In 1828- Turkmanchay agreement divides Azerbaijan between Russia and Iran, after which began mass streams of Armenians, 40 thousand Armenian families moved from Iran to Azerbaijan.

In 1829- Depending on Adirna agreement between Turkey and Russia, Russia relocated to Caucasus from Turkey 12655 Armenian families.

In 1828-30- Empire relocated 84600 families from Turkey to Caucasus and placed them in the best lands of the Karabakh, Iravan, Borchali, Akhalkana, and Akhaltakishin.

In 1828-39- 200 thousand Armenians relocated in mountain parts of the Karabakh.

In 1877-79- In period of Russian-Turkish war to the south of the Caucasus were relocated 185 thousand Armenians.

In 1893-94- Was the period of the biggest relocation.

In 1894-96- In Turkey created planned Armenian Turks and Armenian Kurds clashes.

In 1896- The number of came Armenians reached 900 thousand.

In 1905- Occurred in Baku mass extermination Azerbaijanis, gradually increased, transferred and repeated in Nakhchivan, Iravan, Zangazur, Karabakh and Ganja. During, these events they destroyed in Shusha, Djavanshir, Djabrail and Zangazur provinces 75 Azerbaijani villages; in Iravan and in Ganja provinces destroyed more than 200 points of population and cut off peaceful people.

In 1908- Because of the relocation in the South Caucasus number of Armenians reached 1 million 300 thousand people; 1 million from them were relocated by the empire from foreign countries.

In 14 November 1914-begining 1915 Victory of the I Caucasian army in the Sari Kamish, at the Khoy, Urmiya, Salmazakh provinces nearly 159 thousand, in Eastern parts of the Anadolu in Kars, Ardakhan provinces 200 thousand Azerbaijanis were killed.

In 1918- Under cover of creating the Bolshevik State in Baku, Shirvan, Kuba, Lankaran, Kurdamir they eliminated more than 50 thousand Azerbaijanis, only in Baku they killed more than 15 thousand people.

In 23 November of the 1919- In Tbilisi because of tries of the Azerbaijani supervision could sign peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and stopped bloodshed.

In 1919-20- Because of eliminations, population of the Irevan decreased from 37852 people until 12 thousand.

In 1905-20- On the Armenian territory was exterminated nearly 10 thousand Azerbaijani villages population of which was wildly killed.

In 1921- Because of resettlements in the South Caucasus occurred Armenian state.

In 27 October 1922- Took place the session of the presidium Southern Caucasian countries of the RC (B) P.Was decided, that accepted decision on 5 July 1921, by Caucasian bureau of CC of the RC (B) P about status of the Karabakh as an autonomy region have to implemented by the CC of the AC (B)P.

In 18 February 1929- Without the knowledge of the Turkey, Azerbaijan and Nakchivan’s Caucasian CC get a decision to annexation to the Armenia 9 village including Mekhri and other territories, which were made-up Karchevan Soviet. Later, villages-Nuvadi, Mekhvaz, Aldara in which lived Azerbaijanis in subordination of Zangelan were joined to Armenia. By that way, in 1930-31 was created Mekhri region.

In 1948-50- Near 180 thousand Azerbaijanis were settled indifferent regions of the Azerbaijan Republic.

In 1965- Armenian couldn’t reach their goal – obtains to establish in 1965 in Yerevan monument to 50th old “Genocide’s” of Armenians and they again set question of “Genocide”.

In 60th of the XIX century- Armenians again set Karabakh question and in order to obtain their goals created map “From sea to sea-Great Armenia”, used it as a “fact”. Firstly, they changed and renamed Azerbaijani names of cities and villages to Armenians.

In 1985- After the elections of M.Gorbachov’s as a General Secretary CC of the CPSS (Central Committee of the Soviet Social Communist Party) using his and some officials trust, Armenians again become active in pretensions to create “Great Armenia.”

