Foreign relations of Azerbaijan
Template:Short description Template:External links Template:Use dmy dates
Template:Politics of Azerbaijan The Republic of Azerbaijan is a member of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO's Partnership for Peace, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the World Health Organization, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Council of Europe, CFE Treaty, the Community of Democracies; the International Monetary Fund; and the World Bank.
List
[edit]List of countries which Azerbaijan maintains diplomatic relations with:
Information on some of the countries with which Azerbaijan maintains formal relations
[edit]Multilateral
[edit]| Organization | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | See Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe
| |
| Template:Flag | 1996<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–European Union relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–NATO relations
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| Template:Flagcountry | 2009<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Turkic Council relations |
Africa
[edit]Americas
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Argentina–Azerbaijan relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Brazil relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref name="azembassy.ca">Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Canada relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Colombia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Cuba relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Ecuador relations |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Mexico relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Nicaragua relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref name="Day">Азербайджан установил дипотношения с Эритреей и ПарагваемTemplate:Dead link Day.Az 28 Апреля 2004</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Paraguay relations |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Peru relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts, Template:Dts |
See Azerbaijan–United States relations
On 25 December 1991 President George H. W. Bush announced that the United States recognized the independence of all 12 former Soviet republics, including Azerbaijan.<ref name="nichol150"/>
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Uruguay relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Venezuela relations
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Asia
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagu | 1918–1921
Armenia and Azerbaijan do not have formal relations since that time |
See Armenia–Azerbaijan relations, First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Second Nagorno-Karabakh war
The neighboring nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan have had formal governmental relations between 1918 and 1921, when both countries were briefly independent. The two nations have fought three wars in the 1918–20 (Armenian–Azerbaijani War), the 1988–94 (Nagorno-Karabakh War), and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, with the last two ending in ceasefire agreements - the Bishkek Protocol and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement respectively. There are no formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, because of the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and dispute. In 2008, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev declared, "Nagorno Karabakh will never be independent; the position is backed by international mediators as well; Armenia has to accept the reality," and "in 1918, Yerevan was granted to the Armenians. It was a great mistake. The khanate of Iravan was the Azerbaijani territory, the Armenians were guests here."<ref>Azerbaijani president: Armenians are guests in Yerevan Template:Webarchive, REGNUM News Agency, 17 January 2008</ref> During the Soviet period, many Armenians and Azerbaijanis lived side by side in peace. However, when Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the policies of Glasnost and Perestroika, the majority of Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) of 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 mutual massacres in Azerbaijan and Armenia resulted in the conflict that became known as the Nagorno-Karabakh War. The violence resulted in de facto Armenian control of former NKAO and seven surrounding Azerbaijani regions, which was effectively halted when both sides agrees to observe a cease-fire, which has since been in effect since May 1994, and in late 1995 both also agreed to mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group. 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 the cease fire, up to 40 clashes are reported along the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict lines of control each year.Template:Citation needed The two countries are still technically at war. Citizens of the Republic of Armenia, as well as citizens of any other country who are of Armenian descent, are forbidden entry to the Republic of Azerbaijan. If a person's passport shows any evidence of travel to Nagorno-Karabakh, they are forbidden entry to the Republic of Azerbaijan.<ref>Azerbaijan Country Page Template:Webarchive. NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia. Accessed 23 May 2010.</ref> In 2008, in what became known as the 2008 Mardakert Skirmishes, Armenia and Azerbaijan clashed over Nagorno-Karabakh. The fighting between the two sides was brief, with few casualties on either side.<ref name="regnum.ru">Template:Cite news</ref> As of July 2020, the new round of military escalation along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan continued, thus making it one of the most explosive regions in Eurasia.<ref>Expert Opinion: Neither Peace Nor War: Why Clashes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Border Didn't Change the Status Quo, Valdai Club, 21 August 2020</ref> On 27 September 2020, a new military conflict emerged between Azerbaijan and Armenia.<ref>New flare up of violence breaks out between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Euronews, 28 September 2020</ref> The following day, on 28 September 2020, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree declaring a partial military mobilisation following clashes with Armenian forces over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.<ref>Azerbaijan declares partial military mobilisation – president's decree Template:Webarchive, Reuters, 28 September 2020</ref> An armistice agreement between the two countries was signed on 10 November 2020, returning control of the territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan. |
| Template:Flagu | 30 December 1991<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Bangladesh relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–China relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan-India relations |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan-Indonesia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts, Template:Dts |
See Azerbaijan–Iran relations
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| Template:Flagu | 2 January 1992Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Iraq relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Israel relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Japan relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>AZERBAIJAN – JORDAN RELATIONS Template:Webarchive.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Jordan relations |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan relations
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| Template:Flagu | 22 May 1995Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Laos relations |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Lebanon relations
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| Template:Flagu | 31 December 1991Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Malaysia relations
