Azerbaijan celebrates the Republic Day

Dear friends and Guests!

First of all, I would like to express our deep gratitude and thank all of you, on behalf of the Azerbaijani state and Embassy, for accepting our invitation and attending this event on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In this significant day for us I also would like to use this opportinity to express our deep gratitude to the state of Vietnam, its government, structures and representatives, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the caring relationship and all kinds of support to the varied activities of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

May 28th is one of the most glorious and unforgettable days in the history of Azerbaijani statehood. 96 years ago, exactly on May 28, 1918 with the adoption of historic "Declaration of Independence" the first parliamentary democratic republic – Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was created in the East and in the whole Muslim world. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic bringing together European democratic values and features of Eastern culture on one side, with secular and national values on the other, established a legal and secular state. At that time the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic have accepted the attributes of statehood, creating its own parliament for the first time in the East, gave women the right to vote – even earlier than in some European countries, has taken important decisions and practical steps in the field of state building and military, economy and culture, education and health.

After the long term and intense struggle for the national liberation of the Azerbaijani people and at the same time, on the eve of the collapse of the USSR the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in an extraordinary session on October 18th, passed the “Constitutional Law on State Independence”, according to which the state independence of Azerbaijan was restored again. In accordance with that Constitutional Law the present-day independent state of Azerbaijan is the legal successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which existed from 1918 until 1920.

Today the Republic of Azerbaijan is a multi-confessional and multinational country, where different cultures intertwine. The representatives of different ethnic groups, people of different religious backgrounds, all have equal rights and freedoms in our country. In our country, accelerated development is notable in all areas, democratic reforms are in progress, huge energy and traffic projects of major proportions are being implemented. At the same time, Azerbaijan has joined the countries with the most dynamic development in the world, and is being integrated into the International Community which makes it recognisable as a reliable partner in the international arena.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has achieved numerous successes in different fields, and there are significant developments in all spheres in Azerbaijan. The legal, economic, social, scientific, educational and other democratic reforms are carried out in our country. Azerbaijan also pays a significant attention to establishing of friendly and close relationship with the all countries of the world. The existing comprehensive relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam could be a clear example of this.

Since the restoration of independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan has achieved numerous successes in different fields. In this period of Azerbaijan's contemporary history, an irreplaceable role in the strengthening of our statehood belonged to the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, a prominent statesman and politician, Heydar Aliyev. This extraordinary figure, a man with enormous experience in politics, correctly assessed the situation which developed in the country during the first years following the renewal of our independence, united the society and people of Azerbaijan. Having made brave decisions he succeeded in making the unitary, lawful, democratic, and secular state of Azerbaijan stronger. Today, his visionary political course is successfully maintained by H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Resulting exactly from that, in the last twenty years, major economic projects have been, and are being carried out today, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars-Ahalkalaki railway. Significant successes have been achieved in the area of industry and energy, information technologies, healthcare, education, culture etc. Nowadays, the economy of Azerbaijan represents 2/3 of the economy of the countries in the Southern Caucasus.

 Apart from the aforementioned successes, our country is also facing problems, which are waiting to be resolved. The most important and most painful problem is the occupation of the historically Azerbaijani territory – Nagorno Karabakh region and 7 adjacent regions by the state of Armenia.

I have to notice with regret that, up to this day, the four resolutions of the UN Security Council, which address the conflict, condemn the occupation, and call for the unconditional retreat of the occupying forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, have not been implemented. Nevertheless, the Azerbaijani state continues its efforts for the peaceful resolution of the conflict within the Minsk Group of OSCE, and believes that authoritative world organisations, such as the UN, OSCE, EU, Council of Europe, as well as the world community, will enhance their efforts towards restraining the aggressor and finding fair and peaceful solution of the conflict.

Our country attributes significant importance to the creation of friendly and good relations with all the countries in the world. In this direction the opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 2013, confirms what I have mentioned.

The relationship between our countries has an historical background. Many people know that during the soviet period a lot of Vietnamese students have got their higher education in Azerbaijan and today most of them are presented in different state and governmental structures of Vietnam. I am glad to mention that some of them are among us today. They play their own important role on developing relations between our nations. Also our oil and gas specialists share their experience with their Vietnamese colleagues. The representatives of old generations remember well President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Azerbaijan in 1959 and visit of Heydar Aliyev, National Leader of Azerbaijan to Vietnam in 1983. And I would also underline that the leadership of Azerbaijan attaches a great importance to the reviving and developing of these historical ties.

I also wish to point out with pleasure that, apart from the historical ties between Azerbaijan and Vietnam, there are huge potentials to develop our relations in political, economic, tourism, scientific, cultural and social areas, as well as a lot of possibilities for a long term and wide cooperation in all spheres, and that those ties are growing stronger every day.

Interparliamental cooperation is a very important part of our cooperation and I am glad to mention that just recently, in autumn last year Interparliamental Friendship Groups were established in the parliaments both Azerbaijan and Vietnam  and they will definitely play an important role on further developing the cooperation between our countries.

I would also like to underline the recent state visit of H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on May 18-19, 2014. Mr. President were accompanying with big official delegation as well as more than 60 business people who represented 50 biggest companies of Azerbaijan. This visit opened wide possibilities for further development of bilateral relations between our countries. The agreements and contracts signed during this visit will also encompass different spheres and boost the expanding cooperation between our two friendly countries and nations. Both, Azerbaijan and Vietnam believe to the bright future of this relations and look towards tomorrow with confidence. That is why I can safely say that the level of Azerbaijani-Vietnamese ties attain results exclusively from the sincere and friendly relations.

Dear friends!

At the end of my speech I would like express once more my personal gratitude to all of you for accepting our invitation and sharing your time with us and propose the toast:

For the prosperity of Vietnam and Vietnamese nation!

For the development and strengthening of existing friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam!