AZERIUNITED.COM - From official website of Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan

1. Map

2. State Symbols

2.1. Flag

2.2. Emblem

2.3. National Anthem

3. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

4. General Information

4.1. Location

4.2. Country Name

4.3. Capital

4.4. State Language

4.5. Religion

4.6. Population

4.7. Monetary Unit

5. National Holidays

5.1. Memorable Days

6. Territory

6.1. Area

6.2. Length of Land Boundaries

6.3. Borders with Neighbouring Countries

6.4. Administrative Division

6.4.1. Autonomous Republic

6.4.2. Regions

6.4.3. Major Cities

Form of Government
7. Government

7.1. Form of Government

7.2. Legislative Power

7.3. Executive Power

7.3.1. Head of State

7.3.2. Head of Government

7.4. Judicial Power
8. Constitution 1. Map

2. State Symbols 2.1. Flag

The Flag contains three horizontal stripes of equal width. The upper stripe is of blue color, the middle one is red and the lower is green. The blue color is the color of Turkic (Azerbaijani) ethnos, red color symbolizes the adherence to freedom, democracy and human rights, and the green is the color of Islam. There is a white crescent and eight-pointed star in the middle of the red stripe. The star is the reflection of the eight different branches of the Turkic people. The ratio of the height of the flag to its length is 1 to 2. 2.2. Emblem
General Information

The star, also seen in the flag, has the same meaning, namely, the eight different branches of the Turkic people. This eight-pointed star framed by gold, is superimposed on three circles: the inner one is green, the middle one is red, and the outer one is blue. These colors match the flag colors. Between each star point, on the blue circle, there are also smaller gold-framed eight-pointed stars. Inside the main central star there is a fire. The fire recalls the country's other name: Land of fire. This fire symbolizes also freedom. The shield stands on a golden ear of corn. 2.3. National Anthem
General Information

Music by Useir Hajibayov

Words by Ahmad Javad

Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan!

You are the country of heroes!

We will die so that you might be alive!

We will shed our blood to defend you!

Long live your three-colored banner!

Thousands of people sacrificed their lives

You've become the field of battles.

Every soldier fighting for youhas become a hero.

We pray for your prosperity,

We sacrifice our lives to you.

Our sincere love to you

Comes from the bottom of our hearts.

To defend your honor,

To hoist your banner,

All the young people are ready.

Glorious motherland,

Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan!

3. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
General Information

Ilham Aliyev

Biography

Ilham Heydar ogli Aliyev was born in December 24, 1961 in the city of Baku.
From 1967 till 1977 he studied in elementary and secondary schools in the city of Baku.
After graduating from secondary school in 1977, he entered Moscow State University of International Relations (MSUIR).
Upon graduation in 1982, he entered a post-graduate course at MSUIR.
After graduating from the University in 1985, he received a Master's degree in History and International Relations.
From 1985 till 1990 he was a teacher at MSUIR.
From 1991 to 1994 he was engaged in private commercial activity in Moscow and Istanbul.
In May 1994 he became first vice-president of State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR),
From 1995 until the present time he has been a member of the parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In December 1999 he was elected to the post of Deputy Chairman, then in 2001 - First Deputy Chairman, of the "Yeni Azerbaijan" party. (governing political party of the Republic).
From 1997 he has been president of National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a post that he continues to hold.
In January 2003 he was elected vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Bureau member.
In accordance with Milli Majlis decree dated August 4, 2003, he was appointed to the post of Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Elected as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 15, 2003.
He is fluent in Azerbaijani, Russian, English and French.
He has a son and two daughters.

4. General Information

4.1. Location: The Republic of Azerbaijan lies in the borderlands of Asia and Europe. It is situated in the south-eastern part of the Southern Caucasus and shares borders in the north with the Russian Federation, in the south with the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the west with Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, and in the east its neighbors across the Caspian Sea are Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

4.2. Country Name: Azərbaycan Respublikası (Republic of Azerbaijan)

4.3. Capital: Bakı (in USSR Baku) with a population of 1 811 000

4.4. State Language: Azerbaijani

4.5. Religion: Religion is separated from the State and all religions are equal before the law

4.6. Population:The population is 8 630 000 people (January, 2008)

4.7. Monetary Unit: Manat (1 US $ = 0.8454 manat as at January, 2008) 5. National Holidays

January 1 - New Year

March 8 - Women's Day

March 20-21 - Novruz bayramı (Celebration of Spring)

May 9 - Day of Victory over Fascism

May 28 - Republic Day

June 15 - National Salvation Day

June 26 - Armed Forces Day

October 18 - National Independence Day

November 12 - Constitution Day

November 17 - National Revival Day

December 31 - Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis throughout the World

Qurban bayramı (Thanksgiving-Offering Day) and Ramazan bayramı (End of Fasting) - The dates of celebration of these religious holidays are changed every year in accordance with the lunar calendar.

