Ankara hosts event devoted to Azerbaijan’s Independence Day PHOTO

A solemn event was held in Ankara on the occasion of 28 May - Independence Day and 26 June - Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan.

The festive event was organised at the Congress and Cultural Centre of Türkiye's Presidential Administration, where important state events are usually held, the Azerbaijani embassy in Türkiye told APA.

Opening speeches were delivered in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan’s independence, after a minute of silence and the playing of the national anthems of the two countries.

Ambassador Rashad Mammadov spoke of the achievements of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan - the successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic - in state and military construction and congratulated all our compatriots on this significant day.

Talking of the supranational nature of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, the ambassador emphasised the contribution of the two countries' leaders Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan to developing these relations.

For his part, Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Numan Kurtulmus, who attended the event as a government guest, congratulated Azerbaijan on Independence Day and Armed Forces Day, and touched upon the role of brotherly countries of Azerbaijan and Türkiye in strengthening the Turkic world.

He spoke about the recent successes achieved by Azerbaijan and welcomed Azerbaijan liberating its lands from occupation.

After the speeches, a short film featuring the history of Azerbaijan's independence was screened.

The artistic part of the festive event included a solemn concert programme with the participation of famous singers and the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble, samples of national music and dances.

The festive event organised on the occasion of Independence Day and Armed Forces Day was attended by top officials of the Republic of Türkiye and other state officials, MPs, representatives of the Turkish public, as well as Azerbaijanis living in the brotherly country.