Azerbaijan | Ukraine |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Embassy of Azerbaijan, Kyiv | Embassy of Ukraine, Baku |
Envoy | |
Ambassador Seymur Mardaliyev | Ambassador Vladislav Kanevskiy |
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan and Ukraine gained their independence from the Soviet Union and started a close friendship [1] 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. [2] Azerbaijan currently plays an important role in both organization and the foreign policy of Ukraine due to its strategic role in the region. [3]
Ukraine supports Azerbaijan's position in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict against Armenia. [4]
The two countries support each other in entering international organizations. [5]
Diplomatic relations were established in 1919 for the first time a year after, the Consul General of Ukraine in Tiflis Oleksiy Kulinsky was appointed Consul General in Baku. [6] [7] The grave of Ukrainian Ataman Golovati still is protected by Azerbaijanis and there's also monument in Lankaran dedicated to Cossacks. [8]
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic discussed the possibility of concluding a political agreement and exchanging diplomatic missions. On December 8, 1921, the USSR even granted official powers to conduct negotiations to Yuriy Kotsiubynsky, but the initiative was stopped by the Russian Council of People's Commissars. On December 30, 1922, the Treaty on the Creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was concluded, after which the Azerbaijani trade representation continued to function in Kharkiv for a long time, and the trade and other business representatives of the USSR continued to operate in Baku.
Azerbaijan also helped Ukraine to shelter during the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
After Black January events, some 10,000 people attended a rally in Lviv to protest Moscow's military intervention in Azerbaijan. [9]
Azerbaijan recognized the independence of Ukraine on February 6, 1992, and on the same day diplomatic relations between the two countries were established. Azerbaijani president Abulfaz Elchibey paid an official visit to Ukraine on November 12, 1992. [10] During that visit, he said that relations with Ukraine will become priority out of all of the former republics of the former Soviet Union. [11] On May 5, 1996, Ukraine opened the Embassy of Ukraine in Azerbaijan in Baku and Azerbaijan opened the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ukraine on March 12, 1997 in Kyiv.
In 2001, the two countries founded the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM), along with Georgia and Moldova.
During the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, would not provide military assistance to either state, [12] [13]
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, the first humanitarian cargo of medicines and other medical items reached Ukraine on 27 February 2022, three days following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Up to June 2023, the volume of Azerbaijan’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine exceeds one thousand tons and 20 million US dollars. [14]
In June 2023, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met for the first time in Moldova since the Russian invasion of Ukraine the framework of the Summit of the European Political Community, where Zelensky thanked the Azerbaijani side for support for Ukraine in the United Nations. [15]
Relations between two countries are very friendly. [16] Azerbaijan has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Eastern Partnership, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) as well as GUAM.
Guest | Host | Place of visit | Date of visit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
President Abulfaz Elchibey | President Leonid Kravchuk | Kyiv | November 12, 1992 | |
President Leonid Kuchma | President Heydar Aliyev | Baku | July 26–28, 1995 | |
President Heydar Aliyev | President Leonid Kuchma | Kyiv | March 24–25, 1997 | During the meeting, Aliyev was awarded with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. [17] |
President Heydar Aliyev | President Leonid Kuchma | Kyiv | 1999 | Took part at the inauguration ceremony of Kuchma. |
President Leonid Kuchma | President Heydar Aliyev | Baku | March 16–17, 2000 | As a result of the visit, Aliyev presented Kuchma with the Istiglal Order. |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Leonid Kuchma | Kyiv | June 2004 | |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Leonid Kuchma | Kyiv | 28 October 2004 | Took part in the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Ukraine. |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Viktor Yushchenko | Kyiv | June 2005 | |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Viktor Yushchenko | Kyiv | May 2006 | |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Viktor Yushchenko | Kyiv | May 2008 | |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Viktor Yanukovych | Kyiv | October 2010 | |
President Viktor Yanukovych | President Ilham Aliyev | Baku | April 28-29, 2011 | |
President Viktor Yanukovych | President Ilham Aliyev | Baku | December 12, 2012 | |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Viktor Yanukovych | Kyiv | November 2013 | |
