Azerbaijan |
Italy |
Azerbaijani–Italian relations have lasted for centuries and today remains strong. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Rome. Italy has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
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An ancient Latin inscription on the rocks in the territory of Qobustan testifies that the Roman legions crossed through Azerbaijan in the old times. In 75 AD, XII Fulminata was in Caucasus, where Emperor Vespasian had sent the legion to support the allied kingdoms of Iberia (Georgia) and Caucasian Albania (Azerbaijan). Even though Roman Empire controlled Azerbaijan as a vassal state, Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia and Iberia didn't turn out to be as an actual part of Roman Empire and protected its independence. Caucasian Albania also signed signed a peace treaty with Roman Republic as Strabo attested.[1][2] Sara Ashurbeyli's book about history of Baku brings a possibility of settlement of Ramana was that possibly founded by the Roman troops of Lucius Julius Maximus from Legio XII Fulminata in circa 84-96 AD and derives its name from the Latin Romana.[3]
Roman Empire has left a notable influence on Azerbaijan. Christianity remains as one of them. According to Strabo, who travelled to the region in the 1st century B.C., the local tribes practised polytheism but Christianity have entered into Caucasian Albania in early 1st century. In 4th century Eastern Roman Empire have accepted Christianity as a state religion, but Christianity didn't spread among nation that strongly. During Arab invasions Azerbaijani people had to accept Islam because polytheist and Zoroastrian religious views were a sin according to Islamic rule but Christian minority were able to protect their belief (monotheist views are respected among Muslims) and still certain part of Azerbaijan remains as Christian.[4][5] Despite of Islamisation of Azerbaijan, the oldest Christian church in the Caucasus, the Albanian Church founded by the apostle Yelisey in Sheki, near Kish as well as the Gandzasar, Targmanchats and Amaras monasteries in Karabagh have reached our times in relative good shape. Christianity were not the only thing out of a huge cultural legacy Rome left to Azerbaijan but also the Latin alphabet and the western-oriented society of contemporary Azerbaijanis. After Arab invasions Azeri people sticked to Arabic alphabet. However, a Latin-based alphabet was adopted in 1928 but soon later, in 1939, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin ordered the Azerbaijanis to use the Cyrillic alphabet, which is used for the Russian language. When Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991, head of state Ayaz Mutallibov and its parliament adopted a Latin-based alphabet.[6]
Archaeological works have proved that Caucasian Albania used Rome coins and dinars.[7][8] Azerbaijan protects such ancient founds in their museums.
The Republic of Venice tried independently or together to build both political and military alliance with Ruler of Persia and Azerbaijan Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkomans) Uzun Hassan against the Ottoman Empire. Many diplomatic missions were exchanged between 1463 and 1477 [9] In December 1463, the Venetian senate opted to enter an alliance with Hassan. Lazzaro Quirini was sent to Empire and in the same year, the Aq Qoyunlu ambassador Haji Mohammad was sent to Rome for the inception of the pontificate of Sixtus IV and then to Venice, and Caterino Zeno was dispatched by the senate on a similar mission to the empire. Zeno was married with a niece of Uzun Hassan's wife [10] in a way counted as a member of his family and was very well liked at his court.
Pope Sixtus IV was among the major supporters of establishing connections with Aq Qoyunlu. Soon afterwards the alliance between the Italian States and Iran & Azerbaijan were actually established, many times confirmed, and enforced with military supplies. Hassan was promised control of whole Anatolia on the condition that he would not construct any fortresses on the coastline and would allow free passage for Venetian ships.[11] but his hesitations and rare successes at wars made him was out of the international arena. Uzun Hassan died in 1478 which is also a day can be noted as the end of possible alliance between Italian states and Azerbaijan (Iran).
