Khankendi and Baia Mare become sister cities
The mayor of the Romanian city of Baia Mare, Ioan Doru Dăncuș, and the special representative of the president of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, Elchin Yusubov, have signed a "Protocol of Intent on Concluding an Agreement on Establishing Sister-City Relations between the Cities of Baia Mare and Khankendi."
According to Azertaj, the ceremony took place as part of Baia Mare City Day.
Speaking at the event, Baia Mare Mayor Ioan Doru Dăncuș noted that this initiative will make it possible to bring cooperation between the two cities to a new level. According to him, the initiative provides for the promotion of new economic and investment opportunities, the establishment of direct contacts between representatives of business circles, the implementation of joint projects between local administrations, as well as the expansion of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, and tourism.
He also noted that the signing of the protocol of intent on Baia Mare City Day has a special symbolic significance.
The special representative of the president of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, Elchin Yusubov, noted in his speech that it is no coincidence that the procedure for establishing sister-city relations between Khankendi and a European city began precisely with Baia Mare.
He emphasized that relations of friendship, partnership, and strategic cooperation based on deep historical roots exist between Azerbaijan and Romania, and that Romania was the first country in Europe to recognize Azerbaijan's independence.
Elchin Yusubov also noted that this initiative opens up new opportunities for cooperation with European cities for Khankendi, which is one of the key cities of Karabakh. He emphasized the importance of the fact that, after 30 years of occupation, Khankendi has entered a new stage under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev — one of restoration, creation, and international cooperation.
A member of the Romania–Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group of the Senate of Romania, senator for Maramureș County Cristian-Augustin Niculescu-Țâgârlaș, stated that it is important to transform the cooperation that began within the framework of interparliamentary dialogue into interregional cooperation and to expand interaction between the regions of the two countries.
He reported that several months ago he took part in the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum. The senator also recalled his meeting with special representative Elchin Yusubov during a trip to Karabakh. According to him, the result of this cooperation has been the rapprochement of the regions of Karabakh and Maramureș and the emergence of new opportunities for both sides.
Speaking at the event, Azerbaijan's ambassador to Romania, Gudsi Osmanov, spoke about relations between Azerbaijan and Romania, in particular about existing and planned joint projects aimed at developing interregional ties.
He highly appreciated the fact that Baia Mare has become the first European city to begin the procedure for establishing sister-city relations with Khankendi, calling it the beginning of concrete projects, real opportunities, and sustainable relations between Maramureș and Azerbaijan.
