The 107th anniversary of Azerbaijan's independence was celebrated in Kyiv

The official reception on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was held in Kyiv at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kyiv. The guests included representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, the government, diplomatic corps, experts and business circles of Ukraine.

In his opening remarks, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliyev, called 28 May a day that marks the birth of an independent nation, with rich history, culture and resistance.

It was 107 years ago, when on May 28th 1918, by the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established, like the first parliamentary democracy in the entire MuslimEast. The ADR was established on the principles of freedom, equality and nationalself-determination. It was not only a bold manifestation of the right of our people to statehood, but also a pioneering example of democratic governance in the East,’ he said.
The Ambassador emphasised that although the ADR lasted only 23 months, it left a deep mark on the history of Azerbaijan. This experience of independent statehoodbecame an important part of national identity when Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991 and proudly proclaimed itselfas the successor to the DDR. The Azerbaijani tricolour, national anthem and coat of armsreflect the heritage of this historic republic,’ Ambassador Mardaliyev said.

He highlighted the successes in the clean energy sector, mentioning the launch of the South gas transmission corridor, the development of the Black Sea submarine cable project and the national Green Growth Strategy, which aims to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Speaking about the partnership with Ukraine, Ambassador Mardaliyev emphasised the strategic nature of the bilateral nature of bilateral relations. He also mentioned the recent political consultations between the two countries, including the visit of Ukrainian Foreign Andriy Sybiga's visit to Azerbaijan.

‘Azerbaijan and Ukraine have traditionally strong ties built on mutual respect, trust and support for each other's territorial integrity. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan has been actively providing humanitarian aid. its total volume has already reached USD 42 million. And we are ready to continue our support. Azerbaijan supplies energy equipment, finances the reconstruction of social infrastructure facilities in Irpin, and provides fuel for emergency services through SOCAR Ukraine. In February this year President Aliyev signed a decree on additional aid to Ukraine worth $1 million dollars. We also support humanitarian demining, in particularby supplying equipment and training specialists,’ he said.

In his speech, Ambassador Mardaliyev also touched upon Azerbaijan's achievements in the environmental sphere and at the global level.

‘Azerbaijan has voluntarily committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40% by 2050, and Karabakh and East Zangezur are being transformed into green energy zones. We are actively working on transregional energy projects, including the Black Sea submarine cable project, which will allow us to export green energy to Europe,’ he said.
The speech included messages about Baku's desire for sustainable peace in the region. In particular, Ambassador Mardaliyev noted the achievements in direct negotiations with Armenia, emphasising the need to conclude a peace treaty. ‘We want to live in peace as two sovereign states within internationally recognised borders,’ the Ambassador stressed. At the end of his speech, Ambassador Mardaliyev called for unity and thanked the Ukrainian side for its partnership.

On 28 May 1918, the independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), the first secular republic in the Muslim East, which lasted until April 1920, when Bolshevik troops took control of its territory. У 1991 after the collapse of the USSR, Azerbaijan regained its independence. The day of 28th May is annually celebrated as the main national holiday - Independence Day.