In July 1501, Ismail I was enthroned as Shah of Azerbaijan.[12] and later on, he became the Shah of Iran. Diplomatic relations were established with Italian states [13] Friendship and an intention for an alliance was repeatedly reaffirmed but there were not any kind of strong allience during the time of Ismail nor with his successor Tahmasp I but strong commercial ties between Safavid Empire and many Italian states remained, especially during the reign of Shah Abbas.
Russo-Perso War resulted with the invasion of present-day Azerbaijan territory by Russian Empire but after the collapse of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic established which was the first democratic and secular state in the whole Muslim world. Italy was one of those countries that were able to establish diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan. Italy opened its consulate and military office in Baku. In that time official visits of the Azerbaijani delegation to Italy and Italian delegation to Azerbaijan were realized.
Italy recognized the independence of Azerbaijan from Soviet Union on January 1, 1992. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 8, 1992. The first embassy of Italy among the Southern Caucasian republics was opened in Azerbaijan in 1997. the embassy of Azerbaijan to Italy functions since 2003.
Heydar Aliyev paid his first official visit to Italy on September 1997 and in back between 1998-2003 government officials of Italy visited Azerbaijan which resulted with signed agreements on cooperation in different spheres. Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan have stated that visas might have lift in soon between two countries.[14] In April 1999 opened a new building of the Italian Embassy in Baku.
Italy is notable for being the first chairman of OSCE Minsk Group's acting for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During Ilham Aliyev's official to Italy the subject were touched again. President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi reminded that the attempts of the Minsk Group of OSCE had not produced any results yet and stated that he would do his best to strengthen the activity of the Minsk Group. In June 2005, during his visit to Azerbaijan, the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Migration of the Senate of Italy, said that Italy will protect the just position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict[15][16] to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Italy has become the biggest trade partner of Azerbaijan in importing crude oil and oil products. 51.9% of exportation from Azerbaijan has been directed to Italy since 2003. Italy mainly exports pipes for oil sector, tobacco, leather and furniture to Azerbaijan. The visits of the ministers of Economic Developments of both countries in 2007 resulted signed agreements on the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy in the sector of natural gas.[17]
In 2005 in from Azerbaijan to Italy exported 50% of oil. As the owner of a 5% share in the Contract of the Century, an Italian company Eni-Agip involved in the construction of the pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the official opening ceremony which held in July 2006 as well. A number of other companies in Italy also participated in the construction of the pipeline on the basis of the contract. Eni-Agip is also active in the project Shahdeniz and in the oil field Kyurdashy.
Azerbaijan also plans to collaborate with the Italian Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo in the field of viticulture.[18] Italy's Manual Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo in order to exchange experience has invited officials of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan economy in Italy in order to exchange experience has invited officials of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan economy in Italy.[19]
During the Soviet era, in 1972, city of Italy, Naples, and the Azerbaijani capital Baku, have been declared sister cities. Since that time, the cultural ties between Italy and Azerbaijan have become more intense but relations between two countries have actually a long history which can be seen from travelers being visit Azerbaijan in the Middle Ages (including Marco Polo) and Nasreddin Tusi's book "Interpretation of Euclid's "Elements" being translated into Latin and published in 1594 in Rome. There are different paintings of well-known Italian painters in museums of Azerbaijan, and a lot of carpets and jewelry articles made in Azerbaijan are in different museums and private collections in Italy. Since the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century in Baku different buildings were built by famous Italian architectures.[20] The works of Dante and Petrarki were translated into Azerbaijani and published in big copies.[21] Some legendary singers of Azerbaijan such as Bulbul and Muslim Magomayev mastered the bases of opera art in Italy. There have been many cultural events have been hold in each countries. Italy is among those countries who render humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijan. The agreement on the humanitarian aid between Azerbaijan and Italy, signed on June 1, 2005, is directed at easing the hard life of refugees and IDPs settled in Azerbaijan. Italian government helped a number of medical and social institutions in Azerbaijan as well. The soloist of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, honored artist Fidan Hajiyeva became the first artist from Azerbaijan to perform on the stage in Italian city of Rimini.[22]
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