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| Template:Flagu | 14 September 1994Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Qatar relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Pakistan relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Palestine relations
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| Template:Flagu | 27 March 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Philippines relations |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia discuss prospects of military cooperation. Azernews. 7 February 2018</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Saudi Arabia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–South Korea relations
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| Template:Flagicon image Syria | Template:Dts<ref>[2] Template:Webarchive. Eurasia Diary. 28 March 2016</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Syria relations
Syria is accredited to Azerbaijan from its embassy in Tehran, Iran. |
| Template:Flagu | 7 July 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Thailand relations
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| Template:Flagu | 14 Jan. 1992<ref name="Ministry of Foreign Affairs">Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Turkey relations
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| Template:Flagu | 9 June 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan relations
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| Template:Flagu | 2 October 1995<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan relations
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| Template:Flagu | 23 September 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Vietnam relations |
| Template:Flagu | 25 February 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Yemen relations
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Europe
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Albania–Azerbaijan relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Austria–Azerbaijan relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Belarus relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Belgium relations
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| Template:Flagu | 19 February 1995<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Bosnia and Herzegovina relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan—Bulgaria relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Croatia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Azerbaijan formally recognizes the government of the Republic of Cyprus as the sole representative of the island, but has not yet established diplomatic relations with Cyprus. The parliament of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic issued a resolution recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a sovereign state. While this recognition is not regarded by Azerbaijan and internationally as 'official state-to-state', Azerbaijan itself maintained 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 backed off the threat when it was pointed out by Cyprus that doing so would be hypocritical, as a portion of its territory just like that of Cyprus itself is under occupation and would probably result in negative impact on its ongoing dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.<ref>Turkey and Azerbaijan: The Honeymoon is Over by Fariz Ismailzade. Turkishpolicy.com</ref> | |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Czech Republic relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan-Denmark relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan-Estonia relations |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts |
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan—France relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts, Template:Dts |
See Azerbaijan–Georgia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Germany relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Greece relations
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| Template:Flagu | 23 May 1992Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Holy See relations
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| Template:Flagicon Hungary | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Hungary relations
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| Template:Flagu | 27 February 1998<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Iceland relations
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| Template:Flagicon Ireland | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Ireland relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Italy relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan—Latvia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan—Lithuania relations
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| Template:Flagu | 21 December 1991<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Moldova relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Montenegro relations
Azerbaijan recognized the independence of Montenegro on 24 July 2006. On 24 April 2008, diplomatic relations between these two countries were established. |
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Netherlands relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan—North Macedonia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan-Poland relations
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| Template:Flagu | 5 June 1992<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Portugal relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Romania relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Russia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Serbia relations |
| Template:Flagu | 23 November 1993<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Slovakia relations
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| Template:Flagu | 20 February 1996<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Slovenia relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan–Spain relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Sweden relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts | See Azerbaijan–Switzerland relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts, Template:Dts |
See Azerbaijan–Ukraine relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts, Template:Dts |
See Azerbaijan – United Kingdom relations
Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 11 March 1992.
Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, and the OSCE. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an Investment Agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Oceania
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Australia–Azerbaijan relations
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| Template:Flagu | Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | See Azerbaijan—New Zealand relations
|
International organizations
[edit]- AsDB
- BSEC
- CE
- CIS
- DAC (participant)
- 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 (NATO)
- UN
- UNCTAD
- UNESCO
- UNIDO
- UPU
- WCO
- WFTU
- WHO
- WIPO
- WMO
- WToO
- WTO (observer)
Other entities
[edit]- Sovereign Military Order of Malta – there are no relations
- States with limited recognition
Disputes
[edit]Nagorno-Karabakh/Azerbaijan
[edit]Template:See also The frozen conflict over currently largely Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh within the Republic of Azerbaijan began when in 1988 the Armenian majority of Nagorno-Karabakh demanded autonomy with demonstrations and persecutions against ethnic Azeris following in Armenia. This led to anti-Armenian rioting in Azerbaijan, with Azerbaijani militias beginning their effort to expel Armenians from the enclave. In 1992, a war broke out and pogroms of Armenians and Azeris forced both groups to flee their homes. In 1994, a Russian-brokered ceasefire ended the war but more than 1 million ethnic Armenians and Azeris are still not able to return. In 2023, an Azerbaijani offensive into Nagorno-Karabakh ended the conflict, with the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh conceding sovereignty to the government of Azerbaijan on January 1, 2024.
