Azerbaijan

land borders with Russia in the north, Georgia - north-west, and Armenia - to the west, and

Iran -in the south, and Turkey - in the south-west. In the east, the country, washed by the Caspian Sea. The first settlements in the territory of the modern state appeared in the first century BC. Until 1918, Azerbaijan was part of theRussian Empire. Full independence, the country became in 1991year. At present, Azerbaijan is a member of many internationalorganizations (UN and its subsidiaries, the European Bank, EBRD, World Bank, OSCE, OIC), and the state has the status ofan invited member of the Council of Europe.

Azerbaijan

red color stands as a symbol of life, democracy and progress. Green has traditionally been

considered an ancient symbol of Islam. The blue color shows belonging to the family of the country people tyurk-language countries.

Symbols

Fire." Symbol of the fire as well as interpreted by the Arabic word "Allah“. Colors used on the

arms, are the colors of the national flag of Azerbaijan. The eight-pointed star symbolizes the eight branches of the Turkic people. Below is a wreath of wheat ears and branches of oak. A wreath of wheat ears symbolized wealth and fertility. The branches of the oak tree symbolizes ancient country. The shield on the coat of arms mean protection.

Symbols

religion is separated from the state and is represented by

a set of different religious sects and denominations that are distributed among the ethnic groups inhabiting the country and living on the territory of Azerbaijan. Islam is the main religion in Azerbaijan, about 99.2% of the population are Muslims. The absolute majority of the population of Azerbaijan belongs to the Shia branch of Islam, a minority - to the Sunni. Approximately 85% of the population of Azerbaijan are Shiite Muslims and 15% Sunni Muslims. Operate in Azerbaijan synagogues, Jewish community is one of the most active and influential religious groups in Azerbaijan. Krasnaya Sloboda, located in Guba region of Azerbaijan, is the only place of compact residence of Jews in the former Soviet space. Orthodoxy is not very common in the country, but at this point in the country, there are six Orthodox churches, three of which are located in Baku. Roman Catholicism in Azerbaijan has been spread at the beginning of the XIV century. In May 2002, the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, there was a significant event - Baku on an official visit to Pope John Paul II. In Azerbaijan, there are 25 local communities, the ECB and the Zoroastrian community.

Religion

the economy of Azerbaijan occupied by oil and gas production, oil refining, chemical (mineral fertilizers,

synthetic rubber, tires, etc.), engineering, mining (iron ore and auntie) adnoun-ferrous metals, various branches of the food (canning, tea , tobacco, wine) and light (cotton-cotton, cotton, silk, wool, carpet weaving) industries. Azerbaijan in recent years the leader among the CIS countries in terms of economic growth. In 2003-2008Azerbaijan's GDP grew by 2.6 times, the level of poverty in the country since 2003, declined from 45 to 11%. In 2006, GDP grew by 36.6% to $ 20.4 billion Economic growth continues without interruption since 1996, within ten years the economy of Azerbaijan, on average, were added to 13.6% annually (compared with 1995, GDP grew in size 8.4 times).

Economy

and development of unique, deeply realistic traditions. These traditions until the beginning of the XX

century were oral, on the one hand, has its roots in the national domestic work, and on the other, taking on the features of professional art, especially distinct in mugham and creativity of minstrels. The best-known genres: Mugam Tesnifs Meyhana

pear tree. In this tree are machined on a special lathe

and hollowed out from within.

national instruments

Culture

translation of "sludge" means "rattle" comes from the Arabic verb

«naqr» - bang, bang.

national instruments

Culture

body surface and connects the twohalves. Case, neck and crushing kamancha made ​​on a special machine. An important condition for good

sounыding instrument is to calculate the distance between the neck and strings.

national instruments

Culture

was awarded the Order of the World War I level, two

Orders of Red Star, Order of Red Banner of Labor, "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces» III degree, more than 30 medals and awards from Poland, Germany and other countries. In 1973, the Order of Commander of the Soviet Navy awarded an Honorary weapon (dagger).

Murtuza oglu Mammadov) was born in Baku, February 4, 1945. Father

and brought Polad first on the scene as a sideman. In 1962, the boy graduated from the School of Music in piano and enrolled at the Baku Conservatory composition. Having started writing songs at age 17, became the advocate of Polad Azerbaijani culture, toured the Soviet Union and many countries. He is considered the founder of a new direction on the stage, joining the national tradition in music with modern rhythms. Polad Bul-bul oglu starred in films ("Tales of the Russian forest," "Do not worry, I'm with you", "Park of the Soviet period"). He also wrote the music: symphonies, musicals, music for films and plays. Over the years, led the Azerbaijan National Philharmonic. In 1982, Bul-bul oglu was awarded the title People's Artist of Azerbaijan, from 1988 to 2006 he was Minister of Culture Republic of Azerbaijan, in 1995 he was elected to the Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan. Awards: Order of the "Independence" and the Order of Friendship.