5.1. Memorable Days:

January 20 - Day of Shehids' (Martyrs) Remembrance

February 26 - Day of Khojali Remembrance

March 31 - Genocide of Azerbaijanis'

6. Territory

6.1. Area: 86,600 sq km

6.2. Length of Land Boundaries: 2,646 km

6.3. Borders with Neighbouring Countries: Armenia - 1007 km, Georgia - 480 km, Iran - 756 km, Russia - 390 km, Turkey - 13 km

6.4. Administrative Division

6.4.1. Autonomous Republic

Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic)

6.4.2. Regions: The Republic of Azerbaijan consists 65 regions, 69 cities, 13 urban regions, 130 settlements of urban type and 4354 rural settlements.

Abşeron, Ağcabədi, Ağdam, Ağdaş, Ağstafa, Ağsu, Astara, Balakən, Beyləqan, Bərdə, Biləsuvar, Cəbrayıl, Cəlilabad, Daşkəsən, Dəvəçi, Fizuli, Gədəbəy, Goranboy, Göyçay, Hacıqabul, Xaçmaz, Xanlar, Xızı, Xocalı, Xocavənd, İmişli, İsmayıllı, Kəlbəcər, Kürdəmir, Qax, Qazax, Qəbələ, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadlı, Qusar, Laçın, Lerik, Lənkəran, Masallı, Neftçala, Oğuz, Saatlı, Sabirabad, Salyan, Samux, Siyəzən, Şamaxı, Şəki, Şəmkir, Şuşa, Tərtər, Tovuz, Ucar, Yardımlı, Yevlax, Zaqatala, Zəngilan, Zərdab

6.4.3. Major Cities

Bakı, Əli Bayramlı, Gəncə, Xankəndi, Lənkəran, Mingəçevir, Naftalan, Sumqayıt, Şəki, Şuşa, Yevlax

7. Government

7.1. Form of Government: Azerbaijanian state is democratic, legal, secular, unitary republic. State power is based on the principle of division of powers: Milli Majlis (Parliament) exercises legislative power; executive power belongs to the President; and law courts exercise judicial power.

7.2. Legislative Power: Milli Majlis - one chamber body comprising 125 deputies, elected by direct elections for a 5 year term.

7.3. Executive Power

7.3.1. Head of State: The President of the Azerbaijan Republic is the Head of the Azerbaijanian state. The President is elected for a 5-year term by way of general, direct and equal elections, with free, personal and secret ballot. Executive power in the Azerbaijan Republic belongs to the President.

7.3.2. Head of Government: The President by consent of Milli Majlis appoints Prime-minister. For implementation of executive powers the President establishes Cabinet of Ministers. Cabinet of Ministers is subordinate to the President and reports to him.

7.4. Judicial Power: Judicial power in Azerbaijan is implemented by law courts. Judicial power is implemented through the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, ordinary and other specialized law courts.

8. Constitution

Following a referendum on November 12, 1995, the new Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted and entered into force on December 5, 1995. The country's basic law was developed in line with the fundamental principles and norms of international law.

Continuing the centuries' long traditions of statehood, and taking as a basis the principles expressed in the Constitutional Act "On the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan", desiring to provide prosperity and welfare for the whole society and each individual, wishing to establish freedom and security, understanding the responsibility before the past, present and future generations, using the right of its sovereignty the Constitution declares solemnly its following intentions:

- Protect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

- Provide a democratic system within the framework of the Constitution;

- Achieve the establishment of a civil society;

- Build a secular state based on the rule of law as an expression of the will of the nation;

- Provide worthy living standards for everybody in conformity with just economic and social order;

- Remain faithful to universal human values, to live in friendship, peace and freedom with all the nations of the world and cooperate with them for this purpose.

As stipulated by article 1 of the Constitution, "In the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani people shall be the sole source of State power".

Under article 2 of the Constitution, the people of Azerbaijan shall exercise their sovereign right directly through nationwide voting (referendums) and through representatives elected on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by free, secret and personal ballot.

Article 7 of the Constitution stipulates that the Azerbaijani State shall be a democratic, constitutional, secular and unitary republic. In Azerbaijan, the power of the State shall be restricted in domestic matters only by the country's law and, in foreign affairs, only by the provisions arising from international treaties to which the Republic of Azerbaijan is a party. State power in the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be based on the principle of the division of powers among legislative, executive and judicial branches of power. Pursuant to the Constitution, the legislature, executive and judiciary shall interact with one another and be independent within their various jurisdictions.

Following Article 12 of the Constitution, the primary goal of the State is to ensure human rights and freedoms.