Contract of the century

1994 - Azerbaijan signs what it calls the "contract of the century" with a consortium of international oil companies for the exploration and exploitation of three offshore oil fields.

1995 - Government troops crush rebellion by Rovshan Jovadov's special police. He and dozens of other rebels are killed.

Nagorno-Karabakh, now acting as an independent republic, holds legislative elections. Robert Kocharyan, formerly head of Karabakh's State Defence Committee, becomes executive president.

The New Azerbaijan Party, led by President Aliyev, wins the majority of seats in independent Azerbaijan's first multi-party elections, which, observers say, fail to meet international standards. Azerbaijan's new constitution is approved in a referendum.

1996 - Incumbent President Robert Kocharyan retains his post in direct presidential elections in Karabakh.

1997 - Robert Kocharyan leaves Karabakh to become prime minister in Armenia. Foreign Minister Arkadiy Gukasyan is elected Karabakh president.

Former PM Surat Huseynov is extradited from Russia. Following a lengthy trial for high treason he is eventually sentenced to life imprisonment.

Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Levon Ter-Petrossian agree to OSCE proposal for staged Karabakh solution. The Armenian leader is criticized at home for making too many concessions and subsequently resigns.

The first oil is produced by the Azerbaijani International Operating Company under the "contract of the century".

1998 - Opposition activists arrested at protests against what they say are unfair elections in which Heydar Aliyev is returned as president. International observers report irregularities.

Death penalty abolished.

راستش خیلی دوست داشتم یه نفر بود که در مورد اون سالها می تونست برام حرف بزنه یه شاهد عینی ولی متاسفانه از بین هم سن و سالهای خودمون  کسی رو سراغ ندارم با اینکه این سالها زیاد هم دور نیست! اما مردم اینجا میشه گفت اصلا سیاسی نیستند و کاری به کار سیاست ندارند هر چند که من معتقدم این مسایل از سیاست گذشته و در واقع روزهای زندگی ماست که داره در دست سیاستمداران سپری میشه