Azerbaijan-Denmark relations
Encyclopedia
Azerbaijan–Denmark relations refer to bilateral relations
of Azerbaijan
and Denmark
. Azerbaijan's non resident embassy for Denmark is located in London
, United Kingdom
. Denmark has a consulate in Baku
. Denmark recognized the Independence of Azerbaijan
on 31 December 1991. On 2 April 1992 the diplomatic relations between the two countries were established. Bilateral relations between the two countries are described as "friendly" and "cooperative".
in Denmark.
In 1996, the Danish Refugee Council
opened an operation for the refugees. From 1997 to 2004, Denmark provided 14 million dollars to the Azerbaijani
refugees. During the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
, the people of Azerbaijan took the streets and protested against the cartoons.
In 2010, diplomatic discussions have continued to explore the potential for further enhancement of the relationship, discussing issues such as the further development of economic trade.
, OSCE
, Council of Europe
and are interested to develop the effective cooperation. In 2006 Denmark abstained from voting for draft resolution "Long-term Conflicts on the territories of GUAM
member-states: its impact on international peace, security
and development". Ambassador Gurbanov stated that Danish companies have shown an increased interest in conducting business activities in Azerbaijan’s economy
and "there exist great opportunities for deepening economic ties".
In 2004, The Azerbaijani parliament voted for the ratification of a Azerbaijani-Danish memorandum on implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
under which Denmark committed itself to financing a series of projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Azerbaijan.
Denmark also cooperates with Azerbaijan in bringing peace and political stability to the Caucasus
, Denmark has contributed $4 million to programs to achieve this. The 'Azerbaijan-Denmark Friendship Group' was established in the Azerbaijan parliament and is chaired by Azer Amirslanov. The Danish brewery company Carlsberg
, bought Baku-Castel brewery in 2008. In 2011, Vestas
delivered a wind farm
with a capacity of 48 megawatts to Azerbaijan.
Danish company Arla Foods
's white cheese is very popular in Azerbaijan. In three months, Arla has sold 1,5 million packs of Tetra Pak
cheese to Azerbaijan.
, visited Denmark. During his visit, he met with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
and the Prime Minister of Denmark
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
. Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller
visited Azerbaijan to discuss the bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan Denmark with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
. Azerbaijani politician Bahar Muradova visited Denmark on 24 May 2010.
. On 20 January 2011, the Denmark-Azerbaijan-Turkish Unity Society organized an event of the Black January
anniversary in Copenhagen.
On 26 February 2011, a ceremony commemorating the Khojaly Genocide took place in Denmark, bringing together representatives from the Turkish and Azerbaijani communities.
Bilateralism
Bilateralism consists of the political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. For example, free trade agreements signed by two states are examples of bilateral treaties. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which refers to the conduct of diplomacy by a...
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Azerbaijan's non resident embassy for Denmark is located in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Denmark has a consulate in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. Denmark recognized the Independence of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
on 31 December 1991. On 2 April 1992 the diplomatic relations between the two countries were established. Bilateral relations between the two countries are described as "friendly" and "cooperative".
History
Soviet Azerbaijan and Denmark maintained friendly relations, Soviet Azerbaijan had a envoyEnvoy
Envoy may refer to:*an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary*a Special Envoy*a diplomat in general*Envoy , the British Vauxhall cars for Canadian market in 1960-'70*Envoy , a document reader and document file format...
in Denmark.
In 1996, the Danish Refugee Council
Danish Refugee Council
Danish Refugee Council is a private Danish humanitarian organisation, founded in 1956. It serves as an umbrella organization for 33 member organizations....
opened an operation for the refugees. From 1997 to 2004, Denmark provided 14 million dollars to the Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
refugees. During the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
, the people of Azerbaijan took the streets and protested against the cartoons.
In 2010, diplomatic discussions have continued to explore the potential for further enhancement of the relationship, discussing issues such as the further development of economic trade.
