Azerbaijan:
A small, mountainous country on the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is unfortunately still at war with Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh, a tiny Armenian "enclave" in the middle of the country. It is struggling to overcome its major pollution problems; the Caspian Sea was a dump for the oil industry for many years, and over-zealous pesticide use basically ruined the countryside. Women, who once held prominence in public life, are losing their status, and the formerly effective social security system has collapsed. These problems are being dealt with now, but the lack of money is a hindrance.
Baku is the capital, which has a Soviet-era subway for getting around.
Official website of the President of Azerbaijan
This page last updated February 20, 2000.