Azerbaijan and Armenia are marking the 95th anniversary of their first republics. The Russian Empire collapsed on May 28, 1918. The Azerbaijani and Armenian republics were proclaimed in Tiflis on that day.
The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic was the first democratic republic in the Muslim East. It was a parliamentary republic where women were allowed to vote. The 11th Army of the Bolsheviks took over Baku on April 28, 1920.
The Dashnaktsutyun Armenian Revolutionary Federation passed authority over the Armenian Republic to the Armenian National Council in Tiflis. The Western and Eastern Bureau of Dashnaktsutyun held a session on May 29, appointing Ovanes Kajaznuni as the first Prime Minister. Yerevan became the capital. The Bolsheviks organized a revolt on November 29, 1920, resulting in formation of the Armenian SSR.
Azerbaijan started celebrating the Republic Day yesterday. A military parade of the Baku Garrison was organized. Cadets of the Higher Military School of Heydar Aliyev, Higher Military Aviation School and the Higher Naval School marched from the Azneft Square to the Azadlyg Square. Cadets of the Military Lyceum of Jamshid Nakhchyvansky marched from the Garden of Samed Vurgun along the Bulbul Street to the Azadlyg Square. The military marched through the Tbilisi Avenue, Avenue of Guseyn Javid.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called independence in 1918 a great historic event. A memorial for signers of the Independence Declaration was built at the Baku center.
Azerbaijani Leader Heydar Aliyev restored statehood after the fall of the USSR, making 1993-2003 a decisive period for the country.
Ilham Aliyev reminded that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was still the main issue for Azerbaijan. He added that Armenia was ignoring statements of co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Azerbaijan approved the updated Madrid Principles proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group in late 2009, only to be ignored by Armenia. Resolutions of the UNSC are not followed by Armenia.
Ilham Aliyev concluded his speech stating that independence is the greatest value.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visited the Sardarapat Memoria, laid flowers to the Victory Memorial of the Sardarapat Battle. He congratulated the population. A short parade was organized.
