Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU184
2009-03-10 11:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
TWO AZERI VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
how-toVZCZCXRO5086 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHKB #0184/01 0691149 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 101149Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0876 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3278 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1274
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000184
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL, G/IWI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: TWO AZERI VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000184
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL, G/IWI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: TWO AZERI VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
1. (SBU) Summary: International Women's Day presented two
opportunities to observe the role that women play in
Azerbaijani society. The State Committee for Family, Women,
and Children's Affairs held an expensive reception which
awarded only women who hold high positions in the Aliyev
regime. Participants left the event as soon as they politely
could. In contrast, the Youth Club Public Union held an
afternoon party for their female members which showcased over
a dozen young women who have learned English, are applying to
study abroad, and are looking to play an active, progressive
role in their society. End Summary.
GOVERNMENT VIEW
--------------
2. (SBU) On March 7 the GOAJ's State Committee on Family,
Women, and Children's Affairs held a reception in honor of
International Women's Day (March 8). The event was held in
the Park Inn hotel, an expensive venue, which was decorated
with larger than life size pictures of Heydar, Ilham, and
first lady Mehriban Aliyev. Upon entering the reception,
guests were handed long stem roses and goody bags of sample
size cosmetics. After an opening speech by Committee
Chairwoman Hijran Huseynova, which praised Azerbaijan and the
activities of the first family, an announcer in a sequined
suit presented awards to every high-ranking female government
official. Loud music accompanied the announcement of each
award. An award was also given the first lady's sister
Nargiz Pashayeva, who lately became the rector of the newly
opened branch of Moscow State University in Baku, despite
Pashayeva not being present at the event.
3. (SBU) As could be expected, the mood at the event was
largely self-congratulatory. Azerbaijan's leading ladies
praised each other for their work. After the completion of
the awards ceremony, most guests exited the event, even
before the coffee and cake were served.
YOUTH VIEW
--------------
4. (SBU) On March 8 poloff attended a party thrown by the
recently formed Youth Club Public Union in honor of their
female members. The club was founded by university student
Zaur Akbar two years ago, and now has about fifty official
members who attend several different universities in Baku.
The theme of the club is to get students interested in
western integration, and holds English conversation clubs
every Sunday. They have also recently founded a subgroup for
their female members which they say aims at female
empowerment. The group was excited to announce to poloff
that two of their members had been nominated for the Open
World program to travel to the United States.
5. (SBU) The party was attended by about 25 group members,
about two-thirds women and one-third men. Juice, soda, and
sweets were on offer, but unlike parties their contemporaries
in America might throw, there was no alcohol present. The
event was held during the afternoon in the conference room of
the FAR Center, an Azerbaijani NGO. The students were
dressed in party clothes largely similar their American
contemporaries, and danced to a mix of Turkish and American
pop music, although the Turkish music was clearly more
popular. They did not have any Azerbaijani music. Women and
men danced largely separately, although this seemed more out
of shyness than any cultural taboo. Overall, the students
were excited for an opportunity to practice their English
with a native speaker, asking poloff to come back to their
meetings, and proudly displayed an Obama '08 poster.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) The GOAJ event, which awarded women for holding
titles while doing little practical work, gives the
impression that women play a largely ceremonial role in
Azerbaijani society. These women also seem to be a
conservative force in the country, such as the Human Rights
Ombudswoman who does little to promote human rights. The
youth event, in contrast, showed that younger women are
looking to play amore active role in the modernization of
their country. They are clearly looking to the West for role
models and for education opportunities, and will hopefully
BAKU 00000184 002 OF 002
represent a progressive force in Azerbaijani society in the
years to come.
DERSE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL, G/IWI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: TWO AZERI VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
1. (SBU) Summary: International Women's Day presented two
opportunities to observe the role that women play in
Azerbaijani society. The State Committee for Family, Women,
and Children's Affairs held an expensive reception which
awarded only women who hold high positions in the Aliyev
regime. Participants left the event as soon as they politely
could. In contrast, the Youth Club Public Union held an
afternoon party for their female members which showcased over
a dozen young women who have learned English, are applying to
study abroad, and are looking to play an active, progressive
role in their society. End Summary.
GOVERNMENT VIEW
--------------
2. (SBU) On March 7 the GOAJ's State Committee on Family,
Women, and Children's Affairs held a reception in honor of
International Women's Day (March 8). The event was held in
the Park Inn hotel, an expensive venue, which was decorated
with larger than life size pictures of Heydar, Ilham, and
first lady Mehriban Aliyev. Upon entering the reception,
guests were handed long stem roses and goody bags of sample
size cosmetics. After an opening speech by Committee
Chairwoman Hijran Huseynova, which praised Azerbaijan and the
activities of the first family, an announcer in a sequined
suit presented awards to every high-ranking female government
official. Loud music accompanied the announcement of each
award. An award was also given the first lady's sister
Nargiz Pashayeva, who lately became the rector of the newly
opened branch of Moscow State University in Baku, despite
Pashayeva not being present at the event.
3. (SBU) As could be expected, the mood at the event was
largely self-congratulatory. Azerbaijan's leading ladies
praised each other for their work. After the completion of
the awards ceremony, most guests exited the event, even
before the coffee and cake were served.
YOUTH VIEW
--------------
4. (SBU) On March 8 poloff attended a party thrown by the
recently formed Youth Club Public Union in honor of their
female members. The club was founded by university student
Zaur Akbar two years ago, and now has about fifty official
members who attend several different universities in Baku.
The theme of the club is to get students interested in
western integration, and holds English conversation clubs
every Sunday. They have also recently founded a subgroup for
their female members which they say aims at female
empowerment. The group was excited to announce to poloff
that two of their members had been nominated for the Open
World program to travel to the United States.
5. (SBU) The party was attended by about 25 group members,
about two-thirds women and one-third men. Juice, soda, and
sweets were on offer, but unlike parties their contemporaries
in America might throw, there was no alcohol present. The
event was held during the afternoon in the conference room of
the FAR Center, an Azerbaijani NGO. The students were
dressed in party clothes largely similar their American
contemporaries, and danced to a mix of Turkish and American
pop music, although the Turkish music was clearly more
popular. They did not have any Azerbaijani music. Women and
men danced largely separately, although this seemed more out
of shyness than any cultural taboo. Overall, the students
were excited for an opportunity to practice their English
with a native speaker, asking poloff to come back to their
meetings, and proudly displayed an Obama '08 poster.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) The GOAJ event, which awarded women for holding
titles while doing little practical work, gives the
impression that women play a largely ceremonial role in
Azerbaijani society. These women also seem to be a
conservative force in the country, such as the Human Rights
Ombudswoman who does little to promote human rights. The
youth event, in contrast, showed that younger women are
looking to play amore active role in the modernization of
their country. They are clearly looking to the West for role
models and for education opportunities, and will hopefully
BAKU 00000184 002 OF 002
represent a progressive force in Azerbaijani society in the
years to come.
DERSE