Following its Republic Day 100th anniversary last year, Azerbaijan Embassy Seoul feted the 100th anniversary of Diplomatic Service last Wendesday with a diplomatic reception where the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. attended in large numbers. It is a very rare case for the Embassy to celebrate its 100th anniversary of Diplomatic Service which deserves benchmarking from another countries. The reception showed that Azerbaijan had a long tradition in terms of their Diplomatic Service for another countries to be able to benchmark it.

In conjunction with such facts, Azerbaijan Amb. Ramzi Teymurov highlighted through his speech held at a towntown hotel Seoul last Wendesday evening: “The years of 2018 and 2019 are significant and important for Azerbaijani people as well as for diplomatic service members, since last year we celebrated the centenary anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) and this year we are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”

Emphasizing the achievements made by our ancestors 100 years ago I must note that the first ever democratic republic was founded in the Muslim East. Establishment of democratic institutions, army building and adoption of state attributes - the national anthem and the national flag, also, granting of women with the right to vote, which happened before some Western democracies must particularly be noted as well, Teymurov said.

The first major breakthrough in diplomatic relations came when the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan went to Paris with the main goal to gain international recognition for ADR. Unanimous de-facto recognition of the independence of Azerbaijan was attained and the Azerbaijani mission received an invitation to the Supreme Council of the Paris Peace Conference, according to the Embassy of Azerbaijan Seoul.

Once recognition of Azerbaijan had been established at the level of an international peace conference, the attention of the government shifted to the expansion of diplomatic ties of the young republic. In 1919, when Azerbaijani diplomacy took its first steps, diplomatic missions of 16 states functioned in Baku and diplomatic missions and General Consulates of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic were also established mainly in neighboring countries.

Azerbaijan’s participation in the system of international relations was interrupted due to the military intervention of Red Army in April 1920.

In terms of today, under the leadership of H.E. Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan is a country that is highly respected in the world. Azerbaijan managed to present itself as a country of stability and multicultural society with its independent foreign policy, and as a country of significant international partner contributing to regional development and security.

Within 28 years of independence Azerbaijan established mutually beneficial friendly relations with foreign countries and became the member to many well-respected international organizations. Azerbaijan became a non-permanent member of UN Security Council in 2012-2013, which was a great achievement of the successful foreign policy of Azerbaijan.

This year Azerbaijan will host 18th Summit of Non-Aligned Movement which is the second largest international organization after UN. Baku is turning to be an international hub for many international humanitarian and sports events, such as World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, Formula 1 European Grand Prix, UEFA Europa League Final and etc.

Deputy Minister Yun Kang Hyeon of Foreign Affairs for Economic Affairs who was on hand on behalf of the government, stressed the importance of Azerbaijan linking Europe and Asia, adding under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan made dramatic socio-economical achievements in all fields that observed with successful implementation of mega energy and transportation projects.

From the standpoint of the NDNnews & its affiliate organization Korea Culture Ambassador Friendship Association, Azerbaijan Embassy has been a key partner in terms of Amb. Ramzi Teymurov’s many English article contributions on the occasion of Korea President's inauguration, New Year message and last but not least its Azerbaijan National Day as well as its Embassy deputy Mr. Vagif Jafarov families’ trip participation in the Incheon Global campus tour held at the end of April, this year supervised by The NDNnews.