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![]() Azerbaijan | ![]() Italy |
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Diplomatic mission | |
Embassy of Azerbaijan, Rome | Embassy of Italy, Baku |
Envoy | |
Ambassador Rashad Aslanov [1] | Ambassador Luca Di Gianfrancesco [2] |
Bilateral ties exist between Azerbaijan and Italy. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Rome, while Italy has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Russo-Persian War resulted in the invasion of present-day Azerbaijan territory by Russian Empire. After the collapse of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic established the first democratic and secular state in the whole Muslim world. Italy was one of the countries that was able to establish diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan. Italy opened its consulate and military office in Baku[ when? ]. In that time, official visits of the Azerbaijani delegation to Italy and the Italian delegation to Azerbaijan were realized.
Italy recognized the independence of Azerbaijan from Soviet Union on January 1, 1992. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 8, 1992. The first embassy of Italy among the Southern Caucasian republics was opened in Azerbaijan in 1997 and the embassy of Azerbaijan to Italy has been functioning since 2003.[ citation needed ]
Heydar Aliyev paid his first official visit to Italy in September 1997 and, between 1998 and 2003 government officials of Italy visited Azerbaijan, which resulted in signed agreements on cooperation in different spheres. Italian ambassadors to Azerbaijan have stated that the travel visa requirements might be softened between the two countries in the near future. [3] In April 1999, Italy opened a new building of the Italian Embassy in Baku.
Italy is notable for being the first chairman of OSCE Minsk Group's acting for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During Ilham Aliyev's official visits to Italy the subject was touched on again. President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi reminded that the attempts of the Minsk Group of OSCE had not produced any results yet and stated that he would do his best to strengthen the activity of the Minsk Group. In June 2005, during his visit to Azerbaijan, the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Migration of the Senate of Italy, said that Italy will protect the just position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict [4] [5] to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Italy has become the biggest trade partner of Azerbaijan in importing crude oil and oil products. 51.9% of exportation from Azerbaijan has been directed to Italy since 2003. Italy mainly exports pipes for the oil sector, tobacco, leather, and furniture to Azerbaijan. The visits of the ministers of Economic Developments of both countries in 2007 resulted in signed agreements on the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy in the sector of natural gas. [6]
In 2005 Azerbaijan exported 50% of its oil to Italy. The owner of a 5% share in the Contract of the Century, an Italian company Eni-Agip, is involved in the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. A number of other companies in Italy also participated in the construction of the pipeline on the basis of the contract. The official opening ceremony was held in July 2006. Eni-Agip is also active in the project Shahdeniz and in the oil field Kyurdashy. In June 2013, it was decided that the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will go from Azerbaijan through Turkey and Greece to southern Italy. [7]
Azerbaijan also plans to collaborate with the Italian Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo in the field of viticulture. [8] Italy's Manual Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo and, in order to exchange experience, has invited officials of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan economy to Italy. [9]
Year | Amount Thousands of USD [10] |
---|---|
2019 | 369 900 |
2020 [11] | 396 214 ![]() |
2021 [12] | 419 657 ![]() |
2022 [13] | 340 432,64 ![]() |
2023 [14] | 477 903,97 ![]() |
Year | Amount Thousands of USD [10] |
---|---|
2020 [11] | 4 172 239 ![]() |
2021 [12] | 9 243 521 ![]() |
2022 [13] | 17 782 508,08 ![]() |
2023 [14] | 15 208 067,60 ![]() |
Export goods: oil, gas, food
During the Soviet era, in 1972, the city of Italy, Naples, and the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, were declared Sister cities. Since that time, the cultural ties between Italy and Azerbaijan have become more intense but relations between the two countries have a long history which can be seen from travelers visiting Azerbaijan in the Middle Ages (including Marco Polo) and Nasreddin Tusi's book "Interpretation of Euclid's "Elements" being translated into Latin and published in 1594 in Rome. There are different paintings by well-known Italian painters in museums of Azerbaijan, and many carpets and jewelry articles made in Azerbaijan are in different museums and private collections in Italy. Since the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century in Baku, different buildings were built by famous Italian architects. [15] The works of Dante and Petrarch were translated into Azerbaijani and published in great quantities. [16] Some legendary singers of Azerbaijan such as Bulbul and Muslim Magomayev mastered the bases of opera art in Italy. Many cultural events have been held in both countries.
