Over 30,000 Kuwaiti tourists visit Azerbaijan last year: Ambassador

• Kuwait and Azerbaijan are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

• Azerbaijan is one of the ancient countries in the world with a rich history, culture, and famous cuisine, noting that his country has become the leading country in the Caucasus region today.

H.E. Emil Karimo, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the country, revealed that the number of tourists who visited Azerbaijan last year exceeded 30,000 Kuwaiti tourists. He expressed pride in their choice of Azerbaijan as a tourist destination and their love for visiting it.

Ambassador Karimov mentioned in his speech during their celebration of Independence Day, in the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Tajikistan Zubaydullo Zubaydov, that there are direct flights between the two countries via Azerbaijan Airlines (Azal) and Kuwait Airways, with Al Jazeera also offering flights. He noted that the flight time takes less than two hours.

He invited the audience to visit Azerbaijan and explore its tourist attractions. He also stressed that there are good possibilities to increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, especially in the fields of food industries, tourism, light industries, and agriculture.

The ambassador pointed out that Kuwait and Azerbaijan are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. He mentioned the signing of the relevant diplomatic relations protocol on October 7, 1994. He also noted that the foundation for Azerbaijani-Kuwaiti relations was laid during the first meeting between the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Casablanca in 1994. Subsequently, the two leaders met in Copenhagen and New York in 1995.

He added that after the official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to Kuwait in 2009, relations between the two countries entered a new phase.

He explained that the relations between the two countries are close and friendly, particularly strong in the sectors of agriculture, tourism, and education.

Regarding the occasion, he said, “Today we celebrate National Independence Day. On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was declared for the first time in the Islamic world. State symbols, an elected parliament, and state institutes and universities were established. At the Paris Peace Conference in 1920, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was recognized, and foreign missions were approved in Azerbaijan. On October 18, 1991, Azerbaijan’s independence was restored.”

He added, “Azerbaijan is one of the ancient countries in the world with a rich history, culture, and famous cuisine, noting that his country has become the leading country in the Caucasus region today.”

He continued, “The first years of independence were very difficult, marked by chaos, economic crisis, a very poor social situation, and civil war. Thanks to the efforts of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani People, Heydar Aliyev, who was elected President of our country in 1993, the crisis and chaos in our country ceased.”

He further added, “Today, Azerbaijan is a victorious country that liberated its lands from an occupation that lasted 30 years under the leadership of the Supreme Commander, President Ilham Aliyev, thanks to the strength and heroism of our army.”

He also added, “President Ilham Aliyev is successfully continuing the political legacy of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani People, Heydar Aliyev.”