BILATERAL RELATIONS

Brief historical information on diplomatic relations:

The historical friendship between Romania and Azerbaijan dates back to the 15^th century. In 1473 Romanian King Stefan the Great and ruler of Azerbaijani Akkoyunlu state at that time Uzun Hasan signed a Treaty of Alliance.

The Minister of Defence of the Azerbaijan  Democratic Republic general S.Mehmandarov has been conferred upon a Romanian order during his military service in Russian army. M.A.Rasulzada the founder of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic lived in Bucharest during II World War.   

Romania recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on December 11, 1991. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Romania were established on June 19, 1992.

Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been functioning since November 3, 1998. Currently H.E. Mr. Dan Iancu is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania has been functioning since May 19, 2001. According to the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 06, 2018 H.E. Dr. Huseyn N. Najafov was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Romania. 

High-level mutual visits:

Presidents

2 July 1995 - President of Azerbaijan Mr. H.Aliyev’s official visit to Romania

March 1996 - President of Romania Mr. I.Iliescu’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

29 June – 1 July 1998 – President of Romania Mr. E.Constantinescu’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

7 – 8 September 1998 – President of Romania Mr. E.Constantinescu’s working visit for International Conference on restoration of historical silk route.

11-12 October 2004 - President of Azerbaijan Mr. I.Aliyev’s official visit to Romania

5 June 2006 - President of Azerbaijan Mr. I.Aliyev’s working visit to Romania for participation at the “Black Sea Forum”

11-12 October 2006 - President of Romania Mr. T.Basescu’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

19 June 2007 - President of Romania Mr. T.Basescu’s working visit to Azerbaijan for participation at the GUAM Summit

24-25 September 2007 - President of Azerbaijan Mr. I.Aliyev’s working visit to Romania. During his visit President I.Aliyev inaugurated Tey Park – Heydar Aliyev Alley and Representation of Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Romania.  

2-4 April 2008 - President of Azerbaijan Mr. I.Aliyev’s visit to Romania for participation at the NATO Bucharest Summit

21 August 2008 - President of Romania Mr. T.Basescu’s working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

28-29 September 2009 - President of Azerbaijan Mr. I.Aliyev’s official visit to Romania

13-14 September 2010 - President of Romania Mr. T.Basescu’s working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan for participation at the AGRI Summit

18-19 April 2011 – President of Romania, Mr. T.Basescu’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

17 December 2022 - President of Azerbaijan Mr. I.Aliyev’s working visit to Romania. The “Agreement on a strategic partnership in the field of green energy development and transmission between the Governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary” was signed in Bucharest.

02 - 03 February 2023- President of Romania Klaus Iohannis’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

Prime Ministers

26-27 June 2013 – Prime Minister of Romania Mr. Victor Ponta’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

12 – 13 June 2015 – Prime Minister of Romania Mr. Victor Ponta’s working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan for participation at the opening ceremony of the First European Olympic Games

Chairmen of the Parliaments

18-20 December 2006 – Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Mr. Ogtay Asadov pays official visit to Romania. During his visit Mr. O.Asadov meets President T.Basescu and other top officials of Romanian parliament.

18-20 June 2008 – a parliamentary delegation led by speaker of the senate Mr. Nicolae Vacaroiu pays visit on the occasion of 90^th anniversary of the establishment of the Parliament of Azerbaijan.

13-16 March 2013 – Chairman of Chamber of Deputies, Mr.Valeriu Zgonea’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

26 February 2023 - President of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Ion-Marcel Ciolacu's official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

16 - 17 May 2023 - Vice President of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Vasile- Daniel Suciu's visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan to participate in the extraordinary meeting of the Milli Majlis dedicated to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Ministers

27-30 May 2003 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Mr. V.Guliyev’s visit to Romania  

14-15 November 2008 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Mr. L. Comanescu’s working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan for participation at the Energy Summit

18 March 2010 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Mr. T.Baconschi

26 April 2013 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Titus Corlatean’s official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan

15–16 September 2014 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov’s official visit to Romania

03-04 March 2019 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov’s working visit to Romania

Inter-parliamentary relations:

In 5^th of November 2000 Azerbaijan – Romania inter-parliamentary working group was established in the Azerbaijani Parliament. Chairman of the working group is deputy Mr. Azay Guliyev.

In February 13, 2013 new composition of Romania-Azerbaijan Friendship Group was established in Romanian Parliament. Chairman of friendship group is deputy Mr. Iulian Iancu.

