Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, a nation in the Caucasus of Turkic Muslims, has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled. Critics of the government of Azerbaijan consider it to be a Kleptocracy.

Historically, Azerbaijan included parts of what are now Iran, and the term is still used locally to describe those regions. Politically, this area is now divided into the Iranian provinces of West Azarbaijan[?] (Azarbayjan-e Gharbi) and East Azerbaijan[?] (Azarbayjan-e Sharqi).

Much of the material in these articles comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.

		Azerbaijan
		Azerbaijan, a nation in the Caucasus of Turkic Muslims, has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of its territory and must support some 750,000 refugees as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled. Critics of the government of Azerbaijan consider it to be a Kleptocracy. History of Azerbaijan Politics of Azerbaijan Demographics of Azerbaijan Economy of Azerbaijan Communications in Azerbaijan Transportation in Azerbaijan Military of Azerbaijan Foreign relations of Azerbaijan Historically, Azerbaijan included parts of what are now Iran, and the term is still used locally to describe those regions. Politically, this area is now divided into the Iranian provinces of West Azarbaijan[?] (Azarbayjan-e Gharbi) and East Azerbaijan[?] (Azarbayjan-e Sharqi). Much of the material in these articles comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.
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