Foreign policy

Republic of Azerbaijan is limited to provisions arising from international agreements, which is  the Azerbaijan Republic is a party, in it foreign policy. 

The concept of an independent policy in the Republic of Azerbaijan has coincided with the collapse of the USSR and gaining independence by the countries within the empire. However, as in the other union Republics in Azerbaijan SSR the policy was defined by the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. However, a result of the reconstruction project that began in the USSR since 1984, Azerbaijan also got the independence. In October 18, 1991, Azerbaijan was declared an independent state. Thus, the foundation of internal and foreign policy of an independent country was laid.  

After Azerbaijan gained independence changes of power in the country occurred within a short period of time, and it had negative impact on foreign policy. In the first years of independence Azerbaijan was a member of the prestigious institutions like the United Nations, the OSCE. At the same time the government carried out the negotiations with international oil companies on the delivery of Caspian Sea hydrocarbon resources to world markets.

The first years of independence, political institutions, parties, non-governmental organizations were established in Azerbaijan. When the country gained its independence Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been created inside the country.  

After Azerbaijan gained its independence from the USSR it was ruled by the Constitution of former USSR and thus the act on independence was added in the Constitution. However, the new Constitution was adopted on November 12, 1995, the state-building, the adoption of laws, domestic and foreign policy classification were carried out in Azerbaijan.

The region of Azerbaijan’s location is very important in view of the region\'s geopolitical, strategic and economic matters in the political map of the world.  In this respect, Azerbaijan continues to conduct balanced policy in the neighborhood, as well as in relations with other countries in the region. Here maintaining the same distance with all states, firstly, to promote the national interests of Azerbaijan is taken as a priority.  

Basing on balanced foreign policy is resulted from the sensitivity of the region of location of Azerbaijan.

  

1. Protection of the country\'s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and coordinating it with the international security system.

2. Closer cooperation with countries having same interests, as well as the national interests of the state, to ally with them. Using this means to get a secure position in the international system.

3. Making efforts to eliminate any tensions in the region, or conflicts.

4. Carry out the foreign economic policy pursuing the interests of the people, to represent the country in the international economic system.

5. To establish scientific, cultural and humanitarian contacts with foreign countries and to participate actively in these organizations.

The main priorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan\'s foreign policy include the following:

To remove all the threats directed against the independence of Azerbaijan, provision of national security, prevention of separatism carried out by the Armenia and its aggressive policy and making allies in the region and around the world for this purpose.

Provision of similarity of interest with the countries of the region and acting within the framework of mutual cooperation. All of these carried out due to sensitivity of the region and taking into account the joint interests of the other super powers like United States and Russia partner. Namely, in this respect conducting of balanced policy is considered to be appropriate for present time. Because emerging of any tension or conflict in this region, first of all, is undesirable for Azerbaijan which had huge energy resources and projects. In such cases, the country\'s sovereignty and national security may be under threat. It is not specific just for  Azerbaijan, as well as other neighboring states in the region.

Integration of Azerbaijan in the system of the European Union (EU) in the political, economic and cultural spheres makes the key role. Its purpose is to ensure the safe prosperity of people, attraction of foreign capital and investment, as well as new technologies into the economy of the country. In addition,  setting up of the effective  cooperation with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization is one of the main priorities.

Azerbaijan\'s foreign policy priorities also include the establishment of norms of civilized co-existence, to take an active part in increasing the activity of international organizations like the UN, OSCE, NATO to ensure peace and security in the region and around the world. Protection of the rights of Azerbaijanis living in different regions and ensuring it with international law is among our priorities.

One of the most important foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan is related to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is understood within the framework of international law. This issue also includes directly to the national security policy of Azerbaijan.

In order to solve the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan has been cooperating with international organizations, and wants to achieve a peaceful solution of the problem. However, this goal was not achieved to date.

Today, Azerbaijan cooperates closely with the UN, the OSCE, the European Union, NATO, the Organization of Islamic Conference, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Council of Europe.

Azerbaijan builds its energy policy mostly on the gas factor. A few years the serious discussions have been carrying out on The Southern Gas Corridor as well as concrete steps are being taken. As early as in 2006, a memorandum on energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union was signed. In January of 2011 joint declaration on The Southern Gas Corridor  was signed between the European Union and Azerbaijan. The working group has been established between the European Union and Azerbaijan.

At present, Azerbaijan has 64 diplomatic representations abroad - embassies, permanent missions at international organizations and consulates are functioning. 51 of them are embassies, 6 consulates-general and 7 permanent representations. The total number of Azerbaijani diplomats working abroad is about 600.

   

The list of states established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan:

1. Turkey (14.01.1992)

2. Switzerland (21.01.1992)

3. Liechtenstein (21.01.1992)

4. Korea (30.01.1992)

5. Ukraine (06.02.1992)

6. Mexico (10.02.1992)

7. Spain (11.02.1992)

8. Austria (20.02.1992

9. France (21.02.1992)

10. Poland (21.02.1992)

11. Saudi Arabia (24.02.1992)

12. Yemen (25.02.1992)

13. Bangladesh (26.02.1992)

14. USA (28.02.1992)

15. India (28.02.1992)

16. United Kingdom (11.03.1992

17. Guinea (11.03.1992)

18. Iran (12.03.1992)

19. Libya (16.03.1992)

20. Germany (17.03.1992)

21. Korea (23.03.1992)

22. Finland (24.03.1992)

23. Egypt (07.03.1992)

24. Cuba (27.03.1992)

25. Philippines (27.03.1992)

26. Syria (28.03.1992)

27. Iraq (30.03.1992)

28. Nederland (01.04.1992)

29. China (02.04.1992)

30. Greece (02.04.1992)

31. Denmark (02.04.1992)

32. Russia (04.04.1992)

33. Israel (07.04.1992)

34. Palestine (15.04.1992)

35. Mongolia (16.04.1992)

36. Estonia (20.04.1992)

37. Hungary (27.04.1992)

38. South Africa (29.04.1992)

39. Italy (08.05.1992)

40. Sweden (08.05.1992)

41. Moldova (18.05.1992)

42. Vatican City (24.05.1992)

43. Tajikistan (29.05.1992)

44. Luxembourg (01.06.1992)

45. Bulgaria (05.06.1992)

46. Norway (05.06.1992)

47. Turkmenistan (09.06.1992)

48. Pakistan (09.06.1992)

49. Romania (16.06.1992)

50. Belgium (17.06.1992)

51. Australia (19.06.1992)

52. New Zealand (29.06.1992)

53. Thailand (07.07.1992)

54. Canada (10.07.1992)

55. Oman (13.07.1992)

56. Sudan (25.07.1992)

57. Portugal (04.08.1992)

58. Marrakech (25.08.1992)

59. Guinea-Bissau (27.08.1992)

60. Kazakhstan (30.08.1992)

61. United Arab Emirates (01.09.1992)

62. Japan (07.09.1992)

63. Ghana (11.09.1992)

64. Lebanon (18.09.1992)

65. Vietnam (23.09.1992)

66. Indonesia (24.09.1992)

67. Ethiopia (02.11.1992)

68. Georgia (18.11.1992)

69. Kyrgyzstan (19.01.1993)

70. Czech Republic (27.01.1993)

71. Jordan (13.02.1993)

72. Malaysia (05.04.1993)

73. Madagascar (26.05.1993)

74. Belarus (11.06.1993)

75. Albania (23.09.1993)

76. Brazil (21.10.1993)

77. Argentina (08.11.1993)

78. Zambia (18.11.1993)

79. Slovakia (23.11.1993)

80. Latvia (11.01.1994)

81. Alger (22.04.1994

82. Singapore (15.08.1994)

83. Comoro Islands (06.09.1994)

84. Qatar (14.09.1994)

85. Kuwait (07.10.1994)

86. Mauritania (29.10.1994)

87. Guatemala (01.11.1994)

88. Seychelles (02.11.1994)

89. Chile (03.11.1994)

90. Gambia (11.11.1994)

91. Afghanistan (16.11.1994)

92. Nicaragua (23.11.1994)

93. Angola (01.12.1994)

94. Colombia (13.12.1994)

95. Maldives Islands (20.12.1994)

96. Honduras (22.12.1994)

97. Cambodia (28.12.1994)

98. Malta (09.01.1995)

99. Guyana (09.01.1995)

100. Uruguay (11.01.1995)

101. Croatia (26.01.1995)

102. Bosnia and Herzegovina (09.02.1995)

103. Cameroon (24.02.1995)

104. Nepal (28.02.1995)

105. Burundi (02.03.1995)

106. Sierra Leone (13.03.1995)

107. Kids and Nevis Saint (22.03.1995)

108. Antigua and Barbuda (05.04.1995)

109. Panama (06.04.1995)

110. Venezuela (12.05.1995)

111. Laos (22.05.1995)

112. Mozambique (20.06.1995)

113. Macedonia (28.06.1995)

114. Uganda (19.08.1995)

115. Uzbekistan (02.10.1995)

116. Niger (10.11.1995)

117. Jamaica (22.11.1995)

118. Brunei-Darussalam (24.11.1995)

119. Lithuania (27.11.1995)

120. Slovenia (20.02.1996)

121. Senegal (14.03.1996)

122. Andorra (30.04.1996)

123. Sri Lanka (21.05.1996)

124. Liberia (22.05.1996)

125. Peru (25.06.1996)

126. Ireland (01.07.1996)

127. Bolivia (08.07.1996)

128. Mauritius (19.07.1996)

129. Gabon (01.10.1996)

130. Djibouti (22.10.1996)

131. Bahrain (06.11.1996)

132. Cote d `Ivoire (19.11.1996)

133. Mali (26.11.1996)

134. Costa Rica 15.01.97

135. Serbia and Montenegro (21.08.1997)

136. Iceland (27.02.1998)

137. Tunisia (01.07.1998)

138. El-Salvador (23.03.1999)

139. Myanmar (03.08.1999)

140. Benin (14.10.1999)

141. Suriname (11.02.2000)

142. San Marino (19.04.2002)

143. Belize (24.06.2002)

144. Haiti (09.05.2003)

145. Saint Vincent (23.05.2003)

146. Ecuador (22.03.2004)

147. Somalia (22.03.2004)

148. Capo Verde (22.03.2004)

149. Chad (05.04.2004)

150. East-Timor (05.04.2004)

151. Paraguay (20.04.2004)

152. Eritrea (20.04.2004)

153. Malawi (21.05.2004)

154. Burkina-Faso (28.05.2004)

155. Rwanda (28.05.2004)

156. Kenya (28.05.2004)

157. Equatorial Guinea (11.11.2004)

158. Nauru (11.11.2004)