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Republic of Azerbaijan
Form of Government : Presidential Republic
Head of State : President Heydar Aliyev
Location : Between 44 and 52 Latitude East and 38
and 42 Longitude North
Area : 86.600 square kilometres
Population : Estimated in 1994 : 7,430,700; urban
population : 53,2 percent; rural : 46.8 percent
Major cities : Capital - Baku (1,745,600)
(Population as by January 1994); other large towns : Ganja (289.100), Sumgait
(245.900), Mingachevir (96.000), Nakhchyvan (62.500), Ali Bayramli (65.100)
Administrative units : Nakhchyvan Autonomous
Republic and 65 districts
Currency : Manat (rate in 1996 - 4.417,5 Manat =
1 US$
Per capita GDP : US$ 165,7 in 1994 and US$ 318,5
in 1995
Population growth : 1 percent in 1993 and 0,9
percent in 1994
Infant mortality rate : 22,6 in 1994; 22,5 in 1995
(per 1000 live births)
Life expectancy at birth : 69.5 in 1994 and 68.5
years in 1995 (73.5 for women and 63,4 for men)
Language : The official language is Azerbaijani
(Family of Turkic languages); other languages are Russian, Georgian, Lezginian,
Armenian.
Religion : The majority religion is Islam, other
religions : Russian Orthodox, Catholic, Baptist, Judaism.
Employment structure : In 1995, 19.5 percent of
labour force in industry and construction, 31.3 percent in agriculture, 49.2
percent in service.
Geography
The Azerbaijani Republic borders on Russian
Federation and Republic of Georgia in the north, Republic of Armenia in the west,
Republic of Turkey and Islamic Republic of Iran in the south. On the eastern
side, it is surrounded by the Caspian Sea. While the central part of the country
is predominantly flat, the northern, western and southern parts are mountainous.
The highest mountains are in the north and belong to the Great Caucasus range.
The highest peak is Mount Bazarduzu (4.466 meters). In the south, the Talysh
mountain range stretches along the border with Iran. The country is a
mountainous area, about 7 percent of it is arable land. The Kura River Valley is
the area's major agricultural zone. The climate of Azerbaijan is extremely
varied, due to the geographical heterogeneity of the country. There are, in fact,
as many as nine different climate zones. In the central part, the mean January
temperature is about 3 degree C., the mean July temperature is 27 degree C.
Natural Resources
Azerbaijan possesses rich raw materials for the
development of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Iron-ore and bauxite are also
important among the ore reserves of industrial value. Iron and manganese ore are
exploited for industrial purposes. Cobalt ore reserves have been discovered in
Dashkasan and sample analysis show that it has great industrial value. So far,
copper-polymetal ores (containing zinc, lead, cobalt, gold, silver, bismuth and
up to 40 percent of sulfur) are not exploited, but this will take place in near
future. Azerbaijan has the largest iodine-bromine ore reserves among the New
Independent States. There is an iodine-bromine mill in Neftchala region. There
is a great potential in using mineral and medical-prophylactic waters. Famous
mineral waters Sirab and Badamly are produced here.
But the major natural resource of Azerbaijan is
oil. At present, 9.6 MIO tons of oil and 6.4 bn m3 gas are produced annually.
Historical Review
Several states existed on the territory of
present-day Azerbaijan in ancient times. A large state in the central zone
called Albania was established in the First millenium B.C. and existed until the
9th century A.D. In the 7th-6th centuries B.C., the Medean state was established
in southwest which existed for eight centuries. Northern regions were populated
with Scythian tribes and eastern regions with Khazar tribes. The name
"Azerbaijan" descends from the Atropathena state which appeared in the 5th
century B.C. in the southern part of Azerbaijan after the collapse of Alexander
the Great's Empire. In the 3rd century B.C., the territory of historical
Azerbaijan was under the dominion of the Sassanite Persian Empire. In 642 A.D.,
the region was conquered by Arab forces and converted into Islam. Before Islam,
the population of Azerbaijan were followers of Zoroaster. Islam brought rich
culture and civilization to various corners of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan became famous for its scholars who came
from different jurisprudence schools; among them, we mention Abu Said Ahmed Bnu
Husain Albardai Al Hanafi, Abu Bakr Mohammed Bnu Abdullah Alabhari Almaliki,
Yakoub Bnu Mussa Alardabili Ashafi and others.
