The Mirror, UK
October 8, 2004, Friday
BUYURUN!;
EXCLUSIVE LAWRIE’S ARMY HEAD TO TERROR WAR ZONE
by LAURIE HANNA
DIFFERENT WORLD: Azerbaijan national emblem over oil rigs at the
shore of the Kaspian Sea in Baku; TRIP: Manager Sanchez
NORTHERN Ireland football fans have been told to ignore scare stories
about Azerbaijan and support their team in the terror hotspot.
The East European country is at war with neighbours Armenia and
political terrorism is rife in certain regions.
And the British Home Office advises against travelling to the
Nagorno-Karabakh area, which the Armenian military control and where
gun battles ring out regularly.
But Graeme Johnstone, 43, a member of the Baku Rangers Supporters
Club in the Azerbaijani capital, said he has been looking forward to
the visit by Lawrie Sanchez’s men.
He added: “I know Azerbaijan has its problems but it is a great place
and well worth visiting.”
And he revealed the head of the Celtic Supporters Club in Baku, Billy
Quinn, would probably be more interested in the Republic’s test
against France tomorrow as he is the cousin of goalscoring legend
Niall Quinn. Vice-consul Derek Lavery, the UK’s official
representative in Azerbaijan, is a Scotsman but he insisted fans
would be welcomed by locals.
However, he warned against leaving Baku, where the vital World Cup
qualifier will be played tomorrow evening. He said: “The Armenian
military protect the area while the two governments are trying to
negotiate some sort of settlement.
“There is occasional firing, even though there is a ceasefire, but
fans coming out should be OK.”
Gary Hancock, secretary of the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland
Supporters Club, who has stayed at home, said: “I think there about
100 of our boys who went out, but they’re not worried.
“Last year, they went to Armenia in the middle of all the conflict in
Iraq, which was only 300 miles away.
20
FACTS ABOUT AZERBAIJAN
1. The country lies between Russia and Iran and is in Europe and
Asia.
2. The national language is Azeri and the currency is manat. One
thousand manat is the equivalent of 11p.
3. Northern Ireland are ranked 110th in FIFA’s world rankings, just
four places above Azerbaijan.
4. More people live in the capital Baku than in Northern Ireland. The
country’s population is 7.5 million.
5. It is a Muslim country and visitors are advised to avoid wearing
shorts in case they offend locals.
6. The country declared its independence from the Soviet Union in
August 1991.
7. Oil is Azerbaijan’s number one export and the world’s first oil
well was drilled in Baku in the 1800s.
8. About four per cent of the population have internet access. In
Northern Ireland, 33 per cent have access.
9. The country has nine airports.
10. It has the largest number of mud volcanoes in the world.
11. A person from Azerbaijan is known as an Azeri.
12. There are estimated to be more than 45million Azeris in the
world.
13. Garry Kasparov, once the world’s number one chess player, was
born in Baku.
14. The Nobel brothers, who the peace prize is named after, made
their fortune drilling oil in Baku.
15. A central part of Hitler’s vision was to create an empire
connecting Berlin and Bombay, via Baku.
16. There are two television stations.
17. December 31 is a national holiday.
18. Pancakes and spiced meats are popular in Azerbaijan.
19. Popular sports include basketball and karate.
20. The national anthem reads: “Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan, you are the
country of heroes. We will die so that you might be alive.”