Conference on Azerbaijan’s independence held in Turkey

By Ali Murat Alhas

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish university in the capital Ankara held a conference on Azerbaijan’s independence from the Soviet Union.

The conference, titled “Azerbaijan on its way to independence”, was attended by lawmakers, academicians and hundreds of students.

Speaking at the event held in Gazi University, Prof. Dr. Dilara Seyidzade said the establishment of the Azerbaijani state was not easy and battles were fought for the sake of homeland, which the new generation should learn about.

Seyidzade said Azerbaijan had a significant place on the global community thanks to its rich nature and natural resources and the country was always in contact with other Turkic countries, especially Turkey.

Samil Ayrim, head of Turkey-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group, said Turkey and Azerbaijan were closely connected both on diplomatic and cultural fronts.

He said Turkey always stood with Azerbaijan on the issue of Karabakh and called on the international community to take action against Armenian diaspora’s smear campaigns against Turkey.

Upper Karabakh is internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan illegally occupied by Armenia through military aggression since 1991.

Mehmet Sisman, senior official from Turkey’s Council of Higher Education (YOK), said Turkey and Azerbaijan shared deep historical ties.

“When we go to Azerbaijan, we [Turks] feel at home, same happens to Azerbaijanis [who travel to Turkey],” he said, adding Turkey and Azerbaijan were like “one nation, two countries” who stand with one another at testing times.

Azerbaijan first declared independence from the Russian Tsar under the chairmanship of Mehmet Emin Resulzade on May 28, 1918, but was occupied by the Soviet Union after a short period of two years.

In 1991, Azerbaijan re-established its status as an independent state on Oct. 18.