AZERBAIJAN`s REPUBLIC DAY AND INAUGURATION OF EMBASSY MARKED IN BELGRADE
Baku, 30 may (AZERTAC). An official reception has been held in Belgrade to celebrate Azerbaijan`s Republic Day and mark the inauguration of the country`s embassy in the Serbian capital.
The participants in the event included Serbia`s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mlađan Dinkić, defense minister Dragan Sutanovats, Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Affairs Rasim Ljajić, the Serbian President` political advisor Alexander Knejevic and economic advisor Biserka Jevtimijević Drinjaković, as well as deputy ministers, MPs, heads of political parties, religious figures, representatives of NGOs, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Belgrade, members of the Serbia-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representatives of the Azerbaijan community.
In his opening remarks, ambassador Eldar Hasanov highlighted the holiday`s history.
“92 years ago - on May 28th, 1918 - the Azerbaijan democratic Republic, a first democracy in the Muslim East, was established. It was a constitutional and secular state.”
“The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic ensured human rights and freedoms for all its citizens, irrespective of the national and religious belonging. It was a first state in the Muslim East which granted the right to vote to women,” he added.
Hasanov praised national leader Heydar Aliyev`s role in Azerbaijan`s history, saying “the national leader laid the foundations of statehood in the country”.
The Ambassador also hailed President Ilham Aliyev, adding he “successfully continues the course of his predecessor”.
On the Azerbaijan-Serbia relations, Hasanov said they were rapidly developing.
He stressed Azerbaijan placed a particular emphasis on developing all-round relations with Serbia.
“After Serbian President Boris Tadic`s first official visit, on the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev, on May 12-13 this year, to Baku the relations between our countries reached a new level.”
Mlađan Dinkić, said Serbia attaches a particular importance to developing its relations with Azerbaijan.
“The recent visit by President Boris Tadic is a vivid evidence of this.”
Dinkić pointed out there were good opportunities between the two countries to expand their economic cooperation.
“President Tadic led a large delegation of Serbian businessmen who had a joint forum with their Azeri counterparts during the visit.”
The participants watched a film about Azerbaijan`s history, political, economic and cultural achievements, as well as the Serbian leader`s recent trip to the country.
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