By Vusal Mammadov

On the eve of the First European Olympic Games some interested people have spread misinformation on the Games and Azerbaijan, in order to deceive people deliberately. And of course, the tourists arriving in Baku will be confused when they see the real Azerbaijan. They will see the significant difference between the real country and the country they imagined before.

In order to help the guests of the country to get rid of such a confusion, we have prepared a list of ten rules that they should know. No problem will left on for them, if they read these rules.

1. Do not be surprised, when you see Baku. While reading the European media, you might`ve imagined a third country where human rights violations, demonstrations every day, police beating people, cows in autobahns... Now when you see Baku, you’ll ask yourself that, how can reality and the so-called image differ from each other? So, please be aware: your media is cheating you.

2. Do not be surprised if you ask a passerby in a street about Leyla Yunus or Khadija Ismail, he will shrug his shoulders in surprise, just saying “-I do not know”; Europeans know Leyla Yunus better than us. Here in Azerbaijan, she is a nobody, in general, she is a woman who has no place and role on the country’s agenda. Simply, if you are a reader of the Western media, you might have thought that the agenda of Azerbaijan consisted of Leyla and Khadija. Get ready to see the opposite.

3. Peharps, the opening ceremony and the whole preparations for the Games will surprise you, as some people try to discredit the Games naming the event like “mini Olympics” or “ “race with non-Olympic status”. However, it is a historical event for Europe, so don’t be confused when you see magnificence.

4. You will see a number of monuments of Heydar Aliyev in different parts of Baku. There is nothing unusual here. If you have ever been to America, then you know the huge monuments of the persons called ‘founding fathers’. Look, Heydar Aliyev is a “founding father” for Azerbaijan. So, he is loved and considered a historic person.

5. Probably, some people in Azerbaijan will try to discredit their own country. You will be surprised at that, thinking how a person can enjoy of self-condemnation? It will seem to you that they are masochist. You will listen to them patiently. You will refuse to argue with them thinking that they are ill-minded. But you are wrong: the thing is that, they are not suffering from any illness, they are just villainous. Unfortunately, we have such kind of “citizens” too.

6. If you see that, everything is okay with the Games, hence some European media outlets show opposite, don’t be surprised. Remember Kozma Prutkov’s famous words: “If you see a “buffalo” sign on an elephant’s cage, do not trust your eyes”. Just, think once more over the freedom and fairness of European Media.

7. Do not get wrong the kind attitude and respect towards yourself. It is not because of that you are a European or anyone in Azerbaijan needs your money. Simply, the people of Azerbaijan are very hospitable and kind. But they will not pity you in case you drink more and make brawl or show `over-deficient` behaviors towards ladies.

8. Even in this case, don’t be afraid – Azerbaijani police officers will save you. Contrary to European police, they will not use baton and tear gas. They don’t get used to beating. They just will lead you to police office and dismiss you after being questioned.

9. Of course, while you are in Baku you will see some small problems like inconvenient roads, unrepaired buildings or polluted water at boulevard. It doesn’t mean that the state has not got enough resources to make order them. We do have, it is not the high time.

10. If you see buildings with removed cladding, don’t be surprised. It is because of that, Azerbaijani government is much more interested in provision its citizens’ security, than the provision of European tourists with beautiful sightseeing. Hope, you can catch us…

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