Cooperation
Azerbaijan and Denmark cooperate together within the UNUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, OSCE
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
, Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and are interested to develop the effective cooperation. In 2006 Denmark abstained from voting for draft resolution "Long-term Conflicts on the territories of GUAM
GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
The GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organization of four post-Soviet states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova....
member-states: its impact on international peace, security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
and development". Ambassador Gurbanov stated that Danish companies have shown an increased interest in conducting business activities in Azerbaijan’s economy
Economy of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is an economy that has completed its post-Soviet transition into a major oil based economy , from one where the state played the major role...
and "there exist great opportunities for deepening economic ties".
In 2004, The Azerbaijani parliament voted for the ratification of a Azerbaijani-Danish memorandum on implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
under which Denmark committed itself to financing a series of projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Azerbaijan.
Denmark also cooperates with Azerbaijan in bringing peace and political stability to the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, Denmark has contributed $4 million to programs to achieve this. The 'Azerbaijan-Denmark Friendship Group' was established in the Azerbaijan parliament and is chaired by Azer Amirslanov. The Danish brewery company Carlsberg
Carlsberg
The Carlsberg Group is a Danish brewing company founded in 1847 by J. C. Jacobsen after the name of his son Carl. The headquarters are in Copenhagen, Denmark...
, bought Baku-Castel brewery in 2008. In 2011, Vestas
Vestas
Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. It is the largest in the world, but due to very rapid growth of its competitors, its market share decreased from 28% in 2007 to 12.5% in 2009...
delivered a wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
with a capacity of 48 megawatts to Azerbaijan.
Danish company Arla Foods
Arla Foods
Arla Foods is a Swedish-Danish cooperative based in Århus, Denmark, and the largest producer of dairy products in Scandinavia. Arla Foods was formed as the result of a merger between the Swedish dairy cooperative Arla and the Danish dairy company MD Foods on 17 April 2000.Arla Foods is the seventh...
's white cheese is very popular in Azerbaijan. In three months, Arla has sold 1,5 million packs of Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is a multinational food processing and packaging company of Swedish origin. It was founded in 1951 in Lund, Sweden, by Ruben Rausing. It was Erik Wallenberg who invented the tetrahedral package, today known as Tetra Classic...
cheese to Azerbaijan.
State visits
On 6 March 1995 through 12 March 1995, President of Azerbaijan, Heydar AliyevHeydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
, visited Denmark. During his visit, he met with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
and the Prime Minister of Denmark
Prime Minister of Denmark
The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen , informally Poul Nyrup, born 15 June 1943), was Prime Minister of Denmark from 25 January 1993 to 27 November 2001 and is currently President of the Party of European Socialists . He was the leader of the governing Social Democrats from 1992 to 2002...
. Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller
Per Stig Møller
Per Stig Møller was Culture Minister of Denmark. He has been a member of Folketinget for the Conservative People's Party since 1984, and was Minister for the Environment from December 18, 1990 to January 24, 1993 as part of the Cabinet of Poul Schlüter IV and Foreign Minister from November 27,...
visited Azerbaijan to discuss the bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan Denmark with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
Elmar Mammadyarov
Elmar Mammadyarov Maharram oglu , born on July 2, 1960, Baku), is the Foreign Minister in the Government of Azerbaijan since 2004. Mammadyarov speaks Russian, English and Turkish.-Early life:...
. Azerbaijani politician Bahar Muradova visited Denmark on 24 May 2010.
Culture
On 31 May 2010, an event marking Azerbaijans Republic Day was held in CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. On 20 January 2011, the Denmark-Azerbaijan-Turkish Unity Society organized an event of the Black January
Black January
Black January , also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown of the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku on January 19–20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
anniversary in Copenhagen.
On 26 February 2011, a ceremony commemorating the Khojaly Genocide took place in Denmark, bringing together representatives from the Turkish and Azerbaijani communities.