On May 23, H.E. Mr. Huseyn Huseynov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria,

gave a reception on the occasion of the National Day of the country in Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia. It was honoured by Ministers and Members of Parliament, Ambassadors and diplomats, representatives of the religious confessions, business, Azerbaijanis living in Bulgaria and friends of Azerbaijan. 

H.E. Mr. Huseyn Huseynov expressed his gratitude to all for attending the celebration and emphasised that it’s been a great honour for him to mark the 105th anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan together with them. Further in his speech he said:

Distinguished guests!

On 28 May 1918 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) was founded as the first parliamentary republic in Islamic world. State-building, identity-building and democracy building became the cornerstone and legacies of the newly established Republic. The de-facto independence of the ADR was recognized by the leading global powers at the Paris Peace Conference in January 1920. However, the independence of the ADR was cut by the Bolshevik invasion in April 1920.

As the successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic the Republic of Azerbaijan restored its state independence in 1991. The strengthening and development of the statehood of the Republic of Azerbaijan are firmly linked to the name of Haydar Aliyev, who was revered by Azerbaijani people as the National Leader of Azerbaijan. This year we celebrate the centennial of the birthday of this great man whose state governance experience and political wisdom shone even brighter in 1990’s when Azerbaijan was at the verge of loss of its newly restored independence, which was gravely troubled with military aggression and occupation of one fifth of its internationally recognized territories. The sweeping reforms and meticulously elaborated development strategy turned independent Azerbaijan to a modern, powerful state with dynamic economic development. 

The Republic of Azerbaijan is increasingly perceived as a reliable partner in a number of global initiatives and has advanced from an active participant to an inspirational promoter of a number of energy, infrastructure and transport initiatives and serving as a host to several prestigious world platforms.

Situated on the historical crossroads between the West and the East, Azerbaijan has absorbed the values of both civilizations and has the unique nature of belonging to both European and Eastern cultures. It is a country with miraculous nature, ancient history, rich culture and hospitable people, whose lifestyle presents a unique and harmonious combination of different cultures and civilizations. The country takes pride in its religious and ethnic diversity preserving and promoting the languages, traditions, and customs of all the ethnic groups that form parts of the nation's cultural fabric. Azerbaijan continues to flourish as a vibrant and inclusive nation, where all people live in peace and harmony and contribute to the rich tapestry of the shared heritage.

On behalf of the Bulgarian side, the Minister of Economy and Industry, H.E. Mr. Nikola Stoyanov, congratulated all who were present at the reception on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

After that the guests enjoyed Azerbaijani music, multimedia presenting the beautiful nature of the country and an exhibition on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the great leader Heydar Aliyev.

The photos are provided by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria.

Above: H.E. Mr. Huseyn Huseynov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria.