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'''Azerbaijan''' {{IPA|[ɑ:zɚbai'ʤɑ:n]}} ([[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]: ''Azərbaycan''), officially the '''Republic of Azerbaijan''' (Azerbaijani: ''Azərbaycan Respublikası''), is a country in the [[Caucasus]] region of [[Eurasia]]. Located at the crossroads of [[Eastern Europe]] and [[Southwest Asia|Western Asia]], it is bounded by the [[Caspian Sea]] to the east, [[Russia]] to the north, [[Republic of Turkey|Turkey]] to the west, [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] to the northwest, [[Armenia]] to the west, and [[Iran]] to the south. The [[Nakhchivan|Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic]] (an [[exclave]] of Azerbaijan) borders Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and [[Turkey]] to the northwest. The [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] region along with 7 other districts in Azerbaijan's southwest have been controlled by Armenian separatists since the end of the [[Nagorno-Karabakh War]] in 1994. The country's territory also embraces several islands in the Caspian Sea with the total area of over thirty [[square kilometer]]s.
'''Azerbaijan''' {{IPA|[ɑ:zɚbai'ʤɑ:n]}} ([[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]: ''Azərbaycan''), officially the '''Republic of Azerbaijan''' (Azerbaijani: ''Azərbaycan Respublikası''), is a country in the [[Caucasus]] region of [[Eurasia]]. Located at the crossroads of [[Eastern Europe]] and [[Southwest Asia|Western Asia]], it is bounded by the [[Caspian Sea]] to the east, [[Russia]] to the north, [[Republic of Turkey|Turkey]] to the west, [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] to the northwest, [[Armenia]] to the west, and [[Iran]] to the south. The [[Nakhchivan|Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic]] (an [[exclave]] of Azerbaijan) borders Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and [[Turkey]] to the northwest. The [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] region along with 7 other districts in Azerbaijan's southwest have been controlled (according to the UN Security Council definition "occupied" by Armenian separatists since the end of the [[Nagorno-Karabakh War]] in 1994. According to the UN Security Council resolutions, this territory was "occupied" <ref>[http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/or/13508.htm U.S. Department of State - 1993 UN Security Council Resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh]</ref> by the [[Armenian]] armed forces. The country's territory also embraces several islands in the Caspian Sea with the total area of over thirty [[square kilometer]]s.


Azerbaijan is a [[democracy|democratic]], [[secularism|secular]] and [[unitarism|unitary]] republic. The largest country in Caucasus in terms of both area and population, Azerbaijan has been a co-founder of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]], [[GUAM]] and the [[Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]]. The country has a Permanent Mission to the [[European Union]] and hosts a Special Envoy of the [[European Commission]].
Azerbaijan is a [[democracy|democratic]], [[secularism|secular]] and [[unitarism|unitary]] republic. The largest country in Caucasus in terms of both area and population, Azerbaijan has been a co-founder of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]], [[GUAM]] and the [[Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]]. The country has a Permanent Mission to the [[European Union]] and hosts a Special Envoy of the [[European Commission]].

Revision as of 12:26, 1 June 2007

For other uses, see the country in Eurasia.
Republic of Azerbaijan
Azərbaycan Respublikası
Anthem: Azərbaycan Respublikasının Dövlət Himni
(March of Azerbaijan)
Location of Azerbaijan
Capital
and largest city
Baku
Official languagesAzerbaijani
Demonym(s)Azerbaijani
GovernmentRepublic
• President
Ilham Aliyev
Artur Rasizade
Independence 
from the Soviet Union
• Declared
August 30 1991
• Completed
December 25 1991
• Water (%)
1,6%
Population
• April, 2006 estimate
8,460,000 (92nd)
GDP (PPP)2005 estimate
• Total
$38.71 billion (86th)
• Per capita
$6,171 (97th)
Gini (2001)36.5
medium inequality (54th)
HDI (2003)0.729
high (101st)
CurrencyManat (AZN)
Time zoneUTC+4
• Summer (DST)
UTC+5
Calling code994
ISO 3166 codeAZ
Internet TLD.az

