15 September 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku under the leadership of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus led by Nuri Pasha (Killigil), which was founded right after Azerbaijan’s plea from the Ottoman Empire, following brotherly Azerbaijan’s first declaration of independence in 1918.

The liberation of Baku at that time, paved the way to the transfer of the capital from Ganja to Baku and to ensure the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and set the basis for its contemporary boundaries. The anniversary of this great victory, won by the Islamic Army of the Caucasus, which was composed of elite soldiers and sent to Azerbaijan in the final months of the First World War, has a privileged place as a symbol of fraternity and solidarity between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

On the occasion of this meaningful anniversary, today in Baku, a celebration programme is being undertaken, with the participation of the President of Turkey, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev. Some troops of Turkish Armed Forces and Azerbaijani Armed Forces will together join the celebrations.

The Islamic Army of the Caucasus and this meaningful anniversary is one of the milestones of the common fate of Turkey and Azerbaijan, which finds its meaning by the maxim “Two States, One Nation”.

We celebrate the anniversary of the liberation of Baku and commemorate with respect, gratitude and mercy, our 1132 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this cause, together with our Azerbaijani brothers who fell martyrs for the sake of their motherland.