Cultural centres developed into big cities such as
Tabriz, Shamakhi, Nakhchyvan, Ganja, Baku and Palace of Shirvanshahs attracted
world famous scholars. Scientific, theological, legal and philosophical
conferences and debates used to take place in the courts. One example of
encouragement for science and its advocates was the fact that governors and
rulers would attend those conferences. Scholars competing in these conferences
were encouraged by rewards and even used to get high posts in the state.
Many famous doctors in medical field such as Isa
Arraqi Attaflisi, Mohathab Eddin Attabrizi had left interesting surveys in
surgery, ophthalmology, chemistry.
Azerbaijani Islamic art flourished in this period.
The features of Islamic architecture, fine arts, applied arts and literature are
still apparent. Even today, they have preserved their educational and artistic
values. Mosques and madrasas had strong impetus on the development of Islamic
civilization.
Architectural monuments of that period were
fortification of big towns as Baku, Shamkhi, Beylagun, Ganja, Marghan, Tabriz,
some of which still survive.
The Azerbaijani poetic school reached its zenith
from the third century to the sixth century of Hegira. It gave birth to
distinguished poets, like Nizami Ganjavi, Afzalladdin Khagani, Falaki Shirvani,
Mojiraddin Beylaguni, and women poet Mahsati Ganjavi and others. We should also
mention the collection of peoms by Nizami Ganjavi "Khamsa" (The Five) which is
considered to be one of the world's famous poetry. Azerbaijani literature
adopted the traditions of Arabic poetry, namely, its eloquence, rhetoric, and
its sensitivity to the beauty of the surrounding environment. Mosques and
madrasas had turned into the centres for intellectuals' gatherings and
discourses.
In the 11th century A.D., tribes of the
Turks-Seljuks took control of the region. In 1236-1242, the Caucasus region was
invaded by Mongolian troops under Tamerlane the Great.
Beginning from the 16th century A.D., Azerbaijan,
due to its advantageous geographic position, again became the cause of cruel
rivalry between Persian and Russian Empires. In the 17th century, Azerbaijan
again passed to Persia but soon, as a result of Russian-Persian wars, the
northern territories of Azerbaijan were added to Russia, according to the
Gulistan (1813) and Turkmanchai (1828) Treaties.
In the beginning of the 20th century, the national
liberation movement in Azerbaijan grew stronger. Geopolitical changes after the
end of the First World War, and the collapse of the Russian Empire created
favourable conditions for the establishment of an independent state. On the 28th
of May 1918, the independence of Azerbaijan was declared. At the first meeting
of National Council, the act of independence was accepted. According to this
act, Azerbaijan became a completely sovereign state. A democratic republic was
declared as the form of state system.
External forces which could not reconcile with the
independence of Azerbaijan tried to suppress it. Russian communists tried to
impose their regime throughout the territory of the former Russian Empire.
Pressure from outside, together with inner disagreements, gradually led to the
collapse of the government. In April 1920, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
ceased to exist, due to the Soviet Russia's occupation of Azerbaijan. The
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic existed only 23 months and it was the only
democratic, independent republic in the East at that time.
After 70 years of Communist rule, the people of
Azerbaijan, although they lost their independence, did not completely lose their
statehood. During this long historical period, substantial economic, social,
cultural-intellectual potential was developed. However, the craving for complete
independence and national liberation never left the Azerbaijani people. The
crisis of the totalitarian system in the Soviet Union and other changes in the
world from the end of 1980s furthered the growth of a national movement in
Azerbaijan.
In January 1990, armed Soviet Troops were sent to
Baku and some other regions with the aim of preserving the Communist regime and
suppressing the national liberation movement. Soviet troops brutally invaded
Baku, opening fire at each and everybody, killing people in the streets, in the
houses, hospitals, emergency car drivers. In this bloodshed, 131 citizens were
massacred and 744 were wounded. This was the last agony of huge Communist giant
on the territory of Azerbaijan.
