Czech Republic’s Statehood Day marked in Baku with calls for unity, stronger cooperation PHOTO

An official reception was held in Baku to commemorate the Statehood Day of the Czech Republic. The event, organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Azerbaijan, opened with the national anthems of both countries.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Samir Sharifov, attended the event as an honorary guest. The reception brought together a distinguished audience, including members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan, military attachés, members of parliament, and prominent socio-political figures, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan, Milan Sedlaček, underscored the strategic importance of bilateral ties. “The Czech Republic is an important partner of Azerbaijan,” the ambassador said, adding that Azerbaijan’s strong and sovereign leadership has earned it growing respect in the international arena.

In a reflective and heartfelt address, Ambassador Sedlaček hinted that this might be his final speech as an ambassador following a 35-year diplomatic career. He took the opportunity to share broader observations about the current state of Europe and the European Union.

“It is not possible to win in the fight against stupidity, but this fight is worth fighting,” Sedlaček remarked. “We conduct this struggle not with a sense of moral superiority, but with a sense of responsibility so that society can distinguish truth from illusion. If we abandon this struggle, we will be deprived of the main feeling that holds us together as a civil society. We need a new ethos, not necessarily religious in nature, but one that protects human dignity and common principles.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov also addressed the gathering, highlighting the growing economic relationship between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic. He revealed that trade turnover between the two countries reached $1.2 billion in 2024, with figures exceeding $700 million in the first eight months of the year alone.

“The Czech Republic is an important trade partner of Azerbaijan,” Sharifov stated, emphasizing the solid foundation of bilateral cooperation in both political and economic spheres.

By Vafa Guliyeva