Speech of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev at the official party given on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic - October 12, 1999

Ladies and gentlemen! 

Distinguished guests! 

Dear friends!

Today is a remarkable day in the life of the Azerbaijani people and independent Azerbaijan. We solemnly celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, an integral part of Azerbaijan. 

Every corner of Azerbaijan is valuable for every Azerbaijani. That is why the 75th anniversary of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, an integral part of Azerbaijan, is a holiday for all the Azerbaijani people, for our nation. Remembering and noting here the changes and development ongoing in Nakhichevan, we are demonstrating at the same time the developments and changes taking place in the life of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a whole.

The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic had jubilees in the past, too. I have several times attended those jubilee ceremonies. In 1949, the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic was celebrated. When it was celebrated I was not in Azerbaijan, I was in Leningrad and studied there. But I worked here before. I also worked at the Soviet of the People`s Commissars of Nakhichevan, which is the Cabinet of Ministers now, I worked at the security service as well. When I was in Leningrad there was no television, it was impossible to know anything by radio, and phone contacts were also very difficult, however I was very interested to know what was happening here. A week later of that holiday I received news from Nakhichevan. I was told about the ceremony held in Nakhichevan.

The greatest event which I remember, and naturally I was young then, about 25-26 of age, for the first time the leaders of Nakhichevan, the distinguished persons were awarded with orders and medals by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. I also was one of the awarded.

It is true, by that time I had already state awards, medals connected with the Great Patriotic War. I undoubtedly kept in my memory that I was paid such an attention and care on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Nakhichevan at a time when I was not there. Today I remember it after 50 years from that event.

I attended the 40th anniversary jubilee of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, and its 50th anniversary in 1974, I headed Azerbaijan then I came and participated in the ceremony here as the leader of Azerbaijan. All these are the pages of solemn ceremonies in the history of Nakhichevan. 

To be frank, then the ceremonies were not held as now, but people were happy for the anniversary of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, and undoubtedly ceremonies were organized solemnly as much as possible.

But this jubilee is quite different. We have gained independence. Azerbaijan builds and rules its life and activities independently, and for me it is undoubtedly more precious and pleasant to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic in the period of the independence of Azerbaijan – than the previous jubilees.

We celebrate this solemn jubilee on the eve of the day of the declaration of the independence of Azerbaijan, on the eve of the day of adoption of the Constitutional Act on October 18, 1993, on the eve of the day when the independence of Azerbaijan was restored. Hence, October 18 is a holiday for us. These holidays have a very nice unity.

Today I said that, the population of Nakhichevan is more eager to have freedom and independence. Therefore, achievement of independence by Azerbaijan, although Nakhichevan had already gained its independence by that time, is historical and very precious event for Nakhichevan, as well as for all the people of Azerbaijan.

I think that this jubilee is the most valuable and historical event in the life of Nakhichevan in the past 75 years. Celebrating this day, we are also celebrating the 8 anniversary of independence of Azerbaijan. Celebrating this day, we are demonstrating to the world that Azerbaijan is an independent state. By celebrating this holiday we are demonstrating our confidence that Azerbaijan will successfully follow the path of independence. By this we are demonstrating to the world once more that Azerbaijan is a democratic, civil, secular state and we are a free nation. Because of all this, today is a great holiday for us, for the all Azerbaijani people.

Following the road of independence for eight years, Azerbaijan has realized great jobs, and the most important is that, despite all the external and internal pressures, Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, occupation of 20 percent of our territories, presence of over one million refugees and IDPs who live in tent camps, our country lives and develops. We successfully pursue the road of independence, democracy, secular state-building and will pursue it further.

Today it was declared that Azerbaijan is a country with 8 million population. All the world knows that Azerbaijan is a country with rich natural resources, high science, culture, education and development. That is why, we have the right to be proud of our motherland, of the native Azerbaijan.

I am proud of being an Azerbaijani. I am proud that Azerbaijan is my native motherland. I am proud of having such a nation as Azerbaijani. I am proud of having my native language, Azerbaijani. I am proud of the independent, free and powerful Azerbaijan.

I ask you to raise the glasses in honor of the Azerbaijani people, in honour of the independence and democratic development of Azerbaijan, in honour of the Azerbaijani nation and language.

Long live independent, free and democratic Azerbaijan!

“Azerbaijan” newspaper, October 15, 1999.