KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Kuwait hosted a reception to mark the Independence Day of Azerbaijan. During his opening remarks, Ambassador of Azerbaijan Emil Karimov praised the strong Azerbaijan-Kuwait ties that were initiated through meetings between Heydar Aliyev and the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in the mid-1990s, hailing the 2009 official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Kuwait as a turning point, ushering in a new era of enhanced cooperation.

The ambassador highlighted recent diplomatic engagements, including the official visit of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to Kuwait in April 2025, during which the third meeting of the Joint Commission on Cooperation was convened. The visit included high-level meetings with HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, and Abdullah Al-Yahya, Foreign Minister of Kuwait.

Ambassador Karimov commended the successful political consultations held in February 2025 between the Deputy Foreign Ministers of both countries, noting the growing momentum in bilateral and multilateral collaboration.

He underscored the strong and expanding ties in agriculture, tourism, and education, noting that over 31,000 Kuwaiti tourists visited Azerbaijan last year, extending a warm invitation to Kuwaiti nationals to explore Azerbaijan, facilitated by frequent direct flights.

During the event, the ambassador highlighted the historic significance of the day, commemorating the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918, the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim world.

He indicated that despite a brief existence, the republic was recognized internationally, including at the 1920 Paris Peace Conference, and laid the foundation for Azerbaijan’s modern statehood.

Ambassador Karimov emphasized the importance of the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He acknowledged the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who stabilized the country during a period of deep crisis in the early 1990s, setting Azerbaijan on a path of development and growth.

The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, and media representatives. At the closing, the Embassy offered cultural performances, traditional Azerbaijani cuisine, and displays reflecting the country’s rich heritage and contemporary achievements.