Azerbaijani-Belarusian relations

Azerbaijan and Belarus were part of the USSR . Diplomatic relations between the two states were established after they gained independence on June 11, 1993 . In August 2001, the first visit of the Belarusian government delegation led by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus to Azerbaijan took place. The opening of the embassies of the two countries in Minsk and Baku took place in 2006. From November 11 to 13, 2009, the second official visit of the President of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Belarus took place.

• On October 17-18, 2006, the President of Azerbaijan paid an official visit to the Republic of Belarus. During this visit, the first document was signed at the interstate level: "The agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Azerbaijan on social and economic cooperation until 2015. "
• In March 2007, the Prime Minister of Belarus made a working visit to Azerbaijan, during which the Measures for the implementation of the Program for the Long-term Socio-Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which are an integral part of the mentioned Agreement , were approved.
• From May 1 - May 3, 2007, the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko paid a return visit to Azerbaijan , during which the heads of state signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation . In the same year, a number of joint projects were launched in the field of industrial cooperation: assembly plants for tractors, trucks, truck cranes and elevators were created in Azerbaijan. The leader of joint cooperation in the field of industrial cooperation is the Ganja Automobile Plant . ^[9]
• In July 2009, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus paid a working visit to Azerbaijan .

Turnover

Dynamics of foreign trade between Belarus and Azerbaijan ( million US dollars ) ^{[10] [11]}

The main Belarusian export commodity items to Azerbaijan in 2012 were instruments, apparatus and models intended for demonstration purposes; sawn timber; parts and accessories for cars and tractors; tractors; glued plywood; lumber; engines. Azerbaijan exported oil products, acyclic carbons, clays, fruit and vegetable juices, and ethylene polymers to Belarus. Azerbaijan attracted direct Azerbaijani investments worth $ 13.8 million ^[12] .

Culture Days

• From May 22 to 24, 2007, the days of Azerbaijani culture were held in Minsk and Bobruisk . ^[13]
• For the first time, the days of Belarusian culture in Azerbaijan took place in October 2008 to mark the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. ^[fourteen]
• January 21 , 2011 On the stage of the Belarusian State Academic Theater in Minsk, the Azerbaijani musical performance Arshin Mal Alan was staged on the basis of the opera of the same name by the outstanding Soviet and Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov . ^[fifteen]
• On June 4 - 7, 2012, Belarusian culture days were held in Baku and Khachmaz . The grand opening of the Days of Culture of Belarus took place at the Muslim Magomayev State Philharmonic in Baku. ^{[16] [17]}

Collaboration between theater groups

In 2011, the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus signed a Memorandum of Cooperation . ^[18] Within the framework of the signed memorandum, Belarusian and Azerbaijani artists regularly perform at the Baku and Minsk stages, including masters of the opera stage, conductors, leading ballet dancers. Joint theaters included such theaters as the Belarusian Academic Musical Theater and the Azerbaijan State Musical Comedy Theater, the Belarusian Young Spectator Theater and the Sumgait State Musical Drama Theater.

Literature and Art Collaboration

On October 23, 2007, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus and the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art . ^[19]

In 2009, an exhibition of contemporary Belarusian masters by Zoya Lutsevich and Nikolai Botvinnik was held in Baku . ^[twenty]

In 2011 The Secretary of the Writers 'Union of Azerbaijan, Ch. Abdullayev, took part in the congress of the Writers' Union of Belarus . Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Belarus I. Vagabzade was elected a member of the Union of Writers of Belarus, as well as a member of the editorial board of the body of the Union of Writers of Belarus - Belaya Vezha magazine. ^[21]

In 2013, the Republic of Belarus hosted the days of culture of the Republic of Belarus. ^[22]

Despite criticism and applicable sanctions against President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev continues to support his Belarusian counterpart. Some Azerbaijani opposition politicians criticize Ilkh Aliyev for this. ^[23]

Like all UN members, Belarus does not recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic . President Alexander Lukashenko maintains neutrality between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Armenia stated that Belarus adheres to the diplomatic method of solving the problem and is in every way against the resolution of the conflict by military means ^[24] .

Azerbaijan is considered one of the main buyers of weapons from Belarus ^[4] .

• In 2005, Belarus sold Azerbaijan 19 T-72 tanks, and in 2006 41 T-72M1 tanks ^[25] .
• In 2009, Belarus sold five Su-25 attack aircraft and nine 203 mm 2C7 Pion self-propelled howitzers to Azerbaijan ^[26] .
• In 2010, 30 cannons of D-30 caliber 23 were delivered to Azerbaijan from Belarus.
• On November 14, 2008, Azerbaijan and Belarus signed an agreement on military cooperation ^[27] .

According to official figures, Azerbaijan spent $ 167 million ^{[28] [29]} on the purchase of military equipment from Belarus.

• Belarus Digest
• Embassy of Azerbaijan in Belarus
• Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Azerbaijan
• Joint issue of Azerbaijan and Belarus