1 THE CREATION OF THE AZERBAIJANI IDENTITY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON FOREIGN POLICY

The Azerbaijani identity is a quite complex identity: They are ethnically Turks and Muslims, although they follow the Shiite interpretation. They have also lived under Tsarist and Soviet rule, thus acquiring a Russian heritage. For all these reasons we can affirm that Azerbaijanis have received several and very different influences, all of which are reflected in the current Azerbaijani foreign policy. 1. The Azerbaijanis Some days ago, one of my students asked what an Azerbaijani is. Another one, with Persian ancestors, replied that an Azerbaijani is like a Gallego2 in Spain. At that moment I didn’t agree with him, but after reflecting on this question I consider that it could be a good comparison. The Azerbaijani people do not live exclusively in the current Republic of Azerbaijan. They live along a huge territory which goes from the Caucasus to Northern Iran, near the city of Zenjan. It comprises one independent state, Azerbaijan and three provinces under the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran: East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Ardebil. In the middle of those territories, we can find the dividing line, the Araz River. The break up of historical Azerbaijan took place in 1828 as a result of the Turkmenchay Treaty which burie