In 1987- In Paris 18 November, in number of the “Humanite” newspaper academician A.Akanbekyan writes that NKAO has to be under the power of Armenia SSR and that question was agreed with M.Gorbachov.

In 1988- By the beforehand-prepared plans in 1988, in Khankandi (Stepanakert) began strikes.

In 20 February 1988- Oblast Soviet’s deputies (Armenians) voted to gave Karabakh to Armenia SSR, by way getting it from Azerbaijan. Conversions were sent to Moscow, Yerevan, and Baku.

In 22 February 1988- In Khankandi hold session of party activists of the region, appeared here CC Secretary of the CPSS-V.P.Razumovski stated that, CC of the CPSS evaluated requirements and acts which is predict the changing in existing national territories as acts and requirements directed against willing of both nations.

In 25 February 1988- Armenians cropped the speech of Armenians Catholicos (region leader) Vazgen’s on Armenian TV.

In 25 February 1988- In Asgaran Armenians kill 2 Azerbaijanis. Later, in Baku, in Vorovski community Armenians kill police server-Azerbaijanian.

In 26 February 1988- M.Gorbachov’s appeal to Armenian and Azerbaijani workers does not have any meaning for the Armenians.

In 26 February 1988- Occurs Sumgait tragedy.

In 25-26 February 1988- In Yerevan took place demonstrations. Because of the happened, many Azerbaijanis had to left Armenia, who then placed in countries of Sumgait, in Saray and Fatmeyi. In Asgaran were killed 2 young people in 16 and 23 years old.Because of 26 died Armenians in Sumgait, in Russia was arrested 96 Azerbaijanis and they were exposed to different punishments.

In 18 July 1988- On session of Supreme Soviet of the USSR recognized, that NK have to be in Azerbaijan and impossible any territorial changes.

In 3 September 1988- Kerkidjahan village was fired. Armenians spreading the leaflets threaten to Azerbaijanis. After some attacks in 21 September last Azerbaijani left Khankandi (Stepanakert).

At the end of 1988th- In both republics was announced state of emergency. From Armenia with force, under the muzzle of the weapons expelled near 200 thousand of Azerbaijanis, 18 thousand Kurds, thousands of Russian language population.255 Azerbaijanis were killed.

In 10 December 1988- After these bloody events, modern Dashnaks announced Armenia as a republic without Turks.

In March 1989- From 190 thousand Azerbaijan left 23 thousand Armenians, very small number of Armenians directed to “Great Armenia”.

In 26 February 1992- In the evening occurred the biggest tragedy of the 20th century-Khojaly. Hundreds of people were wildly killed.

In 8 May 1992- Armenian occupied Shusha city.

In 17 May 1992- Armenian occupied Lachin region.

In 3 – 4 April 1993- Armenian occupied Kalbadjar region.

In 19 August 1993- Iran appears with serious accusation in address of Armenia and requires quick liberation to occupied Azerbaijani territories.

In 15 June 1993- In Milli Madjlis (Chamber of Deputies) Heydar Aliyev was elected as a supervisor of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan Republic. After, from 17 to 18 July president-Abulfaz Elchibay went to Nakchivan, and from there, to the Kalaki. 24 June 1993 Milli Madjlis gave the president’s power to the supervisor of Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan.

In 5 July 1993- Heydar Aliyev accepted ambassadors of foreign countries and representatives of the UN in Azerbaijan, acquaint them with the situation in Azerbaijan and in nearby regions.

In 23 July1993- Armenians occupied one of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan-Agdam.

In 29 July 1993- Resolution under the number 853 in Security Council of the UN condemned Armenians because of illegally occupation Azerbaijani territories and was required immediately and unconditionally release occupied Azerbaijani territories.

In 18 August 1993- The Security Council of the UN gave declaration and call governor of the Armenian Republic help in implementation resolutions 822 and 853 to NK’s Armenians.

In 23 August 1993- Armenian occupied Djabrail region.