Azerbaijan [ɑ:zɚbai'ʤɑ:n] (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Respublikası), is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south. The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (an exclave of Azerbaijan) borders Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest. The Nagorno-Karabakh region along with 7 other districts in Azerbaijan's southwest have been controlled (according to the UN Security Council definition "occupied" by Armenian separatists since the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. According to the UN Security Council resolutions, this territory was "occupied" [1] by the Armenian armed forces. The country's territory also embraces several islands in the Caspian Sea with the total area of over thirty square kilometers.

Azerbaijan is a democratic, secular and unitary republic. The largest country in Caucasus in terms of both area and population, Azerbaijan has been a co-founder of the Commonwealth of Independent States, GUAM and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The country has a Permanent Mission to the European Union and hosts a Special Envoy of the European Commission.

Etymology and usage

Main article: History of the name Azerbaijan

The name Azerbaijan itself is thought to be derived from Atropates,[2] the Satrap (governor) of Media in the Achaemenid empire, who ruled a region found in modern Iranian Azarbaijan called Atropatene.[3] Atropates name is believed to be derived from the Old Persian roots meaning "protected by fire."[4] The name is also mentioned in the Avestan Frawardin Yasht: âterepâtahe ashaonô fravashîm ýazamaide which translates literally to: We worship the Fravashi of the holy Atare-pata.[5]

History

Main article: History of Azerbaijan

The heritage, culture and civilization of Azerbaijan has both ancient and modern roots. The Azerbaijanis are believed to be inheritors of various ancient civilizations and peoples including the indigenous Caucasian Albanians, Iranian people, and Oguz Turks among others.

The cave of Azykh in the territory of the Fizuli district in the Republic of Azerbaijan is considered to be the site of one of the most ancient proto-human habitations in Eurasia. The Paleolithic (Homo Sapiens) period in what is now Azerbaijan is represented by finds at Aveidag, Taglar, Damjily, Yatagery, Dash Salakhly and some other sites. Carved drawings etched on rocks in Qobustan, 69 km south of Baku, demonstrate scenes of hunting, fishing, labor and dancing, and are dated to the Mesolithic period.

Caucasian Albanians are believed to be the earliest inhabitants of Azerbaijan. Caucasian Albanians established a kingdom in the 1st century BCE. Roman legions under Pompey marched into Albania in 65 B.C. and an inscription found in Qobustan attests to the presence of a detachment of the Legio XII Fulminata in that area between 83 and 93 A.D. Caucasian Albania remained largely independent until the Sassanids made the kingdom a vassal state in 252 CE.[6] Caucasian Albania's ruler, King Urnayr, officially adopted Christianity as the state religion in the fourth century CE, and Albania would remain a Christian state until the 8th century. Sassanid control ended with their defeat by Muslim Arabs in 642 CE.

Islam spread rapidly in Azerbaijan following the Arab conquests during the seventh and eighth centuries. After the power of the Arab Caliphate waned, several semi-independent states have been formed, the Shirvanshah kingdom being one of them. In the eleventh century, the conquering Seljuk Turks became the dominant force in the Caucasus and laid the linguistic foundation of contemporary Azerbaijanis. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the country experienced Mongol-Tatar invasions.

After the Safavid dynasty, Azerbaijan underwent a brief period of feudal fragmentation in the mid-eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries, and consisted of independent khanates. Following the two wars between Qajar Iranian Empire, as well as the Ganja, Guba, Baku and other khanates, and the Russian Empire, the Caucasus was acquired by Russia through the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813, and the Treaty of Turkmenchay in 1828, and several earlier treaties between the Russian tsar and the khans concluded in the first decade of the nineteenth century. In 1873, oil was discovered in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan's future capital. By the beginning of the twentieth century almost half world's oil supply came from Azerbaijan.[7]

File:Transheya.jpg
A painting by Enver Aliyev depicting Azerbaijani citizens digging entrenchments and antitank obstacles near Baku to prevent a possible Nazi invasion.