Armenian Aggression
Using the situation at the time of Soviet Union's
collapse, the Republic of Armenia started to realize its long-nurtured policy of
annexing a part of Azerbaijan-Nagorno-Karabakh. To "legalize" the issue, on
December 1, 1989, the Supreme Soviet of Armenia adopted a resolution on
unification of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan with Armenia. Such a
resolution violates Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and makes the territorial
claims official. The Armenians began to combine their military forces with
remaining Russian troops in Karabakh and separatist Armenians living in the
locality for achieving its goal. This aggression started after an "ethnic
cleansing" in Armenia proper. About 200.000 Azerbaijanis were forced to flee
their native places in Armenia. This was the final stage of Azerbaijani
deportation from Armenia - the previous ones were in 1905, 1918-1920, 1948-1956
and the last one in 1988. Today, you cannot find even a single Azerbaijani in
Armenia. With their total deportation, all the mosques and other Islamic
heritage were exterminated.
As a result of Armenian aggression, more than 20%
of Azerbaijani territories are under Armenian occupation, the entire 800.000
Azerbaijani population of the occupied districts -Agdam, Fizuli, Lachin,
Kalbajar, Jabrail, Gubadly, Zanghilan, Nagorno-Karabakh have become refugees and
displaced, that means every seventh citizen of the country is a refugee.
Azerbaijan has suffered 20.000 dead, 100.000
injured, 5.000 disabled, 4.000 hostages as a result of Armenian aggression. All
the industrial, agricultural and cultural properties in the occupied districts
have been looted.
Before the Armenian aggression, Nagorno-Karabakh
has a total population of 160.000 persons, out of which Azerbaijanis were more
than 50.000, the rest were Armenians.
Many of Azerbaijani refugees and displaced live in
makeshift huts and tent camps in the areas where temperature reaches 10 degrees
C. below zero in winter.
Despite four United Nations Security Council's
Resolutions N° 822 (1993), N° 853 (1993), N° 874 (1993) and N° 884 (1993)
"…Calling upon the Government of Armenia to use its influence to achieve
compliance by the Armenians of the Karabakh region of the Azerbaijani Republic
with resolutions 822, 853, 874 and to ensure that the forces involved are not
provided with means to extend their Military Campaign … demands the unilateral
withdrawal of occupying forces", no step is taken to fulfil the resolutions.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe has been given responsibility to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh issue with
peaceful means, but the Armenian side has no much respect to all these calls and
continues to occupy Azerbaijani territory. At present, due to intermediary
missions of a number of international organizations and states, primarily the
OSCE, a cease-fire has been achieved and preparatory work is being carried out
in order to settle the conflict through peaceful means.
All peace-loving nations together with
Azerbaijanis wish one day the occupied territories be free from Armenian
terrorists and separatists.
Independent Republic of Azerbaijan
Following the collapse of the Communist regime in
the Soviet Union on August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan declared its independence.
On October 18, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of
Azerbaijan passed a constitutional act on independence and the Republic
reestablished its full sovereignty.
Azerbajani State is a democratic, legal, secular,
unitary Republic. The executive power in the Azerbaijani Republic belongs to the
President of Azerbaijan.
Every citizen above 30 years of age, who has lived
in Azerbaijan more than 10 years, having not committed crimes, having no dual
citizenship, may be elected as a President of Azerbaijan. The President is
elected for 5 years term by direct secret ballot. One and the same person has no
right to be elected more than two terms as a President. Mr. Heydar Aliyev,
current President of the Azerbaijani Republic, was elected in 1993.
After Mr. Heydar Aliyev's election in 1993 as a
President, law and order have been restored, an end has been put to the attempts
to seize power by force. Today, the only way to come to power is through
democratic means -elections.
In November 1995, Parliamentary elections took
place in Azerbaijan. The Parliament is called Milli Majlis and consists of 125
parliamentarians (deputies). Every citizen of Azerbaijan above 25 years of age
may be elected a member of Milli Majlis. The Milli Majlis is elected for 5
years.
The President of the Azerbaijani Republic carries
out his executive power by establishing Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan. The
Prime Minister is assigned by the President with the consent of Milli Majlis.
Chairmen of Executive Councils rule the districts
of Azerbaijan and they are being appointed and relieved from their jobs by the
President of Azerbaijan. Religion and State are separate in Azerbaijan and
educational system is of secular character.
