British Mirror newspaper publishes article on Azerbaijan
London, November 6, AZERTACThe UK-based Mirror newspaper has posted an article headlined “A holiday in ambitious Azerbaijan won't be met with blank looks for much longer”.
Written by Chris Granet, the article says: “It’s a small former Soviet republic at the junction of Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
No, it’s not in the Middle East. And, no, it’s not getting sucked into the crisis there. But it is ridiculously rich in oil and gas. And it no longer wants to be the place people know nothing about. It craves global recognition - and has big plans to get it.
It has already hosted the Eurovision Song Contest - in 2012. Its Land of Fire logo is currently being broadcast around the globe on the shirts of Atletico Madrid, the current Spanish league champions. In 2016 it will become a Formula One city.
And next June it will host the inaugural European Games - a regional variation of the Olympics.
What should properly put the country in the spotlight, though, is the construction of the world’s tallest building - the Azerbaijan Tower - a monstrously large edifice that at 3,445ft high will dwarf the current record holder, the 2,722ft Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
In the areas surrounding the Old City walls, you find ornate mansions from the original oil boom of the 19th century, as well as some grand 20th century architecture. But the cream of Baku’s buildings - the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center - is amid the urban sprawl where the population has grown from 5,000 to three million in around 150 years.
Designed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, this liquid-like freeform structure is not only the most beautiful in town, but also the best example of modern architecture I’ve ever seen (and far more interesting than the exhibitions it housed).”
Orkhan Ismayilov
Special correspondent
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