BILATERAL RELATIONS

Political relations

The Republic of Hungary recognized independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 26, 1991.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on April 27, 1992.

On December 5-6, 1994 President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Heydar Aliyev participated the Summit meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation (CSCE) in Budapest. On October 24, 1995 the Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Hungary, Mr. Heydar Aliyev and Mr. Árpád Göncz had a meeting in New York, on the margin of the UN General Assembly session.

On September 1, 2004 H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan by decree no. 366 appointed H.E. Dr. Hasan Hasanov the Republic of Azerbaijan as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Hungary.
On October 7, 2004 H.E. Dr. Hasan Hasanov presented his credentials as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Hungary.
Since opening of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Hungary we are trying to do our best to develop relations in all spheres, especially political, economical and cultural spheres.

Legal basis
 
Before opening the Embassy there were only 2 agreements between our courtiers - Protocol on Cooperation between Ministries of Foreign Affairs (Baku, February 28, 1997) and Agreement between Governments on visa free travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports (approved by the Governmental law on July 18, 2000). In order to have legal basis to fruitful cooperation the Embassy with support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan initiated drafts of agreements with different Ministries and organizations of the Republic of Hungary. Nowadays there are more that 30 agreements under discussions, about half of them are ready for signing. We are planning to sign agreements during high level bilateral visits, either in Baky or in Budapest. 
 

Following documents were singed after the opening of the Embassy:

1.  Protocol on Cooperation between Custom Services of Azerbaijan and Hungary (Baku, February 3, 2006)

2. Protocol on Cooperation between the Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Customs and Finance Police of the Republic of Hungary on co-operation and mutual assistance in customs matters (Baku, February 3, 2006);

3.  Protocol on Cooperation between “Duna TV” and “Ictimai TV” (Budapest, March 2006)

4. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Hungary (Budapest, March 22, 2007).

5. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Hungary on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments” (Baku, 18 May, 2007);

6. Agreement between the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Economy and Transport of the Republic of Hungary on Cooperation” (Baku, 18 May, 2007);

7. Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Labour and Employment of the Republic of Hungary” (Budapest, September 25, 2007);

Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group                                                            

The Embassy worked on creation of a Group of friendship with Azerbaijan in the Hungary
Bilateral meetings and visits:From August 29 to September 6, 1995, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary, Mr. André Erdős, on behalf of the acting Chairman of the OSCE, visited the three countries of the South Caucasus region, including Azerbaijan.

  • On May 5-6, 2000, on the margin of the Conference of European Speakers of Parliaments, the Speaker of the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Murtus Najaf-ogly Aleskerov and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Hungary, Ms. Katalin Szili had a meeting.
  • Between April 19 and 23, 2004, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary, Mr. Jenő Boros had consultations in the three countries of the South Caucasus region, including Azerbaijan.
  • On October 27-31, 2005 General-Director of the National Security Office of the Republic of Hungary Major-General Mr. Lajos Galambos visited Azerbaijan;
  • On January 22-24, 2006 State Secretary for Political issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Mr. András Bársony visited Azerbaijan;
  • On January 30-February 1, 2006 Minister of National Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Eldar Mahmudov visited Hungary;
  • On November 29-December 1, 2007 Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Khalaf Khalafov visited Hungary;
  • On March 22, 2007 Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Samir Sharifov visited Hungary;

On May 17-19, 2007 Dr. Kinga Göncz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary visited Azerbaijan.

Economic relations

In economic relations between two countries progress is observed. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Hungary was 5.7 million USD in 2003, 10.2 million USD in 2004, 16.6 million USD in 2005 and 28.3 million USD in 2006.

In order in increase trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Hungary the Embassy organized Business forum. There was held Business forum between businessmen of Azerbaijan and Hungary in Budapest on November 22, 2005. 11 companies from Azerbaijan side and about 40 companies from Hungarian side participated in this forum. 

Embassy would like to organize Business forums between businessmen of two countries on the spheres, such as Information and Communication Technologies, tourism, bank sector, logistics, and agriculture. 

The Embassy on a regular basis prepares and distributes press releases on Azerbaijani economy, investment opportunities and related information. 

