Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani people

In 1991, Azerbaijan declared itself an independent country and a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Azerbaijan was formerly a republic of the now-defunct Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan lies on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. The lowlands of the River Kur and its tributary, the Aras, cover most of the republic.

Azerbaijan was under the strict control of the Soviet central government until the late 1980's, when popular opposition groups demanded greater control of the republic's own affairs. In the midst of political upheaval in the Soviet government following an attempted coup in August 1991, Azerbaijan declared its independence.

Farmers in Azerbaijan grow such crops as corn, cotton, fruits, rice, tea, tobacco, vegetables, and walnuts. In the north, Azerbaijani herders graze their livestock on the pastures of the mighty Caucasus Mountains. The waters of the Caspian Sea provide large catches of carp and sturgeon, which are processed into caviar and canned products.

However, Azerbaijan's chief source of wealth is the oil that comes from rich deposits on the Apsheron Peninsula. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is now one of the world's major oil-producing regions. Other mineral resources include iron and aluminum ores and cobalt.

Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku, which lies 40 feet (12 meters) below sea level on the Caspian Sea, is the center of a great oil industry. In addition to its oil deposits, Baku is also known for its beautiful historic buildings.

Often called the pearl of the Caspian Sea, the city boasts a well-preserved ancient town known as the Citadel, where many architectural masterpieces from the Middle Ages have been carefully preserved. Along a maze of narrow streets and blind alleys can be found the majestic tower of Kyz Kalasy (the Maiden's Tower), the Synyk Kala minaret, and the palace of the Shirvan Shahs.

Azerbaijan's location between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea has made it a strategically important area since ancient times. Over the years, Mongols, Persians, and Turks took control of Azerbaijan. Then, in the late 1820's, after a successful war with Persia, Russia made Azerbaijan part of its empire. In 1920, Communists gained power in Azerbaijan and established a Soviet republic. In 1922, Azerbaijan joined with Soviet Armenia and Georgia to form the Transcaucasian Federation. This federation was one of the four republics that formed the Soviet Union later that year.

In 1923, the mainly Armenian district of Nagorno-Karabakh became an autonomous region within Azerbaijan. The region of Nakhichevan was incorporated into Azerbaijan in 1924.

The Azerbaijani people, who make up about 80 per cent of the population, are of mainly Turkish ancestry and follow the religion of Islam. Most Azerbaijanis wish to be united with their ethnic kin in Iran.

When Nagorno-Karabakh voted to secede from Azerbaijan in 1988, the long-standing hostility between the Muslim Azerbaijanis and their Christian Armenian neighbors erupted into bloody violence. Political turmoil continued in 1993, as former Communist Heydar Aliyev was appointed parliament chairman after elected president Abulfaz Elcibey was forced from office by a military revolt.

In May 1994, Aliyev signed a truce with Armenia even though it left Armenia in control of 20 per cent of Azerbaijan. In October, special police mounted an abortive coup against Aliyev.