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AZERBAIJAN PROFILE
BBC
20 March 2012
Oil-rich Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in
1991 amid political turmoil and against a backdrop of violence in
Nagorno-Karabakh.
It has been famed for its oil springs and natural gas sources since
ancient times, when Zoroastrians, for whom fire is an important symbol,
erected temples around burning gas vents in the ground.
In the 19th century this part of the Russian empire experienced an
unprecedented oil boom which attracted international investment. By
the beginning of the 20th century Azerbaijan was supplying almost
half of the world's oil.
In 1994 Azerbaijan signed an oil contract worth $7.4bn with a Western
consortium. Since then Western companies have invested millions
in the development of the country's oil and gas reserves. However,
the economy as a whole has not benefited as much as it might have done.
Caspian oil is now flowing through a pipeline running from Baku
through Georgia to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, providing western
countries with ready access to a vast new source of supply.
Environmental groups have protested that the cost of this benefit
is unacceptable.
Azerbaijan has large gas reserves too.
Baku's seafront: Oil exports fuelled a construction boom Azerbaijan
became a member of the Council of Europe in 2001. Often accused
of rampant corruption and election-rigging, ruling circles walk a
tightrope between Russian and Western regional geo-strategic interests.
As the Soviet Union collapsed, the predominantly Armenian population
of the Nagorno-Karabakh region stated their intention to secede
from Azerbaijan. War broke out. Backed by troops and resources from
Armenia proper, the Armenians of Karabakh took control of the region
and surrounding territory.
In 1994 a ceasefire was signed. About one-seventh of Azerbaijan's
territory remains occupied, while 800,000 refugees and internally
displaced persons are scattered around the country.
Azerbaijan was in the media spotlight in June 2007 when Russian
President Vladimir Putin offered the US the use of the Gabala radar
station for missile defence as an alternative to using bases in Poland
and the Czech Republic.
From: Baghdasarian
BBC
20 March 2012
Oil-rich Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in
1991 amid political turmoil and against a backdrop of violence in
Nagorno-Karabakh.
It has been famed for its oil springs and natural gas sources since
ancient times, when Zoroastrians, for whom fire is an important symbol,
erected temples around burning gas vents in the ground.
In the 19th century this part of the Russian empire experienced an
unprecedented oil boom which attracted international investment. By
the beginning of the 20th century Azerbaijan was supplying almost
half of the world's oil.
In 1994 Azerbaijan signed an oil contract worth $7.4bn with a Western
consortium. Since then Western companies have invested millions
in the development of the country's oil and gas reserves. However,
the economy as a whole has not benefited as much as it might have done.
Caspian oil is now flowing through a pipeline running from Baku
through Georgia to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, providing western
countries with ready access to a vast new source of supply.
Environmental groups have protested that the cost of this benefit
is unacceptable.
Azerbaijan has large gas reserves too.
Baku's seafront: Oil exports fuelled a construction boom Azerbaijan
became a member of the Council of Europe in 2001. Often accused
of rampant corruption and election-rigging, ruling circles walk a
tightrope between Russian and Western regional geo-strategic interests.
As the Soviet Union collapsed, the predominantly Armenian population
of the Nagorno-Karabakh region stated their intention to secede
from Azerbaijan. War broke out. Backed by troops and resources from
Armenia proper, the Armenians of Karabakh took control of the region
and surrounding territory.
In 1994 a ceasefire was signed. About one-seventh of Azerbaijan's
territory remains occupied, while 800,000 refugees and internally
displaced persons are scattered around the country.
Azerbaijan was in the media spotlight in June 2007 when Russian
President Vladimir Putin offered the US the use of the Gabala radar
station for missile defence as an alternative to using bases in Poland
and the Czech Republic.
From: Baghdasarian