Though the National language of Azerbaijan is
Azerbaijani, other languages spoken in the territory of the Republic are freely
used and developed.
Industry
In terms of relative regional development,
Azerbaijan suffered from a type of internal colonialism under the Soviet Union.
It was one of the less developed republics, which was somewhat ironic in view of
its oil wealth. It is estimated that per capita consumption levels were 34%
lower than the average for the USSR. In view of its considerable wealth in
natural resources, it appears that other republics, other than Azerbaijan,
benefited from it. While quantitative estimates are not available, it is quite
clear that Azerbaijan would have benefited enormously from the oil price boom of
the 1970s and 1980s, had it been a nation state trading with the outside world.
Irrespective of the extent of previous transfers of wealth, the natural resource
base remains the likely source of the independent country's future prosperity.
However, many structural reforms are required before the country can yield the
dividend of some of its natural advantages. These complex factors include
geopolitical considerations, such as the route through which oil will be taken
out of Azerbaijan. In this respect, the Caspian water basin is a mirage which
disguises the landlocked nature of Azerbaijan. The countries across the Caspian
have surplus oil and gas and, therefore, Azerbaijani oil has to pass through
land routes, which are a bone of regional contention.
Inspite of its favourable socio-economic
characteristics, and irrespective of the degree of past neglect, the country is
currently suffering a painful period. In Azerbaijan, independence has been
accompanied by the tragedy of military conflict imposed upon it by the
neighbouring Armenia and the difficulties of transition to market economy.
Azerbaijan's industrial sector is suffering from
sharp reversal, due to loss of markets in the former Soviet Union. The
restructuring of industrial enterprises is a complex and painful process and
clearly many enterprises need to be closed down, while others need investment
for modernization and development of updated know-how.
The oil-processing complex possesses the capacity
to process 20 million tons of oil per annum. Only 50% of the total amount of oil
products produces fuel and lubricants, and over 40% is heavy oil. There is the
potential for an output increase of final products up to 75-80%, which will
increase the efficiency of this sector.
On September 20, 1994, the Western Oil Consortium
and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan signed a contract on the development of
Guneshli, Chirag and Azeri oil fields. The President of Azerbaijan Mr. Heydar
Aliyev called this "The Contract of the Century".
The metallurgical complex includes a variety of
products : iron ore concentrate, aluminium, steel pipes, rolled non-ferrous
metals, etc. Development of this sector was formerly one-sided, oriented mostly
to the need of other regions, primarily within the Soviet Union.
The chemical industry urgently needs in-depth
restructuring and new enterprises must be established. Only 30-40% of chemical
products are final, the remaining of raw materials and semi-finished products
exported to other countries for final processing. There is a sharp need to
establish new enterprises to produce polymer materials, primarily, polypropylene,
polyethylene and polystyrene.
The electrical power system of Azerbaijan is the
largest in the Caucasus. Power installations at present represent almost 5
million KWT. A substantial part of power generation equipment is worn and must
be replaced.
The machine-building complex and its relevant
branches, such as production of oil equipment (Azerbaijan provided up to 80% of
the demand of the former Soviet Union for oil equipment), instrument
engineering, electrical engineering and radioelectronics constitute almost
one-fifth of the industrial potential in the country. Among the products of this
industry are drilling installations, offshore stationary platforms, equipment
for oil and gas production, pumps, electric motors, transformers, air
conditioners, refrigerators, etc.
Azerbaijan traditionnally is a large textile
producer. This industry is represented by four major plants consuming cotton
grown in the republic. Development of the textile industry and construction of
new spinning mills are planned in the future. Silk, tricot, leather and the
footwears industry are also developing in Azerbaijan.
Due to its poor technological base and
insufficient supply of raw materials, the output of woollen, cotton fabrics and
carpets has been reduced by 20-40%.
However, the prospects for the revival and
development of Azerbaijan's economy appear to be brighter than many countries of
the former Soviet Union.
Agriculture
Agriculture plays an important role in the economy
of Azerbaijan. About one-third of the able work force is engaged in this sphere.
More than 80% of agricultural products are grown on irrigated lands. Today,
there are approximately 820 such farms and the number continues to increase. At
present, the agricultural sector contributes 18% of the gross national product.
