Foreign relations of Azerbaijan
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This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Azerbaijan |
See also |
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.
Azerbaijan has formal involvement with senior ex-U.S. government officials including James Baker and Henry Kissinger, as they serve on the Honorary Council of Advisors[1] of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC). USACC 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).[2]
Contents
International organization participation[edit]
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, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Countries[edit]
Azerbaijan currently has diplomatic relations with 160 countries:[3][4] Afghanistan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the People's Republic of China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands,Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Republic of India, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.[5]
Azerbaijan is one of the few countries with predominantly Muslim populations 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, in the framework of its Eastern European Neighbourhood Policy (See Azerbaijan and the European Union).
Information on some of the countries with which Azerbaijan maintains formal relations[edit]
Europe[edit]
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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1992 | See Azerbaijan–Belarus relations
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5 June 1992 |
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26 January 1995 |
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29 January 1993 |
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2 April 1992[14] | See Azerbaijan-Denmark relations |
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20 April 1992 | See Azerbaijan-Estonia relations |
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1992 | See Azerbaijan–Greece relations
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1992 | See Azerbaijan–Hungary relations
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1996 | |
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See Azerbaijan–Italy relations
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11 January 1994 |
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27 November 1995 |
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1991 | See Azerbaijan-Poland relations |
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21 June 1992 | See Azerbaijan–Romania relations |
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4 April 1992 | See Azerbaijan–Russia relations
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See Azerbaijan–Serbia relations
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See Azerbaijan–Switzerland relations
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1919 | See Azerbaijan–Ukraine relations
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1918 | See Azerbaijan – United Kingdom relations
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Africa[edit]
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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31 May 2004[36] | |
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2 February 2010[37] | |
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2004[38] | |
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31 May 2004[36] | |
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21 May 2004[39] | |
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31 May 2004[36] | |
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7 January 2010[40] | |
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29 December 2010[41] |
Americas[edit]
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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1992[42] | See Azerbaijan–Canada relations |
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2007[38] | |
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23 September 2010[45] | |
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14 January 1992[46] | See Azerbaijan–Mexico relations
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10 February 1994[49] |
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2004[51] | |
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11 March 2010[52] | |
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2011[38] | |
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1919 | 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.[53]
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Asia[edit]
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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1918–1921
Armenia and Azerbaijan do not have diplomatic relations today. |
See Armenia–Azerbaijan relations, Nagorno-Karabakh War
The neighboring nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan have had formal governmental relations between 1918–1921, when both countries were briefly independent. The two nations have fought two wars in 1918–20 (Armenian–Azerbaijani War) and in 1988–94 (Nagorno-Karabakh War), in the past century, with last one ended with provisional cease fire agreement signed in Bishkek. 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 Azeri territory, the Armenians were guests here."[56] During the Soviet period, many Armenians and Azeris 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.[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.[57] 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.[58] |
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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. Azerbaijan, like all other countries except Turkey, formally recognizes the government of the Republic of Cyprus (with whom it has not yet established diplomatic relations), 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 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 Azerbaijan 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. 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. Azerbaijan has become very cool towards the Turkish Cypriot North, due to tensions arising from the possible normalization 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.[60] |
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1918 | See Azerbaijan–Georgia relations
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1992 | See Azerbaijan-India relations |
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1918 | See Azerbaijan–Iran relations
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1991 | See Azerbaijan–Israel relations
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7 September 1992 |
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27 August 1992 | See Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan relations |
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1992 | See Azerbaijan–Pakistan relations
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See Foreign relations of North Korea | |
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March 23, 1992 | See Azerbaijan–South Korea relations
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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 possible normalization of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia, which Azerbaijan fears will mean the loss of key leverage in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. |
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1 September 1992[71] |
Oceania[edit]
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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19 March 2010[72] | |
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10 March 2010[73] | |
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16 September 2009[74] |
No relations[edit]
Azerbaijan maintains diplomatic relations with 174 states (including Palestine[75] and the Vatican City) and the European Union. Azerbaijan has not yet established diplomatic relations with:[76]
- Bahamas, Barbados
- Cyprus, Armenia
- Nigeria, Central African Republic, Congo, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, São Tomé and Príncipe
- Palau, Micronesia, Federated States of, Kiribati, Niue, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta
- the rest of states with limited recognition
Disputes[edit]
Nagorno-Karabakh/Armenia[edit]
The frozen conflict over the largely Armenian autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh within the republic of Azerbaijan began when in 1988 the Armenian majority of Nagorno-Karabakh demanded autonomy with demonstrations 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 home. The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh remains unresolved despite negotiations, that are ongoing since 1992 under the aegis of the Minsk Group of the OSCE, to resolve the conflict peacefully.[77][78]
Caviar diplomacy[edit]
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.[79][80] In return they become lobbyists for Azerbaijan. This practice has been widely referred to as "Caviar diplomacy".[81]
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.[82] 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.[83][84][85][86]
Non-governmental anti-corruption organization Transparency International has regularly judged Azerbaijan to be one of the most corrupt countries in the world[86][87] and has also criticized Azerbaijan for the "Caviar diplomacy".[81][88]
See also[edit]
- Azerbaijan and the European Union
- List of diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan
- List of diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan
- Visa requirements for Azerbaijani citizens
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"[4]
References[edit]
- CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website
- ^ USACC. Honorary Council of Advisors
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- ^ "Ïîñîë Ðîññèéñêîé Ôåäåðàöèè â Àçåðáàéäæàíñêîé Ðåñïóáëèêå » Ïîñîëüñòâî Ðîññèéñêîé Ôåäåðàöèè â Àçåðáàéäæàíñêîé Ðåñïóáëèêå". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
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- ^ a b c Азербайджан установил дипломатические отношения с Буркина-Фасо, Руандой и Кенией "Рол" 31 мая 2004 г.