After the collapse of the Russian Empire during World War I, Azerbaijan together with Armenia and Georgia became part of the short-lived Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. When the republic dissolved in May 1918, Azerbaijan declared independence as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The ADR was the first parliamentary Muslim republic in the world and lasted only two years, from 1918 until 1920, when the Soviet Red Army invaded Azerbaijan. In March 1922, Azerbaijan, along with Armenia and Georgia, became part of the Transcaucasian SFSR within the newly-formed Soviet Union. In 1936, the TSFSR was dissolved and Azerbaijan became constituent republic of the USSR as the Azerbaijan SSR.

During World War II, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The primary objective of Adolf Hitler's Operation Edelweiss offensive was to capture Azerbaijan's oil-rich capital of Baku. For the war effort, Soviet oil workers were obliged to work non-stop and citizens were to dig entrenchments and antitank obstacles into order to block a possible enemy invasion. However, Operation Edelweiss was unsuccessful. The German army was at first stalled in the mountains of Caucasus, then decisively defeated at the Battle of Stalingrad.

In 1990, Azeris gathered to protest Soviet rule and push for independence. The demonstrations were brutally suppressed by Soviet intervention in what Azeris today refer to as Black January. In 1991, Azerbaijan re-established its independence upon the collapse of the Soviet Union. The early years of its independence were overshadowed by a war with Armenia and separatist Armenians over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite a cease-fire in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia. Since the end of the war, Azerbaijan lost control of almost 14% to 16% of its territory including Nagorno-Karabakh itself.[8][9] As a result of the conflict, both countries faced problems with refugees and internally displaced persons as well as economic hardships.

Former Soviet Azeri leader Heydar Aliyev sought to exploit the wealthy oil reserves in Baku. Although Aliyev managed to cut down the country's unemployment rate substantially, revenue from oil income went to the governing elite. Aliyev became increasingly autocratic and created a cult of personality around himself. Political opponents were detained and freedom of speech limited. The political situation in Azerbaijan remains tense especially after Aliyev, nearing death, selected his son Ilham as his party's sole presidential candidate. Azeri opposition forces are not satisfied with this new dynastical succession and are pushing for a more democratic government.

Government and politics

Ilham Aliyev, the current president of Azerbaijan.
Main article: Politics of Azerbaijan
See also: Elections in Azerbaijan and Human rights in Azerbaijan

The structural formation of Azerbaijan's political system was completed by the acceptance of the new Constitution on November 12, 1995. The state symbols of the Azerbaijan Republic are, according to the Article 23 of Constitution, the flag, the coat of arms and the national anthem. The state power in Azerbaijan is limited only by law in terms of internal issues, while in terms of foreign policy — by provisions resulting from international agreements, wherein the country is one of the parties.

The government of Azerbaijan is based on the separation of powers among the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The legislative power is held by the unicameral National Assembly and the Supreme National Assembly in the Nakhchevan Autonomous Republic. Parliamentary elections are held every five years, on the first Sunday of November.[10] The correctness of the elections results are to be checked and confirmed by the Constitutional Court.[10] The laws enacted by the National Assembly, unless specified otherwise come into effect from the day of their publication.[10] The executive power is carried out by president, who is elected for a 5 year term by direct elections. The president is authorized to form the Cabinet of Ministers, an inferior executive body, subordinated to him. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan consists primarily of the Prime Minister, his Deputies and Ministers. The president does not have the right to dissolve the National Assembly, but has the right to veto its decisions..[10] To override the presidential veto, the parliament must have a majority of 95 votes..[10] The judicial power is vested in the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and the Economic Court.[10] The President nominates the judges in these courts.[10]

The Security Council is the deliberative body under the president and he organizes it according to the Constitution. It was established on April 10, 1997. The administrative department is not a part of the president's office, but manages the financial, technical and pecuniary ensuring of activity of both the president and his office.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Azerbaijan

