Foreign relations of Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Azerbaijan

See also:
Politics of Nagorno Karabakh
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Azerbaijan is a member of the United Nations; the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; NATO's Partnership for Peace; Euro-Atlantic Partnership; World Health Organization; CFE Treaty member state; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Council of Europe; the Community of Democracies; the International Monetary Fund; and the World Bank.

Azerbaijan has formal involvement with senior US government officials including James Baker and Henry Kissinger as they serve on the Honorary Council of Advisors for the U.S. Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce is co-chaired by Tim Cejka, President of Exxon Mobil Corporation, and Reza Vaziri, President of R.V. Investment Group and Chairman of the Anglo Asian Mining Plc (LSE Ticker: AAZ).

Contents

[edit] International organization participation

AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

[edit] Countries

Diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan currently has diplomatic relations with 159 countries[1], [2]: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the People's Republic of China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Republic of India, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The ambassador of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan is Ismatilla Ergashev.[1]

Azerbaijan is one of the few majority Muslim countries, that shares a strategic alliance with Israel. Today, Israel is a major arms supplier to the country. see Azerbaijan-Israel relations.

Azerbaijan also maintains good relations with the European Union, and could potentially one day apply for membership. see Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Information on some of the countries with which Azerbaijan maintains formal relations:

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Armenia 1918 See Armenia–Azerbaijan relations

The neighboring nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan have had formal governmental relations since 1918. Although the two nations have fought two wars in 1918 and in 1988, in the past century, their relations have evolved in the context of the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2008, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev declared that “Nagorno Karabakh will never be independent; the position is backed by international mediators as well; Armenia has to accept the reality” and that “in 1918, Yerevan was granted to the Armenians. It was a great mistake. The khanate of Iravan was the Azeri territory, the Armenians were guests here”.[2]

During the Soviet period, many Armenians and Azeris lived together peacefully. However, when Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the policies of Glasnost and Perestroika, the majority Armenians from the autonomous area of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Azerbaijan SSR began a movement to unify with the Armenian SSR. In 1988, the Armenians of Karabakh voted to secede and join Armenia. This, along with Armenian massacres and pogroms in Azerbaijan resulted in the conflict that became known as the Nagorno-Karabakh War. The violence resulted in de facto Armenian control of Nagorno-Karabakh and some surrounding areas which was effectively halted when both sides agrees to observe a cease-fire which has been in effect since May 1994, and in late 1995 both also agreed to OSCE field gis of the Minsk Group of the OSCE. The Minsk Group is currently co-chaired by the U.S., France, and Russia and comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and several Western European nations. Despite this cease fire, upwards of 40 clashes are reported along the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict lines of control each year.

The two countries are still technically at war. Citizens of the Republic of Armenia as well as citizens of any other country, who has Armenian background or an Armenian decent, are forbidden entry to the Republic of Azerbaijan. If a person's passport shows any evidence of travel to Nagorno-Karabakh, barring a diplomatic passport, they are forbidden entry to the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2008, in what became known as the 2008 Mardakert Skirmishes, Armenia and Azerbaijan clashed over Nagornno-Karabakh. The fighting between the two sides was brief, with few casualties on either side. [2]
 Austria
 Belarus 1992
 Belgium
 Bulgaria 1992-06-05
 Croatia 1995-01-26
 Czech Republic 1993-01-29
 Estonia 1992-04-20
 France
 Georgia 1918 See Azerbaijan–Georgia relations
 Germany
 Greece 1992 See Azerbaijan–Greece relations
 Iran 1918 See Azerbaijan–Iran relations
  • Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tehran and a consulate-general in Tabriz.
  • Iran has an embassy in Baku and a consulate-general in Nakhchivan City.
  • Both countries are full members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
  • Iran recognized Azerbaijan on January 4, 1992, upgraded its consulate in Baku to establish full diplomatic relations[16][17] .
 Israel 1991 See Azerbaijan–Israel relations
 Italy
 Japan 1992-09-07
 Kazakhstan 1992-08-27 See Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan relations
  • Azerbaijan has an embassy in Astana.
  • Kazakhstan has an embassy in Baku since December 16, 1994.
 Latvia 1994-01-11
 Lithuania 1995-11-27
 Pakistan 1992 See Azerbaijan–Pakistan relations
 People's Republic of China
 Romania 1992-06-21 See Azerbaijan–Romania relations
 Russia See Azerbaijan–Russia relations
 Serbia See Azerbaijan–Serbia relations
 Spain See Azerbaijan–Spain relations
 Sweden
 Switzerland
 Turkey 1918 See Azerbaijan–Turkey relations

Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity and realize its economic potential arising from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea. All this however has recently come under threat due to tensions arising from the normalisation of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia which Azerbaijan fears will mean the loss of key leverage in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh War.
 Ukraine 1992
 United Kingdom 1918 See Azerbaijan – United Kingdom relations
 United States 1919 See Azerbaijan – United States relations

on December 25, 1991 President George H.W. Bush announced that the United States recognized the independence of all 12 former Soviet republics, including Azerbaijan.[16]

[edit] Disputes

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50th Anniversary UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The refugees under the Armenia aggression. and the tent small town are pictured on the souvenir sheet.

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Disputes - international:

Nagorno-Karabakh/Armenia
Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding and very bitter, separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government;

Nagorno-Karabakh is a region within Azerbaijan. The current conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) began in 1988 when Armenian demonstrations against Azerbaijani rule broke out in both N-K and Armenia and the N-K Supreme Soviet voted to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. Soon, violence broke out against ethnic Azeris in Armenia and ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan. In 1990, after violent episodes in N-K, Baku and Sumgait, Moscow declared a state of emergency in N-K, sent troops to the region, and forcibly occupied Baku, killing over a hundred civilians. In April 1991, Azerbaijani militia and Soviet forces targeted Armenian paramilitaries operating in N-K; Moscow also deployed troops to Yerevan. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, conflict escalated into a full-scale war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Military action was heavily influenced by the Russian military, which inspired and manipulated the rivalry between the two neighbouring nations in order to keep both under control.

More than 30,000 people were killed in the fighting from 1992 to 1994. In May 1992, Armenian forces seized Shusha and Lachin (thereby linking N-K to Armenia). By October 1993, Armenian forces had succeeded in occupying almost all of N-K, Lachin and large areas in southwestern Azerbaijan. In 1993, the UN Security Council adopted resolutions calling for the cessation of hostilities, unimpeded access for international humanitarian relief efforts, and the eventual deployment of a peacekeeping force in the region. Fighting continued, however, until May 1994 when Russia brokered a cease-fire.

Negotiations to resolve the conflict peacefully have been ongoing since 1992 under the aegis of the Minsk Group of the OSCE. The Minsk Group is currently co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States and has representation from Turkey, the U.S., several European nations, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Despite the 1994 cease-fire, sporadic violations, sniper-fire, and landmine incidents continue to claim over 100 lives each year.

Since 1997, the Minsk Group Co-Chairs have presented three proposals to serve as a framework for resolving the conflict. One side or the other rejected each of those proposals. Beginning in 1999, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia initiated a direct dialogue through a series of face-to-face meetings, often facilitated by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Most recently the OSCE sponsored a round of negotiations between the Presidents in Key West, Florida. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell launched the talks on April 3, 2001, and the negotiations continued with mediation by the U.S., Russia, and France until April 6, 2001. The Co-Chairs are continuing to work with the two Presidents in the hope of finding a lasting peace.

The two countries are still technically at war.

Citizens of the Republic of Armenia as well as citizens of any other country, who has Armenian background or an Armenian decent, are forbidden entry to the Republic of Azerbaijan. If a person's passport shows any evidence of travel to Nagorno-Karabakh, barring a diplomatic passport, they are forbidden entry to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Cyprus
Azerbaijan, like most other nations, formally recognizes the government of the Republic of Cyprus, which under UN and EU law represents the entire island, but interestingly enough, the parliament of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic issued a resolution recognizing the Turkish Cypriot North (The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) as a sovereign state. While this recognition is not regarded internationally as 'official state-to-state', Azerbaijan itself maintains cordial unofficial relations with the TRNC. In 2004, Azerbaijan threatened to formally recognize the TRNC if the Annan Plan was voted down by the Greek Cypriots (who rejected the plan in one of twin referendums held 24 April 2004 in both the Greek and Turkish zones simultaneously), but Azerbaijan backed off the threat when it was pointed out that doing so would probably result in negative impact on its ongoing dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Recently, in July 2005, Azerbaijan announced its intentions to recognize TRNC passports and to commence direct flights from Baku to Ercan Airport in the TRNC (by-passing both Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus); however, aside from a flight handled by the private company Imair in August 2005, none have taken place.[36]

Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined with Iran and Turkmenistan. Issues with Russia and Kazakhstan were settled in 2003.

[edit] Illicit drugs

There is limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption, and a limited government eradication program. Azerbaijan is a transshipment point for opiates via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia to Western Europe and the U.S..

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ National Holiday of Uzbekistan marked in Baku AzerTAj
  2. ^ a b Azerbaijani president: Armenians are guests in Yerevan, REGNUM News Agency, January 17, 2008
  3. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in Vienna
  4. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Belarus
  5. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Belgium
  6. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria
  7. ^ Embassy of Bulgaria in Azerbaijan
  8. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Czech Republic
  9. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in Riga (also accredited to Estonia)
  10. ^ Estonian embassy in Ankara (also accredited to Azerbaijan)
  11. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in Paris
  12. ^ French embassy in Baku
  13. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in Berlin
  14. ^ Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Azerbaijan
  15. ^ Azerbaijan embassy in Athens
  16. ^ a b James P. Nichol. Diplomacy in the Former Soviet Republics, Praeger/Greenwood, 1995, ISBN 0275951928, p. 150
  17. ^ "Country Studies/Azerbaijan/The Foreign Policy Establishment". http://countrystudies.us. http://countrystudies.us/azerbaijan/36.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-18. 
  18. ^ Lili Di Puppo. "Israel interested in strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan", Caucaz Europenews, Online Publication, June 8, 2006
  19. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in Italy
  20. ^ Italian embassy in Azerbaijan
  21. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Japan
  22. ^ Embassy of Japan in Azerbaijan
  23. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in Riga
  24. ^ Embassy of Pakistan in Azerbaijan
  25. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Pakistan
  26. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in the PRC
  27. ^ Embassy of the Russian Federation in Baku
  28. ^ Ministry for Foreign Affairs / Embassies and consulates / Azerbaijan
  29. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in Berne
  30. ^ Swiss embassy in Baku
  31. ^ State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, Economic Cooperation and Development Azerbaijan
  32. ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ukraine
  33. ^ Embassy of Ukraine in Azerbaijan
  34. ^ Azerbaijani embassy in London
  35. ^ British embassy in Baku
  36. ^ Turkey and Azerbaijan: The Honeymoon is Over by Fariz Ismailzade. Turkishpolicy.com

[edit] External links

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