The speech of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev at the ceremony held on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the Victory over the fascism in World War II - May 9, 1998


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Dear veterans!

I congratulate you and all war veterans cordially on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the victory over the fascism. I wish you good health, long life and successes in your future activities.

The most terrible pages of the 20th century, World War II and the Great Patriotic war finished with many victims for us.

But at the same time this war ended with a glorious victory in the world. Peoples and armies fighting against the fascism won a historic victory in 1945. In due course the meaning and historic importances of this victory become clearer and get known to the whole world.

The Azerbaijani people also gave great losses in the Great Patriotic war, in the World War II. About six hundred thousand people from Azerbaijan were called up for the Great Patriotic war. Half of them didn't return home, they fell in the battles. The heroes of Azerbaijan performed valour, demonstrated heroism in the Great Patriotic war and they had a great role in the victory over the fascism. Today, in the day of Victory with great respect and gratitude we commemorate the Azerbaijanis fallen dead in the Great Patriotic war against the fascism.

Today we commemorate all the people killed in the war fighting against the fascism.

Their heroism will never be forgotten.

Because, to save the mankind from fascism is a historical event.

Today we have got together by the memorial to the Azerbaijani general Hazi Aslanov. Hazi Aslanov's memorial also represents the memories of all Azerbaijanis killed in the Great Patriotic war. We bow with great gratitiude to the memorial of General Aslanov and the Azerbaijanis killed in the Great Patriotic war. Their heroism will never be forgotten.

Their heroic personages will always live in our hearts.

Fifty three years have passed from the victory day. We are happy that we have been living fifty three years since that victory. In these years Azerbaijani people achieved liberty and national independence. Today we are the masters of our fates. One of the gladdening points is that a great number of people who fought in the Great Patriotic war are among us today. They live and take an active part in the life of the independent republic, in the state developing processes and in other different processes held in our republic.

Dear sisters, brothers!

The people who are here today, the war veterans are the most respectable people of Azerbaijan. Our people and society always appreciate you. Your heroism, valor and great service in the Great Patriotic war is the national and spiritual wealth of the Azerbaijani people.

Dear sisters, brothers!

With your participation in the war and with your valor you proved the heroism of the Azerbaijani people. You glorified the fame of the Azerbaijani people. You made the Azerbaijani people famous in the world. The medals, orders, decorations on your breasts are good evidences of my words. The veterans of the Great Patriotic war are taken care and will be taken in future in the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. You can be fully confident that the government of Azerbaijan, its President are always Interested in your problems and will carry on in future. We did and will do our best to take the care of the veterans of the Great Patriotic war in this hard period. Today I declare once more that we appreciate every person who took part in the Great Patriotic war. You have special position in our society. We shall never forget your services. When Azerbaijan Republic gained independence and the political situation changed in the republic the attitude to veterans of the Great Patriotic changed. Those people who came into the power in Azerbaijan for a certain period tried to deny the past history of Azerbaijan, and they tried to make people forget the thousands of the Azerbaijani people who took part in the Great Patriotic war, the wounds they received and displayed disrespected to them. But all these have already remained in the past. Simply, all these were disrespect and unfaithfulness to people by some persons in that period.

You should know that the present and future generations of the independent Azerbaijan love, respect and will always love and respect you. Today you take an active part in the life of independent Azerbaijan; you spare no efforts to develop our country. I thank you for all these and I am sure that the war veterans are the respected and venerable people of Azerbaijan, and you will take an active part in the protection and development of our state in the future as well.

I express my great respect and esteem to you. I thank you on behalf of the Azerbaijani people, Azerbaijani government for your services and heroism in the Great Patriotic war. I wish you health, long life and successes in your future activities.

Thank you.