Retrospective of relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan:

Fourteen Years since the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan

Contemporary history of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, originates in August 21^st 1997, when diplomatic relations between the two states were established.

2010 and 2011, were very significant years for Serbian-Azerbaijani partnership; during these years the diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan in Belgrade and Serbia in Baku were raised to the level of embassies, confirming interest in effective and dynamic mutual cooperation.

In May 2010, the first official visit of the President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadic, to the Republic of Azerbaijan, emphasized the importance of intensive dialogue on the highest level, and the establishment of special relations between the heads of two states. In June 2011, the Republic of Azerbaijan’s state delegation, led by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, made a reciprocal visit to Serbia.

A number of important decisions for the development of mutual relations were made; 20 mutual documents, agreements, and declarations were signed.

The  Protocol on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, signed in May 2010, has been brought to fruition. In September 2011, during the visit of the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Jeremic, in Baku, the principled position of the two countries on the supremacy of international law standards of territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, was underlined.

In November 2011, the first meeting of the Serbian-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission of Trade and Economic Cooperation and the first Serbian-Azerbaijani business forum took place in Belgrade. A Protocol of the Intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation was signed by the Cochairmen, Mr. V.Jeremic and Mr. S.Mustafayev.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, and Cochairman of the commission, Mr. Vuk Jeremic, underlined the exceptional importance of relations of his country with Azerbaijan, stated that the reciprocal visits of the state leaders interest the expanding the cooperation with Azerbaijan and a conviction that relations between the two countries will expand.

The participants of the meeting of the Commission for further development of the Serbian-Azerbaijani economic cooperation emphasized the importance of realization of joint projects in spheres such as infrastructure, energy, transport, agriculture, food industry, chemistry and pharmaceutical, information technologies and road construction, and stressed the importance of the promotion of investments. The Serbian Investment and Promotion Agency (SIEPA) and Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), signed a Memorandum on cooperation.

The Serbian side expressed an interest in participating in projects on export of grain seeds and plant fiber, and other projects, and has invited the Azerbaijani side to participate in the process of privatization in Serbia. A possibility of cooperation in the spheres of education, health care, culture, tourism and sport was also discussed.

The first Serbian-Azerbaijani business forum was organized with the support of the Trade-Commercial Chamber of Serbia, Serbian Investment and Promotion Agency (SIEPA), Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan. Representatives of more than 150 Serbian companies from different spheres of activity and more than 40 representatives of Azerbaijani agriculture, industry, health care, tourism, construction and other companies took part at the forum.

During the first nine month of trade in 2011, the turnover between the two countries increased up to 18,3%.

In January 2012 the Agreement on economic and technological cooperation between two Governments has been signed. The Agreement between the Governments of Serbia and Azerbaijan will encourage the development and implementation of projects in the area of capital infrastructure and energy, transportation, agriculture, food, chemical, pharmaceutics, industries and in information technology. Governments of Serbia and Azerbaijan signed as well an Agreement on 300 mil. Euro Azerbaijani loan to complete the road Corridor 11 in central Serbia.

On 30^th of August, 2012 the Government of the Republic of Serbia has decided to appoint Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Domestic Trade and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia Mr.Rasim Ljajic as a CoChairman of the Intergovernmental Commission of Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.