In 23 August 1993- Armenian occupied Fuzuli region.

In 31 August 1993- Armenian occupied Kubatli region.

In 30 October 1993- Armenian occupied Zangilan region.

Between 5-8 Septembers 1993- H.Aliyev visited Moscow and hold serious discussions on many themes.

In 19 December 1993- H.Aliyev began visits to France. In that visit, gave a big attention to the NK problem.

In 23 December 1993- Under the cooperation Turkmenian president S.Niyazov’s hold meeting between Ter-Petrosyan and H.Aliyev.

In 13-15 May and in 5-6 December 1994- On summit of State Heads in Budapest, and in Morocco on the 7th Summit of Islamic Organization, which consists 52 states, condemned Armenian politic and aggression against Azerbaijan in reaching dream-creating “Great Armenia”.

THE RESULT IS:

Despite of accepted 4 resolutions (822, 853, 874, 884) by Security Council of the UN in 1993 about release Armenian military forces occupied territories they weren’t implemented until now. Wounds got from Armenians to Azerbaijani nation are incalculable. Generally, in 20th century were killed 1 million Azerbaijanis, and 1,5 million Azerbaijanis ostracized from Armenia.

The discovery of the Azykh cave, one of the earliest habitations of human to be found in the world, and a number of habitations of the ancient Stone Age prove that Azerbaijan is situated in one of the birthplace areas of the humankind. Prehistoric cave dwellings have been excavated throughout Azerbaijan, one of the more important being the excavations at Gobustan, famous for its rock carvings.

The first state that emerged on the territory of Azerbaijan was Aratta in the third Millennium B.C. that was followed by the states named Kutium and Lullubium. In the 9th century B.C., the Manna state emerged with high economic and cultural level. In the first part of the 6th century B.C., Manna was conquered by Media. The official religion was Zoroastrianism, the spread of which was connected with self-kindled resources of oil and gas.

The 4th century B.C. was marked by the emergence of two Azerbaijani states: Atropatena in the south and the Caucasian Albania in the north of Azerbaijan. The name of Atropatena is connected with the name of its founder Atropat (satrap of Alexander of Macedonia), which was later transformed into the definition “Azerbaijan”.

By the second century A.D., the Caucasian Albania had developed into a major regional power. Its borders were essentially the borders of the present day Azerbaijan, and included the regions of Nakhchivan and Daghliq Garabagh (Mountainous Karabakh). The kingdom of Caucasian Albania was home to the first Christian communities in the region. One of the first apostolic Christian churches in South Caucasus appeared in the Caucasian Albania. The Caucasian Albania enjoyed a large degree of autonomy and was virtually an independent state. At the beginning of the 5th century, the Albanian alphabet was introduced and promoted the development of education.

By the beginning of the 8th century, Azerbaijan became a part of the Arab Caliphate. Islam became the dominating religion in Azerbaijan, creating new traditions and culture. In the medieval centuries, there was a succession of Azerbaijani states. The Azerbaijani dynasties of Shirvanshahs, Sheddadis, Revvadis, Atabey, Eldegiz, Garagoyunly, Aghgoyunly, and Sefevids ruled in a succession.

A rivalry between Russia, Iran, and Turkey to involve Azerbaijan into the sphere of their interests resulted in striking internal destabilization in the 18th century. The contradictions between the regional powers deepened in the 18th – 19th centuries. Wars were waged over Azerbaijan. The Turkmanchay Treaty of 1828 concluded by Russia and Persia divided Azerbaijan and its people between these two states.

The 20th century in the history of the Azerbaijani people marked the period of radical changes in socio-economic, political, and cultural life. A range of industrial branches was intensively developing in Azerbaijan. Baku turned into the world centre of oil extraction and refinery yielding more than half of the world and 95% of Russia’s oil extraction. Baku attracted investors and oil developers from all over the world, among them Alfred Nobel and his brothers. In fact, the fortune that Alfred Nobel acquired in Azerbaijan allowed him to establish the well-known Nobel Prize. In 1907, the Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayov composed opera “Leyli and Majnun”, which was the first opera in the Muslim Orient. Formation of political societies, organizations, and parties for dissemination of progressive, democratic ideas contributed to the process of developing a national identity and fuelled the growth of the liberation movement of the people.

