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INTERNATIONAL

Democratic Republic. For us, 1918 is a very important Academy of Sciences in Azerbaijan. Researchers are now
year. Just after the collapse of the Russian Empire, the working on these documents. So, there was quite extensive
Azerbaijani Democratic Republic was established in May. diplomatic activity.
As you rightly mentioned, it had a very short life, only 23
months. It was created on May 28, 1918, and was invaded For us, the Azerbaij ani Democratic Republicwas important
by the Communist Russia, in April 1920. in the sense that it represented new independence after
our having been part of the Russian Empire.
If you allow me, I would like to mention some historical
dates. From the end of the eighteenth century and into The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic's parliament was the
the beginning of the nineteenth century, Russia was first multi-party parliament in the whole Muslim Orient.
expanding its territory and seized what is today called the Another important achievement was that all women
Southern Caucasus. Azerbaijan was at that time divided were given the right to vote already in 1918. Thirdly, the
into two parts, the northern part of Azerbaijan became parliament voted through a number of decisions that are
part of Imperial Russia, which became later the country still valid today. By the way, the national flag, the national
that I represent here. However, the majority Azerbaijani anthem and coat-of-arms that we have today are the same
territory and population were part of the Persian Empire, as those created in 1918.
so, today these Azerbaijanis are living in Iran. In the
Islamic Republic of Iran we have from 15 to 20 million of Thus, in 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, the
Azerbaijanis, whereas in the Republic of Azerbaijan we Parliament ofAzerbaij an announced not the establishment
have approximately 10 million people. of country's independence but the restoration of its
independence. In the political mind of people, we were
This was the first milestone in our history. Then another not beginning our independence in 1991 but were simply
milestone was the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, restoring our independence of 1918-1920, which had
and the establishment of the Azerbaijani Democratic been snuffed out by the intervention of the Communist
Republic. For us, this short period was extremely important, forces and lasted 70 years.
and I will try to explain what I mean. The Republic became This is an important distinction.
a member of the League of Nations. Here in the United
Nations Library, thanks to the assistance of Mr Francesco This restoration of independence in 1991 after the collapse
Pisano, the Library's director, and UNOG Director-General of the Soviet Union was the third historical benchmark,
Mr Michael Moller, I found in the League's archives the and we continue on this course. On the 28 May this year,
original documents related to our membership in the we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani
League of Nations and our delegation that was here in 1918- Democratic Republic.
1919. Last year we came to an agreement with the Library,
and they made digital copies of almost 36,000 pages of As regards to Azerbaijan, I could also add that there
documents related to Azerbaijan covering the Paris Peace were some other "first" things that were also done in that
Conference and subsequent relations with the League of period. For example, the first opera theatre in the whole of
Nations. These documents pertain to Azerbaijan, to the the Muslim Orient was established in Baku in 1911. The
Peace Conference and to our membership in the League. first opera "Leyli and Majnun" by Azerbaijani composer
Today they are in the National Library and the National Uzeyir Hajibeyov premiered three years earlier, in 1908

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT - DIVA 17