Belgium and Azerbaijan have very different histories yet share some cultural similarities. While Belgium has a longstanding presence in Europe as a sovereign state since 1830, Azerbaijan only gained independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Belgium is located in Western Europe and has a population of over 11 million people residing within its small territory. It has three official languages - Dutch, French and German. As a founding member of various organizations like the European Union, Belgium has a highly developed economy and scores high on quality of life indices. Its capital and largest city, Brussels, is also home to the headquarters of NATO and the EU.
Azerbaijan is situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, with a population of around 10 million.  After centuries of rule by various empires and powers, Azerbaijan saw the rise of nationalism in the late 19th century. However, it was only in 1918 that the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established as the first modern parliamentary republic in the Muslim world, before being absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1920. Azerbaijan declared independence again in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR.
Both countries have a rich mix of influences in their cultures due to their histories. Belgian culture adopts aspects from its neighbors like France, Germany and the Netherlands. Food in Belgium is known for dishes like waffles, fries and beers. Similarly, Azerbaijani culture shows influences from the Caucasus region as well as Russia and the Middle East. Culinary highlights include plov - a pilaf rice dish, and shish kebabs.
While the predominantly Christian Belgian people speak multiple European languages, the majority of Azerbaijanis are Muslim and converse in Azerbaijani - a Turkic language written in the Latin alphabet. Overall, both countries have made progress as sovereign democratic states embracing diversity in the post-Cold War era. With developing economies focused on trade, Belgium and Azerbaijan continue forging their unique identities within Europe and Eurasia respectively. - https://livesport365.live/match/belgium-vs-azerbaijan-1629326293.html

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Pub: 17 Nov 2023 04:45 UTC
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