17-18 March 2014 - Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Romania Friendship Group in Parliament Mr. A.Quliyev, Mr. M.Quliyev and Member of Parliament Ms. Q.Pashayeva paid working visit to Romania. During the visit Azerbaijani delegation met with the Chairman of the Romania-Azerbaijan Friendship Group in Romanian Parliament Mr. I.Iancu. 

26-29 april 2022 - Chairman of the Romania- Azerbaijan Friendship Group in Romanian Parliament Mr. Cristian Daniel Ivanuta's and his delegation's visit to Azerbaijan

26 - 28 september 2022 - Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Romania Friendship Group in Parliament Mr. Azay Quliyev's and his delegation's visit to Romania.

Cooperation in different fields

1.Political sphere

3-4 February 2005  - with participation of the representatives from relevant ministries was held consultations among the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Baku. Parties discussed the opportunities of harmonization of bilateral documents to EU standards.

4 February 2005 – director-general of legal department of MFA Romania Mr. C.Dinescu met Deputy Minister of the Azerbaijani MFA K.Khalafov for exchanging views on legal status of the Caspian Sea. 

10-11 March 2008 – Deputy Minister of the Azerbaijani MFA K.Khalafov paid a visit to Bucharest for political consultations. K.Khalafov met his Romanian colleague State Secretary Raduta Dana Matake.

15-16 June 2009 – State Secretary B.Aurescu paid a visit to Baku for political consultations.

7 July 2010 – Director-General of the Regional Cooperation Division of Romanian MFA Irina Zidaru paid a visit to Baku for political consultations. During her visit I.Zidaru was received at the international relations department of Presidential Administration and Ministry of Energy.

19 July 2010 – Minister Elmar Mammadyarov held discussions with his Romanian counterpart Teodor Baconschi at VIP hall of Heydar Aliyev International Airport on his transit flight. 

27-29 February 2012 – Romanian Presidential adviser on national security issues Iulian Fota paid a visit to Azerbaijan. During his visit I.Fota was received by President H.E. Ilham Aliyev and other top officials of Ministries of National Security and Defence.

09 – 10 October 2012 – Deputy Foreign Minister of the Azerbaijani MFA Araz Azimov paid visit to Romania for bilateral political consultations. During his visit Mr. A.Azimov met with the Presidential Advisors I.Fota and I.Chifu, State Secretary of the MFA B.Aurescu, chairman of foreign policy committee of senate M.Geona.    

6-9 June 2013 – Presidential aide on defence issues Vahid Aliyev paid a visit to Romania.

03-05 September 2018 – Deputy Minister of the Azerbaijani MFA K.Khalafov paid a visit to Bucharest for political consultations. 

27 September 2018 – Within UN GA 73rd session Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov and Vice Prime Minister for Romania's Strategic Partnerships' Implementation Ana Birchall signed Joint Action Plan for the Consultation between MFA of the Republic of Azerbaijan and MFA of Romania for the years 2019-2020

26 September 2019 - Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with the Foreign Minister of  Romania Mrs. Ramona Mănescu within the 74th session of the UN General Assembly .

 2. Economical field

In 2014 trade turnover between Romania and the Republic of Azerbaijan was 142, 10 million USD (0.46 % of the total turnover of the Azerbaijan). The export to Romania was reported 86,25 million USD (0,40% of the total export of the Republic of Azerbaijan) whereas import from Romania was registered 55,85 million USD (0,61% of the total import of the Republic of Azerbaijan). Trade balance reached 30,40 million USD in favour of Azerbaijan. Compared to the 2013 year, in 2014 year trade turnover between the countries increased 10, 29 %.  

Currently 44 fuel stations of SOCAR brand are operating in Romania. 

7-8 October 2004 – 1st session of the Joint Commission on economic-trade and technical-scientific cooperation between Government of Romania and Government of Azerbaijan was held in Bucharest.

5-8 October 2004 – group of Romanian businessmen paid a visit to Baku with the initiative of Entrepreneurs Confederation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

10 October 2006 – 2^nd session of Joint Commission on economic-trade and technical-scientific cooperation between Government of Romania and Government of Azerbaijan was held in Baku.

11-15 July 2007 – Rovnag Abdullayev, president of SOCAR, paid a visit to Romania. During his visit R.Abdullayev met with top officials at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as, CEO of “Petrom”. SOCAR President inaugurated SOCAR Romania Representation. 

