Country of great opportunities- Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a country about which unfortunately very few people speak about truthfully in the West. In any case such a feeling comes from articles that were published about the country in recent years, particularly in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest. They know little about Azerbaijan, but many consider it their duty to express their opinion.

In fact, there are many things to be said about Azerbaijan.

Not concealing the problems that are natural for the country that has come out of a severe crisis after the war with Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and coped with the problem of a million refugees and IDPs, it would be possible to note that Azerbaijan is a model country that has kept a balance in foreign relations between West and East and achieved great results in the economy and humanitarian sphere.

Azerbaijan is a unique example of a country which has used one chance out of a hundred for twenty years. It signed the oil contract of the Century which became the beginning of the republic's development. Today, Azerbaijan has one of the highest economic growth rates which remained stable even when Europe, the United States and many other countries felt the sad consequences of the financial crisis. When, the first wave of the global financial crisis broke out in 2008, the Stabilization Fund of Azerbaijan minimised losses of the national currency - the manat so that the country's citizens did not feel the global financial catastrophe.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a six per cent growth of the non-oil GDP is expected in the current year. According to IMF forecasts, Azerbaijan's economy has a good immunity against crises and can resist the economic depression in Europe even with indirect effects.

Appearing at the junction of the world's and regional powers' geopolitical interests, Azerbaijan has been building multi-vectored policy for many years, while maintaining a balance in foreign policy. The desire of world powers to have such a strategic partner as Baku comes from a unique combination of geopolitical factors defining the character of the development of the region and comprehensive relations between Azerbaijan and neighbouring countries such as Russia, Turkey, Iran and Georgia.

Azerbaijan is the only country which took up a position as a strategic partner of the United States and Russia thanks to right policy by leaving the Soviet Union, while maintaining good relations with Iran and Israel, the European Union and Turkey.

However, Baku preferred another, more compound scheme. Throughout the years of independence the country has built balanced and smooth friendly relations with all countries, including Russia, the Asian region to Europe. Of course, today Azerbaijan has the most warm and fraternal relations with Turkey.

However, this does not affect the country's foreign policy. The constructive partnership between Azerbaijan and Israel can be mentioned as an example. Israel and Turkey do not have good relations now.

Moreover, Baku was able to maintain good neighbourly relations with each country of the former Soviet Union, except Armenia which has been holding one-fifth of Azerbaijani territory for 20 years. According to the leaders of former Soviet countries, these relations have reached the level of strategic partnership.

Azerbaijan is a unique example of a Muslim secular state. Its religious and national tolerance turned it into a bridge between East and West, the cultural capital that understands the language and mentality of different people.

Baku has repeatedly proved its reliability as a partner of the West in the fight against terrorism and as a strategically necessity to ensure security of supplying Caspian energy resources. Having big natural gas reserves, Azerbaijan is a major player in the Caspian region in the energy market and can assist Europe in ensuring its energy security.

Azerbaijan was elected to the UN Security Council in 2011 thanks to its balanced foreign policy.

First of all, this has proved the successful diplomatic course, rather than just an event that raises the country's prestige.

Azerbaijan's victory is a historic diplomatic victory, proving that the country is recognised in the world and is widely supported by the international community. Today, Azerbaijan has a chance to prove to everyone that it can take its rightful place in any international institution.

Azerbaijan is called a cultural capital in the world by right where the most prestigious events are held in a humanitarian sphere. Many large international cultural and humanitarian activities involving public and political figures, representatives of culture and art and leaders of the authoritative media testify to this. The world's attention will be soon focused on Baku - as the venue of the prestigious Eurovision song contest.

The contest guests will be able to visit many historical sites, to familiarise themselves with the wonderful genre of Azerbaijani musical culture - mugham, which is valued by connoisseurs of classical music worldwide, or to learn more about the ancient tradition of sophisticated art - Azerbaijani carpet weaving.

The newly built Olympic complexes operate in 33 regions of the country with nine million people. About 10 more Olympic sports complexes are being built. About three to four more will be commissioned this year. The latest success in the sphere of sports and modern infrastructure will allow Azerbaijan to apply for hosting the Olympics Games in 2020.

Azerbaijan really has something to be proud. One can list ??the country's achievements gained during the years of independence for a long time. One just needs to look at it objectively and without bias.


Elmira Tariverdiyeva /Trend/