that declared its independence on the date of 30th September 1991 is located over a surface area of 86.600 km2 in the east of the Southern Caucasus and the west of the Caspian Sea. It is surrounded with Daghestan in the north, Georgia in the northwest, Armenia in the southwest, and Iran in the south. The most important characteristic of the region is that it is located over the historical transit and trade routes that extended in the directions of north-south, and east-west. The climate in Azerbaijan shows the characteristics of 9 climate types among 11 climates on the world. The climate of Azerbaijan is under the effect of cold air currents coming from the north and the warm air currents coming from the south and the effects of the Caspian Sea. Generally, the climate displays dry and subtropical characteristics. Dry continental climate is dominant in the northern sections of the country.
The important rivers of Azerbaijan are Kura (Kür), Aras, Awealazani, Samur, Terter, Kanık, Genceçay and Beylegan. The Lake of Hacı Kabul is the biggest lake and the lakes of Sarısu and Candahar follows it. The brine lakes are the lakes of Acınor and Büyükşor.There are Mingeçevir, Veriveri, Sarsank, Ceyranbatar, Akstafa and Arpaçay dams in Azerbaijan.
The capital city of Azerbaijan is Baku and there are 60 districts and 45 cities in Azerbaijan. The principal cities are Sumgayıt, Guba, Ali Bayramlı, Lenkeran, Mingeçevir, Hankendi, Naftalan, Gence and Suşa.
According to the census of 1995, its population is 7.553.000. Azerbaijan has a young population. 53% of the population of Azerbaijan lives in urban areas while the rest 47% of the population resides in rural areas. The density of population is 85.8 persons per km2. The average life expectancy is 68.5 years and the rate of population increase in Azerbaijan is 0.9%. 78.1% of the population is composed of Azerbaijani Turks, 7.9% of the population is composed of Russians, and 14% of the population includes the people from the other nationalities.
Azerbaijan adopted the Latin alphabet instead of Cyrillic alphabet on the date of 25th December 1991. The application of Latin alphabet was executed in the year of 1995. The literacy rate in Azerbaijan is 98% and the primary-secondary education with the period of 9 years is compulsory. There are 22 Universities, an Academy and Institute in Azerbaijan. It is a rich country in respect of libraries and museums.
Azerbaijan is an important agricultural country and the fundamental agricultural products are cereals, cotton, tobacco, grapes, vegetables and fruits. The stockbreeding is still considered as an important means of subsistence in the rural areas. The plantation of mulberry tree that has an important place in the production of unprocessed silk is widespread in the entire country.
The country has a coast of Caspian Sea with the length of 800 km and the fishery and water products have an important place in its rivers. The roe of sturgeon that is caught in the Caspian Sea is widely known and famous all over the world and it meets 80% of the world production of caviar.
Azerbaijan is a rich country in respect of plant cover and flora. Most of its forests are composed of the trees that shad leaves and the pine trees. The number of the plants that are known is over 1400. The forests cover 12% of the surface area of the country.
Azerbaijan is also very rich in respect of natural resources. There are the ores of zinc, copper, iron ore, the minerals of barytes, cobalt, arsenic, marble, limestone, cyanide, ore beds and rock salt in the country. There are some valuable metals such as gold and copper with a little amount. The greatest underground wealth of the country is petroleum and natural gas.77% of the petroleum is obtained from the Caspian Sea. The natural gas is obtained from Bahar, Kumadası and Sangaçal. It has been estimated that the total oil reserve is 118.65 billion m3.
The fundamental industrial branches in Azerbaijan include petroleum search, the production of drilling machinery, petrochemicals, foodstuff, textile, electronics and the metalworking. Numerous factories in the industry are out of conditions since they do not apply the new technologies. The petroleum refining capacity is below the petroleum that is extracted. Therefore, the country exports crude oil and imports refined petroleum.
According to the census of 1995, there is a population of 2.727.837 working people in this country. Of this working population, 21.1% of people work in the sector of industry and civil engineering, 37.1% of people work in the sector of agriculture and 41.8% of the people work in the sector of services. GNP is 2400 dollars and the national income per head is 317 dollars.
The importation was realised as 667.7 million dollars and the exportation was realised as 547.4 million dollars in Azerbaijan in the year of 1995.
Although several elements remaining from the period of the USSR are still in effect in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the new state structure is in the stage of establishment.
There is a President, executive bodies and the Parliament of Republic in Azerbaijan. The executive powers are executed by the executive judges that are assigned by the President on an exclusive basis.
There are some important steps taken towards the establishment of pluralist democratic structure in Azerbaijan. Pursuant to the arrangements for the draft Constitution and the law of election, the first multilateral party elections were carried out on the date of 12th November 1995. Upon this election, the constitution was adopted together with the public referendum.