The declaration stated:
“The Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan, guided by the highest state interests of the Azerbaijani people and expressing their will, noting that from 1918 to 1920 the Republic of Azerbaijan existed as an independent state recognized by the international community, based on the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Constitutional Laws on the Sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan and on the Principles of Economic Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, recognizing its responsibility for the fate and free development of the Azerbaijani people, guaranteeing the rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, regardless of nationality or religion, as provided for in international acts, striving to prevent threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, guided by the sacred duty to ensure the security and inviolability of the state borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan, recognizing the need to consolidate all patriotic forces of the republic, acknowledging international treaties, conventions, and other documents that do not contradict the interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its people, wishing to maintain friendly relations with all republics of the USSR, expressing readiness to establish equal relations with the states—members of the international community, hoping for the recognition of the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the states—members of the international community and the United Nations, in accordance with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and other international legal treaties and conventions, proclaims the restoration of the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
Simultaneously, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted a resolution “On the Restoration of State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
On October 18, 1991, the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan Republic, in implementation of this decision and based on the Declaration of Independence adopted by the National Council of Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918, and the Declaration of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan on August 30, 1991, “On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” adopted the Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, establishing the foundations of the state, political, and economic system of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan.
Previously, October 18 was celebrated as Independence Day, but according to the law “On Independence Day,” approved by President Aliyev on October 15, 2021, October 18 was declared the Day of Restoration of Independence.