Azerbaijan has marked the Armed Forces Day on Friday, celebrating the establishment of the national army 106 years ago, APA reports.
After the foundation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (ADR) on May 28, 1918, the country started the creation of the national army to protect the interests of the young state. Azerbaijani Armed Forces were established in Ganja, on June 26, 1918, by the decision of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
Regarded as the first democratic republic of the East, Azerbaijan made reforms in many fields including armed forces, freedom of education, religion, and conscience. In the Declaration of Independence, the country granted equal rights to all citizens, regardless of race, religion, sect, or gender.
Although the ADR was toppled almost two years after the establishment by the Soviet Union, the newly founded state managed to form the national army on June 26, 1918, right after the proclamation of independence.
When Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union in 1920, its armed forces joined the Soviet forces.
After the country restored its independence following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted a decision on the establishment of the Azerbaijani army on Oct. 9, 1991.
On May 22, 1998, by the Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev's decree, June 26 was declared Armed Forces Day, a non-working day.
Currently, Azerbaijan is considered the most powerful state in the South Caucasus in terms of both combat capability and material and technical capabilities.
The structure of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces includes the Land Forces, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces, and Naval Forces. Now Azerbaijan marks Armed Forces Day with great joy and pride. Under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the glorious Azerbaijani Army destroyed Armenian armed forces which have been occupying Azerbaijani lands for 30 years. Our eternal and historical land, Karabakh was liberated from the enemy’s occupation.
