Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2009 - Azerbaijan Export ...

160 DOING BUSINESS IN AZERBAIJAN
down your glass of vodka in one. Taking a sensible mouthful at
each toast will be acceptable. Vodka glasses are constantly refilled.
Azerbaijanis often drink fruit juice in accompaniment to the vodka.
A traditional Azerbaijani meal will comprise several courses. Salads
and cheese usually start the meal, followed by various chicken, fish
and lamb kebabs brought in echelons. Soup is less often served but
Caspian sturgeon is popular and traditionally eaten with a sauce
made from pomegranate (which has a strong flavour). Copious
amounts of bread will also be served.
Azerbaijanis smoke during meals and will often take breaks
between courses to have a cigarette and a few drinks before
moving onto the next. Tea (or sometimes Turkish coffee) is often
served at the end of a meal, usually with something sweet.
Conducting yourself in public
When greeting someone, shake hands firmly, but note that
Azerbaijanis will resist shaking hands while standing over the
threshold of a door. This can lead to some confusion on arrival
unless you are aware of the tradition. When departing, it is
generally customary to again shake hands.
Friends and relations will greet each other with either one or two
kisses on the cheek, even men. It is better to avoid kisses as part of
any greeting or farewell until you are familiar with the custom.
Woman can be quite offended if you attempt to kiss them on the
cheek in situations where in other cultures it might be acceptable.
When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by
someone, greet the most elderly or most senior first. At social
occasions, greet the person closest to you, then work your way
around the room or table anti-clockwise.