of the Republic of Azerbaijan
H.E. Dr. Hasan Hasanov
Dear visitor,
Welcome to the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Hungary.
In our site we are trying to present brief information about our country, development of Azerbaijani-Hungarian bilateral relations and consular information.
State history of Azerbaijani nation has more than three-thousand years. During this period of time, our country was occupied several times and our country lost its independence. But every time our people rose up and restored its independence.
As a result of February revolution in 1917, which took place in Russia, the Azerbaijani nation showed its political will and restored its independence on a new political basis. And for the first time in our history, in May 1918 – Azerbaijan was declared a Democratic Republic.
In October 1991 the Azerbaijani Republic declared its withdrawal from Soviet Union. Our independence was accepted all over the world.
After the declaration of its independence, Azerbaijan came across with the cruel aggression by the Republic of Armenia. As a result of this aggression, 20 percent of our territory was occupied and still under occupation. These territories had been exposed to the cruel ethnic cleansing about 1 million of Azerbaijanis were expelled out of their native lands and are still refugees at present.
On February 26, 1992 the aggressor – Republic of Armenia committed genocide in Khojaly – the Azerbaijani town, where nearly 1 thousand people - children, women and old men were killed and injured. Khojaly was fully destroyed.
In spite of these difficulties and owing to the efforts of our outstanding statesman – Mr. Heydar Aliyev, nowadays Azerbaijan is firmly established in the world community as an equal and a reliable partner.
Now Azerbaijan is led by the President Mr. Ilham Aliyev and constructing the democratic and secular state, where the human rights, the freedom of speech and religious are being obeyed. Our strategic goal is to integrate further into the Euro-Atlantic structures.
Azerbaijanis a country developing very rapidly and dynamically. In Azerbaijan we are implementing big energy and transport projects and these projects have already impacted on regional development. Azerbaijan successfully performs its energy strategy. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline connecting the Caspian and the Mediterranean seas has already started to operate and first Azerbaijani oil has left Ceyhan port via ship. This is a unique infrastructure. For the first time worldwide the Caspian and the Mediterranean seas regions were connected by very strong infrastructure. Considering the giant oil and gas resources of Azerbaijan this event will bring successful development to our country and common benefit to our friends and partners. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline was named after the Common National Leader Mr. Heydar Aliyev. It was the oil strategy of Azerbaijan initiated by our Common National Leader Mr. Heydar Aliyev in 1994 that today creates possibilities for all-round development of our country.
Our country is actively working on its gas project and gas pipeline to transport Azerbaijani gas to the Black and the Mediterranean seas regions. Today the Caspian Sea is linked to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea via pipelines. This opens new possibilities. Azerbaijan is becoming a very reliable exporter of energy for neighboring countries and we will strive to take maximal use of this and create better conditions in the region. I am sure it will give its contribution to the regional cooperation, security and peace.
Our country is located at the junction of Europe and Asia and plays is natural bridge in certain time. Importance of transport projects directed from Azerbaijan to Europe, as well as from Central Asia via Azerbaijan is getting increased. Our plans to restore the historical Silk Road, TRACECA program, Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway line to connect Central Asia with Europe are not ideas or desires only. Vast majority of them have already been successfully completed.
Economic turnover between Azerbaijan and Hungary is increasing. The cooperation of our countries in the oil and gas sphere is only in the initial stages. I believe that in the near future Azerbaijan will be an alternative source of energy for Hungary.
For ages the history and fate of Azerbaijani and Hungarian nations were deeply connected. In the period of ancient Cimmerian, Scythians our ancestors lived together, forming of a united state. Our languages have general roots. Our ancient faiths were united as well. Our ancient cultures are analogous in many respects.
The Azerbaijani nation remembers, knows and values this highly. Accepting all responsibility I declare – there is no power in the world, let it be premeditated or accidental, which can harm the friendship between our nations. This can be confirmed by many of Hungarian politicians, scientists, journalists who have visited Azerbaijan.
Since September 2004 when we opened the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Hungary we have been doing our best to develop relations in all spheres, especially political, economic and cultural spheres.
In order to create legal basis to fruitful cooperation the Embassy of Azerbaijan initiated drafts of agreements with different Ministries and organizations of Hungary. Nowadays more than 30 agreements are under discussions and about half of them are ready for signing. We are planning to sign these agreements during high level bilateral visits, either in Baky or in Budapest.
We also successfully cooperate with Hungary in the sphere of culture. The Embassy has organized different concerts, exhibitions, press-conferences, etc in order to introduce Azerbaijani culture to Hungarians.
I am sure that political, economic and cultural relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Hungary based on friendship and cooperation will increase in the interest of our nations.
I wish you a pleasant time while using our site.
