Bilateral relations with Bulgaria and Azerbaijan’s foreign policy were the focus of a public lecture delivered by H.E. Mr. Elnur Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The event was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during Mr Mammadov’s working visit to Bulgaria. It was jointly organised by the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Student Diplomatic Club at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, in partnership with the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria.
The lecture brought together representatives of the Bulgarian diplomatic service and the student community.
The event was opened by Ms. Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, who introduced the guest speaker and highlighted the traditionally strong ties between the two countries, which have been elevated to the level of strategic partnership.
In his lecture, Mr Mammadov outlined key milestones in Azerbaijan’s history, from the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 and the restoration of independence in 1991 to the country’s emergence as an important political and energy actor in the South Caucasus.
The lecture also addressed the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the subsequent diplomatic processes, and ongoing efforts towards post-war reconstruction, infrastructure rehabilitation, and the return of displaced populations.
Particular attention was devoted to energy cooperation, including supplies of Azerbaijani natural gas to Bulgaria under the long-term agreement with SOCAR, the Southern Gas Corridor, and Azerbaijan’s role in diversifying energy supplies and strengthening Europe’s energy security.
The prospects for further cooperation in renewable energy, green energy and the development of new energy corridors linking the Caspian region with European markets were also discussed.
In the context of the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan on 5 June 1992, the development of diplomatic representation between the two countries was highlighted. This included the opening of the Bulgarian Embassy in Baku in 1999 and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Sofia in 2005, as well as the steady expansion of bilateral dialogue. Relations were elevated to the level of strategic partnership in 2015, and a Declaration on Strengthening the Strategic Partnership was signed in May 2024.
The meeting provided an opportunity to gain deeper insight into Azerbaijan’s historical background, current political developments and strategic priorities, as well as the significance of the Bulgarian-Azerbaijani partnership in the context of regional cooperation and European energy security.