- ^ Азербайджан установил дипломатические отношения с Союзом Коморских островов "Region plus" 2 February 2010
- ^ a b c Азербайджан установил дипломатические отношения с Доминиканкой Республикой "1news.az " 13 November 2007 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "Pari" defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Азербайджан установил дипотношения с Республикой Малави Day.Az 27 Мая 2004
- ^ Азербайджан и Свазиленд установили дипломатические отношения Day.Az 7 января, 2010
- ^ [1] "Topix" 29 December 2010
- ^ "Embassy of Azerbaijan". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ottawa
- ^ Embassy of Canada in Ankara (in English, French and Turkish)
- ^ Между Азербайджаном и Гренадой подписано коммюнике об установлении дипломатических связей "Информационное агентство TREND " 24 September 2010
- ^ Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Mexico
- ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Mexico City (in Azeri, English and Spanish)
- ^ Embassy of Mexico in Baku (in Spanish)
- ^ "Nicaragua fortalece relaciones con la República de Azerbaiyán". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Nicaragua". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Азербайджан установил дипотношения с Эритреей и Парагваем Day.Az 28 Апреля 2004
- ^ Азербайджан и Сент-Люсия установили дипломатические отношения 1NEWS.az 12.03.2010
- ^ a b James P. Nichol. Diplomacy in the Former Soviet Republics, Praeger/Greenwood, 1995, ISBN 0-275-95192-8, p. 150
- ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington, DC
- ^ Embassy of the United States in Baku (in Azeri and English)
- ^ Azerbaijani president: Armenians are guests in Yerevan, REGNUM News Agency, 17 January 2008
- ^ Azerbaijan Country Page. NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia. Accessed 23 May 2010. Archived March 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Azerbaijani president: Armenians are guests in Yerevan". REGNUM News Agency. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ "Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the People's Republic of China". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Turkey and Azerbaijan: The Honeymoon is Over by Fariz Ismailzade. Turkishpolicy.com
- ^ "Country Studies/Azerbaijan/The Foreign Policy Establishment". http://countrystudies.us. Retrieved 18 January 2008. External link in
|publisher=
(help) - ^ "caucaz.com". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ a b Azerbaijan–Israel relations
- ^ "Welcome to Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Japan!". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Embassy of Japan in Azerbaijan
- ^ "Embassy of Pakistan in Azerbaijan". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Embassy of Azerbaijan in Pakistan
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/policy/disarmament/nss/gallery/index.jsp?menu=m_20_70_30&tabmenu=t_5&sp=/webmodule/htsboard/template/read/engreadboard.jsp%3FtypeID=12%26boardid=13778%26seqno=311578
- ^ http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070803/1_24644.jsp?menu=m_30_40
- ^ Культурный обмен "Russian Emirates Advertisement"
- ^ "Azerbaijan, Fiji establish diplomatic relations" news.az 18 March 2010 Link accessed 21 March 2010
- ^ Азербайджан и Маршалловы острова установили дипломатические отношения "1NEWS.az " 12.03.2010
- ^ Между Азербайджаном и Тувалу установились дипломатические отношения "AZE.Az " 16 Сентября 2009
- ^ [3]
- ^ Azerbaijan MFA – diplomatic relations Archived March 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Fighting Intensifies in Armenian-Azerbaijani War". The New York Times. p. 10. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ^ Armenia and Azerbaijan still skirting war in Nagorno-Karabakh. thestar.com. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013
- ^ Aserbaidschan: Die Kaviar-Diplomatie (German). Der Tagesspiegel. Retrieved August 3, 2013
- ^ ESI Caviar Diplomacy: How Azerbaijan silenced the Council of Europe Part 1
- ^ a b Europe's caviar diplomacy with Azerbaijan must end. EUobserver. Retrieved April 6, 2014
- ^ "Disgraced. Azerbaijan and the end of election monitoring as we know it." 5 November 2013, Berlin
- ^ "Who Are The Shadowy Western Observers Weighing In On Azerbaijan's Election?". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. "Europe, Azerbaijan, and caviar". Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ European MPs' praise for Azerbaijan election sparks row BBC News, 17 October 2013
- ^ a b Plush hotels and caviar diplomacy: how Azerbaijan's elite wooed MPs The Guardian 24 November 2013
- ^ Transparency International e.V. "Transparency International - Country Profiles". Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ How Baku’s ‘caviar diplomacy’ neutered Europe’s rights standards. Democracy Digest. Retrieved August 4, 2013