President Petro Poroshenko | President Ilham Aliyev | Baku | 13–14 July 2016 | [18] |
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | President Ilham Aliyev | Baku | December 17–18, 2019 | During the visit, Zelenskyy had a one-on-one meeting with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev after which they hold negotiations in an expanded format. Following the expanded meeting, the sides signed bilateral documents such as Protocol of Intent between Ganja and Odesa, an Agreement on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation between Guba and Truskavets, Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine on the conditions of doing business. Ukrainian President also met with the Prime Minister Ali Asadov, took part in the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani Business Forum, visited the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center of Baku Slavic University and met with representatives of Ukrainian community in Azerbaijan. [19] [20] [21] [22] |
President Ilham Aliyev | President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Kyiv | January 2022 | [23] |
In the post-Soviet space, Ukraine has been considered the second most important trade partner of Azerbaijan after the Russian Federation. Ukraine is one of the main import partners of Azerbaijan, [24] and Azerbaijan grants Ukraine exclusive conditions for oil supply. [1] Main goods imported from Ukraine to Azerbaijan remains as mainly metallurgy products, machine-building products, agro-industrial products, and chemical industry products. While main goods exported from Azerbaijan to Ukraine are generally Products of the fuel energy industry, chemical industry products, and agro-industrial products.
The trade turnover between the two countries reached $1.4 billion in 2010. According to the reports of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the transactions between them amounted to $343.87 million during the first period of 2018, and $146.57 million was made by the Azerbaijan side as a result of its exports. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Ukraine in January 2019 exceeded $74 million, about half in each direction. [25] The volume of trade started to shift upward in 2005 and amounted to approximately $ 1.5 billion in 2011 (the highest point). During this period Azerbaijan gained $ 909 million, Ukraine retained $ 558 million by mutual trade partnership, respectively. Nevertheless, starting from 2012, the trade turnover between them, worsened and declined below the statistics of 2011. The situation only changed between 2016 and 2017 so that trade volume rose up to $800 million from $300. In 2018, the number of transactions between Azerbaijan and Ukraine amounted to about $ 829 million that was around $ 18 million compared to 2017. In that year, Azerbaijan import imported approximately $469 million worth of products and while exported $358 million 738 thousand worth of products to Ukraine. So, the Azerbaijani side had current account surpluses while Ukraine had a current account deficit. Moreover, the direct investments from Ukraine to Azerbaijan amounted to more than $25 million, and from Azerbaijan to Ukraine was around $200 million. As a result of improvements in economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, the first Trade House of Azerbaijan was opened in the capital of Ukraine, and similar projects are estimated to be implemented in the other regions of Ukraine. The Azerbaijan Trade House has been launched to deal with promote “Made in Azerbaijan” brand in the Ukrainian market, and also it is expected to promote the general exports of the products of Azerbaijan. [26] [27]
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) is considered one of the key players to increase transactions between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. So as a result of its investments in Ukraine, it has 9 petrol filling stations in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions of Ukraine, and in capital Kyiv and has further plan to establish more petrol filling stations in various regions of the country.
Additionally, in 2009, SOCAR purchased the Naftonreyd oil base in that country which has the 25,250 m3 and an annual turnover of 200 thousand m3. [28]
Year | Amount Thousands of USD |
---|---|
2020 [29] | 418 455,13 |
2021 [30] | 470 024,16 |
2022 [31] | 259 804,61 |
Year | Amount Thousands of USD |
---|---|
2020 [29] | 353 045,37 |
2021 [30] | 452 449,32 |
2022 [31] | 357 974,81 |
Ukraine is, after Turkey and Israel, one of the main military partners of Azerbaijan. Azeri officers are trained in Ukrainian military academies, and various technical assistance is supplied by Ukraine. [32] [ citation needed ] In 2006, Ukraine had sold 48 T-72AG to Azerbaijan. In 2009, Ukraine supplied to Azerbaijan, 29 BTR-70, 29 units of 122-millimeter self-propelled howitzers 2S1 Pink and 6 units of 152-millimeter self-propelled howitzers 2S3 Acacia a combat trainer MiG-29UB, 11 Mi-24. [33] In 2010, Ukraine sold to Azerbaijan a 71 BTR-70, 7 self-propelled artillery "Carnation" 2S1 122 mm, 1 Mi-24P, a managed anti-missile complex, and 3,000 rifles and pistols. Ukraine remains as one of the main military partners of Azerbaijan.