The fall of the tsarist monarchy in Russia on February 18, 1917, created favourable conditions for the development of national movements in its provinces. On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan restored its state structure – the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established in the northern part of Azerbaijan. Newly independent Azerbaijan was the first nation in the region to adopt a secular, democratic form of government. Azerbaijan received de facto recognition by the Allied Powers after World War I as an independent nation in January 1920. Having existed for only 23 months, it collapsed on the 28th of April when the Soviet Red Army invaded Baku and eventually all of the territory of the northern Azerbaijan and overthrew the government. With the Red Army occupying its territory, Azerbaijan was incorporated into the Soviet Union on December 30, 1922.

For the next 70 years, Azerbaijan was within the Soviet state in the form of the Soviet Socialist Republic. The Soviet authorities ceded the Azerbaijani territory of Zangezur to Armenia, thus cutting off the Azerbaijani province of Nakhchivan from the rest of Azerbaijan. When Azerbaijan was annexed into the USSR, its total territory was 114,000 sq. km; on regaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan’s territory was 86,600 sq. km.

The late 1980s were characterized by increasing unrest, eventually leading to a violent confrontation with the communist regime when Soviet troops killed hundreds of peaceful demonstrators in Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan on January 20, 1990.

Azerbaijan restored its independence from the Soviet Union on August 30, 1991, when the Constitutional Act of State Independence was adopted. The new Constitution of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted on November 12, 1995. This event marked a new stage in the history of the people of Azerbaijan – the epoch of democracy and progress.

After the Republic of Azerbaijan regained its independence, it has become possible to renew the objective picture of the past history of our nation. The truth which for many years was kept back, is getting disclosed and misinterpreted events are getting their real value.

Numerous acts of genocide against Azerbaijanis, which for many years did not receive its deserved political and legal assessment, is one of the secret pages of our history.

The Gulustan and Turkmenchay agreements signed in 1813 and 1828 provided the legal ground for the partition of the nation of Azerbaijan and division of its historical lands. The occupation of the lands continued the national tragedy of Azerbaijan people. Within a short time, gross settlement of Armenians in the territories of Azerbaijan has begun. The occupation of Azerbaijani territories became an integral part of the genocide.

Armenians moved to Yerevan, Nakhchivan and Karabakh khanates have achieved to establish their administrative territorial unit of Armenian region despite their minority as compared to Azerbaijanis residing in the same area. This artificial division provided political reasons for the removal and annihilation of Azerbaijanis in their native lands. This was followed by propaganda of the establishment of the Great Armenia. In order to ensure the exculpation of the idea to establish this fictitious state in the territory of Azerbaijan, a wide-scale programme, aimed at the falsification of the national history of Armenians, was started. The distortion of the history of Azerbaijan and the whole Caucasus, formed an integral part of this programme.

Inspired by the idea of the establishment of the Great Armenia, Armenian invaders started to openly implement on a wide scale their evil actions against the nation of Azerbaijan during 1905-1907. Armenians started their brutal acts in Baku and further spread them through the rest of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani villages in the current territory of Armenia. Hundreds of settlements were razed to the ground and thousands of people were savagely killed. The organizers of these events were creating an unfavorable image about the people of Azerbaijan to hide the truth and prevent these events from a correct political and legal evaluation.

