Azerbaijan marks Republic Day

On that day in 1918 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was proclaimed. Having existed for only 23 months, it has remained a bright page in the history of the country, laying the foundation of democratic traditions in the country.

A multi-national parliament was set up there, as well as many institutions, the armed forces and university. For the first time in the Islamic world, women got the vote.

Speaking at a ceremony to unveil a monument to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in central Baku on Sunday, President Ilham Aliyev noted that the democratic republic "had returned to the people a feeling of national dignity". He stressed that in line with traditions of the democratic republic, the Azerbaijani authorities seek to "make Azerbaijan a strong developed country."

He said political and economic reforms are underway in the country, as "a truly open democratic society can be built only on the basis of material welfare." Itar-Tass