One month before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Azerbaijan transferred three MiG-29 to a Ukrainian facility for repairs. [34] [35]
Since 1998, Ukrainian has been taught in Baku Slavic University and the Ukrainian sector opened afterward. In 2001 in Kyiv, the Heydar Aliyev Social and Political Science Institutes was opened. Since 1978 a library named Samed Vurgun is active in Ukraine. At the same year, a short documentary called Azerbaijani days in Ukraine released and year after From the eyes of the friends documentary was shot which was about the Ukrainian culture days in Azerbaijan. Monument of Taras Shevchenko was opened in Azerbaijan in 2008. [36]
In 2000 there were about 32,000 Ukrainians that lived in Azerbaijan, and over 45,000 Azerbaijanis that lived in Ukraine. [37] Azerbaijan recognizes the Holodomor as a genocide.
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.
The State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, largely known by its abbreviation SOCAR, is a fully state-owned national oil and gas company headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan. The company produces oil and natural gas from onshore and offshore fields in the Azerbaijani segment of the Caspian Sea. It operates the country's only oil refinery, one gas processing plant and runs several oil and gas export pipelines throughout the country. It owns fuel filling station networks under the SOCAR brand in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Switzerland, and Austria.
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."
Official diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran were established following the dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991). Iran and Azerbaijan share, to a large extent, the same history, religion, and culture. The territory of what is now called the Republic of Azerbaijan was only separated from Iran in the first half of the 19th century, through the Russo-Persian Wars. In the area to the North of the river Aras, the territory of the contemporary Republic of Azerbaijan was Iranian territory until it was occupied by Russia. Iran and Azerbaijan are both majority Shia Muslim nations. They have respectively the highest and second highest Shia population percentage in the world, as well as the history of Shi'ism which is rooted in both nations from exactly the same moment in history, whereas the majority of the population of both their neighboring nations are either predominantly Christians or Sunni Muslims. However, there are some tensions between the two countries as its political alignment may vary by degree. The Republic of Azerbaijan has become increasingly pro-Western aligned, and is an ally of Israel, Turkey and the United States while the Islamic Republic of Iran is largely pro-Russian and pro-Chinese aligned due to its hostility towards the U.S. and has been targeted with sanctions. Iranian politicians, like Mohammad Hosseini, have called Azerbaijan an Israeli proxy.
Azerbaijan and Israel began diplomatic relations in 1992 following Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan is one of the majority Muslim countries, alongside Turkey, Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kosovo, Morocco, Albania, and the other former Soviet republics to develop bilateral strategic and economic relations with Israel.
Ukrainian–Armenian relations are bilateral diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Armenia, which were established on 25 December 1991. Until then, both were member republics of the Soviet Union. Today, the countries are both members of the World Trade Organization, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations, and the Eastern Partnership initiative of the EU. Currently, Ukraine has the 5th largest Armenian community in the world. The Embassy of Armenia in Kyiv opened in 1993. The Embassy of Ukraine in Yerevan opened in 1996. The current Ambassador of Armenia to Ukraine is Andranik Manukyan. The current Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia is Ivan Khukhta.
Russia and Azerbaijan are de facto and de jure allies in many different aspects, including military. Bilateral relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. The Embassy of Azerbaijan is located in Moscow, Russia. The Embassy of Russia is located in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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".
Bilateral relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Japan in the political, socio-economic, cultural, and other fields.
Diplomatic relations exist between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands. Azerbaijan have an embassy in The Hague. the Netherlands has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Azerbaijan celebrated its 30th anniversary with the Netherlands on April 1, 2022.
The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Germany established in 1992 after Germany recognized the independence of Azerbaijan.
Bilateral relations exist between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Colombia in political, socio-economic, cultural and other spheres.
Azerbaijan–Morocco relations are the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Morocco. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Rabat. Morocco has an embassy in Baku.
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.
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