Agricultural production, including food
production, has been steadily decreasing (See Table); the main reasons for
falling agricultural production are shortages of inputs and investment, an
inefficient land ownership system, lack of modern technology, as well as
appropriate infrastructures for the transportation, storage, and processing of
agricultural output. At present, 72.000 hectare of cultivated land, 34.000
vineyards are under Armenian occupation and Azerbaijan has lost in these
territories 65.000 cattle, 240.000 sheep and goats. The occupation of the
fertile territories and more than one million refugees and displaced, who used
to be farmers in the occupied areas, are the two major reasons for agricultural
decrease.
Production of Basic Foods
Before the Armenian aggression, about 2 million
tons of grapes, 1 million tons of cotton, 1,4 million tons vegetables and fruit,
and 60.000 tons of tobacco were grown in Azerbaijan annually and one-third of
the gross product was processed locally.
The critical situation of food production in the
country with more than one million refugees and displaced have created a major
shortfall in the provision of foodstuffs. In this situation, international
humanitarian aid has and continues to play an important role. The volume of
humanitarian aid in 1994 totalled 3.729.000 tons, mostly distributed to refugees,
displaced, and vulnerable groups of persons. Food aid included wheat, wheat
flour, sugar, plant oil, milk, milk products and others.
Education and Culture
Azerbaijan has inherited a system consisting of
extensive pre-school facilities, compulsory free secondary education and a
variety of options for technical and professional higher education. However,
because of Armenian aggression and the related crisis caused by the large number
of refugees, internally displaced people, some schools are being used as
residences for these groups. Large numbers of refugees and displaced people who
have practically no access to education because of their unsettled state.
With equal opportunity for both men and women to
education in Azerbaijan, there are some areas, especially medicine and education
where more than 50% of the specialists with a higher education are women.
In 1993, a total number of 18.800 citizens
received a higher education, in 1994, 16.098 citizens received higher education
signifying a decline from the previous year.
In 1994, about 6,8% of the national income was
spent on education. The country has 247 scientific institutions; of these
organizations, 125 are research centres, 60 planning and design offices, 45
experimental laboratories and 17 state and 6 non-governmental institutions of
higher education. A significant number of people were previously employed in the
scientific field, an estimated 52.400. Of the 24.300 researchers, 41% have a
doctorate/Ph.D. in science.
Azerbaijan has an Academy of Sciences consisting
of 45 research centres where 6.990 scientists are employed. Because of the
current economic situation, there has been a growing trend of scientists looking
for better employment opportunities other than the Academy of Sciences.
Secondary education is eleven years. In 1994,
there were 4.502 general institutions of secondary education and 78 institutions
of secondary special education. An estimated 2.500 Azerbaijani students are
studying abroad at present.
Almost the same number of foreign students study
at Azerbaijani higher education institutions, mainly in the fields of oil and
chemistry, medicine and computer sciences.
Cultural life of Azerbaijan has suffered a setback
also due to Armenian aggression and transition to market economy. A part of
occupied Nagorno-Karabakh - the town of Shusha declared by a Decree of
Azerbaijani Government N° 280 dated August 10, 1977, a historical and
architectural reserve. The Muslim cultural heritage has been plundered by
Armenian forces in order to show the outside world that this area historically
belonged to Armenia. In the occupied territories, Armenian forces have looted
693 secondary schools, 280 kindergartens, 12 vocational schools, 862 clubs, 982
libraries, 22 museums, 4 art galleries, 4 theatres, 576 medical centres.
Today, Azerbaijan has one Arts Academy, numerous
musical schools where young people study traditional arts and music as well as
contemporary western art.
Unions of writers, artists, architects, actors,
composers have numerous members developing the national culture.
Azerbaijan has (as of 1994) 114 museums, 25
professional theatres, 906 cinemas, 4872 public libraries. In the same year, 595
titles of books, 50 titles of magazines, 279 titles of newspapers were
published.
Health
The previous structure of universal access to
basic health care is under severe stress. It is estimated that the availability
of medicines, for example, has reduced. The effects are pervasive. Hepatitis
cases and water borne diseases have increased.
