Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education

Report 2016-2017, Azerbaijan was 37th out of 138 countries, an increase of 27 places in comparison with 2006. National income per capita increased by 800 per cent since 2004 to 7,600 US dollars. Within a short time Azerbaijan was transformed from a low-income country to an upper-middle-income country. The economic growth was accompanied by an increase in employment; more than 1.3 million new jobs were created, 77.1 per cent of which were permanent and 62 per cent of which were situated in the regions.

The fulfilment of state programmes on the socio-economic development of the regions plays a very important role in the overall balanced development of the regions of Azerbaijan, in increasing economic activity and competitive skills, in creating jobs and new institutions and in ensuring the stable, fast and overall development of the republic. The policy for the socio-economic development of the regions is a major factor in economic prosperity and a progressive way for the government to regulate systematic and sustainable development. A great chance has been created to mobilize the work force and natural resources of the regions, to revive entrepreneurship, develop free trade and create a competitive production sector. The programmes for the development of the regions as part of the economic policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan may be considered a road map for enduring development and the national unity of the ethnic groups living in the country.

The government plans for 2004-08, 2009-13 and 2014-18 included plans for the next stage of development in the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani President signed decrees ‘On the action plan to accelerate socio-economic development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including the districts of Lankaran, Astara, Lerik, Masalli and Yardimli’ (14 September 2005); ‘On further action to accelerate the socio-economic development of the regions

of the Republic of Azerbaijan including the districts of Shaki, Balakan, Qakh and Zaqatala’ (1 June 2006); ‘On the approval of the action plan to accelerate the socio-economic development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including the districts of Quba, Qusar, Khachmaz, Siyazan and Davachi’ (3 August 2005). According to these instructions, major socio-economic projects in education, culture, ecology and other areas were carried out in the southern, north-western and northern regions that have areas with substantial ethnic minority populations. According to these instructions, hundreds of new schools, hospitals and diagnostic centres, sports complexes, tourism and leisure facilities and industrial enterprises were opened and multiple renovation and restoration projects were carried out.

One of the main objectives of these programmes is to widen the geography of balanced development in the regions, to increase production and the number of enterprises in the regions, to increase the number of financially viable local producers, to make the most of the economic resources of the regions, to make raw materials the main part of the production process and to reduce the difference among the regions to a minimum.

This process is continuing. The work set out in these plans is under way to ensure balanced development in all the regions of the country without any discrimination. This is a manifestation of the successful domestic policy aimed at improving the social welfare of the people living in the regions. The national policy of the government under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev does not serve only a specific ethnic group or people, it serves all the citizens of the country in all areas of life, irrespective of their national identity.

Multiculturalism policy has played a very important role in achieving these goals. It is impossible to achieve successful economic development and to realize big projects and

Section II

Chapter 5

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Azerbaijani Multiculturalism

programmes without internal stability. This stability is achieved by preserving the cultural diversity in society, eliminating social injustice among the communities and giving rights and equal opportunities to every citizen. These socio-economic parameters are the main indicators of the successful multiculturalism policy carried out by the Republic of Azerbaijan at the state level.