During the visit of Samir Sharifov, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan “Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Hungary” was signed.

By the invitation of Mrs. Monika Lamperth, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour of the Republic of Hungary, Mr. Fuzuli Alakbarov, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Azerbaijan visited Hungary on September 23-25, 2007. During the visit “Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour of the Republic of Hungary” was signed.

During the visit of Dr. Göncz Kinga, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary, “Agreement between the Republic of Hungary and the Republic of Azerbaijan for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments” and “Agreement between the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Economy and Transport of the Republic of Hungary on Cooperation” were signed.

By the invitation of Mr. Natig Aliyev, Minister of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. János Koka, Minister of Economy and Transport of the Republic of Hungary will visit to Azerbaijan on November 22-23, 2007.

Oil issues

Delegation of “MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc.” leaded by Mr. J.Toth, Senior adviser of the company visited Azerbaijan to discuss cooperation issues between two countries on September 13-15, 2005.

The representatives of “MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc.” and State Oil Company of Azerbaijan have already started the negotiations on cooperation and actively continue this cooperation.

There was held Conference on the topic of “Energy of CIS countries – cooperation with Europe” on February 10, 2006. Ambassador Hasan Hasanov made a report about oil strategy of Azerbaijan, and called Hungary to cooperate with Azerbaijan in energy sphere. 

Embassy met with Hungarian officials regarding with “Nabucco” gas project, which considers the diversification of European energy, and expressed Azerbaijani readiness to participate in the security of European energy.

To discuss bilateral cooperation Mr. Natig Aliyev, Minister of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan visited Budapest by the invitation of Mr. János Koka, Minister of Economy and Transport of the Republic of Hungary on September this year.

Cultural relations 

The Embassy established good contacts with Ministry of Education and Culture and with Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Hungary.

Also the Embassy made personal contacts with different well-known Hungarian scientists and worked on creation in Budapest “Club of specialist on Azerbaijan”. By the initiative of Embassy of Azerbaijan several visits of Hungarian scientists to Azerbaijan were organized during the period from 2005 till 2007: Dr. Hoppál Mihály, Director of Institute of Ethnology of Hungarian Academy of Science; Prof.Dr. Vásáry István, Director of Oriental Studies Institute of the Eötvös Loránd University; Prof. Hazai György, member of Hungarian Academy of Science; Dr. Sipos János, leading researcher of the institute of Ethno-musicology of Hungarian Academy of Science; Dr. Ressné Ivanics Maria Rozália, educational specialist of the University of Szeged; Dr. Imre Baski, leading researcher of Hungarian Academy of Science; Mr. Adorján Imre and Mr. Puskás László- interpreters- specialists in Turkic philology. 

The “Bibliography” of the famous Hungarian scientist Prof. Hazai György and the book “Azerbaijan ethnic music” (on Azerbaijan language) by Dr. Sipos János was published in Baku. 

Embassy is working on establishing and developing contacts between Universities and Institutes of Hungary and Azerbaijan. 

The Agreement about cooperation between Hungarian Eötvös Loránd University and Azerbaijani State Pedagogical University; and also the Protocol about cooperation between the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences of Szent István University of Gödöllő and Embassy of Azerbaijan in Hungary were signed in 2007. 

Cultural events organized by the Embassy.

 Events devoted to the Common-National Leader Mr. Heydar Aliyev. Each year on birthday date (10 May) of the Common-National Leader Mr. Heydar Aliyev the Embassy presents books and literature about him and about Azerbaijan to the different libraries of Budapest (State Library of Foreign Literature, Széchenyi Library, etc). Hungarian “Duna TV” in 2006 and 2007 showed film “Heydar Aliyev-history of one’s envy” on Hungarian language 

Scientific relations 

Events devoted to the Common-National Leader Mr. Heydar Aliyev. Each year on birthday date (10 May) of the Common-National Leader Mr. Heydar Aliyev the Embassy presents books and literature about him and about Azerbaijan to the different libraries of Budapest (State Library of Foreign Literature, Széchenyi Library, etc). Hungarian “Duna TV” in 2006 and 2007 showed film “Heydar Aliyev-history of one’s envy” on Hungarian language.

