Azerbaijan is a country in transition that performed exceptionally well in the last 10-20 years, obtaining major successes, among other things, in the fields of economy, social welfare, urbanization, fight against poverty and terrorism, etc.
According to the World Bank, Baku’s economic policies have been able to reduce the percentage of people living under poverty line from 50 % in 2001 to 7.6 % in 2011, whereas the GDP per capita has increased from 760.5 in 2002 to 5.119 in 2010. One further noteworthy fact: it is very important to mention that the country has experienced little income inequality over the same period. The same can be said for inflation, which has low rate despite the double digit growth. Moreover, the country has performed very well in reforming its social safety, pension and education systems.
In addition to these socioeconomic performances, Azerbaijan has been extraordinary effective in coping with terrorism despite a challenging regional context in the aftermath of the wars in Chechnya and external threats coming from Armenia and Iran. One must note that the successes of Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism have been highlighted by the United States Department of State in the Country Reports on Terrorism 2010.
Over the last years, Azerbaijan’s achievements have been downplayed by propaganda campaign carried out by its neighbors, namely Armenia, Russia and Iran, which highlight critics over successes. As a matter of fact, the risk of instability in a troubled regional context has prevented the country from promoting a total liberalization. Moreover, the continued occupation of part of the Azerbaijani territory by Armenian troops and the “pattern of enmity” with regard to its geopolitical environment have forced Baku to undertake a long-term path toward democracy that favors security, stability and growth in order to ease domestic distress provoked by poverty and risk of terrorism.
As shall be demonstrated in the present report, the Armenian lobby has developed a comprehensive “black propaganda strategy” to deny these realties. In this manner, it hopes that using its numerous relays in the United States and in the European Union will contribute to maintaining status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh and to preventing attempts to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
