The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria organized an official reception in Sofia on the occasion of 28 May — the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The event brought together an exceptionally distinguished audience, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investment and Industry of the Republic of Bulgaria Alexander Poulev as Guest of Honour, Minister of Energy Iva Petrova, Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Ivan Vasilev, Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Christo Polendakov, deputy ministers from several ministries, senior representatives of the Presidential Administration and the Prime Minister’s Office, members of the National Assembly, mayors, rectors of leading universities, ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Bulgaria, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of representations of international organizations, prominent public and political figures, representatives of academic and cultural circles, business leaders, media executives, as well as members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Bulgaria.

The official part of the event commenced with the national anthems of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Bulgaria, followed by remarks delivered by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria Elmar Mammadov and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Poulev.

In his address, Ambassador Elmar Mammadov noted that this year marks the 108th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic — the first parliamentary republic in the Muslim East — and emphasized the historic role of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in laying the foundations of modern Azerbaijani statehood and democratic governance traditions.

The Ambassador further highlighted the exceptional role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in preserving and strengthening Azerbaijani statehood, stressing that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity, launched unprecedented reconstruction and development works in the liberated territories of Garabagh and East Zangezur, and, with the initiative of Azerbaijan, initialed the text of the peace agreement with Armenia aimed at ensuring sustainable peace and long-term stability in the South Caucasus region.

Touching upon bilateral relations, Ambassador Mammadov underlined that Azerbaijan and Bulgaria enjoy strategic partnership based on mutual trust, intensive high-level political dialogue, and expanding cooperation in the fields of energy security, transport and logistics connectivity, digital transformation, trade, culture, and education. In this regard, he referred to the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in Sofia in 2015 and the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Strategic Partnership signed in Baku in 2024 as important milestones in the development of bilateral relations.

Particular emphasis was placed on the steadily expanding humanitarian and cultural dimension of bilateral cooperation, including the twinning relations between Shusha and Veliko Tarnovo, as well as the forthcoming “Shusha Park” project in Veliko Tarnovo, which will serve as a lasting symbol of friendship  and strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Ambassador also provided detailed information regarding the global and regional legacy of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), successfully hosted by Azerbaijan in Baku several days earlier, the initiatives implemented within the framework of the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” in Azerbaijan, as well as the historical, cultural, and religious architectural heritage monuments of Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan. In this context, appreciation was expressed for the active participation of the President of Bulgaria, Bulgarian mayors, and representatives of academic circles in WUF13.

In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Poulev, attending the event as Guest of Honour, congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Independence Day and reaffirmed the importance of Azerbaijan as a reliable and strategic partner of Bulgaria.

Deputy Prime Minister Poulev highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s contribution to the diversification of Bulgaria’s energy sources and to regional energy security, while also emphasizing the strategic significance of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor and emerging digital connectivity initiatives linking Europe and Asia. He further noted the significant potential for the further expansion of bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries.

During the reception, guests were presented with a special video showcasing Azerbaijan’s rich historical, cultural, and religious architectural heritage, the ongoing large-scale reconstruction and restoration works in Garabagh and East Zangezur, as well as visual presentations prepared within the framework of the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” in Azerbaijan, reflecting the unique harmony between the historical and modern architectural landscapes of Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan.

The event continued with a cultural programme featuring performances of Azerbaijani musical compositions by renowned Bulgarian composer and pianist Minko Lambov and vocalist Valentina Dimitrova, followed by an official reception offering guests samples of Azerbaijani national cuisine.