Scientific relations and conferences. By the initiative of the Embassy, jointly with the Institute of Ethnology of Hungarian Academy of Science and with the support of the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Affairs with Azerbaijanians living abroad was organized I Scientific Conference of Hungarian and Azerbaijani researchers (May 22, 2006). 

On 6-8 November, 2007 in Budapest the II Scientific International Conference of the Hungarian and Azerbaijan scientists namely "Hungary and Azerbaijan: rapprochement of cultures-2007" were held, where themes on history, culture and modern economy of Azerbaijan, and also a theme under the analysis of historical and cultural communications of Hungary and Azerbaijan were presented. This events was organized by common efforts of Embassy of Azerbaijan, Institute of Ethnology of Hungarian Academy of Science, Eötvös Loránd University, Károli Gáspár University of Reformed Church, Azerbaijani National Academy of Science and with the support of the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Affairs with azerbaijanians living abroad.

The Embassy also supports the creation of researches works concerning the Azerbaijani subjects. So, book named “Magyarország-Azerbaidzsán: a kultúrák közeledése”-2006 including the articles of Hungarian and Azerbaijan scientists was published in 2006. Also the Embassy is planning to publish the book included the articles presented on the Conference-2007. 
The "Azerbaijan Day" event in the Institute of Ethnology and Institute of the National Minorities of Academy of Science of Hungary was organized on March 2, 2006.
Presentation of book "Azerbaijan ethnic music" by Mr. Sipos János, Hungarian researcher was organized on 17 November, 2006

Cooperation with “Duna TV”. On May 26, 2006 Hungarian “Duna TV” all day broadcasted "Day of Azerbaijan", where during all day films and information about Azerbaijan were presented. "Day of Hungary" broadcasted on the Azerbaijani channel “Ictimai TV” on August 20, 2006. 

On May 29, 2007 the Hungarian “Duna TV” will be broadcast "Day of Azerbaijan" and "Day of Hungary" was broadcasted on the Azerbaijani channel “Ictimai TV” on August, 20, 2007. 

On May 22, 2007 film “Heydar Aliyev - history of one’s envy” and presentation of disks with "Days of Azerbaijan on Duna TV" was organized by the Embassy. Also on May 22, 2007 Mr. Cselényi László, Chairman of Duna Television will be awarded for his contribution to developing of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary. 

Concerts. The Embassy organized several concerts of Azerbaijani musicians in Hungary: Concert of Azerbaijani mugham musicians in Pecs (June 30, 2005); Concert of Azerbaijani mugham music singer S. Ismayilova in Palace of Art (November 3, 2006); Concert of Azerbaijani symphonic music in “Duna Palota” followed by Magyar Duna Symphonic orchestra with Mr. Y. Adigezalov (conductor) and Mr. M. Huseynov (piano) (November 9, 2006); Concert of Azerbaijani mugham music in Central European University (CEU) (December 1, 2006); Concert of Azerbaijan mugham music in CEU (May 23, 2006); Concert of Azerbaijani mugham music and jazz-mugham music in Belvaroshi Szinhaz (May 24, 2006); Concert of Azerbaijani mugham music in the Museum in Ethnography (December 2, 2006). 

At the same time by the initiative of Embassy Hungarian “Djabe” jazz-band took part in the Baku Jazz Festival on June, 2007.

On December 14, 2007 by initiative of Embassy and by support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan the Concert of Azerbaijani symphonic music followed by Magyar Duna Symphonic orchestra with Mr. Y. Adigezalov (conductor) and Ms. Kertesi Ingrid (soprano) and devoted to memory of the great Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev will be held in “Duna Palota” of Budapest

Exhibitions and other events. 

On October 3-21, 2005 the Embassy organized exhibition of Azerbaijani painters in the “Bank Center” building. 

