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3 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Azerbaidzhan \Azerbaidzhan\, Azerbaijan \Azerbaijan\n.
a country in the Caucuses, formerly an Asian Soviet.
[WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Azerbaijan
n : a landlocked republic in southwestern Asia; formerly an
Asian soviet [syn: {Azerbaijani Republic}, {Azerbajdzhan},
{Azerbajdzhan Republic}]
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Azerbaijan
Introduction Azerbaijan
-----------------------
Background: Azerbaijan - a nation of Turkic
Muslims - has been an independent
republic since the collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994
cease-fire, 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 and
internally displaced persons as a
result of the conflict. Corruption
is ubiquitous and the promise of
widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's
undeveloped petroleum resources
remains largely unfulfilled.
Geography Azerbaijan
--------------------
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the
Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 86,600 sq km
note: includes the exclave of
Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the
region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26
November 1991
water: 500 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with
Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave)
221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with
Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave)
179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan
borders the Caspian Sea (800 km,
est.)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-
Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea
level) with Great Caucasus Mountains
to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi
(Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies
on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron
Peninsula) that juts into Caspian
Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485
m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore,
nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use: arable land: 19.31%
permanent crops: 3.04%
other: 77.66% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts
Environment - current issues: local scientists consider the
Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron
Peninsula) (including Baku and
Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be
the ecologically most devastated
area in the world because of severe
air, water, and soil pollution; soil
pollution results from the use of
DDT as a pesticide and also from
toxic defoliants used in the
production of cotton
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
Geography - note: both the main area of the country
and the Naxcivan exclave are
landlocked
People Azerbaijan
-----------------
Population: 7,798,497 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.3% (male 1,122,340;
female 1,082,355)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 2,441,830;
female 2,577,109)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male
228,735; female 346,128) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 18.84 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 9.61 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -5.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 82.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.06 years
female: 67.53 years (2002 est.)
male: 58.8 years
Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ less than 500 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani 3.2%, Russian
2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998
est.)
note: almost all Armenians live in
the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
region
Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%,
Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8%
(1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still
nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages
for actual practicing adherents are
much lower
Languages: Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%,
Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government Azerbaijan
---------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist
Republic
local long form: Azarbaycan
Respublikasi
Government type: republic
Capital: Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon -
singular), 11 cities* (saharlar;
sahar - singular), 1 autonomous
republic** (muxtar respublika);
Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu,
Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa
Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli
Sahari*, Astara Rayonu, Baki
Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda
Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar
Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad
Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci
Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay
Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, Goranboy
Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul
Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli
Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir
Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran
Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik
Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Mingacevir
Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan
Muxtar Respublikasi**, Neftcala
Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu,
Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan
Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu,
Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu,
Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki
Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi
Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu,
Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*,
Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar
Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu,
Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*,
Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali
Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli
Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax
Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala
Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Founding of the Democratic Republic
of Azerbaidzhan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Heydar
ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister
Artur RASIZADE (since 26 November
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the president and
confirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by
popular vote to a five-year term;
election last held 11 October 1998
(next to be held NA October 2003);
prime minister and first deputy
prime ministers appointed by the
president and confirmed by the
National Assembly
election results: Heydar ALIYEV
reelected president; percent of vote
- Heydar ALIYEV 77.6%, Etibar
MAMEDOV 11.8%, Nizami SULEYMANOV
8.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or
Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2000
(next to be held NA November 2005)
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NAP
and allies 108, APF 6, CSP 3, PNIA
2, Musavat Party 2, CPA 2, APF
"traditionalist" 1, Compatriot Party
1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali
KARIMLI, leader of "reform faction";
Mirmahmud FATTAYEV, leader of
"traditionalist" faction]; Civic
Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir
RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party
[Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of
Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz AHMADOV];
Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI];
Democratic Party for Azerbaijan or
DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman];
Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV];
Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala
Shvkat HACIYEVA]; Musavat [Isa
GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan
Party or NAP [Heydar ALIYEV,
chairman]; Party for National
Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA
[Etibar MAMMADOV, chairman]; Social
Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or
SDP [Zardust ALIZADE and Araz
ALIZADE]
note: opposition parties regularly
factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-
leaders: proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic; Talysh independence
movement
International organization AsDB, BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC,
participation: EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz
Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Ross
US: WILSON
embassy: 83 Azadliq Avenue, Baku
370007
mailing address: American Embassy
Baku, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36,
37
FAX: [9] (9412) 90-66-71
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue
(top), red, and green; a crescent
and eight-pointed star in white are
centered in red band
Economy Azerbaijan
------------------
Economy - overview: Azerbaijan's number one export is
oil. Azerbaijan's oil production
declined through 1997 but has
registered an increase every year
since. Negotiation of production-
sharing arrangements (PSAs) with
foreign firms, which have thus far
committed $60 billion to oilfield
development, should generate the
funds needed to spur future
industrial development. Oil
production under the first of these
PSAs, with the Azerbaijan
International Operating Company,
began in November 1997. Azerbaijan
shares all the formidable problems
of the former Soviet republics in
making the transition from a command
to a market economy, but its
considerable energy resources
brighten its long-term prospects.
