Azerbaijani - Bulgarian relations


            

 
History of relations: There are very close relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria at present. These relations have been established in the last ten years. Political, economical, scientific, technological and cultural relations are developing rapidly. The presidents of both countries repeatedly declared their interest in the expansion of these relations.

Bilateral political relations: Bulgaria recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on January 14, 1992. Diplomatic relations between the two states were established in the June of the same year. Embassy of Bulgaria to Azerbaijan was opened in the December of 1999, and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Bulgaria in December of 2005 respectively.

Cooperation between the two countries developed after the visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria at the invitation of President Zhelyu Zhelev on June 29-30, 1995. Heydar Aliyev and Zhelyu Zhelev signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation in many spheres. The two countries signed agreement on commercial, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, on air communication inside and outside the territories, on legal assistance in the search of crimes.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev made a speech at the Bulgarian People's Assembly. In his speech President Heydar Aliyev said: "Azerbaijan is a peace-loving country, we don't claim to the territory of Armenia or any other country. At the same time we can't give our lands to another country. We defend our territorial integrity, our lands and fight only to defend ourselves."

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev made a speech at the official reception in his honor organized by the Bulgarian President.

In the December of 1999 the Bulgarian President Peter Stoyanov made an official visit to Azerbaijan and had a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan. Bilateral agreements were signed between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. Agreements were signed on cooperation in the sphere of statistics, customs, tourism, standardization and metrology between the Azerbaijani and Bulgarian Governments.

In the September of 2002 the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria signed an agreement on the cooperation in the sphere of defence.

Continuing his relations with Azerbaijan ex-president of Bulgaria Zhelyu Zhelev repeatedly visited Azerbaijan and met President Heydar Aliyev. In the September of 2006 he visited Azerbaijan as President of the Balkan Political Club and met President Ilham Aliyev.

Ilham Aliyev pays a special attention to the Azerbaijani-Bulgarian relations after his election President of Azerbaijan in the October of 2003.

The Bulgarian President Georgi Pirvanov paid an official visit to Azerbaijan in the October of 2004. Both sides expressed their intention to develop relations between the countries. A joint statement and agreements in the sphere of economy, health and transportations were signed during this visit.

In the September of 2005 President of Azerbaijan paid an official visit to Bulgaria. At a tête-à-tête meeting President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev talked about the potentials of developing high-level regional, international and economic cooperation with Bulgaria. Touching upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh problem the Presidents expressed their expectancies for this problem to be solved peacefully. Bulgarian President stated that they would support the just position of Azerbaijan henceforth. During this visit the presidents signed a joint statement, memorandum of cooperation in the sphere of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration. They also signed an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of simplified visa system, a protocol of mutual understanding for expanding cooperation in the sphere of customs, as well as professional training of personnel and in service training.

On March 10, 2008, the Bulgarian President Georgi Pirvanov made a working visit to Azerbaijan. The Presidents discussed economic political and cultural issues.

On January 22, 2009, the Bulgarian President Georgi Pirvanov paid a short-term visit to Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev and President Georgi Pirvanov had a tête-à-tête meeting. It was noted that bilateral relations between the two countries in political, economical humanitarian and other spheres were developing successfully.

On November 13, 2009, President Ilham Aliyev made a working visit to Bulgaria and had meeting with President Georgi Pirvanov. There was a ceremony of signature of documents between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria with the participation of the Presidents. After the ceremony President Ilham Aliyev and President Georgi Pirvanov held a press conference. In his speech President Ilham Aliyev declared: "Of course, high level political relations have positive influence on other spheres. Bulgaria has a great role in cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union. Bulgaria always supports Azerbaijan in the process of its integration to the Euro-Atlantic organization."

Economic relations: Since 1998 Azerbaijan and Bulgaria take part in TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) project. Azerbaijan and Bulgaria cooperate within the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) as well. A number of important documents in the sphere of economy were signed between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria in 2009:

-Memorandum of Cooperation between the ministry of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria;

-Memorandum of mutual understanding in the transportation of natural gas between "Bulgartransgas" and State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

These agreements intend to export at least 1 billion cubic meter gas from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria in 2011-2012.

Cultural relations: the Azerbaijani-Bulgarian cultural relations develop successfully. An agreement on cooperation between Baku Slavic University and Sofia University St. Kl. Ohridski was signed in 2002. On October 26-31, 2002 ex-president of the Republic of Bulgaria Zhelyu Zhelev was conferred upon the honorary title of Doctor of Baku Slavic University.

On October 7, 2004, the Bulgarian Language and Culture Center was opened with the participation of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Georgi Pirvanov. The main goal of the Bulgarian Language and Culture Center is to develop the cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, and arouse interest of the youth in culture, education and science of both countries and assist to advance the teaching process of Bulgarian. The Bulgarian language is taught at Baku Slavic University since 1996.

On November 13, 2008, with the support of President Ilham Aliyev and President Georgi Pirvanov the personal exhibition of the works by the famous Bulgarian artist Emil Stoychev was opened in Baku.

General historical reference was compiled on April 5, 2010.