On December 2, 2006 the Embassy with support of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan organized the cultural program "Face of Azerbaijan" in the Museum of Ethnography. It consist 3 separate topic: “Azerbaijani musical instruments”, ”Azerbaijani headscarf” and ”Azerbaijani culture”. 
Also Embassy organized Photo-exhibition and other events devoted to the "Xojali genocide and the tragedy of January 20, 1990" (every year on January 20 and February 26); Briefing devoted to Armenian-Azerbaijan (March 14, 2005); "Novruz Bayram in Hungary" - Azerbaijan National New Year (every year on March 21);The event in the Museum of Military History devoted to the memory of Magyar soldiers died and burred in Azerbaijan (April 12, 2006) and Reception devoted to Day of Republic (May 28 – every year).

The events named “Azerbaijan Day” with the presentation of Azerbaijani literature in the Hungarian State Library of Foreign Literature were held on November 17, 2005 and November 15, 2006.

Ties with gymnasiums. H.E. Dr. Hasan Hasanov made presentations in the following Gymnasiums: in Moris Ziqmund on 21.10.2006, in Pogan Frides on 14.12.2006 and in Laszlo Dyula on 14.06.2006.

Work with press

The Embassy actively cooperates with mass media of Hungary. 

Ambassador Hasan Hasanov many times gave interview in popular printed editions (“Diplomatic magazine", "Magyar Nemzet", "Nepszava”) and on leading TV channels of Hungary (MTİ, Duna-TV, RTL-klub). In his interviews Ambassador acquainted Hungarians with a political situation in Azerbaijan, developments in sphere of economy, culture, a science, etc.

On April 3-9, 2006 the Embassy organized trip of several Hungarian journalists to Azerbaijan - deputy of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "METRO" Kulcsar István, the editor of magazine “Szemle" Kiss Zoltán and the associate editor of magazine Nady Laszlo. After returning to Hungary, they have published 6 articles about Azerbaijan. 

On May 05, 2006 the Embassy together with the Union of journalists of Hungary held Press conference, where the Hungarian journalists have shared the impressions about trip to Azerbaijan. 

On September 30 - October 5, 2006 the Embassy organized trip of correspondent of the newspaper "Nepszava" Kepecs Ferenc to Azerbaijan. He wrote three articles where he informed Hungarian readers about the meetings and his expression about Azerbaijan.

On April 26-28, 2007 two Hungarian journalists Farkas József and Sitkey Levente took part in conference in Baku. On May 10, newspaper "Nepszabadsag" were published interview with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Mr.E.Mammedjarov. In the near future newspapers "Nepszabadsag" and “Magyar Nemzeti” will publish the other articles about Azerbaijan. The Embassy plans to issue the collection “The Hungarian journalists about Azerbaijan” where will be published articles of the Hungarian journalists who have visited Azerbaijan under the initiative of Embassy. 

The Embassy on a regular basis prepares and distributes press releases in more than 500 electronic addresses in Hungary. 

The Embassy also informs the Azerbaijan public on actions, the important meetings which spends in Hungary, tells about the activity on development and strengthening of the Azerbaijan-Hungarian relations.

Work on preservation of historical memory

The Embassy actively cooperates with the Museum and Institute of a Military History of the Ministry of Defense of Hungary in the field of preservation of historical memory. Director of a museum Mr. József Hollo presented to the Embassy list of Azerbaijani soldiers who have lost their lives during II World War and buried in Hungary. The Embassy has addressed with letters to mayors of 40 cities and regions of Hungary with the purpose to establish a place of burial places of the Azerbaijan soldiers and received the answers.

In turn, the Embassy assists the Museum and Institute of a military history of Hungary in preservation of memory Hungarian prisoners of war. 

From April 19 till April 22, 2007 Azerbaijan was visited by delegation of the Museum and Institute of a military history of the Ministry of Defense of Hungary which was headed by director of the Museum, General - Lieutenant József Hollo. One of overall objectives of visit of delegation was acquaintance to a condition of cemetery Hungarian prisoners of war, buried after II World war in territory of Azerbaijan. 

During visit the Hungarian delegation has visited Khanlar region where has met with the leadership of region, visited a cemetery which is in the settlement Girihli, and were convinced, that graves of Hungarian prisoners of war are in a good condition. The leadership Khanlar region and local residents with the big attention cares on historical memory and carefully look after a cemetery where the Hungarian soldiers are buried. Members of different authoritative Hungarian delegations were convinced of it also.



 

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