Baku has only recently begun making
progress on economic reform, and old
economic ties and structures are
slowly being replaced. An obstacle
to economic progress, including
stepped up foreign investment in the
non-energy sector, is the continuing
conflict with Armenia over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with
Russia and the other former Soviet
republics is declining in importance
while trade is building with Turkey
and the nations of Europe. Long-term
prospects will depend on world oil
prices, the location of new
pipelines in the region, and
Azerbaijan's ability to manage its
oil wealth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $24.3
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 9.9% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,100
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22%
industry: 33%
services: 45% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 64% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 2.8%
percentage share: highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini 36 (1995)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 2.9 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%,
industry 15%, services 53% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 20% (official rate is 1.3% for 2001)
(1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $888 million
expenditures: $978 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (2001 est.)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum
products, oilfield equipment; steel,
iron ore, cement; chemicals and
petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 17.6 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.37%
hydro: 8.63%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 16.7 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 900 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 1.25 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit,
vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle,
pigs, sheep, goats
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners: Italy 43.7%, France 11.8%, Israel
7.7%, Turkey 6.0%, France 5.6%
(2000)
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
metals, chemicals
Imports - partners: Russia 21.3%, Turkey 11%, US 8.9%,
Iran 5.8%, Germany 5.8% (2000)
Debt - external: $1.5 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient: ODA, $113 million (1996)
Currency: Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
Currency code: AZM
Exchange rates: Azerbaijani manats per US dollar -
4,804 (11 February 2002), 4,656.58
(2001), 4,474.15 (2000), 4,120.17
(1999), 3,869 (1998), 3,985.38
(1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Azerbaijan
-------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 663,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 40,000 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate;
requires considerable expansion and
modernization; teledensity of 8.6
main lines per 100 persons is very
low
domestic: the majority of telephones
are in Baku and other industrial
centers - about 700 villages still
without public telephone service;
satellite service connects Baku to a
modern switch in its exclave of
Naxcivan
international: the old Soviet system
of cable and microwave is still
serviceable; a satellite connection
to Turkey enables Baku to reach
about 200 additional countries, some
of which are directly connected to
Baku by satellite providers other
than Turkey (1997)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 170,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .az
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 12,000 (2001)
Transportation Azerbaijan
-------------------------
Railways: total: 2,125 km in common carrier
service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge
(1,278 km electrified) (1993 est.)
Highways: total: 36,700 km
paved: 31,800 km (includes some all-
weather gravel-surfaced roads)
unpaved: 4,900 km (these roads are
made of unstabilized earth and are
difficult to negotiate in wet
weather) (1990)
Waterways: none
Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum
products 630 km; natural gas 1,240
km
Ports and harbors: Baku (Baki)
Merchant marine: total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 246,051 GRT/306,756 DWT
ships by type: cargo 12, petroleum
tanker 40, roll on/roll off 2 (2002
est.)
Airports: 52 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 28 (2001)
Military Azerbaijan
-------------------
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,131,331 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 1,706,325 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching military males: 77,099 (2002 est.)
age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $121 million (FY99)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 2.6% (FY99)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Azerbaijan
-------------------------------
Disputes - international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenian
secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh
and militarily occupies almost one-
fifth of Azerbaijan - Organization
for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate
dispute; Azerbaijan signed bilateral
agreements with Russia delimiting
the Caspian seabed, but littoral
states are far from multilateral
agreement on dividing the waters and
seabed regimes - Iran insists on
division of Caspian Sea into five
equal sectors while Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
have generally agreed upon
equidistant seabed boundaries; Iran
threatens to conduct oil exploration
in Azerbaijani-claimed waters, while
interdicting Azerbaijani activities;
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan await
ICJ decision to resolve sovereignty
dispute over oilfields in the
Caspian Sea
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of
cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for
CIS consumption; limited government
eradication program; transshipment
point for opiates via Iran, Central
Asia, and Russia to Western Europe
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