Azerbaijan Celebrates Independence and Armed Forces Day in London’s Historic Lancaster House

Baku, June 3, AZERTAC

A solemn event on the occasion of Azerbaijan’s Independence Day and Armed Forces Day, has been held at the historic “Lancaster House”, one of London’s most recognizable and extravagant private palaces, AZERTAC reports.

The event brought together some 600 guests, representatives of the UK State and Government, Members of Parliament, representatives of the accredited UK diplomatic corps, ambassadors and military attachés, representatives of various communities, including a member of the House of Lords Lord David Evans, Lord Qurban Hussain, Baroness Manzila Uddin, Head of the UK-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Bob Blackman, Board Member of the Nizami Ganjavi Science Center at Oxford University, Academic Nargiz Pashayeva.

Speaking at the event, the Azerbaijani ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Elin Suleymanov, stated that the principles of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which is the first democratic republic in the Muslim East, such as tolerance and multiculturalism, are today widely recognized throughout the world.

The ambassador emphasized that a series of events marking the centenary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the architect and founder of the modern independent state of Azerbaijan, are being organized in Azerbaijan and abroad this year, adding that the Azerbaijani people honor the memory of the Great Leader with deep respect and reverence.

The Azerbaijani diplomat praised the strong partnership between the two countries, noting that the UK is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan. The diplomat stressed that Azerbaijan and the UK maintain close cooperation to ensure Europe’s energy security, demining and reconstruction of liberated lands, as well as creating renewable energy infrastructure.

Ambassador Elin Suleymanov also highlighted the decisive efforts undertaken by President Ilham Aliyev to ensure future development as well as lasting peace in the region. He also spoke about the work done for the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The participants of the event also saw the photo exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, which reflects various moments in the life and activities of the Great Leader, his contributions to the establishment of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom.