Founders of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic honored in Paris

Marking the 107th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), Azerbaijani diplomats in France paid tribute to the Republic’s founders who had participated in the Paris Peace Conference and remained abroad, unable to return to their homeland. The Azerbaijani delegation visited their graves in cemeteries in Paris and its suburbs.

A minute of silence was observed in memory of the ADR founders and the heroic sons of the Motherland who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The delegation laid wreaths at the graves of Alimardan bey Topchubashov, Chairman of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and head of the delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, and Jeyhun Hajibeyli, editor of the Russian-language newspaper Azerbaijan, a member of the delegation and brother of renowned composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Both are buried in the Saint-Cloud Cemetery near Paris.

The delegation also honored Akbar agha Sheykhulislamov, Minister of Trade and Industry in the first ADR government and a member of parliament and the delegation, and Mirza Asadullayev, who served as Minister of Trade and Industry in the third government. Both are buried in the Bobigny Muslim Cemetery near Paris.

In their remarks, Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Leyla Abdullayeva, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UNESCO Elman Abdullayev, and Military Attaché Colonel Javid Abdullayev emphasized the diplomatic skills and irreplaceable contributions of these national figures to the establishment of an independent state based on democratic principles.

“Although the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic existed for only 23 months, it laid the foundation for progressive traditions of statehood. Modern Azerbaijan was built upon those very principles,” the speakers underlined.

They also highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing regional prominence, particularly the historic liberation of its lands from 30 years of occupation under the leadership of victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.