Moscow marks 99th anniversary of Azerbaijani Democratic Republic

Moscow is hosting a traditional solemn event dedicated to the Azerbaijani Republic Day, which is celebrated every year on May 28, as Azerbaijan declared its independence establishing the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918. The reception was organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia. 

Opening the solemn event, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbul oglu recalled the significance of May 28, 1918 for the Azerbaijani history. "On May 28, 1918, the National Council of Azerbaijan adopted a declaration on independence, thereby renewing the centuries-old traditions of the statehood of the Azerbaijani people. The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic has been an example of a new state and society that has absorbed European democratic values, features of Eastern culture, Azerbaijani national and spiritual ideals. This triad was also reflected in the state flag of Azerbaijan," he pointed out.

"The establishment of democratic norms, the granting of equal rights to all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation, the recognition of women's rights to vote for the first time in the East, the establishment of the Baku State University and many other things clearly confirm the scale of the first democratic republic of Azerbaijan," Polad Bulbuloglu stressed.

"Due to its geographical location and economic potential, our country plays the role of the most important link in the East-West and North-South corridors."Promising formats of bilateral cooperation with Russia are actively developing in this direction. Azerbaijan is aimed to make a significant contribution to the further development of the Caucasus-Caspian region, providing peace and stability there," he said.

"Occupation of the territory of our country, non-fulfillment of the four resolutions of the UN Security Council on the complete and unconditional withdrawal of the armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the main factor undermining stability and creating a threat to peace in the region," Polad Byulubyul oglu pointed out.

Azerbaijan still supports the peaceful settlement of the conflict through negotiations. "Therefore, we hope that all members of the world community will take a principled position on the need to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The Russian Federation, of course, has a special role here," the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza cited him as saying.

The Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, Ilyas Umakhanov, speaking to the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, said that the Republic Day is an important holiday in the life of Azerbaijan. "I want to congratulate my Azerbaijani colleagues, the leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the entire Azerbaijani people on this wonderful holiday," he said.

Ilyas Umakhanov noted that the current state of bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as their prospects, are an excellent example of how good-neighborly relations between states, which are connected by common history, traditions and customs, should be built. "It is an excellent basis for the development of relations both on the level of ministries and departments, as well as between parliaments, between non-governmental organizations and between citizens. As a representative of Dagestan in the Federation Council, I see that the greatest asset after the collapse of the Soviet Union is the fact that the disintegration has occurred in terms of separating state borders, but not the people," the senator stressed.

"Therefore, we try to support those initiatives coming from the leadership of the Russian Federation and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in every possible way. It is very important for us to create the necessary legal basis for the development of mutually beneficial economic cooperation and maximally promote the development of cultural and humanitarian ties of our countries," the deputy chairman of the Federation Council said.

The member of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Construction, Aleksandr Bashkin, congratulated the entire Azerbaijani people on the holiday. "I sincerely congratulate you and look forward to the coming year, when we all together will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of establishing the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic. Our peoples are not just geographic neighbors - we share common historical, cultural roots and economic ties," he stressed.

"With great satisfaction I can confirm that the trade turnover between our countries has doubled in the past year. The cultural and humanitarian exchange is steadily growing. The work carried out by the presidents of our states and out peoples provides benefits - strengthening good-neighborly, friendly, partnership relations between our states for the benefit of our peoples," Alexander Bashkin said.