Azerbaijan | Silver Jubilee

Embassy Network | 18th March 2017

Ambassador Tahir Taghizadeh gives his Independence Day address

Mrs Ulviyya Taghizadeh with friends from the Diplomatic Spouse Club of London

Russian Ambassador Mr Alexander Yakovenko in discussion with Ambassador Taghizadeh

Ambassador Taghizadeh welcomes the Latvian Ambassador Mr Andris Teikmanis

The Ambassador of Kuwait and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps congratulates Ambassador Taghizadeh

The new chair of the Azerbaijan-British Parliamentary Friendship Group Javanshir Feyziyev spoke of strong parliamentary ties between the two countries

Michael Tatham, FCO Director of Eastern Europe and Central Asia Department

Traditional treats from Azerbaijan

The Ambassador of Bosnia Herzegovina Mr Branko Neskovic, the Ambassador of Croatia Dr Ivan Grdesic and the new Ambassador of Montenegro Mr Borislav Banovic

The High Commissioner for Pakistan Mr Syed Ibne Abbas and
the Ambassador of Uzbekistan Mr Alisher Kurmanov

Georgian Ambassador Mrs Tamar Beruchashvili and the Ambassador of Belarus Mr Sergei Aleinik

Ulviyya Taghizadeh, Ambassador Taghizadeh and the Ambassador of Turkmenistan Mr Yazmurad N Seryaev

Ambassador Taghizadeh welcomes the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Mr Alistair Harrison

Silver lining

Toasting Azerbaijan’s Silver Jubilee with wine cultivated in ancient Azeri vineyards, Ambassador Tahir Taghizadeh said it had been a vintage year, with Baku staging its first-ever Formula One and having Karabakh horses perform for the Queen on her 90th birthday at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

He said Azerbaijan had come far, emerging from tumult to become a geostrategic energy hub and a multicultural meeting place for civilisations. He thanked Britain for its know-how and investment and said the “sky was the limit” for what the two countries could achieve in the next 25 years.

FCO Director Michael Tatham said Britain was Azerbaijan’s number one investor and student destination, and that the two nations were poised to take their partnership to the next level.

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS