Romania's Baia Mare and Azerbaijan's Khankandi sign protocol of intent on twinning

The Mayor of Baia Mare, Ioan-Doru Dăncuș, and Elchin Yusubov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankandi city, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, signed a protocol of intent on twinning between Baia Mare and Khankandi.

According to Report, the signing ceremony took place during Baia Mare City Day.

The event was attended by Cristian-Augustin Niculescu-Țâgârlaș, Senator of Maramureș and member of the Romania–Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Florin Andreicuț, Chairman of the Maramureș Bar Association, Pîrvu Ionuț-Rareș, Deputy Mayor of Baia Mare, and Gudsi Osmanov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Romania.

Mayor Ioan-Doru Dăncuș stated that this initiative would elevate cooperation between the two cities to a new level. He noted that the protocol envisages promoting new economic and investment opportunities, establishing direct ties between business circles, implementing joint projects between local administrations, and expanding cooperation in culture, education, and tourism. He also emphasized the symbolic significance of signing the protocol on Baia Mare City Day.

Elchin Yusubov, in turn, highlighted that it was no coincidence that Khankandi's twinning process in Europe began with Baia Mare. He stressed the deep friendship, partnership, and strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Romania, recalling that Romania was the first European country to recognize Azerbaijan's independence. He added that for Khankandi, the main center of Karabakh, this initiative opens new opportunities for cooperation with European cities.

Yusubov underlined the importance of Khankandi entering a new stage of revival, reconstruction, and international cooperation after 30 years of occupation under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

Senator Cristian-Augustin Niculescu-Țâgârlaș emphasized the importance of transforming parliamentary dialogue into regional cooperation and expanding ties between the regions of the two countries. He recalled his participation in the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, where he engaged in dialogue with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on prospects for reviving institutional dialogue between Azerbaijan and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

He also mentioned his meeting with Elchin Yusubov during his visit to Karabakh, stressing that this cooperation has brought Karabakh and Maramureș closer and created new opportunities for both regions.

In particular, Ambassador Gudsi Osmanov spoke about existing Azerbaijan–Romania relations, particularly joint projects aimed at developing interregional ties. He highly valued Baia Mare being the first European city to initiate twinning with Khankandi, calling it the beginning of concrete projects, real opportunities, and sustainable relations between Maramureș and Azerbaijan.