The short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic succeeded in establishing the diplomatic relations with six countries, sending diplomatic representatives to Germany and Finland.[11] The process of international recognition of Azerbaijan's independence from collapsing Soviet Union lasted roughly one year. The last country, Bahrain recognized Azerbaijan on November 6, 1996.[12] Full diplomatic relations, including mutual exchanges of missions, were first established with Turkey, the United States and Iran.[11]

Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries so far[13] and holds membership in 38 international organizations.[14] An observer status is held in the Non-Aligned Movement and World Trade Organization and the correspondent one at the International Telecommunication Union.[14] The Azerbaijani diaspora is represented in 36 countries,[15] dozens of ethnic minorities centers in turn are functioning inside the country (German cultural society "Karelhaus", Slavic cultural center, Azerbaijani-Israeli community, Kurdish cultural center, International Talysh Association, Lezgin national center "Samur", Azerbaijani-Tatar community, Crimean Tatars society etc.).[16] On May 9, 2006 Azerbaijan was elected as one the members of the newly established Human Rights Council by the General Assembly. The term of office begun on June 19, 2006.[17]

Military

Main article: Military of Azerbaijan

Modern national armed forces of Azerbaijan were formed by presidential decree in October, 1991. The Azerbaijan Armed Forces consists of four military branches: the Army, Air Force, Navy and Air Defense Force. There are also the National Guard, Interior Guard, Border Guard and the Coast Guard. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of military forces is president.

Azerbaijan adhered to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. On January 13, 1993 Azerbaijan signed the Chemical Weapons Convention on the 47th United Nations General Assembly in Paris. In 1999 the country signed particularly the Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons.[18] Azerbaijan has been also a member of the NATO's Partnership for Peace since 1994 and the NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan since 2004.[19] Azerbaijan is also a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has an additional protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency.[20] The armed forces supported the American Operation Enduring Freedom by providing one peacekeeping infantry platoon and Operation Iraqi Freedom with one peacekeeping infantry company.[21] 2007 military expenditures reached 871 mln USD.[22]

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is divided into 76 administrative districts: 65 rural rayons (rayonlar, singular rayon), eleven cities (şəhərlər, singular şəhər) with formal city status,[10] and one autonomous republic (muxtar respublika), Nakhchivan. Nakhchivan itself is subdivided into seven rayons and one city. the President appoints the governors of these units, but there are also the heads of the local executive power. Heads of executive power are also appointed and removed from holding positions by the President. The local governments of regions and cities under Armenian occupation, such as Khankendi or Shusha, continue to function in exile.[10]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Azerbaijan
See also: Extreme points of Azerbaijan
NASA satellite image of Azerbaijan, as of March, 2003.

Landscape

The total length of Azerbaijani land borders is 2,648 km, of which Armenia constitutes 1007, Iran 756, Georgia 480, Russia - 390 and Turkey - 15.[23] The coastline stretches for 800 km and the length of the widest area of the Azerbaijani section of Caspian Sea is 456 km.[23] The territory of Azerbaijan extends 400 km from north to south, and 500 km from west to east. The three mountain ranges are the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and the Talysh Mountains, together covering approximately 40% of the country.[24] The highest peak of Azerbaijan is mount Bazardüzü (4,466 m), while the lowest point lies in the Caspian Sea (-28 m). Near a half of all the mud volcanoes on Earth is concentrated in Azerbaijan.

The main water sources are the surface waters. However, only 24 of the 8,350 rivers are greater than 100 km in length.[24] All the rivers drain into the Caspian Sea in the east of the country.[24] The largest lake is Sarısu (67 km²) and the longest river is Kur (1,515 km), which is transboundary.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Azerbaijan

The formation of climate in Azerbaijan is influenced particularly by cold artic air masses of Scandinavian anticyclone, temperate of Siberian anticyclone), and Central Asian anticyclone.[25] Regarding landscape diversity, air masses have different ways to enter the country.[25] The Greater Caucasus protects the country from direct influences of cold air masses, coming from the north. That leads to the formation of subtropical climate on most foothills and plains of the country. Meanwhile plains and foothills are characterized by high solar radiation rates.

