Political Relations

31 December 1991:	the Hellenic Republic recognized the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
2 April 1992:	the diplomatic relations between two countries were established.
27 May 1993:	the Greek Embassy in Baky was opened.
10-11 April 1997:	the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Mr. T.Pangalos paid official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
November 2000:	the Azerbaijan-Greek Interparliamentary Friendship Group was created at the Azerbaijani Parliament.
10-11 April 2003:	the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Mr. A.Loverdos visited the Republic of Azerbaijan to co-chair the first session of the Azerbaijani-Greek Joint Intergovernmental Committee on economic, industrial and technological cooperation. During the visit he was received by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. H.Aliyev.
26-27 May 2003:	the special representative on the South Caucasus of the Greek Presidency in the European Union Mr. V.Zafiropoulos visited the Republic of Azerbaijan.
16 April 2004:	the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. I.Aliyev signed the Law on the establishment of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Hellenic Republic.
30 April 2004:	the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Mr. E.Stylianidis visited the Republic of Azerbaijan to participate in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).
May 2004:	the Greek-Azerbaijani Interparliamentary Friendship Group was created at the Hellenic Parliament.
18-20 June 2004:	the Greek delegation under the leadership of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. E.Stylianidis visited Baky in order to prepare the first-ever official visit of the Greek President to Azerbaijan.
20-22 June 2004:	the President of the Hellenic Republic H.E. Mr. C.Stephanopoulos paid the official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and on 21 June had high-level meetings with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. I.Aliyev, the Chairman of Parliament Mr. M.Aleskerov and other high-ranking officials.

      On 21-22 June the first Business Forum with the participation of entrepreneurs from both countries took place in Baky, hotel "Hyatt Regency - Nakhichevan". About 100 Greek and 200 Azerbaijani businessmen participated at the forum.

      On 22 June Mr. Stephanopoulos visited the Baky Slavic University, where the ceremony of his awarding by the diploma of honorary doctor of the said University took place. After that the Centre of the Modern Greek language and culture at the University was opened. At the same day the Greek President was also at the Azerbaijan State Economic University.

      On 22 June the opening ceremony of the exhibition "The Olympic Spirit" was held at the administrative building of the Azerbaijani National Olympic Committee. Both Heads of State participated at the ceremony and made speeches.

     On 22 June the State Symphonic Orchestra named after U.Hajibeyov gave concert of the Azerbaijani and Greek music at the Azerbaijani State Philharmonic Society named after M.Magomayev. The Presidents participated at this event.

      During the visit 3 intergovernmental documents important for the development of bilateral economic cooperation, namely agreements on promotion and protection of investments, on international road transport and on cooperation in customs matters, were also signed in the presence of both Presidents.

      On 15 July 2004 the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. I.Aliyev appointed Mr. Mir-Hamza Efendiyev as the Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Hellenic Republic. Ambassador Efendiyev presented his credentials to the Greek President on 21 July 2004.



      On 12 August 2004 the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. I.Aliyev left Azerbaijan for Greece and on 13 August participated in the opening ceremony of Athens Olympic Games 2004.



      On 15 August the Day of Azerbaijan in the framework of the Olympic Games took place at the hotel "Divani Caravel" in Athens. The President Mr. I.Aliyev along with his wife Mrs. M.Aliyev participated at the event and made speech.



      On 16 August the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. I.Aliyev met with the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Mr. K.Karamanlis.


      Being in Athens the Azerbaijani President had also meeting with the Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic Mr. D.Avramopoulos on August 18 2005.


      On 18 March the Ambassador of Azerbaijan Mr. Efendiyev congratulated the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias on the occasion of his election.