In celebration of Azerbaijan’s Independence Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kuwait hosted a reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The event marked the anniversary of a defining moment in Azerbaijan’s history — the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918, the first democratic republic in the Islamic world.
The chief guest at the reception was Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Kuwait and a host of prominent political and social figures.
Azerbaijani Ambassador H.E. Emil Karimov, in his address, emphasized the profound national pride associated with this historic occasion. He underscored the importance of May 28 as a symbol of Azerbaijan’s enduring commitment to independence, democracy, and sovereignty.
Ambassador Karimov also reflected on the nation’s journey, noting that Azerbaijan restored its full independence on October 18, 1991, following decades of occupation. He highlighted the vital role of national leader Heydar Aliyev, who, after being elected president in 1993, laid the groundwork for a modern, stable, and forward-looking Azerbaijani state.
The celebration served not only as a tribute to Azerbaijan’s past but also as a reaffirmation of its aspirations for continued development and cooperation with friendly nations like Kuwait.
On bilateral relations, the ambassador reflected on key milestones in Azerbaijan-Kuwait cooperation, beginning with the first meeting between the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and President Heydar Aliyev during the 1994 OIC Summit.
This trajectory, he said, culminated in the official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Kuwait in 2009, ushering in a new phase in bilateral ties.
Ambassador Karimov noted the remarkable progress in relations over the past two years, marked by high-level visits, most notably the historic visit of Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to Baku to participate in the COP29 climate conference.
During the visit, His Highness met with the Azerbaijani president, paving the way for deeper cooperation between the two nations.
He also highlighted the success of the first round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries, hosted by Kuwait in February 2025.
Karimov expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Jarrah Jaber for the generous hospitality and excellent organization of the event.
He further praised the recent visit of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who co-chaired the third joint committee with his Kuwaiti counterparts and met with both the Crown Prince and Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya.
The ambassador spoke about the strong bonds between the two peoples, particularly in the fields of agriculture, tourism, and education.
He noted that over 31,000 Kuwaiti tourists visited Azerbaijan last year, attracted by its natural beauty and advanced services. He also pointed to the availability of direct flights connecting the two countries through AZAL, Kuwait Airways, and Jazeera Airways.
Karimov extended an open invitation to the audience to visit Azerbaijan, reaffirming the country’s warm welcome to its Kuwaiti brothers and its aspirations to strengthen trade exchange — particularly in food industries, light manufacturing, and agriculture.
He concluded, “Azerbaijan today is a victorious nation that has reclaimed its territories after 30 years of occupation and continues its path of development and progress under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.”
