On April 10, 2023, the visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev to the Republic of Kazakhstan took place. Within the framework of this visit, both bilateral and general meetings were held between Ilham Aliyev and the President of Kazakhstan Kasim-Jomart Tokayev. It should also be noted that the visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan was of special importance in a number of aspects. Of course, looking at the documents signed during the visit, it is possible to say that there are relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in a number of fields, especially in the field of political, economic, cultural and military security. After the 44-day second Karabakh war, it is possible to note that a qualitatively new stage has begun in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. During the visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kasim-Jomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan on August 24, 2022, among the main topics of discussion, political, economic, cultural and security issues were at the forefront.
During the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilahm Aliyev on April 10, 2023, 7 important interstate documents were signed, which will have a significant impact on the development of regional relations as well as bilateral relations. Among the points to be noted here;
1) Signing of the “Protocol on the Establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan”,
2) Signing of the “Memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation between Azerbaijan State Information Agency – AZERTAC and “Teleradiocomplex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan” Non-Commercial Joint Stock Company,
3) Signing of the “Memorandum on scientific and cultural cooperation between the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism and the Institute of Applied Ethnopolitical Studies of Kazakhstan”,
4) signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan”,
5) Signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan on cooperation in the field of science”,
6) Signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the “Otandastar Fund” of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
7) Signing of the “Memorandum on understanding and cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan”[1].
Looking at the documents signed between the parties, it is possible to clearly see that the parties are interested in the mutual development of relations, and practical steps are planned for this purpose. The signing of the “Protocol on the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan” can be considered the main document for those mentioned. In addition, with the signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan”, further development of cooperation between the parties in the field of business development, especially agriculture is envisaged. Of course, the fact that both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have rich experience in the field of agriculture and the mutual sharing of this experience suggests that there will be rapid development in the non-oil sector for both countries in the near future[2].
According to the agreement signed between the parties within the framework of the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan, 10.7 million barrels of Kazakh oil will be exported to world markets in 2023 through Azerbaijan’s Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. If we take into account that over the past 20 years, Kazakh oil has been exported to the world markets through the Russian port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, and now they are trying to implement this process through Azerbaijan, then it becomes clear that Azerbaijan is the most correct way to export oil to the world markets more safely for Kazakhstan. can be considered an option. It should also be noted that in the first quarter of 2023, 19,221 tons of Kazakh crude oil produced from the “Tengiz” field was transported to world markets by the “KazTransOil” company through the port of Aktau and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline[3].
It is clear from all these mentioned that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the trade and economic field is deepening. It can be considered that in the near term, the parties will have the opportunity to implement the joint implementation of the main economic projects of the region at a higher level. Starting from 2013, the Middle Corridor, which is a branch of the “One Belt, One Road” project implemented by China, passing through Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and extending to Asia Europe, encourages the deepening of relations between the parties. According to the given statistics, in 2022, compared to 2021, the total value of the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan increased 4.4 times and exceeded 598 million dollars. 104 million dollars of this trade turnover falls on the share of products exported from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, and 494 million dollars from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan. Of course, although this trade turnover between the parties continues on an increasing line, it is not enough. It is possible to say that there are opportunities for further increasing this trade turnover[4].
On August 24, 2022, the visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kasim-Jomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan took place. Within the framework of this visit, further development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, especially trade-economic, transport-logistics, increase of commodity turnover, deepening of relations in cultural and educational fields were discussed on a wider scale and decisions were made. As a result, a number of signatures were signed. During Tokayev’s visit to Azerbaijan, the “Middle Corridor” project was one of the main topics of discussion[5].
Relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have also developed at a high level in the political sphere, and this process continues today. It is possible to note that the fact that they were in one union during the USSR, and that they were jointly represented in various organizations after the collapse of the USSR, is of particular importance in terms of the development of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan relations. From the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century, in the CIS, which was created after the collapse of the USSR[6], in the International Organization of Turkish Culture (TURKSOY)[7], where other Turkic-speaking countries are represented, in the Summit of Turkic-Speaking Countries, which has been operating with short breaks since 1992[8], and since 2009 The joint representation of Turkic-speaking states in the Cooperation Council[9] and finally in the Organization of Turkic States established in November 2021 can be considered as an additional stimulus for the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. It can be said without exception and unequivocally that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan mutually defend each other on all regional and global platforms[10].
Conclusion
In terms of developing relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan at a higher level, future expectations are that all potential will be effectively used for the development of bilateral relations and mutual support at the regional and global levels. The presence of language, religion, cultural unity, as well as deep historical fraternal ties between our peoples is of particular importance in terms of preserving our cultural and ethnic identity. Taking into account all these mentioned, it is possible to say that the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan can be evaluated as an opportunity for the formation of rich opportunities in political, economic, cultural and other fields.
Finally, it is possible to emphasize that the regular mutual visits of the leaders are of special importance in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Author:Samir Humbatov,Head of the Center for International Relations and Diplomatic Studies from Azerbaijan.
