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General Information Area: 86,600 sq km (33,400 sq miles). Population: 7,798,497 (Official Estimate 2002). Population Density: 90.1 per sq km. Capital: Baku. Population: 1,708,000 (1999). GEOGRAPHY: Azerbaijan is bordered by the Russian Federation, Georgia and Iran, and is divided by the Republic of Armenia into a smaller western part in the Lesser Caucasus and a larger eastern part, stretching from the Greater Caucasus to the Mugan, Mili and Shirvan Steppes and bordered by the Caspian Sea in the east. Its highest peaks are Mount Bazar-Dyuzi (4114m/13497ft) and Sag-Dag (3886m/12749ft). Government: Democratic Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State: President Heydar Aliyev since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Artur Rasizade since 1996. Language: Azerbaijani. Russian is widely spoken; English may be spoken in Baku and other main centres. Religion: Mostly Shia Muslim although there are Russian Orthodox and Jewish communities. Time: GMT + 4. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Telephone IDD is available to anywhere in Azerbaijan. Country code: 994. International calls from Azerbaijan may be dialled directly from Baku; calls from other parts of the republic must be made through the operator. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network covers the capital and main towns. Network operators include Azercell (website: www.azercell.com) and Bakcell. Internet Access is widely available. Local ISPs include AdaNet (website: www.azdata.net), Azerin (website: www.azerin.com), AzEuroTel (website: www.azeurotel.com) and Bakinternet (website: www.bakinter.net). Telegram Services are available at the main post office in Baku. Fax Services are widely available especially at international hotels. Post International postal services are sometimes disrupted. Delays occur, although letters should normally take ten to 14 days to arrive. Parcels should be registered or sent by courier services to accelerate the process, and ensure against loss. Press The principal daily newspaper is Azerbaijan. Other newspapers include Hayat, Intibah, Bakinskii Rabochii and Azadliq. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.79 15.58 11.76 1.413 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.21 11.82 9.760 1.197 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.