President Kagame visits Azerbaijan: 10 things to know about the country #rwanda #RwOT

President Kagame also emphasized that Rwanda and Azerbaijan share many similarities, underlining his wish to further strengthen cooperation in development.

President Kagame laid a wreath at the Alley of Honor, the cemetery in the capital city Baku where some of the country's most prominent leaders are buried.

While diplomacy and bilateral cooperation were at the center of the visit, Azerbaijan itself is a country with a rich history, unique culture, diverse geography, and remarkable features.

Azerbaijan is located in the South Caucasus region (in Western Asia), at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. It borders Russia to the north, Armenia to the west, Iran to the south, Turkey through the small Nakhchivan exclave, and the Caspian Sea to the east.

The country covers an area of about 86,600 square kilometers (roughly three-quarters the size of Rwanda multiplied by four) and has a population of about 10.5 million.

Azerbaijan holds a special place on the global stage due to its oil, energy resources, cultural heritage, and strategic location.

Here are 10 remarkable things you should know about this country.

1. The land of eternal flames AND natural fire phenomena

On the Absheron Peninsula near Baku, there are places where natural gas escapes through cracks and burns continuously. For example, Yanar Dagh is a hillside that has flames burning naturally, fed by gas seeps underground.

Yanar Dagh is a hillside that has flames burning naturally, fed by gas seeps underground.

In addition, the Ateshgah Fire Temple near Baku used to be a site where fire worship (Zoroastrian, Indian Hindu, Sikh) took place, because of natural eternal flames. It is now a museum.

2. First Muslim-majority country to give women the right to vote

Azerbaijan granted women suffrage in 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was formed. It was among the earliest Muslim-majority countries to do so.

Azerbaijan granted women the right to vote in 1918, one of the first Muslim-majority countries to do so.

3. More mud volcanoes than almost anywhere

Azerbaijan has hundreds (over 350, some sources say more than 400) of mud volcanoes, more than most countries. Some are active; they bubble up methane and mud, sometimes dramatically.

Azerbaijan is home to over 350 mud volcanoes, more than most countries, some of which erupt methane and mud dramatically.

4. The world's smallest books and miniature book museum

In Baku, there is a collection of extremely tiny books, some as small as 2 mm, displayed in a miniature book museum. It's one of the largest collections of its kind.

Baku hosts a miniature book museum featuring some of the world's tiniest books, including volumes as small as 2 mm.

5. Baku's parts below sea level

Some parts of Baku lie significantly below sea level, and as the city area extends into the Caspian Sea shore, there are zones that are underwater or reclaimed. Some sources say that parts of the capital district are 28 meters under the sea.

6. The Nakhchivan exclave, Azerbaijan apart from Azerbaijan

Nakhchivan is an autonomous republic of Azerbaijan that is separated from the main part of the country by Armenia. It borders Iran and Turkey. It has its own government, and its geographic separation gives it a different feel, both historically and culturally.

Surrounded by Armenia, Turkey and Iran but part of Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan is the world's largest landlocked exclave.

7. Extreme tea consumption despite not growing much of it locally

Even though Azerbaijan has regions suited for tea cultivation, much of its black tea is imported, about 12,000 tons annually for a population of about 10 million. Tea is deeply embedded in social culture.

Azerbaijan imports much of its black tea, around 12,000 tons annually, reflecting its deep-rooted tea culture.

8. A 'world's first' in oil history and strategic importance

In the early 1900s, Azerbaijan was one of the world leaders in oil production. For example, in 1901, it produced a massive part of global crude oil output. During WWII, it was a crucial supplier of oil for the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan imports much of its black tea, around 12,000 tons annually, reflecting its deep-rooted tea culture.

9. Religion, secularism, and state structure

Even though the vast majority of people in Azerbaijan are Muslim (> 90 %), the country is officially secular. The constitution does not declare an official religion. Religious practice exists, but the state maintains secular governance.

Religious practice exists in Azerbaijan, but the state maintains secular governance.

10. Monumental flag and civic display

Baku has a large State Flag Square, huge in size, with a massive flagpole and a giant national flag. In recent years, the flagpole has been upgraded, and the square has become a major symbol of national identity.

At its inauguration in 2010, the flagpole was certified as the world's tallest by Guinness World Records before being surpassed by a flagpole in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in 2011.

Azerbaijan is therefore a country with a unique character, from its eternal flames and mud volcanoes to its history of gender equality, its tea culture, and its major oil industry.

President Kagame's visit highlights how Rwanda and this country can work together in development, culture, and trade.

President Kagame's visit emphasizes avenues for cooperation between Rwanda and Azerbaijan in development, culture, and trade.

President Kagame was welcomed at the Zugulba Presidential Palace by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, where they held a tête-à-tête meeting to discuss bilateral cooperation in key areas of mutual benefit.

M.M.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/president-kagame-visits-azerbaijan-10-things-to-know-about-the-country