Welcome to the Embassy of Azerbaijan

Welcome to the web site of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Canada.

This site offers basic information about Azerbaijan and our Embassy. I hope you will become more familiar to our ancient land located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, on the Caspian Sea shore.

Azerbaijan was one of the cradles of human civilization, whose track is engraved in Gobustan stones, an ancient cave dwelling which a famous Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl called “spreading center of the Caucasian people”. Azerbaijan was also an ancient place of worship for the Zoroastrians, who were attracted by myriads of flames from oil fields. Christianity arrived in Azerbaijan with the mission of St. Eliseus and from the fourth to the seventh century it was a dominant religion in Azerbaijan. During the Middle Ages Azerbaijan contributed to the development of Islamic science and arts. During the oil boom on the verge of 19th and 20th centuries Azerbaijan, producing half of world’s oil input, allured many business people and artists who brought to our capital Baku a bouquet of new gothic and baroque. In 1908 Azerbaijani composer Uzeir Hadjibekov staged the first Oriental opera “Leyli and Medjnun” in Baku.

Azerbaijan was the first Republic in the East established on May 28, 1918, with a functioning parliament. In the same year women’s suffrage was granted in Azerbaijan — year later than in Canada and two years earlier than in the USA. Unfortunately, the life of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was short and ended in 1920.

Decades of striving of the Azerbaijani people to live in a free and independent state eventually led to restoration of independence on October 18, 1991. The Republic of Azerbaijan became a member of the United Nations on March 2, 1992.

Today the people of Azerbaijan, comprising various ethnic and religious groups, are working to develop a modern and democratic state with a free market and solid social institutions. Our major foreign policy objectives are to eliminate threats to our independence and territorial integrity, integrate with European andEuro-Atlantic structures, promote trans-regional economic projects, and contribute to the strengthening of global security.

My staff and I invite you to use this webpage, and are, at the same time, ready to provide you with further assistance.

Sincerely,
Ambassador

 

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