They got use of the World War I, Russian revolutions in February and October of 1917, and managed to accomplish their ideas under the plea of the Bolshevism. The implementation of a cruel plan of cleansing the population of Azerbaijan in the provinces started by the Baku commune under the plea of fighting against counter-revolutionary elements in March of 1918. Armenian crimes have secured themselves an everlasting place in the memory of Azeri people. Thousands of Azerbaijani civilians, were murdered for the only reason of their belonging to the nation of Azerbaijan. Armenians destroyed dwelling houses and burnt people alive. Most of Baku was turned into ruins with national architectural sights, schools, hospitals, mosques and other monuments destroyed.
Azeri genocide was particularly cruel in Baku, Shamakha, Guba, Karabakh, Zangezur, Nakhchivan, Lenkaran and other regions. Many civilians in those areas were killed, the villages were brought to ashes and national monuments were razed to the ground.

After the establishment of the Azerbaijan National Republic, closest attention was paid to the March 1918 events. The Council of Ministers issued a decree on July 15th 1918, to establish an extraordinary committee for the investigation of those tragic events. The committee investigated the first stage of the March genocide; the brutal acts in Shemakha and the cruel crimes in the territory of Yerevan province. A special department was established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the community about the truth. The Azernaijan National Republic declared March 31st as a mourning day for two times – in 1919 and 1920. It was the first attempt in the history to give a political assessment to genocide against the people of Azerbaijan and to the aggressive process which continued for over a century. But the collapse of the Azerbaijan National Republic did not allow to finish this process.

In 1920, Armenians got use of the coming of the Soviet power into the South Caucasus, and declared the annexation of Zangezur and other regions of Azerbaijan to the Armenian Soviet Republic. They later started to utilize newer means to strengthen their policy, aimed at the deportation of Azeri people from these territories. For this purpose, they got use of the 23 December 1947 decree of the Soviet Council of Ministers “On removal of collective farmers and other Azerbaijani population from the Armenian Soviet Republic to the Kura-Araz lowlands of the Azerbaijan Soviet Republic”. During 1948-1953, they finally achieved the purpose of mass deportation of Azeri people from their historical land, at the state level.

At the beginning of the 50th Armenians nationalists with the help of their defenders began to conduct a cruel aggressive campaign against the nation of Azerbaijan. In regular published books, magazines and newspapers in the territory of the former Soviet Union there were made the attempts to prove the belonging of our national culture, classic heritage and architectural monuments to Armenians. At the same time they strengthened their efforts to create a negative image about Azeri people worldwide. In order to create the image of “a long-suffering oppressed Armenia nation” they deliberately distorted the events which took part in this region in the beginning of the century. They called themselves the victims of the genocide, which they in reality conducted against Azeri people. Persecution of our compatriots in the territory of Yerevan, where the main population were Azerbaijanians and from the other parts of Armenia SSR led to their mass proscription. Armenians roughly violated the rights of Azeri people, created the obstacles to get the education in native language and exerted a strong pressure ipon them. The historical names of Azerbaijani villages were changed within a previously unforeseen process in the history of toponymy, when ancient names were replaced with the modern ones.

The trumped-up Armenian history was raised at the state political level in order to bring up younger generations of Armenians in the spirit of chauvinism. Brought up in the manner of Azeri literature and culture, which served to great humanism ideals, the young generation of Azerbaijanis stayed helpless before Armenia’s extremist ideology.

The claims against the Azeri national spirit, honor and dignity, created an ideological platform for the political and military aggression. The Azeri genocide, which was not given a correct political and legal evaluation, led to distortion of historical facts in the Soviet media and misleading of the communities by Armenians. The leadership of Azerbaijan did not pay the sufficient attention to anti-Azeri propaganda, which raised and intensified among the soviet regime in mid-80s.

The deportation of hundreds of thousands of Azeris from their historical lands at the first stage of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict in 1988, also did not receive a correct political assessment in Azerbaijan. The autonomous republic of Nagorny Karabakh was taken from Azerbaijan’s control and annexed to the Armenian SSR at the basis of an unconstitutional decree of Armenian Republic and under assistance of the Moscow-led Special Administration Committee. This fact caused a serious dissatisfaction among the nation of Azerbaijan and forced it to begin important political activities. Even though the aggressive policy aimed at the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, was strongly criticized at numerous rallies held in Azerbaijan, the political leadership still did not give up its passive and contemplative position. In January of 1990, Soviet troops were brought to Baku in order to prevent further development of the national liberation movement. Hundreds of Azeri people were killed and injured, as the result.

In February of 1992, Armenians accomplished unforeseen brutalities among the population of Hojali. The Hojali genocide saw thousands of Azeri people murdered and taken prisoners of war. The whole city was razed to the ground.

The adventurous policy of Armenian nationalists and separatists in Nagorny Karabakh, forced from their homelands over one million of Azeri nationals, who now have to live in tent camps.

The tragedies which took place in Azerbaijan in the XIX-XX centuries and resulted in occupation of Azeri lands, formed the consecutive stages of Armenia’s purposeful policy against the Azeri people. Efforts were made to give a political assessment to only one of those events – the March 1918 massacre. The successor of the Azerbaijan National Republic – the Republic of Azerbaijan – considers it a historical duty to ensure a logical continuation to unfulfilled political decrees and political evaluation to the genocide.

Source: Azerbaijan.az

Today, we would like to talk about a miraculous country of Azerbaijan with its unlimited natural resources, centuries-old culture, history and ancient people, whose lifestyle presents a unique and harmonious combination of the traditions and ceremonies of different cultures and civilizations.

Azerbaijan is a geographical name. On the one hand this name is linked with the population, which lived in this region for thousand of years before our era, and who were mostly fire-worshippers. Local population considered that fire was their God and so they worshipped the fire. “Azer” means fire. The Turkic name “Azer” was used for this territory for a long time. The word “Azer” consists of two parts – “az” and “er”. In Turkic languages, “az” means a good intention and a fate of success. Thus, the word “Azer” means “a brave man”, “a brave boy”, “the fire keeper”. The word “Azerbaijan” originates from the name of an ancient Turkish tribe, who resided in those territories.

Azerbaijan is one of the most ancient sites of humankind. The humankind was present here at every stage of their historical development. There were living settlements in Azerbaijan even at the earliest stages of humankind. Azerbaijan made its own contribution into the establishment of the current culture and civilization, progress and dialectics.

The time kept a range of ancient archeological and architectural monuments for us. The ancient headstones, manuscripts and models of carpets, preserved to the present times from the ancient ages, can provide much information to those who can and want to read them. If you wish to understand Azerbaijan and to know everything about it, you need to look at this country and its people with a friend’s eyes.

Azerbaijan is a country of ancient culture. The Oguz tribes which moved here and stayed for ages, have found a deeply rooted culture and in their turn enriched it with Turkic national traditions. The talented and creative powers of our nation are personified in such epic monuments as “Kitabi-Dede Gorgud”, “Oguzname” “Keroglu” and many others.

This fertile, generous and friendly land was the home of many thinkers, philosophers, scientists, poets, architects, musicians and artists. A legend tells that Zardusht was born in this land. Azerbaijan also enriched the humankind with such geniuses as Nizami Ganjevi, Hagani Shirvani, Bahmanyar, Nasimi, Fizuli, Nasreddin Tusi, Shah Ismail Xatai, Mullah Paneh Vagif, A. Bakikhanov, M.F. Axudov, M.A. Sabir, J.Mamedguluzade, Huseyn Javid, J.Jabarli, Samed Vurgun, Aliaga Vahid, Rasul Rza.

The country of Azerbaijan was immortalized by such talented painters as Sattar Bahlulzade, Tahir Salahov, Togrul Narimanbeyov, Mikayil Abdullayev and many others.

Our national music – mugam – inspired such outstanding composers as Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Muslim Magomayev, Gara Garayev, Fikret Amirov, Niyazi, Arif Melikov and others to create their masterpieces, which are still known today throughout the world. It also gave the inspiration to such wonderful vocalists as Bulbul and Rashid Behbudov.