22-24 October 2007 – Karam Hasanov, Chairman of the State Committee on Management of State Property paid a visit to Romania with the invitation of his Romanian colleague T.Atanasiu.

26 October 2007 – SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev recieved by President H.E. Traian Basescu.

10-12 December 2007 – Romanian delegation led by State Secretary Viorel Palasca paid a visit to Baku. Parties discussed the prospects of energy cooperation.  

10-12 March 2008 – Minister of Energy and Industry Natig Aliyev paid a visit to Romania. During the visit an Agreement on cooperation between line Ministries was signed. 

21 April 2008 – 3rd session of Joint Commission on economic-trade and technical-scientific cooperation between Government of Romania and Government of Azerbaijan was held in Bucharest.

1-3 July 2009 – Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment Adrian Videanu pays visit to Baku to co-chair 4th session of Joint Commission on economic-trade and technical-scientific cooperation between Government of Romania and Government of Azerbaijan. A.Videanu was received by President H.E Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Artur Rasi-zade, also met with his colleague Natig Aliyev and president of SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev.

1-4 February 2010 – State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business environment Tudor Serban paid visit to Azerbaijan. During his visit “Memorandum of Understanding in the field of energy cooperation between the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business environment of Romania and Ministry of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was signed.

10-14 April 2010 – Minister of Energy and Industry Natig Aliyev and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalaf Khalafov paid a visit to Romania. During the visit a trilateral “Memorandum of Understanding on LNG and its transportation” was signed.

14 February 2011 – Minister of Energy and Industry Natig Aliyev participates at Ministerial meeting in Bucharest on development of AGRI Project.

16 May 2011 - Minister of Energy and Industry Natig Aliyev participates at Azerbaijan – Georgia – Romania – Hungary Ministerial meeting in Bucharest on development of AGRI Project.

31 October 2011 – SOCAR president Rovnag Abdullayev participates in inauguration ceremony of SOCAR fuel stations in Romania.

23-26 November 2011 – Minister of Communication Valerian Vreme participates at Bakutel-2011 international exhibition and conference.  

17-20 October 2012 – head of the department of Agrarian issues at the Presidential Administration Azer Amiraslanov paid a visit to Romania. During his visit Azerbaijani official met Minister and State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

14 March 2013 – Romania-Azerbaijan Business Forum was held in Baku.

2-8 June 2013 – Minister of Agriculture Ismat Abasov participated at the General Assembly of International Organization of Wine and Vine. During his visit Minister I.Abasov held a meeting with his Romanian colleague Dan Constantin.

16-17 December 2013 – Vice-President of SOCAR Davud Mammadov and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of "Azerkimya" PA Mukhtar Babayev visited Romania for the discussing perspectives of cooperation in the energy sector. The delegation have met with A.D.Gerea-Romanian Minister of Economy, B.N.Badea-Deputy Minister of Economy, M.A.Albulesku-Minister Delegate on special issues, also with I.Blanculescu-special adviser of the Prime Minister of Romania and S.Olaru- State Secretary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. On the framework of visit they made short trip to "Oltchim" company for acquaintance production enterprise.

13-14 April 2014 - Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. N.Aliyev and President of SOCAR Mr. R.Abdullayev visited Romania. During the visit Azerbaijani delegation met with thePrime Minister of Romania Mr. V.Ponta and Minister of Economy Mr. K.Nitsa. 

23 – 24 June 2015 - Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. N.Aliyev visited Romania for participation at the inter-ministerial meeting of the AGRI project participating states.

22-23 November 2018 - the delegation led by the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahil Babayev visited Romania to attend the 5th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Romania Intergovernmental Joint Commission. The co-chairs - Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Sahil Babayev and Vice Prime Minister for Romania's Strategic Partnerships' Implementation Ana Birchall have signed the Protocol of the 5th Meeting of the Azerbaijan-Romania Intergovernmental Joint Commission.

3-4 March 2019 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov paid an official visit to Romania with an aim to participate in four-side meeting between foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Turkmenistan held in Bucharest and dedicated to “Caspian Sea - Black Sea international transport route.

Cooperation in the humanitarian field

60 books covering the literary works of eminent writers and dramatists from both nations have been translated to both Romanian and Azerbaijani languages under the initiative of Romania-Azerbaijan Friendship Association and support of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania.

A bust of National Leader Haydar Aliyev was erected in Bucharest and a statue of great Romanian composer George Enescu was erected in Baku.

