Azerbaijani-Greek relations
Encyclopedia
In the 9th B.C., the seminomadic Scythians settled in areas of present day Azerbaijan
. A century later, the Medes
, who were related ethnically to the Persians, established an empire that included southernmost Azerbaijan. The Archaemenid Persians, under Cyrus the Great
, took over the western part of Azerbaijan when they subdued the Assyrian Empire to the west. In 330 B.C., Alexander the Great absorbed the entire Archaemenid Empire into his holdings, leaving Persian satraps to govern as they advanced eastward. During 6th century Byzantine Empire
established relations with Caucasian Albania
Uzun Hassan
was married with Greek princess Desphina and he have defended Empire of Trebizond
against to Ottoman army. Hassan's grandson Ismail I
was the founder of Safavid dynasty
and remains as a national hero of Azerbaijan. During Russian rule of Azerbaijan and Ottoman rule of Greece relations between these two were totally stopped. Azerbaijan got established a democratic republic in 1918 but was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991 which was recognized by Greece in December 31, 1991. Diplomatic relations established in 1992. The Greek embassy in Baku
was opened in the spring of 1993. The embassy of Azerbaijan in Athens
was opened in August 2004.
Both countries are full members of Council of Europe
, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
. Greece was the first European Union
member country that wanted directly import gas from Azerbaijan. Both countries enjoyed recently developed close relations in trade, culture, and economy. Greek diaspora
in Azerbaijan is concentrated in Baku and numbers about 250-300 people, most of them are descendants of the Black Sea Greeks of Asia Minor who in the late 19th-early 20th centuries migrated to Azerbaijan.
and Greece
each maintain bi-lateral, diplomatic relations. Each state maintains a full embassy, Azerbaijan in Athens
and Greece in Baku
. Recently in February 2009, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
visited Greece in order to boost bilateral relations. The leader met with Greek President Karolos Papoulias
, as well as the Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. At the meeting between the officials, the two nations agreed that they must work more closely to get Azeri gas into Greece to help ease recent security issues.
In the past the two nations have made many deals related to the oil
industry. In 2007 Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas
signed a "memorandum of cooperation" in the sectors of natural gas and oil while in Baku
. Sioufas referred to this memorandum
as a "new page in economic and energy relations of the two countries."
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...
. A century later, the Medes
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
, who were related ethnically to the Persians, established an empire that included southernmost Azerbaijan. The Archaemenid Persians, under Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus II of Persia , commonly known as Cyrus the Great, also known as Cyrus the Elder, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Under his rule, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of the ancient Near East, expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of Southwest Asia and much...
, took over the western part of Azerbaijan when they subdued the Assyrian Empire to the west. In 330 B.C., Alexander the Great absorbed the entire Archaemenid Empire into his holdings, leaving Persian satraps to govern as they advanced eastward. During 6th century Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
established relations with Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
Uzun Hassan
Uzun Hassan
Uzun Hasan or Hassan , Sultan of the Aq Qoyunlu dynasty, or White Sheep Turkmen. Hassan ruled in parts of present-day western Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia between 1453 and 1478....
was married with Greek princess Desphina and he have defended Empire of Trebizond
Empire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, founded in April 1204, was one of three Byzantine successor states of the Byzantine Empire. However, the creation of the Empire of Trebizond was not directly related to the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, rather it had broken away from the Byzantine Empire...
against to Ottoman army. Hassan's grandson Ismail I
Ismail I
Ismail I , known in Persian as Shāh Ismāʿil , was a Shah of Iran and the founder of the Safavid dynasty which survived until 1736. Isma'il started his campaign in Azerbaijan in 1500 as the leader of the Safaviyya, an extremist heterodox Twelver Shi'i militant religious order and unified all of Iran...
was the founder of Safavid dynasty
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
and remains as a national hero of Azerbaijan. During Russian rule of Azerbaijan and Ottoman rule of Greece relations between these two were totally stopped. Azerbaijan got established a democratic republic in 1918 but was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991 which was recognized by Greece in December 31, 1991. Diplomatic relations established in 1992. The Greek 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...
was opened in the spring of 1993. The embassy of Azerbaijan in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
was opened in August 2004.
Both countries are full members of 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...
, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (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...
and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
On 25 June 1992, the Heads of State and Government of eleven countries signed in Istanbul the Summit Declaration and the Bosporus Statement giving birth to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation ...
. Greece was the first European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
member country that wanted directly import gas from Azerbaijan. Both countries enjoyed recently developed close relations in trade, culture, and economy. Greek diaspora
Greek diaspora
The Greek diaspora, also known as Hellenic Diaspora or Diaspora of Hellenism, is a term used to refer to the communities of Greek people living outside the traditional Greek homelands, but more commonly in southeast Europe and Asia Minor...
in Azerbaijan is concentrated in Baku and numbers about 250-300 people, most of them are descendants of the Black Sea Greeks of Asia Minor who in the late 19th-early 20th centuries migrated to Azerbaijan.
Political and commercial relations
The nations of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
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 Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
each maintain bi-lateral, diplomatic relations. Each state maintains a full embassy, Azerbaijan in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and Greece 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...
. Recently in February 2009, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
visited Greece in order to boost bilateral relations. The leader met with Greek President Karolos Papoulias
Karolos Papoulias
-Honours:*Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic *Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav *Knight of the Order of the Elephant- External links :*...
, as well as the Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. At the meeting between the officials, the two nations agreed that they must work more closely to get Azeri gas into Greece to help ease recent security issues.
In the past the two nations have made many deals related to the oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
industry. In 2007 Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas
Dimitris Sioufas
Dimitris Sioufas is a Greek lawyer and New Democracy politician.Born in Ellinopyrgos, Karditsa, Sioufas has a degree in political science and public administration at the Panteion University of Athens as well as in law from the University of Thessaloniki.He was first elected to the Greek...
signed a "memorandum of cooperation" in the sectors of natural gas and oil while 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...
. Sioufas referred to this memorandum
Memorandum
A memorandum is from the Latin verbal phrase memorandum est, the gerundive form of the verb memoro, "to mention, call to mind, recount, relate", which means "It must be remembered ..."...
as a "new page in economic and energy relations of the two countries."