Italy is among those countries that render humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijan. The agreement on the humanitarian aid between Azerbaijan and Italy, signed on June 1, 2005, is directed at easing the hard life of refugees and IDPs settled in Azerbaijan. The Italian government helped a number of medical and social institutions in Azerbaijan as well.
Heydar Alirza oghlu Aliyev was an Azerbaijani politician who was a Soviet party boss in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1969 to 1982, and the third president of Azerbaijan from October 1993 to October 2003.
Relations have always been strong between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the only two predominantly Turkic countries located west of the Caspian Sea. Former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev often described the two as being "one nation, two states."
In 1991, Azerbaijan recovered its independence from the Soviet Union, which was recognized by Greece on December 31, 1991. Diplomatic relations were established in 1992. The Greek embassy in Baku was opened in the spring of 1993. The embassy of Azerbaijan in Athens was opened in August 2004.
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Switzerland. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Bern as does Switzerland in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Strong foreign relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. The Embassy of United Kingdom in Baku opened in 1992. The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in London opened in 1994. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The diplomatic relations between Austria and Azerbaijan established in 1992 after Austria recognized the independence of Azerbaijan. Austria have an embassy in Baku. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Vienna. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan and Ukraine gained their independence from the Soviet Union and started a close friendship with establishing diplomatic relations in 1992. The relations of strategic cooperation, political, economical and cultural relations between two countries are at a very high level. Azerbaijan currently plays an important role in both organization and the foreign policy of Ukraine due to its strategic role in the region.
Bilateral relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Bulgaria in political, socio-economic, cultural and other spheres. Cooperation is carried out in such areas as transport and transit of goods, tourism, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, science and high technologies, education, military equipment, etc. Both countries are full members of the BSCE and COE.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus are at very high level that Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko describes Azerbaijan as a "saver" of independence and sovereignty of Belarus and adds that "there's not anything close" in Azerbaijani-Belarusian relations. Both countries were part of the Russian Empire until 1918 and before 1991, they were part of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Minsk and Belarus has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Azerbaijan is a full member of the Council of Europe, Belarus is a candidate. Both Azerbaijan and Belarus are full members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). There are more than 6,000 Azerbaijanis living in Belarus.
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Astana and a consulate in Aktau. Kazakhstan has an embassy in Baku.
Azerbaijan–Pakistan relations refer to bilaterial relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan has an embassy in Baku and Azerbaijan has an embassy in Islamabad. Both countries are enhancing contact between their respective capitals. The two nations are considered "strategic partners".
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Poland. The embassy of Poland opened in Azerbaijan on August 23, 2001, and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Poland on August 30, 2004. Both countries are full members of the COE and the OSCE.
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Serbia. Serbia has an embassy in Baku. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Belgrade. Both countries are members of UN, COE, PfP, BSEC and OSCE.
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Malaysia. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, while Malaysia has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are members of the Group of 77.
The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Portugal were established in 1992 after Portugal recognized the independence of Azerbaijan.
Foreign relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Spain. Both nations are members of the Council of Europe.
Azerbaijan–Venezuela relations are the bilateral relations exist between Azerbaijan and Venezuela. Venezuela has an embassy in Baku. Azerbaijan is represented by its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
Azerbaijan—Lithuania relations refers to bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania.
Azerbaijan—France relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the French Republic in the political, socio-economic, cultural, and other spheres.
Azerbaijan—Senegal relations refer to the bilateral between Azerbaijan and Senegal. Neither country has a resident ambassador.