The city called Shushi by Armenians who called it home, and Shusha to Azerbaijanis who now control it has a near-mythical status for both. Azerbaijan wants to make it a cultural capital. Doing so could inflame wider Armenian-Azerbaijani tensions
its “cultural capital” as part of a bid to cement control of both the city and the wider Nagorno-Karabakh region, where Armenians form a majority of the population. Now, dozens of events and conferences are being planned to paint the city as a hub for art, music, and learning. And throughout September, Azerbaijanis across the country and as far afield as Germany and France are celebrating what they say is the 270th anniversary of Shusha’s founding.
One of the conference’s organizers, Gunel Atkinson-Nasibova, has traveled from France for the opportunity to be one of the first Azerbaijanis to see the city since the war. “It’s wonderful to see so many smart young people coming here to learn about our heritage,” she says, and hopes her own children will one day make the trip as well. Atkinson-Nasibova, like Ilhan, isn’t from Nagorno-Karabakh, but sees the region as a core part of her Azerbaijani national identity, even while living abroad.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wolff: Abu Dhabi gave FIA confidence to make right Monza F1 callsToto Wolff believes the events of last year's Abu Dhabi GP gave FIA the confidence to make the right call regarding safety car at Monza. However, he is open to changing F1 regulations.
Read more »
Wolff: Abu Dhabi gave FIA confidence to make right calls in Italian GP🗣️ 'Whether I am Abu Dhabi traumatised or not, these rules have been followed to the dot' Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has backed the decisions made by FIA race control at the end of the ItalianGP ⬇️
Read more »
Inside the day by day plan for the 10 days up to the Queen's funeralOPERATION London Bridge — the code name for the intricate plan of action following the Queen’s death — is in motion. The day of Her Majesty’s passing would have been D-Day or D+0, but because the a…
Read more »
Arrests made in Glasgow after cops stop 'planned procession'A street in the east end of the city was locked down by cops yesterday, with Section 12 of Public Order Act invoked in an attempt to block the planned procession from moving forward.
Read more »
Rugby League World Cup to unite sport and arts with its Cultural FestivalWITH THE Rugby League World Cup fast approaching, details of its Cultural Festival has been...
Read more »