"So much regret accumulated in my soul for my country and for my people. So much trouble accumulated in our country - and it's low wages, unemployment, corruption, which robs good mood, good attitude, optimism and patriotism from the people," with these lines began our epistolary communication with a compatriot living with her family in Ankara - Lala Kourou.
Talking about moving to Turkey, she explained it apologetically as though I see absolutely nothing wrong with the act: "I love Baku, Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people, and my heart bleeds when I see injustice with my own eyes. Maybe this was the reason that I left the homeland, trying to escape or hide from reality. But it did not give me rest, I continue to think often about Azerbaijan and worry about its future."
We agreed with Lala that she would answer my questions, talk about her life in Baku and compare it with life in Turkey. After all the word said timely and correctly is the most effective means of a combating patriot.
About Patriotism
My friend worked at a state organization in Baku. Many people there laughed at her for she often in conversations touched the theme of the Karabakh conflict. Eventually, she realized that it is necessary to no one, or she was not in the company.
"I have been living in Ankara for three and a half years. Europe condemns Turkey for human rights are violated here and there is no European democracy. But I think Azerbaijan seriously lags behind Turkey. We have to do great work to become at least as Turkey.
Do you know why our Azeris think that we have overtaken Turkey? Because the Turks never show anything positive. They mostly talk about the problems of Turkey. And now let's remember what Azerbaijani television shows. Only good. For example, they open a cannery, whose workers gain a salary of 200 manat, and the TV shows how well we live and how our economy develops. I envy when I see that countries, including Turkey, have made something out of nothing. And we, in our capacity, are still not able to achieve this. Indeed, we have great natural resources, including oil, the state has no debts, and we have good, intelligent and hardworking people, but we do not live a worthy life.
About Ankara
- I have lived in Ankara since April 2010. I had never been to Ankara or any other city of Turkey before. At the entrance to Ankara you are immediately struck by its well-groomed and orderly aqppearance. The city is clean, with almost no tall buildings and with flowers, trees and clean streets everywhere. The vehicles are mostly small, with the brands Peugeot and Renault. Many drivers drive too fast, so accidents often happen in Ankara. The city is quiet and the cars do not beep, even if traffic jams that happen sometimes.
Of course, I do not compare Ankara with Baku. Baku is more beautiful and attractive. In Ankara, there are no large contrasts, while in Baku they occur frequently. Ankara has many beautiful parks, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and shopping centers. In Ankara, there is no historical center, there remains only one ruined fortress, which is located in the old center of Ankara, Ulus.
Tourism in Ankara is not well developed. There are many hotels and embassies.
In Ankara, I know only one Azerbaijani, whom I happened to meet in the park. She has two children. She is satisfied with her life.
On the Attitude to the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians
- In general, the attitude of the Turks to the Azeris is not bad, I would say, it is good. Unfortunately, there were cases when Azerbaijani women married the Turks, and then stealing the gold that was a gift to the wedding, fled. Nevertheless, they are good to us, call us brothers and believe the Azerbaijan state is a fraternal one, so since my first days in Turkey, I did not feel myself a foreigner.
The Turks do not speak much about the Armenians. They believe that there was no "Armenian genocide" and the Armenians were deported from Anatolia to another province of the Ottoman Empire, then it was Lebanon. During the resettlement some of the people died. The Turks also believe that the Armenian gangs massacred the Anatolian Turks and Kurds.
There is no much sympathy for the Armenians from the Turks, of course, although some Istanbul Armenians, professional reporters or writers, are respected. For example, the Turks respected the journalist Hrant Dink. Last year, when France wanted to adopt a law on blameworthiness of individuals who denied the "genocide" of Armenians, the brother of the late Hrant Dink - Orkhan Dink called live a TV studio and protested the law, pointing out that his late brother was also against that and often wrote about it in his articles.
About the Best in Turkey
- In Turkey, people can take to the streets to protest the government. Sometimes protesters face confrontation with the police, then it is condemned by political parties, various human rights organizations, and the clashes with the police are commented in the press. They condemn the police, but do not criticize the people that came to the rally.
Turkey has no business monopolies. Everyone can do his business without fear. Corruption is negligible. I do not even know in what structures it could be discovered. Just yesterday I heard on the radio that during the raid they found six cases of bribery. Here, the teachers do not take bribes from parents or students.
I also like the insurance system in Turkey. For example, everyone enjoys health insurance and car insurance. Health insurance should be paid every month in the amount of 30 liras (15 AZN) and after the retirement health insurance is paid by the state. Car insurance per year is slightly more than 1,000 liras (500 AZN), but if an accident happens, you do not pay a dime, as the insurance company will pay all.
Health care is very expensive in Turkey. For every visit to the doctor you have to pay 100 liras, so not having insurance, you can go bankrupt. With health insurance, state hospitals are all free of charge - from a visit to the doctor to a surgery. In a private clinic, the payment is divisible by 2. If a visit to the doctor costs 100 liras, then you pay 50. But pensioners even in private clinics are provided free treatment. There are also regional state-run hospitals, also free, but to be honest, the level of their service is very low. I like Baku clinics more. Dental care is not included in health insurance, so here you have to pay yourself. Dentistry in Turkey costs a bit more than in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan also has good dentists, so the level is almost the same.
In Turkey, foods are cheaper than ours, except for meat, meat products and bread. Vegetables and fruits are very affordable. The prices of textiles depend on where and what brand is sold. Shopping centers are more expensive than the market. There is a children's brand Mother Care. In Turkey, its products are very expensive, while in Baku they are cheaper by about a half.
Apartments cost about as much as our buildings. Apartments in Turkey are mostly spacious. On average, the Turks have 4 rooms... Every month residents of the house are collected 130 liras or more. In our case, this amount includes weekly cleaning of the block and daily garbage collection. And also if you need to change the door of the block or the water pump, then the money is not collected separately from the residents, and the required amount is taken from the general reserve.
In Turkey, of course, not everything is perfect. They have very expensive energy, gas and water, so here they try to save their gas and water. Interestingly, the Turks try to save their water not only because it is expensive, but also because it is a natural resource that can dry out. So they do not drain oil into the sink or throw tea into the toilet. Almost every home has a dishwasher machine - not because the Turks are lazy and do not want to wash the dishes, but because the machine uses less water. The same can be said for washing machines, which are already available in every home.
Salaries in Turkey are higher than ours. The minimum wage is about 800 liras (400 manat), and the average is from 1,200 to 2,000 liras, and if a Turk gets more than 2,000 liras, his salary is considered above average. Pensions are also higher than we have - beginning from 900 liras. My husband retired at 51 years old. He gets 1,850 liras (more than 900 manat). My husband is a former financier and economist and he worked in foreign companies. Civil servants at retirement receive premium calculated in large size. Depending on the length of employment, position and salary settlement, the size of the premium varies. For example, my friend's father-in-law received 100,000 liras (I think the Turks call this award Toplam).
About the Turks
- The Turkish people are decent. They are a little tougher than ours, that is, if the Azerbaijanis could do a favor, the Turks do all within the law, which applies to all. The Turks are hardworking, love their house and cleanliness. They are hospitable in their way.
However, they do not meet their guests at a luxurious table, with several kinds of hot and cold dishes, as we do. Weddings are not as luxurious as we have. Once a TV channel reported from Baku, and the Turkish presenter spoke enthusiastically about a usual wedding in Baku, the level of which corresponds to a rich Turk wedding.
Kamal Ali
ANN.az
