Azerbaijan–Russia relations
Encyclopedia
Azerbaijan–Russia relations is the relationships between the two countries, Azerbaijan
and the Russian Federation. Azerbaijan was one of the countries that made up the Soviet republics
. After the collapse of the USSR, Azerbaijan became an independent country. The relations later became sour due to Russia's bilateral relations with Armenia
, which maintains no relations with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has played a key role in frustrating Russia’s efforts to control energy export routes in the Caspian Basin to Europe, a new report states. Moscow, however, continues to probe for new ways to gain an advantage in the regional contest for energy dominance. Russia has an embassy in Baku
, and Azerbaijan has an embassy in Moscow
and consulate-general in Saint Petersburg
. Azerbaijan also announced that it will open another consulate-general in Yekaterinburg
. Despite the stated differences and conflicting interests, bilateral relations between the two countries are friendly and close. There are more than half million of Azeris in Russia
as well as notable diaspora of Russians in Azerbaijan
.
and asked about this information. On January 21, 2009 Russian ministry of foreign relations officially denied the transfers.
According to the materials published by Wikileaks in December 2010 Azerbaijani defence minister Safar Abiyev
claimed that in January 2009 during his visit to Moscow his Russian counterpart Sergei Serdyukov
unofficially had admitted weapon transfers although officially it was denied.
The leaders of defense departments of both countries make guest visits on a regular basis. On 23-25 January 2006 Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov
visited Baku. In November 2007, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov also visited Azerbaijan. On 29 July 29 2008, in Moscow, the Second Meeting of Russia-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation took place.
On 25 January 2002, an agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the status, principles and conditions for use of the Gabala radar station (radar station, "DTV") was signed, and on 28 November 2003 an intergovernmental protocol was signrd, dealing with the question on how to open and use the credits to pay for the costs with the use of information-analytical center for the period 1997-2001. On 2007 June 20 the Intergovernmental Protocol was signed, addressing the status of authorized representatives of Russia and Azerbaijan, appointed to execute the Agreement on the status, principles and conditions of use of the radar "DTV".
On June 8, 2007, at the G-8 summit
in Heiligendamm
, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a proposal to use the Qabala radar
station as a part of the U.S.-developed missile defense system. The proposal was supported by the Azerbaijani leadership, which considered it as a concrete contribution to stability and security in the region.
Border cooperation remains an important component of Azerbaijan-Russia relations, taking into account the overall situation in the Caucasus and the common objectives of the struggle against international terrorism. On 25 January 2002 an intergovernmental agreement on the activities of border service representatives was signed. The consultations are going about an agreement on opening of border service offices on the territories of both countries.
On 29-30 January 2008, Moscow hosted the XV round of talks on the delimitation of the border with Azerbaijan. The agreed boundary line, which was outlined in the working protocols, map and descriptive documents, is 301.1 miles (336.5 km), which corresponds to the 90% of the two states' borders.
Law enforcement and judicial authorities of Russia and Azerbaijan cooperate as well. Signed in April 1996, the Agreement between the Russian Interior Ministry and the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan on cooperation of internal affairs in border areas entered into force in 2001. Also there were the following agreements: Memorandum of mutual relations in the fight against terrorism (February 2000) and protocols on cooperation, a memorandum on cooperation between the Russian Interior Ministry and the Interior Ministry in the field of preservation of goods in transit (July 2008).
2005 was the "Year of Azerbaijan" in Russia and 2006 was the "Year of Russia" in Azerbaijan; the two countries held 110 special cultural events during these two years.
In 2008, in Baku, a branch of Moscow State University
was established. In the universities of Azerbaijan over 15 thousand students are involved in Russian language
education. In Azerbaijan there are over 50 Russian-language newspapers and 10 Russian news agencies.
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 the Russian Federation. Azerbaijan was one of the countries that made up the Soviet republics
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. After the collapse of the USSR, Azerbaijan became an independent country. The relations later became sour due to Russia's bilateral relations with Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, which maintains no relations with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has played a key role in frustrating Russia’s efforts to control energy export routes in the Caspian Basin to Europe, a new report states. Moscow, however, continues to probe for new ways to gain an advantage in the regional contest for energy dominance. Russia has an embassy 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...
, and Azerbaijan has an embassy in Moscow
Embassy of Azerbaijan in Moscow
The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation. It is located at 16 Leontyevsky Lane in the Presnensky District of Moscow.- External links :...
and consulate-general in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. Azerbaijan also announced that it will open another consulate-general in Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
. Despite the stated differences and conflicting interests, bilateral relations between the two countries are friendly and close. There are more than half million of Azeris in Russia
Azeris in Russia
Aside from the large Azeri community native to Russia's Dagestan Republic, the majority of Azeris in Russia are fairly recent immigrants. Azeris started settling in Russia around the late 19th century, but their migration became intensive after World War II. It rapidly increased with the collapse...
as well as notable diaspora of Russians in Azerbaijan
Russians in Azerbaijan
Russians in Azerbaijan - are the second largest ethnic minority in Azerbaijan. As the largest Russian diaspora in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, the Russian community in Azerbaijan also comprises one of the largest Russian populations outside of Russia...
.
Russia's weapons transfers to Armenia in 2008
At the beginning of 2009 Azerbaijani media published allegations that Russia had made extensive weapons transfers to Armenia throughout 2008 costing about $ 800 mln. On January 12, 2009 the Russian ambassador was invited to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Azerbaijan)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is a Cabinet-level governmental agency in Azerbaijan Republic in charge of conducting and designing Azerbaijani Foreign policy.- History :...
and asked about this information. On January 21, 2009 Russian ministry of foreign relations officially denied the transfers.