It seems that the famous Azerbaijan carpets are the incarnation of all colors of nature and of all signs of history. Today, these carpets magically pass the borders of time and space and travel from Azerbaijan to foreign countries far away.

The models of the decorative art made by Azerbaijan craftsmen from the metal, ceramic, silk and woods are kept in many museums of the world.

The science and the enlightenment in Azerbaijan have a centuries-old history. The Baku State University was founded in 1919; the institutes of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan play an exceptional role in scientific, educational and cultural development of Azerbaijan. Local scientists are currently studying such important issues as the depths of the Caspian Sea, space exploration and the secrets of human brain.

The existing educational system of Azerbaijan is made up of dozens of higher educational institutions and technical schools, thousands of high schools, colleges and lyceums.

One of the most important problems which is currently solved by local scientists is environmental protection of the Caspian Sea and different regions of Azerbaijan. Such natural reserves as Gizilagach, Shirvan, Zagatala, Aggol, Girkan and others, were established due to the efforts of Azerbaijani scientists.

Through the decades, the local industry was successfully represented by oil producing, petrochemical and oil processing enterprises. The agricultural industry is famous for cotton-growing, viticulture, vegetable-growing and cattle-breeding.

If one compares the economy of Azerbaijan with a living body, it becomes evident that oil flows in the veins of Azerbaijan. The oil and gas resources of Azerbaijan have made this place famous in every part of the world from the ancient times.

Azerbaijan has always been famous for its sources of eternal fires – the atashgehs. There is a place called Yanardag (blazing mountain) in Absheron and thermal springs in some parts of Nakhichivan, Kelbejar, Masali, Lenkoran, Babadag.

In Surakhani, there is an eternal fire place. From the ancient times the fire worshippers from remote places and even the Indian priests were coming to Absheron in search of fire and finding it here. They built their main temples here in Surakhani and Ateshgah.

The word Azerbaijan brings its main wealth – oil – before the eyes. Oil is not only the wealth, but the fame as well. People were coming to Azerbaijan from distant places for this specific taste and colored puddle under the ground. Throughout the centuries, camelcades carried waterskins of oil in both eastern and western directions. The Azerbaijani oil is not used exclusively for the electricity production, but also as a valuable medicine for a variety of diseases. There has been an increasing demand for oil throughout the centuries.

From the beginning of the 20th century, the continuous industrial development around the world, caused an unprecedented growth of the demand for oil. It was at this time oil turned from an everyday mean into an industrial product. Oil become the most important problem in the world in the 20th century – the century of science and technologies. Oil-producing countries have acquired special oil policies and oil strategies in this connection.

Azerbaijan is currently involved into the implementation of huge energy projects. Oil and gas projects are successfully implemented in the Azeri Caspian sector. Azerbaijan is a country, which plays an extremely important role in the Caspian and Caucasian regions, particularly in the development of transport infrastructure in the Caucasus and the implementation of energy projects. It was the region’s first country to explore the huge energy potential, to form an absolutely new economic model in the regional development, and to expand political and economic relations between Europe and Asia.

In spite of the sad results of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan (Armenia occupied the territory of Nagorny Karabakh and 7 neighboring districts. One million out of total population of eight million are refugees), our country mobilized its potential and had great successes in building democracy. Azerbaijan manages to successfully overcome the difficulties and continues making important and firm steps towards t he establishment of a democratic and lawful country with civil society.

Azerbaijan has membership in the United Nations (UN), Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe (CE), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), GUUAM, Organization of Islamic Conference, Black Sea Economic Collaboration (BSEC), Organization of Economic Cooperation (OEC). Azerbaijan also actively cooperates with the European Union, NATO, International Monetary Fond, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Islamic Development Bank and other organizations. It accedes to the new joint documents and international agreements.

Source: All About Azerbaijan