Now  he is the ambassador of Azerbaijan in Russia

a professor, MD, chair of therapy Azerbaijan Doctors Improvement Institute.My

mother was a professor, head of the Department of English at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages. In 1966 he graduated from the Baku Institute of Medicine. In 1970 he graduated from the graduate school of Baku State University Advanced Medical specialty "Psychology and psychiatry." He played in the school and student theater. In 1976 he graduated from the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and directors in the USSR State Committee for Cinematography, and was directed to / st "Azerbaijanfilm." Directed release satirical newsreel "Mozalan", author and director of mass theatrical performances, one of the founders and captains of the television game "WHC" - "KVN" (1965 - 72 - Captain Baku KVN). He began his career artistic director of the Baku Musical Comedy Theatre. Director of the play "Man of La Mancha" (1976) in Baku Youth Theater. Directed by film "One day" (1976), "Garden house for one family" (1978), "Do not worry, I'm with you" (1981), "The ice floe in the warm sea" (1983), staged performances at scenes in the U.S., China and Japan. In 1989, the U.S. staged the musical "The Dragon". Since 1988 - Director of the Central House of Cinematographers in Moscow, Secretary of the Russian Union of Cinematographers. Member of the Committee of Moscow writers. Member of the Board Roskomkino. Honored Artist of Russia and Azerbaijan. On his initiative in 1989 at the Cinema House for the first time in Russia, an evening of Solzhenitsyn. In December 1993 he was elected to the State Duma. From 1996 - one of the founders, a member of the presidium and the chairman of the Public Council of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC). In October 1996, became a leading publicist of "Subject" ("View" - ORTV). From April 1999 - host of a weekly entertainment program "An Evening with Julius Guzman" (ORT).

Famous Azerbaijanis

Gusman Julius

pop singer of the USSR, Azerbaijan, Russia. Born in Baku, in

a creative family. The first performances were in the biography Magomayev in his youth. The real fame he obtained in the age of twenty, when he spoke at the Festival Palace in the Kremlin. In 1963, according to the personal site of Muslim Magomaev, he made his first solo concert. He soloist in opera, ballet Akhundov gives speeches on major Soviet cities. Successfully appeared in the Paris Theatre "Olympia", gets an offer to stay in the theater. After the refusal of the Ministry of the USSR, not wanting to lose such a great singer, Muslim Magomaev himself does not dare to emigrate to France. In the late 1960s - early 1970s in the biography is Magomayev rapid surge in popularity. He received first prize at the festival in Sopot, Cannes award "Gold record" (1969), and in 1973 he was awarded the title People's Artist of USSR. Songs of different genres Magomayev heard in baritone, sometimes bass-baritone, tenor. There are more than 600. In addition Magomaev starred in several films, television programs, many wrote reel of film songs, music .. He was married to a fellow-student, an Armenian Ophelia. Then, truly in love, married to singer Tamara Sinyavskaya. Marina, the daughter of Muslim Magomaev from his first marriage, lives in America. Children at Magomayev Sinyavskaya was not. In his later years suffered from Magomaev cardiovascular disease (tachycardia, hypertension, and pathology of the heart muscle). After vascular surgery was not significant improvements. The weakness of the heart, some of which are no longer supplied with blood, vasoconstriction, atherosclerotic plaques are the cause of death Magomayev. Muslim Magomaev died on October 25, just a little before reaching the designated operation coronary bypass surgery. At the funeral it was more Magomayev 6000 his fans, after the funeral his body was taken to Baku, buried in the Alley of Honor.

first oil production began in the sea. In 1901, in Baku extracted more than half the world's oil.
For the

first time in the Muslim East in Baku's opera, ballet, musical opened conservatory, built circus building.

Interesting facts

Baku oil. Calculations show that this amount represents about 12% of the fund the

Nobel Prizes.
The painting of Salvador Dali's "Geopolitical Child" woman points a finger at Baku. Maybe it's coincidence, but it may well be that the great artist put it in a hidden meaning.

Interesting facts