According to the materials published by Wikileaks in December 2010 Azerbaijani defence minister Safar Abiyev
Safar Abiyev
Colonel General Safar Akhundbala oglu Abiyev is the current Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, considered as one of the longest serving defense minister in the Commonwealth of Independent States.-Biography:General Safar Abiyev was born in Baku...
claimed that in January 2009 during his visit to Moscow his Russian counterpart Sergei Serdyukov
Sergei Serdyukov
Sergei Sergeyevich Serdyukov is a Russian professional footballer. Currently, he plays for FC KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny.-External links: *...
unofficially had admitted weapon transfers although officially it was denied.
Military cooperation
On 27 February 27 2003, in Baku, Russia and Azerbaijan signed an intergovernmental agreement on military-technical cooperation, and on 4 December 2006 the parties signed an intergovernmental agreement on mutual protection of rights of intellectual property.The leaders of defense departments of both countries make guest visits on a regular basis. On 23-25 January 2006 Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov
Sergei Ivanov
Sergei Borisovich Ivanov is a Russian senior official and statesman. He was Minister of Defence from March 2001 to February 2007, Deputy Prime Minister from November 2005 to February 2007, and the First Deputy Prime Minister from February 2007 to May 2008...
visited Baku. In November 2007, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov also visited Azerbaijan. On 29 July 29 2008, in Moscow, the Second Meeting of Russia-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation took place.
On 25 January 2002, an agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the status, principles and conditions for use of the Gabala radar station (radar station, "DTV") was signed, and on 28 November 2003 an intergovernmental protocol was signrd, dealing with the question on how to open and use the credits to pay for the costs with the use of information-analytical center for the period 1997-2001. On 2007 June 20 the Intergovernmental Protocol was signed, addressing the status of authorized representatives of Russia and Azerbaijan, appointed to execute the Agreement on the status, principles and conditions of use of the radar "DTV".
On June 8, 2007, at the G-8 summit
33rd G8 summit
The 33rd G8 summit took place at Kempinski Grand Hotel in Heiligendamm in the old Duchy of Mecklenburg in the Northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the Baltic Coast. The group of eight leaders met together from 6 June to 8 June 2007...
in Heiligendamm
Heiligendamm
Heiligendamm is a German seaside resort, founded in 1793. The small cluster of structures which still survive are reminders of the glory days of days gone by when this part of the Baltic Sea was one of the playgrounds of Europe's aristocracy. It is the oldest seaside spa in Germany...
, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a proposal to use the Qabala radar
Qabala Radar
The Qabala Radar or Qabala Radar Station is a Daryal-type bistatic phased-array early warning radar, built by the Soviet Union in the Qabala district of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1985 located at...
station as a part of the U.S.-developed missile defense system. The proposal was supported by the Azerbaijani leadership, which considered it as a concrete contribution to stability and security in the region.
Border cooperation remains an important component of Azerbaijan-Russia relations, taking into account the overall situation in the Caucasus and the common objectives of the struggle against international terrorism. On 25 January 2002 an intergovernmental agreement on the activities of border service representatives was signed. The consultations are going about an agreement on opening of border service offices on the territories of both countries.
On 29-30 January 2008, Moscow hosted the XV round of talks on the delimitation of the border with Azerbaijan. The agreed boundary line, which was outlined in the working protocols, map and descriptive documents, is 301.1 miles (336.5 km), which corresponds to the 90% of the two states' borders.
Law enforcement and judicial authorities of Russia and Azerbaijan cooperate as well. Signed in April 1996, the Agreement between the Russian Interior Ministry and the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan on cooperation of internal affairs in border areas entered into force in 2001. Also there were the following agreements: Memorandum of mutual relations in the fight against terrorism (February 2000) and protocols on cooperation, a memorandum on cooperation between the Russian Interior Ministry and the Interior Ministry in the field of preservation of goods in transit (July 2008).
Economic relations
Trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan is on the rise. In 2008 the trade turnover between the two countries countries increased annually by 39.3% and amounted to 2.403 billion dollars, exports grew by 42.6% up to 1.9911 billion dollars, imports increased by 25.4% up to 411.4 million dollars. Despite the end of Russian gas deliveries to Azerbaijan on January 1, 2007, the trade has kept a positive trend, and its structure has evolved towards an increasing share of non-primary goods.Cultural relations
Russian-Azerbaijani relations in culture and education are developing steadily. In December 2006, the two countries adopted a program of interstate cooperation in the humanitarian sphere for 2007-2009.2005 was the "Year of Azerbaijan" in Russia and 2006 was the "Year of Russia" in Azerbaijan; the two countries held 110 special cultural events during these two years.
In 2008, in Baku, a branch of Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
was established. In the universities of Azerbaijan over 15 thousand students are involved in Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
education. In Azerbaijan there are over 50 Russian-language newspapers and 10 Russian news agencies.
See also
- Foreign relations of AzerbaijanForeign relations of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan is a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO's Partnership for Peace, Euro-Atlantic Partnership; World Health Organization, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Council of Europe, CFE Treaty, the Community of...
- Foreign relations of RussiaForeign relations of RussiaThe foreign relations of Russia is the policy of the Russian government by which it guides the interactions with other nations, their citizens and foreign organizations and sets standards of interaction for Russian organizations, corporations and individual citizens towards them...
- Azerbaijanis in Russia
- Russians in AzerbaijanRussians in AzerbaijanRussians in Azerbaijan - are the second largest ethnic minority in Azerbaijan. As the largest Russian diaspora in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, the Russian community in Azerbaijan also comprises one of the largest Russian populations outside of Russia...