On 24 May Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism held a conference dedicated to the 100^th Jubilee of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Acting Executive Director of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Ravan Hasanov recalled President Ilham ALiyev’s Instructions on “The Celebration of the 100^th Jubilee of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan” and “The Declaration of 2018 as the Year of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan in our Country”. He stated that these instructions are the appraisal of the traditions and history of Azerbaijani statehood given by the Head of the State. R.Hasanov noted that the National Leader Heydar Aliyev always underlined the necessity of investigating the history of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan. Although the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan existed all in all 23 months, it had irreplaceable merits in Azerbaijan’s statecraft, culture, education, army formation, social stability and other spheres.

The Senior Consultant of the Department of the Presidential Administration on Interethnic Relations, Multiculturalism and Religious Issues Jeyhun Mammadov said that although the period of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan embraced a brief historical time, it constituted one of the most painful, complicated, also the most honourable periods of Azerbaijani history. After the National Leader Heydar ALiyev’s return to power, attention to this sphere increased. In 1998 an Instruction was signed in connection with the 80^th Jubilee of the Republic. Since that period the attention to the investigation of this sphere in Azerbaijan has increased ever more. Today this policy is being successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev. A series of events dedicated to the 100^th Jubilee of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan are being held both within our country and outside it. This is of special importance from the point of view of presenting Azerbaijani realities to the world.

The member of the Milli Majlis Elmira Akhundova said that many books have been published about the Republic. She stated that there are many publications comprising the rich historical information related to that period. The People’s Republic of Azerbaijan did not only live for 23 months, it also made us live. That is, it laid foundations for the independence of our Republic. Today the celebration of the Centenary of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan is a historic event. We see many parallels related to our Republic when we have a glimpse at the fate of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan. Although it existed only 23 months, the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan had a rich political history.

The member of the Milli Majlis Mikhail Zabelin focused the attention to the oil boom in the late XIX century and early XX century Azerbaijan. He stated that engineers, doctors, teachers came to Azerbaijan not only from Russia, but Europe as well. All this enables the formation of democracy and free ideas in Azerbaijan. It is not a coincidence that in the first and second calls to the Parliament of the Russian Empire Azerbaijani representatives were elected, and the Turkish group was headed by Alimardan Topchubashov. And the establishment of the Parliamentary traditions is one of the most important merits of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan. We are living in a democratic country. Here the representatives of different nationalities, religions live in peace and security.

The Deputy Chair of the State Committee for the Work with Religious Organizations Gunduz Ismayilov, the Chief of the Staff of the Caucasian Muslims Office Simran Hasanov, the Counselor of Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism Aytan Gahraman, the Senior Adviser of the Political Documents Archive of the Presidential Office of Records Hajar Verdiyeva, the Head of the Department of the Presidential Library Nazim Mustafa, the Bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church Vladimir Fekete, the leading researcher of the Institute of  History of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Kamran Ismayilov, the leading researcher of the Institute of  Law and Human Rights of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the Deputy Chair of the Georgian Jews’ community Moisey Bekker and others said that with its rich statecraft experience Azerbaijan People’s Republic, which was established on 28 May 1918, has left inerasable traces in the history of Azerbaijan’s national statehood. They stated that the formation of Azerbaijan People’s Republic entered the Azerbaijani people’s life as a great and significant event. Every year that date is solemnly marked as the Day of the Republic. Azerbaijan People’s Republic is an example of the first democratic, legal and secular state in the entire East including the Turkic-Muslim world. By strengthening the feelings of freedom and independence in the Azerbaijani people’s soul, Azerbaijan People’s Republic prepared a reliable basis for the future independence of the Republic. For its political structure, the activities it carried out for the democratic statecraft, as well as for its goal and objectives Azerbaijan People’s Republic did not lag behind the traditional democratic republics of Europe at all.

Запись The Celebration of the Centenary of the People’s Republic of Azerbaijan at Baku International Centre of Multiculturalism впервые появилась Baku International Multiculturalism Centre.