Project to counter Azerbaijani propaganda presented in Yerevan (photos)

The websites Xocali.net and Armchild.info and the English translation of the book “Armenophobia in Azerbaijan” (authors: Armine Adibekyan and Angela Elibegova) were presented in Yerevan on Thursday.

Angela Elibegova, who is a co-author of the project, said they came up with the idea of translating the book into English, feeling the urgent need to raise also the English-speaking community’s awareness of Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda.

“We had an archive base which we translated and updated, trying to make all the records accessible and understandable also to the English-language audience. The Russian-language version is intended only for the Azerbaijani society, as we are trying to make our materials accessible to them. As for the English language versions, they are for the international community,” she explained.

Elibegova added that the projects have been enriched with not only the translations of the already existing materials but also with updated information.

“Azerbaijan is increasingly using newer propaganda tools by every year; therefore we are carrying out active work for counter-reaction. And so we publish all the available materials on the internet. The translated book, which also has an online version, sheds light on the situation in Azerbaijan – the attitude towards the Armenians and the way they instill hatred in children. The Armenophobia campaign, by the way, spans from the highest official levels down to the kindergartens,” he said, adding that the book covers only raw facts without any analyses.

Armine Adibekyan, another co-author of the project attending the event, added that the collected information dates back to 1992. She said the records available at xocali.net addres all the press reports published in the Armenian and Azerbaijani media over the past period. In her words, those materials differ essentially from the reports published today.

“The materials on Azerichild.info include literature for children, where Armenians are portrayed as monsters. So this gives us a clear understanding that Armenophobia is instilled starting from the kindergarten age. [Kids] in nursery-schools are taught that Armenians are dirty, terrorists etc. We thus understand that the generation which has grown up in Azerbaijan can pose challenge to our children who may have contacts with them,” she added.

Commenting on the situation and developments in Azerbaijan, Karen Vrtanesyan, the coordinator of the Yerevan-based website Razminfo (covering news on the military, war and armament), said he sees that the propaganda machine has worked effectively enough in the country to shape the super-enemy’s image in the society in an effort to lay the entire blame for the drawbacks in Azerbaijan on the Armenians.

“In Azerbaijan, it is prohibited to think beyond the state’s policy line. Many older generation representatives understand that the situation is different, but they are silent because they have no other option. As for the situation with the youth, it isn’t possible to even talk to them,” he added.