On Tuesday, 21 October 2025, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Greece, Mr. Arif Mammadov, paid an official visit to the Rectorate of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) https://hmu.gr/. He was accompanied by Mr. Konstantinos Karamesinis, Press Officer of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Greece.
Ambassador Mammadov was welcomed by the Rector of HMU, Professor Nikos Katsarakis, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Lifelong Learning, Professor Fotios Mavromatakis, and the Executive Director, Dr. Vanessa Simandiraki. The meeting focused on opportunities to strengthen academic and research collaboration between HMU and higher education institutions in Azerbaijan. Special emphasis was placed on key areas such as energy production and storage, green technologies, and the circular economy, as well as the development of joint initiatives in tourism, education, and culture, drawing on the strategic position of Crete in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.
The Ambassador expressed the Embassy’s interest in advancing joint initiatives that will enhance the University’s international outreach and create new mobility opportunities for students, researchers, and academic staff. As announced, with the assistance of the Embassy, the first official contacts between interested Greek Rectors and universities in Azerbaijan will be scheduled in the near future.
This was Ambassador Mammadov’s first visit to Crete, and he expressed his admiration for the island’s natural beauty and the unique hospitality of its people. He highlighted the strong potential for developing mutually beneficial academic and research collaborations to the advantage of both countries.
