AZERBAIJAN
The Republic of Azerbaijan occupies the southeastern part of the
Caucasus
isthmus and its small southern part. It covers the southeast of the
Greater Caucasus, a part of the Lesser Caucasus, the Talysh Mountains
with the vast Kura-Araks depression in between. Geographically the
republic is located within the limits of the part of Eurasia, which is
closely connected with the Aral -Caspian depression and is located near
the conventional border between Europe and Asia.
In addition to the continental part, the republic's territory also
includes several islands located along the Caspian coastline. In terms
of industrial development, the Republic of Azerbaijan is considered to
be one of the most prospective countries among the newly independent
states of Eurasia. The existence of natural resources and its favorable
geographical location were the historic prerequisites in creating a base
for the Republic's social and economic complex in the past centuries. By
the 19th century oil as the main wealth of Azerbaijan, and industries
associated with oil had definitively determined the specifics of
Azerbaijan industry and set priorities for many decades.
As part of the former Soviet Union Azerbaijan has always been
considered to be part of Russia by most people in the western world.
Azerbiajan is not a part of Russia and its people are for the most part
not Russian but Azeri with different customs and origins. Other
nationalities such as Talishes, Lezgies, Georgians, Kurds, Avars, Tats,
Jews, Russians, Tatars and other ethnic groups also contribut to the
cultural mosaic of Azerbaijan. Many of these groups have been able to
preserve their cultural traditions, customs and religions in spite of
extreme political conditions.
The official and most spoken language in Azerbaijan is Azeri
from the
Turkic language group but Russian and English is spoken in and around
Baku.
Azerbaijan - a nation of Turkic Muslims -
has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union
in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet
to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has
lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees
and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of the conflict.
Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from
Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled. The country's economic troubles are
expected to be transformed through Western investment in Azerbaijan's
oil resources, an untapped reserve whose estimated worth is trillions of
dollars. Since 1994, the Azerbaijan state oil company (SOCAR) has signed
several billion-dollar agreements with international oil companies. A
total of 15 production-sharing agreements have been signed; only one,
run by BP-led Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) is thus
far producing crude oil. Azerbaijan's pro-Western stance and its careful
economic management have made it the most attractive of the oil-rich
Caspian countries for foreign investment. In the years since its
independence, the country has undergone rapid privatization and the IMF
has given it high marks as one of the most successful economic overhauls
ever.
The capital of Azerbaijan, Baku is located on the western shore of
the Caspian Sea and is one of Azerbaijan's largest cities. The center of
Baku is the old town, which is also a fortress. Most of the walls,
strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survive. This section is
picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. Part
of a palace, a mosque, and a minaret date from the 11th century. Modern
Baku spreads out from the walls, its streets and buildings rising up
hills that rim the Bay of Baku. Greater Baku is divided into 11
districts and 48 townships. Among these are townships on islands in the
bay and one island built on stilts in the Caspian Sea, 60 miles (100
kilometers) from Baku proper.
Baku is a major cultural and educational center, with a university and
other institutions of higher education. One of these specializes in the
petroleum and chemical industries. The basis of Baku's economy is
petroleum.