Eight out of eleven existing climate zones are present in Azerbaijan.[26] Both the absolute minimum temperature (−33 °C (−27 °F)) and the absolute maximum temperature (+46 °C (115 °F)) were observed in Julfa and Ordubad.[26] The maximum annual precipitation falls in Lankaran (1,600 to 1,800 mm) and the minimum in Absheron (200 to 350 mm).[26]

Nature and ecology

Main article: Nature of Azerbaijan
Further information: Fauna of Azerbaijan, Flora of Azerbaijan, and State Reserves of Azerbaijan

From the water supply point, Azerbaijan is considered to be one of the driest regions of the world with approximately 100,000 m³/year of water per km².[26] All big water reservoirs are built on Kur.

The main areas of plant diversity in Azerbaijan are the highlands of Nakhchivan (60% of the species occur here), the Kura-Araz plain (40%), the Davachi-Quba region east of the Greater Caucasus (38%), the centre of the Lesser Caucasus (29%), Gobustan (26.6%), the Lenkoran region in the Talysh Mountains (27%) and the Absheron region (22%).[24] Northern-eastern slopes of the Great Caucasus, the northern, northern-eastern, and eastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus and Talysh Mountains are deemed to be vast forest areas of Azerbaijan.[27]

Endemics include over 400 species of plants (of which around 16 species of Caspian algae), seven reptiles and perches from fifteen species and six sub-species of Gobiidae. Most of the endemic freshwater fish belongs to Cypriniformes.[24] However there are no strictly endemic mammals.[24] The major cause of biodiversity loss in Azerbaijan is the decrease in natural environments.

Economy

File:Azeri Square.JPG
The National Bank.
Main article: Economy of Azerbaijan

After gaining the independence Azerbaijan became a member of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Islam Development Bank and Asian Development Bank.[28] The bank system is two-stepped, consisting of one National Bank and commercial banks together with non-bank credit organizations. The National Bank was created in 1992 on the base of Azerbaijan State Bank, an affiliate of former Soviet State Bank. The National Bank serves as Azerbaijan's central bank, empowered to emit the national currency and supervise all commercial banks. Two major commercial banks are state-owned International Bank and United Universal Joint-Stock Bank.

Pushed up by spending and demand growth, 2007 Q1 inflation rate reached 16.6%.[29] The nominal incomes and monthly wages climbed 29% and 25% respectively against this figure but prices increase in non-oil industry encouraged inflation in the country.[29]

2/3 of Azerbaijan is rich in oil and natural gas.[30] The region of Lesser Caucasus accounts for most part of gold, silver, iron, copper, titanium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, complex ore and antimony.[30] In September, 1994 a 30-year contract was signed between Azerbaijan Republic State Oil Company and 13 oil companies, among them Amoco, BP, Exxon, Lukoil, SOCAR and Statoil.[28] As Western oil companies are able to tap deepwater oilfields untouched by the Soviet exploitation, Azerbaijan is considered one of the most important spots in the world for oil exploration and development.[31] Meanwhile the State Oil Fund was established as an extra-budgetary fund to ensure the macroeconomic stability, transparency in the management of oil revenue, and the safeguarding of resources for future generations.

