. The novel
`Stone Dreams' also contains criticism over the former Azerbaijani
President Heydar Aliyev and the tyranny of the system created by him.
After publication of the novel, Eylisli was exposed to severe
pressures in Azerbaijan; the pro-governmental youth held rally in
front of his house, his issue was discussed in the parliament of
Azerbaijan, MPs suggested to burn his books and to deprive him of
citizenship and deport from Azerbaijan. Many people `blamed' Eylisli
in his Armenian origin, etc. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
deprived him of personal pension and the title of National Writer, and
accused him of `purposefully distorting the history of Azerbaijan' and
`in distorting realities about history of Azerbaijan in an
inappropriate way.'
The leader of the pro-governmental party 'Modern Musavat' Hafis
Hajiyev announced that he would pay about 10 Euros to the one who will
cut the ear of the writer. Only after the intervention of the media,
the politician was `warned' by the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan
about the illegality of such appeals.
The U.S. Department of State and the OSCE Office in Baku condemned
persecution of Eylisli in Azerbaijan and called on the authorities to
fulfill their obligations.
Source: Panorama.am
From: A. Papazian
Shirvanzade of title of National Writer
20:08 15/02/2013 » SOCIETY
After Ekrem Eylisli, the Azerbaijani author of the novel "Stone
Dreams" which is about the massacre of Armenians, was deprived of all
state awards on the agenda was put also the issue of depriving
Armenian classical writer of, Alexander Shirvanzade of the title of
`National Writer of Azerbaijan.'
Website AzNews.az, tried to find out the disposition of the
Azerbaijani intelligentsia on this issue. Thus, the poet Ilyas Tapdig
stated that there is no need to recall the past. `Azerbaijan has
forgotten Alexander Shirvanzade and we should not remember him again.
His work `Namus' was presented on the Azerbaijani stage for many
years. He lived before us. There is no need to reanimate this topic
now.
Another Azerbaijani poet Musa Yaqub said that at first they should
reason why they deprive of the award the first Azerbaijani national
writer Alexander Shirvanzade. `He is originally Armenian. You need to
reason why and on which basis do you deprive him of the reward.
Grigorian was awarded title of national writer as well. Let's not poke
into this matter,' the Azerbaijani poet said.
Ekrem Eylisli is national writer (since 1998) and Honored Artist of
Azerbaijan, holder of the highest order of Azerbaijan `Istiglal'
(2002) and the order of `Shokhrat' for his outstanding merits in the
literature of Azerbaijan. Recently, on the website of Russian magazine
`Friendship of Nations' was published his novel titled `Stone Dreams'
in which the author describes the massacres of Armenians in Baku in
1990 and in Nakhichevan in 1919. The author in his novel speaks
positively about the Armenian people and their culture. The novel
`Stone Dreams' also contains criticism over the former Azerbaijani
President Heydar Aliyev and the tyranny of the system created by him.
After publication of the novel, Eylisli was exposed to severe
pressures in Azerbaijan; the pro-governmental youth held rally in
front of his house, his issue was discussed in the parliament of
Azerbaijan, MPs suggested to burn his books and to deprive him of
citizenship and deport from Azerbaijan. Many people `blamed' Eylisli
in his Armenian origin, etc. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
deprived him of personal pension and the title of National Writer, and
accused him of `purposefully distorting the history of Azerbaijan' and
`in distorting realities about history of Azerbaijan in an
inappropriate way.'
The leader of the pro-governmental party 'Modern Musavat' Hafis
Hajiyev announced that he would pay about 10 Euros to the one who will
cut the ear of the writer. Only after the intervention of the media,
the politician was `warned' by the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan
about the illegality of such appeals.
The U.S. Department of State and the OSCE Office in Baku condemned
persecution of Eylisli in Azerbaijan and called on the authorities to
fulfill their obligations.
Source: Panorama.am
From: A. Papazian