Azerbaijan celebrates 23rd year of independence

Azerbaijan todaycelebrates the 23rd anniversary of its independence from the former SovietUnion.

The countrydeclared its independence on October 18, 1991.

The earlyyears of independence saw ethnic separatism in Nagorno-Karabakh and a war withneighboring Armenia.

Backed byRussia, Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts fromAzerbaijan.

Large-scalehostilities ended with a ceasefire in 1991 but no peace agreement has beensigned.

Theunresolved conflict is the top priority of the Azerbaijani government.

The economyhas more than tripled in the past decade owing to an oil boom. Poverty has beenreduced to just 6 percent from 49 percent, according to government statistics.

Azerbaijanis pursuing an independent foreign policy, resisting Russian efforts to includeit into Putin’s Eurasian Economic Union.

The countryhas also refused to sign Association Agreements with the European Union.

Bakudaily.Az