Azerbaijan, Greece commit to expanding bilateral economic relations

Azerbaijan's Minister of Finance, Samir Sharifov, met with Greek Ambassador Christos Kapodistrias to discuss strengthening economic and financial cooperation between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the two sides also explored opportunities for collaboration within international financial institutions and highlighted the significance of hosting COP29 in Baku, emphasizing its importance in tackling global climate change, Caliber.Az reports.

The talks also focused on enhancing cooperation within the frameworks of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB). Both parties expressed a commitment to further bolstering their bilateral relations.

On November 13, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who praised Azerbaijan for the successful organization of COP29 on short notice. The leaders discussed areas of mutual interest, including cooperation within international organizations, cultural and tourism partnerships, and the launch of direct flights between Baku and Athens.

Azerbaijan regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and Greece officially recognized it on December 31 of the same year. Diplomatic relations were established in 1992, with the Greek embassy in Baku opening in 1993 and the Azerbaijani embassy in Athens following in 2004.

Both nations are active members of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the BSEC. Greece was the first EU country to express interest in directly importing gas from Azerbaijan. The two countries maintain strong ties in trade, culture, and the economy. The Greek diaspora in Azerbaijan, particularly in Baku, consists of around 250-300 individuals, most of whom are descendants of Black Sea Greeks who migrated to Azerbaijan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

By Tamilla Hasanova