10 May 2000 – Romania-Azerbaijan Cultural relations Union was established in Baku. Azerbaijan – Romania Culture Association named after Fizuli was established in Constanta.

3 students from Ploiest Oil-Gas University were awarded Haydar Aliyev scholarship in every academic year since 2004. Later on in 2007 Haydar Aliyev scholarship was also established for 4 students of Bucharest Technical-Construction University of each academic year. 

October 2009 with the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania Institute of Turkic and Central Asian Studies was inaugurated in Cluj-Napoca city of Romania.  

November 2009 the Romanian representation of Haydar Aliyev Foundation realized “Cultural exchange between youth” project with support of 2^nd sector Municipality of Bucharest. 

June 17-18, 2010 with the support of Haydar Aliyev Foundation and Institute of Oriental Studies named after Ziya Bunyadov a conference entitled “East-west dialogue” was held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Azerbaijani parliamentarians Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Gultakin Hadjibeyli and Fazil Mustafa took part at the conference.     

H.E. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was the winner of the “Man of the Year in Romania” in 2010. The award was presented by the Romanian delegation composed of the chief-editor and founder of “Balkans and Europe” journal Carol Roman, president of NIRO investment group Nicolae Dumitru during their visit in 26 February – 1 March 2011. 

October 13-27, 2011, winners of Heydar Aliyev scholarship of Ploiesti Oil-Gas University and Bucharest Technical-Construction University visited Azerbaijan on the occasion of 20^th anniversary of the restoration of state independence of Azerbaijan.

April 01, 2013, Azerbaijan language lessons started to take place at the Turkish and Central Asian Studies at the University of Babes-Boyyai in Cluj-Napoca city of Romania.

May 5-6, 2013, Horia Gırbea deputy chairman of Romanian Culture Institute, chairman of the Union of Writers of Bucharest, winner of the essay contest, which was organized on the occasion of 90th anniversary of birth of national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, visited Azerbaijan to participate at the awarding ceremony.

18 March 2014 - with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania, Romania-Azerbaijan Youth and Cultural Association and Representation of SOCAR in Romania event was held on the occasion of the ‘’90^th Anniversary of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan’’ at “Marriott” hotel in Bucharest. Azerbaijani parliamentarians Mr. A.Quliyev, Mr. M.Quliyev and Ms. Q.Pashayeva took part at the event.     

18 March 2014 - with support of Representation of Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Romania a conference entitled “Energy strategy and geopolicy of South Caucasus-Azerbaijan in focus” was held in European Titulescu Foundation in Bucharest. Azerbaijani parliamentarians Mr. A.Quliyev, Mr. M.Quliyev and Ms. Q.Pashayeva took part at the conference.

23 May 2014 - in the framework of Cluj city days, which is organised by Mayor of Cluj city of Romania, with the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania and Institute of Turkology and Central Asian Studies of Babesh-Bolyai University Azerbaijan pavilion has been created.

7 – 14 may 2015 – With the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan journalists of the “Cap Compass” program of the “TVR” channel of Romania made a visit to Azerbaijan with the purpose of shooting 4 documentary movies about Azerbaijan. The prepared documentary movies will be transmitted on TVR company’s channels.

23 May 2015 - in the framework of Cluj city days, which is organised by Mayor of Cluj city of Romania, with the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania and Institute of Turkology and Central Asian Studies of Babesh-Bolyai University Azerbaijan pavilion has been created at the event.

15-17 July 2018 - the delegation led by Fuad Muradov, head of the State Committee for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan paid a visit to Romania

28 February 2019 Assistant of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov whithin the participation at commemorative event on the 27th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide that took place at the National Library of Romania in Bucharest.

29 October 2019 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Romania, Dr. Huseyn Najafov held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania H.E. Mrs. Ramona Manescu. During this meeting, Ambassador Dr. Huseyn N. Najafov presented the Jubilee Medal of the “100th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1919-2019)” to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania H.E. Ramona Manescu.

16 December 2019 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Romania, Dr. Huseyn Najafov held a meeting with the former Member of the European Parliament from Romania Mrs. Norica Nicolai. During the meeting, Ambassador Dr. Huseyn N. Najafov presented the Jubilee Medal of the “100th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1919-2019)” to Mrs. Norica Nicolai

Contractual-legal bases:

58 bilateral documents were signed between Azerbaijan and Romania up to date.  

Updated on 01 February 2020