Arastu Habibbeyli,
PERCEPTIONS, XXII(1), 2017, pp. 29-48.
Abstract
2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the restoration of Azerbaijan’s state independence. Able to reinstate independence twice in the past century- in 1918 and 1991- Azerbaijan carries on its ancient and prolific tradition of statehood. This also means twice ridding itself of occupation in a single century and makes state sovereignty the greatest accomplishment and asset for the country. Throughout a 25 year journey under such complicated circumstances, Azerbaijan has gone from being a country with a stagnant economy to becoming the leader nation in the South Caucasus. This nation has become a reliable energy security partner, and has evolved from being a recipient of international aid to a donor country. Initially, an average member of the international community, Azerbaijan eventually reached the level of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 20122013 . This article reviews the evolution of the foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan over the last 25 years