Cultural figures should not wait for handouts from the authorities

Baku / 04.03.19 / Turan: At the meeting of the head of state with representatives of culture and art on March 1, its participants were mainly engaged in solving personal problems and requests. At the same time, important state issues, problems of culture were left aside, the head of the National Council of Democratic Forces, Jamil Hasanly, said this in an interview with Voice of America Radio, commenting on the content of this meeting. "Pretending to be an intellectual should represent the people, not themselves. An intellectual at such a meeting should talk about the social problems of a population experiencing serious problems and difficulties. Unfortunately, this did not happen," Hasanli said.

Today tghe situation in the field of culture is abnormal. Representatives of this sphere are not able to earn themselves and are forced to ask the authorities for support. This is the result of the absence of normal conditions for the commercial activities of cultural workers. At the same time, the support of individuals, the issuance of apartments, pensions and other material goods is presented as a concern for culture.

Such an approach makes cultural figures dependent on the authorities. Moreover, this is unfair in relation to the rest of the country"s citizens, taxpayers, he noted. For example, why should an apartment be given to a representative of show business, and not the family of an officer who has served on the front line for years?

In general, the task of the authorities is to create normal conditions, and people could earn their labor by writing and selling a book, musical work, paintings and projects, and not soliciting wages from the authorities, Hasanli said. -03B-