Diplomacy Journal David Kendall | On February 26, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Korea (ERA) and the DGIEA Korea–Azerbaijan Association held the Third Symposium dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide.

"On the night of 25–26 February 1992, Armenia's armed forces attacked the town of Khojaly and perpetrated mass atrocities against the Azerbaijani civilian population," the Embassy explained in a post-symposium statement. "During the bloodshed, 613 people — including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 elderly persons — were killed with particular cruelty" — with another 487 people listed as severely injured, 1,275 taken hostage, and 130 children losing one or both parents.

In his welcoming speech, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Korea Ramin Hasanov called the attack on Khojaly a crime against humanity and said, "It's crucial to preserve trust, justice, and international law." Ambassador Hasanov; DGIEA Korea–Azerbaijan Association Chairman Lee Min Yong, who spoke after him; and the Korean panelists mourned the victims and hostages. The separation of families and frequent invasions by larger neighbors were cited throughout the symposium as two examples of Azerbaijan and Korea's shared pain.

Ambassador Hasanov also emphasized the progress that has been made since Azerbaijan's victory in its 2020 Patriotic War, which liberated Khojaly and all other previously occupied territories of Azerbaijan. He stressed that despite the past hostilities, Azerbaijan was the first to extend a hand for peace and reconciliation immediately after the successful conclusion of the Patriotic War. He mentioned the historic trilateral Washington Summit in August last year, where President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a Joint Declaration witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Ambassador underscored that President Aliyev has reaffirmed that the peace treaty initialed by Azerbaijan and Armenia following three years of negotiations can be signed once Armenia amends the territorial claims to Azerbaijan's Garabagh region currently contained in its constitution.

The recent visit of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Azerbaijan and the signing of a bilateral Azerbaijan–U.S. Charter on Strategic Partnership were cited as further assurance that all agreements on regional peace and cooperation reached during the Washington Summit will be implemented.

During the panel discussion, former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Azerbaijan Lee Eun Yong cited improved Azerbaijan–U.S. relations under President Trump as a factor facilitating Korean investments in Azerbaijan. Ambassador Lee, who was dispatched to Baku from 2021 to 2024, spoke about the tremendous changes that he and his predecessors observed over the years in Azerbaijan. Again, similarities to Korea were cited: rapid development under strong, citizen-focused leadership and a population that reveres education and family.

The other panelists—Vice Head and HK Professor at the International Center for Regional Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) Jung Giwoong; Director of the Eurasian Turkic Studies Institute at Dongduk Women's University (DWU) Oh Eunkyung; and Korean Language and Literature Professor Bang Min Ho of Seoul National University (SNU)—also emphasized the historical and cultural ties that bind Azerbaijan and Korea.

Picking up on the potential for collaboration that Ambassador Hasanov mentioned in his opening remarks, the panelists commented extensively on various aspects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Korea and shared valuable insights into future prospects for cooperation in diplomacy, security, trade, industry, culture, and academia. In particular, Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea wind turbine projects and demining efforts in recaptured territory were two areas where Korea's considerable experience and technical expertise were seen as clearly applicable.

Attendees included heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Korea; members of South Korea's political, economic, cultural, scientific, and academic communities; media representatives; and members of the Azerbaijani diaspora.