Azerbaijan, Baku, May 23 / Trend T. Hajiyev /
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) created in 1918 is a spiritual value, presented to the world by Azerbaijanis, the chairman of the National Revival Movement party, MP Faraj Guliyev said.
"The democratic republic, established in Azerbaijan, was the first democratic republic in the East," he said. "By creating this republic, we have proved that we are a civilized nation. We have shown that we may more broadly apply the values that Europe is proud of."
He said that to achieve independence that period was a matter of honor for Azerbaijan.
"After establishing the ADR, Azerbaijani people felt the taste of freedom," he said. "The independence was restored after 70 years. The ADR served as a model to restore Azerbaijan's independence in 1991."
He said that the ADR's authority proved to be a government that serves the people for the period of the two-year-activity.
"The ADR did not fall as a result of rebellion or revolution," he said. "People loved this government protected it until the end. This state fell as a result of the occupation."
He said that the ADR remained in memory by a number of transformations.
"There were serious progress in education, military sphere and national currency emission during the ADR's period," he said. "Azerbaijani people demonstrated their tolerance."
He said that Azerbaijan is a legal and political successor of the ADR today. Its borders must be restored.
"Then the boundaries of our state did not coincide with those of 1991 - the year of restoring the independence," he said. "After the fall of the ADR, Zangezur and Goycha regions were transferred to Armenia by USSR authorities. We must declare that these territories are under the occupation now and demand the liberation of these lands."