One intriguing trend in the Balkans over the past
several years has been the new and increasingly visible Azerbaijani
presence and activism in the region.
The appearance of this new state actor in the region has been
attracting attention. The Caspian state’s Balkan policy has several
characteristics: high-level official visits to Baku and Azerbaijani
officials’ visits to the Balkans, the convening of business forums, and
the construction and restoration of parks in Balkan countries that
contain statues of famous Azerbaijani historical figures. What are the
aims of Azerbaijan in the Balkans? Based on the trends in the
relationships between Azerbaijan and the Balkan states over the past
five years, several aims can be discerned.
First, Azerbaijan is aiming to widen support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This takes the shape of seeking official statements by Balkan political leaders about Azerbaijan or parliamentary resolutions from Balkan nations. The aim of this effort is to garner support and political allies in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in early 2013 adopted a resolution supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Serbian leaders have publicly supported Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, and Azerbaijan has refused to recognize the independence of Kosovo.
Second, Azerbaijan aims to institutionalize the memory of the massacre of ethnic Azeris in the town of Khojaly. This atrocity was committed in early 1992 by Armenian troops and has left a wound of sorrow in the Azerbaijani collective memory. In early 2012, an Azerbaijani-Bosnian friendship park opened in Sarajevo that is dedicated to the victims of Khojaly and Srebrenica.
Third is the promotion of Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural heritage. A statue to Azerbaijan’s first president, Heydar Aliyev, was built in Belgrade. Bucharest also boasts a park that bears the name of Azerbaijan’s first president. In Podgorica, a Baku street was opened recently and a statue of Azerbaijani poet Hüseyn Cavid was erected.
Fourth is the promotion of Azerbaijani investments in the region. At this stage, it is too early to judge this aspect of Azerbaijan’s role in the Balkans. If the heralded investments were to materialize, it would be a significant new trend in Azerbaijan’s presence in the Balkans. So far, business forums have been held in Azerbaijan and the various Balkan states. Substantially, Azerbaijan approved a loan to Serbia worth 300 million euros for the construction of a 40-kilometer section of highway. By far the most ambitious announced investment is the 90-year lease of a property and the construction of a luxury resort in Kumbor on the Montenegrin coast. There has also been talk of Azerbaijani firms taking part in the construction of the Corridor Vc highway in Bosnia.
Of the Balkan states, Serbia stands out in its relations with Azerbaijan. Presidents Boris Tadic and Tomislav Nikolic visited Azerbaijan while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Belgrade. Leaders of both countries speak of a “strategic partnership.” Indeed, only Serbia has so far obtained a major loan from Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Azerbaijani relations with Croatia do not seem to have the same impetus as Azerbaijani-Serbian relations. Over the last two years, Bosnia has also taken steps to further develop relations with Azerbaijan. Member of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija both visited Baku. However, unlike Serbia or Croatia, Azerbaijan does not have an embassy in Sarajevo but a diplomatic representative. The development of Azerbaijani-Bosnian relations will require more high-level visits by both sides as well as the opening of an Azerbaijani embassy in Sarajevo.
First, Azerbaijan is aiming to widen support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This takes the shape of seeking official statements by Balkan political leaders about Azerbaijan or parliamentary resolutions from Balkan nations. The aim of this effort is to garner support and political allies in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in early 2013 adopted a resolution supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Serbian leaders have publicly supported Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, and Azerbaijan has refused to recognize the independence of Kosovo.
Second, Azerbaijan aims to institutionalize the memory of the massacre of ethnic Azeris in the town of Khojaly. This atrocity was committed in early 1992 by Armenian troops and has left a wound of sorrow in the Azerbaijani collective memory. In early 2012, an Azerbaijani-Bosnian friendship park opened in Sarajevo that is dedicated to the victims of Khojaly and Srebrenica.
Third is the promotion of Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural heritage. A statue to Azerbaijan’s first president, Heydar Aliyev, was built in Belgrade. Bucharest also boasts a park that bears the name of Azerbaijan’s first president. In Podgorica, a Baku street was opened recently and a statue of Azerbaijani poet Hüseyn Cavid was erected.
Fourth is the promotion of Azerbaijani investments in the region. At this stage, it is too early to judge this aspect of Azerbaijan’s role in the Balkans. If the heralded investments were to materialize, it would be a significant new trend in Azerbaijan’s presence in the Balkans. So far, business forums have been held in Azerbaijan and the various Balkan states. Substantially, Azerbaijan approved a loan to Serbia worth 300 million euros for the construction of a 40-kilometer section of highway. By far the most ambitious announced investment is the 90-year lease of a property and the construction of a luxury resort in Kumbor on the Montenegrin coast. There has also been talk of Azerbaijani firms taking part in the construction of the Corridor Vc highway in Bosnia.
Of the Balkan states, Serbia stands out in its relations with Azerbaijan. Presidents Boris Tadic and Tomislav Nikolic visited Azerbaijan while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Belgrade. Leaders of both countries speak of a “strategic partnership.” Indeed, only Serbia has so far obtained a major loan from Azerbaijan. On the other hand, Azerbaijani relations with Croatia do not seem to have the same impetus as Azerbaijani-Serbian relations. Over the last two years, Bosnia has also taken steps to further develop relations with Azerbaijan. Member of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija both visited Baku. However, unlike Serbia or Croatia, Azerbaijan does not have an embassy in Sarajevo but a diplomatic representative. The development of Azerbaijani-Bosnian relations will require more high-level visits by both sides as well as the opening of an Azerbaijani embassy in Sarajevo.
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