Baku beckons
It was a double celebration at Azerbaijan’s National Day festivities this year – not only has the country reached a milestone 20 years of independence, but it also won the Eurovision competition – which means crowds of music fans will be heading to Baku for the music extravaganza in 2012. In his Independence Day address, Ambassador Mr Fakhraddin Gurbanov said Azerbaijan was “a new country, but an ancient nation”. He thanked Britain for the support it had given his country in the challenging first years of independence and for being Azerbaijan’s top investor. At the reception, two Britons were honoured for their exceptional contribution to Anglo-Azeri ties: Baroness O’Cathain of the UK-Azerbaijan All Party Parliamentary group and The Rt Hon The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie QC.

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS

The Ambassador of Hungary Mr Janos Csak talks to the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Mr Charles Gray

Mrs Saida Samadova, Ambassador Gurbanov and the Deputy Head of Protocol Ms Alison MacMillan