At the beginning of 2007 there were 4755.1 hectares of utilised agricultural area.[32] In the same year the total wood resources counted 136 million m³.[32] Azerbaijan's agricultural scientific research institutes are focused on the meadows and pastures, the horticulture and subtropical crops, the green vegetables, the viticulture and wine-making, the cotton growing and the medicinal plants.[33] In some lands it is profitable to grow grain, potatoes, sugar beet, cotton and tobacco. The Caspian fishing industry is concentrated on the dwindling stocks of sturgeon and beluga. In 2002 the Azerbaijani merchant marine had 54 ships.[34]

Some part of most products before imported from abroad has begun to be produced locally (among them are Coca Cola by Coca Cola Bottlers LTD, beer by Baki-Kastel, parquet by Nehir and oil pipes by EUPEC Pipe Coating Azerbaijan).[35]

Transportation and communications

Main articles: Transportation in Azerbaijan and Communications in Azerbaijan

In 2002 Azerbaijan led the the way in per capita mobile phone use within the CIS.[36] Public pay phones are available for local calls and require a purchase tokens from the telephone exchange or some shops and kiosks. Tokens allow a call of indefinite duration. As of 2005, there were 1,091,400 main telephone lines and 408,000 internet users.[37] There are two GSM mobile network operators and four CDMA.

Broad gauge railways in 2005 stretched for 2,957 km and electrified railways numbered 1,278 km.[37] The number of airports in 2006 reached thirty six, there was also one heliport.[37]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Azerbaijan
File:Eldar gardash.JPG
A man and his child from the village of Khinalyg in northeast Azerbaijan.

The latest census of minority groups in 1999 displayed the following proportion: Azeris - 90.6%, Lezgins - 2.2%, Russians - 1.8%, Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians - 1.5%, Talysh - 1%, Avars - 0.6%, Tatars - 0.4%, Turks - 0.5%, Ukrainians - 0.4%, Kurds - 0.2%, Georgians - 0.2%, Tsakhurs - 0.2%, Tats - 0.13%, Jews - 0.1%, Udis - 0.05% and the others - 0.12%. The languages distribution in that census roughly corresponds with the minority groups percentage.

From the total population as of April, 2006 there were 4 million 380 thousand (near 51%) city dwellers while rural population reached 4 million 60 thousand (49%).[38] Over a half of population, 51% consisted of females.[38] The gender ratio for total population in that year was 0.94 male per female.[39]

2006 population growth rate was 0.66%, compared to 1.14% worldwide.[39] A significant factor restricting the population growth is rather a high level of migration. In 2005 for instance 1,342 men and 1,564 women left the country due to labour migration.[38] In 2006 Azerbaijan saw migration of -4.38/1,000 persons.[39] The highest morbidity in 2005 was among respiratory diseases (806.9 diseases per 10,000 of total population).[40] The highest 2005 morbidity for infectious and parasitic diseases was noted among influenza and acute respiratory infections (4168,2 per 100,000 population).[41] 2007 estimate for total life expectancy is 66 years, 70.7 years for women and 61.9 for men.[42]

Religion

Further information: Religion in Azerbaijan

According to official figures approximately 96% of the population is Muslim, of which 80% are Shia and 20% Sunni.[43] The vast majority of Christians are Russian Orthodox. In 2003 there were 250 Roman Catholics.[44] Another Christian denominations as of 2002 include lutherans, baptists and molokans.[45] There are also Judaistic, Baha'i, Hare Krishna and Jehovah's Witnesses communities. Some of adherents are within the so-called Nehemiah Church, Star in the East Church and the Cathedral of Praise Church.[45]

Some rural Azeri retain pre-Islamic animist beliefs, such as the sanctity of certain sites and the veneration of certain trees and rocks.[46]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Azerbaijan
Traditional Azeri musicians

Azerbaijan folk consists of Azerbaijanis, the representative part of society, as well as of nations and ethnic groups, compactly living in various areas of the country. There are radio broadcasts in Kurdish, Lezgin, Talysh, Georgian, Russian and Armenian languages, which are financed from the state budget.[16] The local radio station in Balakan organizes broadcasts in the Avar language and in Khachmaz also in Tat.[16] In Baku several newspapers are published in Russian, Kurdish (Dengi Kurd), Lezgin (Samur) and Talysh languages.[16] Jewish society "Sokhnut" publishes the newspaper Aziz.[16]

Among national musical instruments there are fourteen string instruments, eight percussion instruments and six wind instruments.[47]

Entries, submitted on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list include the Gobustan State Reserve, the Fire Temple of Baku, the Momine Khatun Mausoleum and the Khan Palace in Sheki.

