[Friends for decades] Brother nations Korea and Azerbaijan share history and perseverance
![Azerbaijan Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov speaks with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the embassy in Seoul on June 14. [PARK SANG-MOON]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/a57c0548-1f52-49ef-9dbd-9a15712b91ec.jpg)
Azerbaijan Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov speaks with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the embassy in Seoul on June 14. [PARK SANG-MOON]
![](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/64b79339-67c2-4d32-8bda-30043b017078.jpg)
Long ago, somewhere between Eastern Europe and northern Asia, the ancestors of Koreans and Azerbaijanis may have been distant cousins, if not part of a single family.
“There is a sense of brotherhood between the two nations and some evidence that our lives may have crossed in the ancient times,” said Ramzi Teymurov, ambassador of Azerbaijan to Korea.
Azerbaijan and Korea sealed their ties officially on March 23, 1992, just three months after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
But archaeological and anthropological studies have pointed to the peoples of two nations having possibly crossed paths in the dawn of history, in ancient times. A conference this month in Baku, in which a number of Korean historians will participate, is expected to shed more light on the ongoing research, the top envoy added.
Teymurov is no stranger when it comes to observing the everyday livelihoods and culture of the Korean people, for his tenure in Seoul representing Azerbaijan stretches back to 2014.
A lot has taken place in those eight years, not least the Covid-19 pandemic but also a rekindled conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in late 2020 over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an issue that dates back to the Soviet era.
Given its own history of occupation by foreign powers, Azerbaijan has kept a close eye on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, condemning all acts that threaten territorial integrity of any country.
“We are not welcoming what is going on between the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” said Teymurov. “We have very good relations with both countries and are supporting a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
To learn more about what the recent geopolitical events will mean for Azerbaijan and Korea relations, in light of the milestone events and history the two nations have weathered in their 30 years of friendship, the Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Teymurov at the embassy in Seoul on June 14.
The following are edited excerpts of the interview.
![The Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul hosted an exhibition of Azerbaijan carpets at the KF Gallery in Seoul from November 2018 to January 2019. [EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN IN KOREA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/d4f1b201-0eea-463f-9646-5a9e4af24706.jpg)
The Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul hosted an exhibition of Azerbaijan carpets at the KF Gallery in Seoul from November 2018 to January 2019. [EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN IN KOREA]
Our ties with Korea took a turn with the state visits in 2006 and 2007, each by the presidents of Korea and Azerbaijan, during which we took major steps to boost our political dialogue, economic cooperation, trade and humanitarian work.
Korean companies have been actively taking part in the construction boom in Azerbaijan, which for the past three decades led to the completion of a national transportation network. Last year, President Ilham Aliyev invited Korean companies to participate in the ongoing infrastructure projects, not only as contractors but also as investors.
![An architectural rendering for an office building of Azersu, a water supply and sanitation services company in Azerbaijan, completed in 2022. Korea's Halla Construction Company won the bid to help build it in 2013. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/e9a98657-1851-43ad-99e9-962f49d0134b.jpg)
An architectural rendering for an office building of Azersu, a water supply and sanitation services company in Azerbaijan, completed in 2022. Korea's Halla Construction Company won the bid to help build it in 2013. [YONHAP]
We would highly appreciate if countries like Korea and other international communities would assist us in the humanitarian work here, especially since Korea has experience in building smart cities and in landmine cleaning efforts. We have huge resources in the area to use solar and wind power, and we intend to make sure that these new villages are run on renewables.
![This handout picture taken and released by Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 16 shows Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, left, and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, right, looking on during a meeting in Tbilisi for the first bilateral talks between the two Caucasus nations since the 2020 war for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. [GEORGIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS/AFP/YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/7cc891fb-3f68-46ef-b3ca-7d77aa81ca65.jpg)
This handout picture taken and released by Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 16 shows Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, left, and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, right, looking on during a meeting in Tbilisi for the first bilateral talks between the two Caucasus nations since the 2020 war for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. [GEORGIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS/AFP/YONHAP]
In the case of the two Koreas, it’s a case that involves two countries that used to be one. In our case, Azerbaijan and Armenia were not a single nation to begin with. In terms of geopolitical consequences, our situations may be said to be similar because we are both surrounded by big powers in the region. We should be very careful to not allow our territories to become battlefields of proxy wars by other countries.
Azerbaijan believes in respecting international norms and principles, and that the territorial integrity of any country cannot be subject to violation. All countries must respect the international norms and principles set forward by the United Nations and other international organizations.
![Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration chief Jung Jae-suk, center, attend a Unesco World Heritage Committee meeting in Baku on July 6, 2019, when Koera's Confucian academies, or seowon, were successfully enlisted as a Unesco World Heritage site. [CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/4a3af3e9-4291-45cf-b076-437a9b0428a7.jpg)
Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration chief Jung Jae-suk, center, attend a Unesco World Heritage Committee meeting in Baku on July 6, 2019, when Koera's Confucian academies, or seowon, were successfully enlisted as a Unesco World Heritage site. [CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION]
I myself have seen some similarities in my trips to heritage sites in Korea. When I saw the tombs in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, I was reminded of the kurgans we have in Azerbaijan. And there are similarities in our everyday practices, like taking off our shoes when we enter homes, and the traditional practice of eating around a table while sitting on the floor. We are brother nations, and I hope more Koreans and Azerbaijanis will come to see that more in the next 30 years of our friendship to come.
![[EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN IN KOREA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/ae2758c3-b3b2-4c08-acf7-ff42b0885148.jpg)
[EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN IN KOREA]
Timeline of Azerbaijan-Korea ites
The two countries established diplomatic ties on March 23, 1992. The Korean Embassy was established in Baku in 2006, the first time for Korea to open an embassy in the South Caucasus region, and the Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul in 2007.
2006 Roh Moo-hyun in Azerbaijan
President Roh Moo-hyun in May 2006 became the first Korean president to visit Azerbaijan in an official state visit. His visit was followed two years later by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo.
![President Roh Moo-hyun, right, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, left, enter the presidential palace together in Baku on May 11, 2006. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/b028f181-46f5-4951-baa6-1f349215512e.jpg)
President Roh Moo-hyun, right, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, left, enter the presidential palace together in Baku on May 11, 2006. [YONHAP]
2007 Ilham Aliyev in Seoul
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited Seoul in April 2007 on a state visit and held a summit meeting with President Roh. In his interview with the JoongAng Ilbo during the visit, President Aliyev spoke of his ideas for the bilateral agenda including increased exchange of energy from Azerbaijan and knowledge and skills from Korea. The president came back to Seoul in 2012 to attend a multilateral summit on nuclear security.
![President Roh Moo-hyun, right, greets Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, left, during his state visit to Korea in April 2007. [BLUE HOUSE]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/0dff4a49-a638-4c69-aba7-a88594dd843c.jpg)
President Roh Moo-hyun, right, greets Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, left, during his state visit to Korea in April 2007. [BLUE HOUSE]
2018 Dresses and carpets
Baku National Costumes House, with the Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul, Korea Culture Association and Korea Foundation showcased Azerbaijani dresses and costumes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic’s declaration of independence in 1918, at a fashion show in Coex in May 2018. As another cultural program, the Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul hosted an exhibition of Azerbaijan carpets at the KF Gallery in Seoul from November 2018 to January 2019.
![Baku National Costumes House, with the Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul, Korea Culture Association and Korea Foundation showcased Azerbaijani dresses and costumes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic’s declaration of independence in 1918, at a fashion show in COEX in May 2018. [EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN IN KOREA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/f7a09df7-2b23-4649-bcc0-9d21868f2507.jpg)
Baku National Costumes House, with the Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul, Korea Culture Association and Korea Foundation showcased Azerbaijani dresses and costumes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic’s declaration of independence in 1918, at a fashion show in COEX in May 2018. [EMBASSY OF AZERBAIJAN IN KOREA]
2021 Speaker in Baku
National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug visited Azerbaijan from Aug. 18 to 20 in 2021 and met with the president, speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan and a number of corporate executives to discuss the two countries’ cooperation on the denuclearization of North Korea and rebuilding the Karabakh region in Azerbaijan.
![Then-Speaker of the National Assembly Park Byeong-seug, fifth from left, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, sixth from left, pose together during Park's visit to Baku in August 2021. [KOREAN EMBASSY IN AZERBAIJAN]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/540fc947-d301-42ab-aff6-1723de4a42ce.jpg)
Then-Speaker of the National Assembly Park Byeong-seug, fifth from left, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, sixth from left, pose together during Park's visit to Baku in August 2021. [KOREAN EMBASSY IN AZERBAIJAN]
2022 Celebration of 30th anniversary
To celebrate 30 years of relations, the Azerbaijan Embassy in Seoul planted a tree with the Yongsan District Office in May. “Layla and Majnun,” a famous work by poet Nizami Ganjavi, whose heritage is widely shared and appreciated across Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan and others, was translated to Korean and published in February. A photo exhibition was held to celebrate the anniversary in ties at the National Assembly in June.
![Azerbaijan Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov, right, and head of the Yongsan DIstrict Office Seong Jang-hyun, left, plant a tree at the Singye Historical Park in Yongsan to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan-Korea relations on May 12. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/1b933b85-02b9-40bd-a994-1fc3200eb552.jpg)
Azerbaijan Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov, right, and head of the Yongsan DIstrict Office Seong Jang-hyun, left, plant a tree at the Singye Historical Park in Yongsan to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan-Korea relations on May 12. [YONHAP]
BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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