Caviar diplomacy
[edit]Template:Main The European Stability Initiative (ESI) has revealed in a report from 2012 with the title "Caviar diplomacy: How Azerbaijan silenced the Council of Europe", that since Azerbaijan's entry into the Council of Europe, each year 30 to 40 deputies are invited to Azerbaijan and generously paid with expensive gifts, including caviar (worth up to 1,400 euro), silk carpets, gold, silver and large amounts of money.<ref>Aserbaidschan: Die Kaviar-Diplomatie (German). Der Tagesspiegel. Retrieved 3 August 2013</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> In return they become lobbyists for Azerbaijan. This practice has been widely referred to as "Caviar diplomacy".<ref name=euobserver>Europe's caviar diplomacy with Azerbaijan must end. EUobserver. Retrieved 6 April 2014</ref>
ESI also published a report on 2013 Presidential elections in Azerbaijan titled "Disgraced: Azerbaijan and the end of election monitoring as we know it". The report revealed the ties between Azerbaijani government and the members of certain observation missions who praised the elections.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Azerbaijan's "Caviar diplomacy" at 2013 presidential elections sparked a major international scandal, as the reports of two authoritative organizations Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe/European Parliament and OSCE/ODIHR completely contradicted one another in their assessments of elections.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>European MPs' praise for Azerbaijan election sparks row BBC News, 17 October 2013</ref><ref name=guardian>Plush hotels and caviar diplomacy: how Azerbaijan's elite wooed MPs The Guardian 24 November 2013</ref>
Non-governmental anti-corruption organization Transparency International has regularly judged Azerbaijan to be one of the most corrupt countries in the world<ref name=guardian/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and has also criticized Azerbaijan for the "Caviar diplomacy".<ref name=euobserver/><ref>How Baku's 'caviar diplomacy' neutered Europe's rights standards Template:Webarchive. Democracy Digest. Retrieved 4 August 2013</ref>
At June 2016 the public prosecutor of Milan has accused the former leader of the (Christian) Union of the center and of the European People's Party of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Luca Volonte of accepting large bribes from representatives of the Azerbaijani government.<ref>Corruzione, "tangente da due milioni dall'Azerbaijan": indagato a Milano ex Udc Volontè // Corriere della Sera, 25 June 2016</ref> Two people with high-level experience of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly (Pace) have told the Guardian they believe its members have been offered bribes for votes by Azerbaijan. Former Azerbaijani diplomat, Arif Mammadov, alleged that a member of Azerbaijan's delegation at the Council of Europe had €30m (£25m) to spend on lobbying its institutions, including the Council of Europe assembly.<ref>Fresh claims of Azerbaijan vote-rigging at European human rights body // The Guardian. 20 April 2017</ref> PACE ratified the terms of reference of an independent external investigation body to carry out a detailed independent inquiry into the allegations of corruption at the council involving Azerbaijan.<ref>Corruption inquiry at Council of Europe over Azerbaijan Template:Webarchive // BBC, 30 May 2017</ref>
ESISC report
[edit]Template:Main On 6 March 2017, ESISC (European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center) published a scandalous report called "The Armenian Connection" where it veraciously attacked human rights NGOs and research organisations criticising human rights violations and corruption in Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia.<ref name="FFAC">AN EXPLORATION INTO AZERBAIJAN'S SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM OF PROJECTING ITS INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE, BUYING WESTERN POLITICIANS AND CAPTURING INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS // Freedom Files Analytical Centre (Civic Solidarity Platform), March 2017</ref>
ESISC in that report asserted that "Caviar diplomacy" report elaborated by ESI aimed to create climate of suspicion based on slander to form a network of MPs that would engage in a political war against Azerbaijan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Second Chapter of the report called "The Armenian Connection: «Mr X», Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights" that was published on 18 April 2017 ESISC asserted that the network composed of European PMs, Armenian officials and some NGOs: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, "Human Rights House Foundation", "Open Dialog", European Stability Initiative, and Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, was financed by the Soros Foundation. According to ESISC the key figure of the network since 2012 has been Nils Muižnieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the network has served to the interests of George Soros and the Republic of Armenia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "The report is written in the worst traditions of authoritarian propaganda, makes absurd claims, and is clearly aimed at deflecting the wave of criticism against cover-up of unethical lobbying and corruption in PACE and demands for change in the Assembly", said Freedom Files Analytical Centre.<ref name="FFAC" />
According Robert Coalson (Radio Free Europe), ESISC is a part of Baku's lobbying efforts to extend to the use of front think tanks to shift public opinion.<ref>Baku Smooths Over Its Rights Record With A Thick Layer Of Caviar // Radio Free Europe, 8 November 2013</ref>
European Stability Initiative said that "ESISC report is full of lies (such as claiming that German PACE member Strasser holds pro-Armenian views and citing as evidence that he went to Yerevan in 2015 to commemorate the Armenian genocide, when Strasser has never in his life been to independent Armenia)".<ref>Merchants of Doubt or investigating Corruption // ESI, 21 April 2017</ref>
See also
[edit]- Azerbaijan–European Union relations
- Azerbaijan–NATO relations
- Azerbaijan and the International Monetary Fund
- List of diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan
- List of diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan
- Visa requirements for Azerbaijani citizens
References
[edit]- CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website
Further reading
[edit]- Valiyev, Anar: "Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus: A Pragmatic Relationship" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 27
- Hübner, Gerald: "Foreign Direct Investment in Azerbaijan—the Quality of Quantity" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 28
- Abbasov, Shahin: "Azerbaijan's Eurovision Story: Great Chances to Improve, But No Political Will" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 32
- Mazziotti, Marius; Sauerborn, Djan; Scianna, Bastian Matteo: "Multipolarity is key: Assessing Azerbaijan's foreign policy"[3]
External links
[edit]- U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan in Baku
- Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Washington
- Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan relations Template:Webarchive
Template:Foreign relations of Azerbaijan Template:Azerbaijan topics Template:Foreign relations of Asia Template:Foreign relations of Europe