BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN ALBANIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Baku is the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan borders with Iran, Turkey, Russia, Georgia and Armenia. The government of the Republic of Azerbaijan is organized at the base of principles of separation of power. According to the traditional concept of the separation of power, the Constitution determines that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan holds the executive power, the legislative power is carried out by the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan — Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the judicial power is held by the independent courts.

OVERVIEW

Diplomatic relation between Albania and Azerbaijan were established on September 22, 1993. With Azerbaijan, there is an increasing tendency of political contacts, especially in recent years.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

Friendly bilateral relations between the two countries are based on mutual trust and respect. It is worth mentioning the official visit of the Albanian Prime Minister Mr. Edi Rama in Baku, on April 14, 2022. In this visit in particular, energy and tourism were identified as the most potential sectors for intensifying cooperation between the two countries.

The Albanian government has abolished short-stay visas for Azerbaijani citizens since 2011, an action taken by our country which expresses our willingness to further develop cooperation between the two countries.

According to DCM no. 858, dated 29.12.2021 “On determining the criteria, procedures and documentation for entry, stay and treatment of foreigners in the Republic of Albania”, Azerbaijan is on the list of countries whose citizens enter without a visa in the Republic of Albania, for short-term stay.

There are plenty of signed agreements betëeen the tëo countries and some other in process. A groëing interest in intensifying cooperation has been in the field of economy, especially in the energy sector. Cooperation in the energy sector is considered one of the most important areas of our economic relations. The completation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) gas pipeline project is of strategic importance in this direction. Albania is interested in the active participation of Azerbaijan in the development of the country’s energy infrastructure and attaches great importance to the implementation of the Memorandum on the General Plan for Gasification of Albania signed betëeen the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Albania.

Tirana has always been supportive of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and of the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We are glad that the positive developments in the dialogue between the parties took place during the Albanian Presidency of the OSCE “. (Tripartite Declaration signed on November 10, 2020 between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia).