Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has congratulated Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people on their Independence Day, describing it as “a special day for us too, because Georgia and Azerbaijan declared independence together”.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia to mark the national holiday, Papuashvili said both countries were progressive states at the time, not only because they declared independence, but also because of how they did so.

“At that moment, both Azerbaijan and Georgia proved to be progressive, not only because they declared independence, but also because of the form in which all this happened,” he said.

“Azerbaijan was the first Muslim country with a democratic system, and Georgia was the first country where progressive social democrats came to power at that time. Our ancestors were not only ready for independence at the time, but they also founded nations that subsequently, about 100 years later, established second republics, and our current independence is based on this legacy,” the Speaker added.

May 28th marks Azerbaijan’s Independence Day. The Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia held a reception to mark the national holiday, which was attended by invited guests along with representatives of the Georgian government. Papuashvili addressed the gathering.