A short Summary of my Article published in Baku University news journal

MAIN DIRECTIONS OF AZERBAIJAN’S DIPLOMACY IN 1991– 2011 This Article was prepared for release within the framework of “50+50 Intra-university Grant”

The Republic of Azerbaijan was faced with a number of urgent tasks from the very first days following the restoration of its independence. Just like all other newly independent countries, along with the efforts to preserve its regained independence by every possible means and to become an equal-right member of the world community, Azerbaijan also had to prevent the aggression by its neighbor and to ensure the return of its occupied lands. The nation and the state of Azerbaijan was, undoubtedly, in urgent need of professional diplomacy to implement all these tasks. The researches dedicated to the study of foreign policy issues following the restoration of the independence by the Republic of Azerbaijan, describe its diplomacy as going through a complex and conflicting period during the indicated years. In general, the launch of professional diplomatic service in Azerbaijan is accepted as 9 July 1919, the date when the decision on the Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was passed. The history of our diplomacy in the XX century can be divided into 4 stages: First stage. 1918-1920 – The diplomacy of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic era; Second stage. 1920-1922 – The diplomacy of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic; Third stage. 1922-1991 – Diplomacy of Azerbaijan as a part of the USSR; Fourth stage. The ongoing period of diplomacy commencing in 1991. Each of the stages is significantly different from others in terms of its goals, existing challenges and their solutions. This article is about the diplomacy of the ongoing period that began in 1991.