Cuisine

Further information: Category:Azerbaijani culture

Common vegetables of Azeri cuisine include eggplants, paprika, cabbage and green common bean. A separate place belongs to salads from fresh, often finely cut vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicum). Pickled garlic and pickled onion with sloe are served separately, accompanying different meat courses. Among numerous herbs in use are mint, dill, parsley, celery, tarragon, basil, savory and thyme. The Absheron peninsula is the only place of cultivated saffron.[48] The national cuisine has 10 different flour confectioneries with the saffron addition.[48]

Azeri cuisine has over 30 kinds of soups, including those prepared from sour milk.[48] Another distinction of some soups is the application of sheep fat. Sturgeon, a common fish, is normally skewered and grilled as a kebab, being served with a tart sour-plum sauce. The traditional condiments are salt, pepper and sumac. Typical Azeri desserts are sticky, syrup-saturated pastries such as pakhlava or halva. The latter, a layer of chopped nuts sandwiched between mats of thread-like fried dough, is unique to Sheki. A tea is traditionally drunk with a sugar lump. Special tea is also made of cinnamon and ginger.[48] A practice, more common among the Lezgins in the north, is adding a spoonful of rose water to the tea.[48]

References

  1. ^ U.S. Department of State - 1993 UN Security Council Resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh
  2. ^ "Azerbaijan". Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 2007-05-05. {{cite web}}: Text "Schippman, K." ignored (help)
  3. ^ Historical Dictionary of Azerbaijan by Tadeusz Swietochowski and Brian C. Collins, ISBN 0-8108-3550-9 (retrieved 07 June 2006).
  4. ^ The Azerbaijani Turks: Power and Identity under Russian Rule by Audrey Altstadt, ISBN 0-8179-9182-4 (retrieved 07 June 2006).
  5. ^ FRAWARDIN YASHT ("Hymn to the Guardian Angels"). Translated by James Darmesteter (From Sacred Books of the East, American Edition, 1898.).
  6. ^ James Stuart Olson. An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires. ISBN 0313274975
  7. ^ "Country Profile Azerbaijan". BBC. 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  8. ^ Thomas De Waal. Black Garden: Armenia And Azerbaijan Through Peace and War. New York: New York University Press, p. 286. ISBN 0-8147-1945-7
  9. ^ CIA — The World Factbook. Azerbaijan.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cite error: The named reference LEX was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b "Azerbaijan - Foreign Relations". CountryStudies.us. Retrieved 2007-05-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Bilateral relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2007-05-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference POL was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ a b "AUK Foreign Office - Country Profiles: Azerbaijan". FCO.gov.uk. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Template:Az icon"Xaricdəki təşkilatlar". Diaspora.az. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ a b c d e "Ethnic minorities". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2007-05-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ http://www.un.org/ga/60/elect/hrc/
  18. ^ "Arms control and non-proliferation". Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  19. ^ Khasiyev, Kamil. "Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to NATO". Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  20. ^ "Azeri Military Statistics". NationMaster.com. Retrieved 2007-05-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ "Azerbaijan". Centcom.mil. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  22. ^ "Azerbaijan will end possible military reforms by 2015 to coincide with NATO standards". Today.az. May 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-27. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  23. ^ a b "Geographical data". The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  24. ^ a b c d e f "Azerbaijan: Biodiversity". CAC-Biodiversity.org. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  25. ^ a b "Azerbaijan - Climate". Azerbaijan.az. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ a b c d "Climate". Water Resources of the Azerbaijan Republic. Institute of Hydrometeorology, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  27. ^ "Forestry". CAC-Biodiversity.org. Retrieved 2007-05-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  28. ^ a b "Azerbaijan - General Information". Azerbaijan.az. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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  • Forrest, Brett (Nov. 28, 2005). "Over a Barrel in Baku". Fortune, pp. 54–60.
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