A very large number of refugees and displaced
persons live in conditions of very poor sanitation with lack of provisions,
medicine and basic health care. This has resulted in the rapid spread of
mortality rate from viral Hepatitis, brucellousis, diphteria.
International humanitarian support has made it
possible for Azerbaijan to conduct immunization campaigns for children in the
last few years to ensure survival and prevent epidemics. But the required
immunization levels have still to be attained.
There are more than enough medical professionals
in the Republic. Between 1990 and 1994, the number of physicians per 10.000 of
the population varied between 38.6 to 39.2 and for nurses, the figure varied
between 95.6 and 95.2 respectively.
Over the long term, it will be necessary to
stimulate the development of a national pharmaceutical industry. The Republic
has natural resources, including flora, fauna and minearls, for developing a
pharmaceutical industry. Together with a rich history in the ancient art of
medicine and pharmacology, Azerbaijan has a solid scientific base of qualified
experts in the field.
Environment
A modern concept of environmental management has
only recently been introduced in Azerbaijan. During the Soviet era, the
country's natural resources were exploited without any consideration for the
environment and for the people who were to live in this environment. As a result,
the environmental situation is catastrophic and the term ecocide is frequently
used by international organizations to describe the environmental crisis in
Azerbaijan today. The world community has research knowledge that indicate
disasters like the rise and pollution of the Caspian water basin is not just a
domestic Azerbaijani problem, but because of their magnitude and consequences on
the global ecosystem, they are issues of international concern.
The cycle of rising water in the Caspian Sea,
which began in 1978, has already washed out substantial segments of the coastal
zone, flooded large territories, and destroyed engineering constructions and
buildings. Several agricultural areas, especially in the south of the
country-Lankarun, Astara regions, are frequently flooded thus causing
destruction of railways and highways.
The whole coastal zone in Baku and Absheron
peninsula is in critical condition, especially the zones for recreation and
restoration. Additional environmental danger has been caused by the siting of
major industrial enterprises close to the Caspian water basin.
Sources of contamination of the Caspian include
oil mining, oil processing, chemical, metallurgy, and energy industries.
The Caspian water basin is a unique natural
reservoir of great significance for the whole world and deserves the
consolidated efforts of the international community.
Flora and Fauna
It has been established that Azerbaijan has nearly
4.500 species of plants and 240 of them grow only in the territory of the
Republic.
It is unfortunate that a large number of plants,
trees, animal species are in the territories occupied by Armenia. Conducting
scorched earth policy, Armenian army units destroy, kill and try to exterminate
flora and fauna in the occupied territories. Unique trees are felled and taken
to Armenia for construction works, forests and fertile lands have been heavily
mined.
A varied physical relief and climate with
different soils and plants have resulted in a rich faune, with 20.000 species.
Most of them, about 15.500 species, are representatives of protozoa and
invertebrates; with 54 species of reptiles and 97 copies of mammals. In the
waters of Azerbaijan, 101 species and subspecies of fish exist. Among species of
existing fish, an important one is sturgeon, from which caviar is obtained.
Forests cover 13,1% of the total area of
Azerbaijan.
International Relations
Azerbaijan is actively developing equal relations
with world community. Diplomatic corps accredited to Azerbaijan represent
countries : USA, Russia, Great Britain, France, Germany, China, Turkey, Iran,
Egypt, Israel, Greece, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Slovakia and
the United Nations Organization. Azerbaijani embassies have been established in
USA, Great Britain, Germany, China, Austria, Belgium, Turkey, Saudi Arabia,
Egypt, Iran, Georgia as well as the appointment of Permanent Representatives to
the United Nations and OSCE.
Azerbaijan develops successfully foreign trade not
only with former Soviet Republic but also with countries of European Union,
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Countries, United States, Hungary, Iran, United
Arab Emirates and others.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
1995.
2. Aggression of the Republic of Armenia against
the Republic of Azerbaijan, 1994, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan.
3. Azerbaijan in Figures, 1994, Azerbaijani State
Committee on Statistics.
4. Azerbaijan, Human Development Report, 1995.
United Nations Development Programme.
5. Azerbaijan, Human Development Report, 1996.
United Nations Development Programme.
6. Islam and Azerbaijani Culture, 1996. The
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
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