Turkey congratulates Azerbaijan on Republic Day

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Thursday congratulated Azerbaijan on the 102nd anniversary of its Republic Day.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote a greeting message in Azerbaijani language on Twitter. Erdogan also sent his greetings to Azerbaijani president and people on behalf of his country.

“Happy 102nd anniversary of the establishment of our friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan,” Vice President Fuat Oktay also said on Twitter.

Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop also congratulated Azerbaijan on the Republic Day in a Twitter message, wishing luck and health to Azerbaijani people.

On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijani National Council, headed by Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh, declared the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Azerbaijan first declared independence from the Russian Tsar regime but was occupied by the Soviet Union after a short period of two years.

Regarded as the first democratic republic of the East, Azerbaijan made reforms in many fields including freedom of education, religion and conscience.

In the Declaration of Independence, the country granted equal rights to all citizens, regardless of race, religion, sect or gender.