The
Speech of People's Deputy Heydar Aliyev at the Session of the Supreme
Council of Azerbaijan (March 7, 1991)
Dear People's Deputies !
The
question to participate or not to participate the referendum, appointed
relating to the new Union agreement is of great importance. The future
of Azerbaijan is being decided. In this relation I’d like to share my
own ideas and suggestions.
Since
1922 Azerbaijan has been a member of the Soviet Union. Within these years
our people had passed through a difficult historical way, achieved considerable
success. There were hardships and difficulties on this way. One can’t
deny it.
We
all were born, brought up, got education, during the existence of this
Union. We all, at any rate the majority of us, strongly trusted this Union,
devotedly served, and saw the happiness, bright future of our people only
in this Union. I and my colleges, who where in power for a long time,
did our best to strengthen the Union and gained the feeling of devotion
and love of Azerbaijan people to this Union.
However,
the recent public and political processed in the world and in particular,
in our country have changed our attitude towards our past, our world outlook.
Economic, political ties between the Center and the Republics of the Soviet
Union have been exposed. It has become quite clear what Party enjoys an
advantage or losses. All the measures taken by the Union government to
press down national-democratic movement in some republics, using military
forces, revealed the empire policy of the Union. The disintegration of
the Soviet Union started.
The leadership of the country having declared the uselessness of the Union
which existed within 70 years, calls for the creation of a new Union.
On all his speeches Gorbachov declared that up to now there wasn’t a real
union in the country, that only now we can create a real union. In fact,
I think that a new union project is more useless, than it was before.
As
ex-leader of the Republic I confess, that served such a useless and incomprehensible,
using Gorbachov’s words, union, I don’t deny the mistakes made and regret
it. We should take into consideration, that each period of the history
put forward its demands. And we all sitting here in this hall, were at
the merey of this regime. But now I think, that 70 year ordeal for our
people is quite enough. I think that joining a new union for Azeri people
is unacceptable.
It
should be said, that there are some factors, which justify our faithful
service the union. A strong social-economic and intellectual potential
which had been created at this period in the republic, is our national
property and is a good background for an independent Azerbaijan.
In
short, I am against joining a new union and conduct in this connection
a referendum without any terms. This is a unanimous opinion of all my
electors and deputies of Nakhichevan Madjlis. I stand for a full economic
and political independence of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan people have already
taken this path. Azeri people comprehend its history a new, restore its
national traditions, go back to national sources. The movement for national
revival is being widely in process. Relative to this process the Session
of the Supreme Soviet adapted some decisions on February 5. I mean the
renaming of the republic, State flag, and the decision on the date of
May 28. Unfortunately, these items were not discussed, and the reason
of all these changes were not explained.
No
doubts, all these decisions were not adopted for the sake of form. But
why in this case the political historical importance of these documents
a decisions found no reflection.
During
70 years our republic was a Soviet Socialist republic. Now we set free
our republic of all these words. And what new political system are we
going to accept now? It is incomprehensible.
For
70 years our Republic lived up under October Revolution banner. We refused
this banner. We accepted a new flag, though it is not new at all. This
was the national state flag of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918.
Why wasn’t this important political act marked?
It
is rather amazing to see this flag, which personifies the idea of Mamed-Emin
Rasulzade's Party-along side with the bust of the founder of quite opposite
idea.
To
put it mildly, such discrepancy is difficult to understand.
May
28 is the date of the revival of Azerbaijan State and is celebrated as
a national holiday. It is known, that on May 28, 1918 the first Azerbaijan
Democratic Republic was established in our country.
In
this case we should assess this event and assess the events of April 28,
1920. All these questions should be discussed at the session of the Supreme
Soviet.
Quality,
to be more exact, double-faced Gorbachov policy can’t provoke confidence
of the people. Recently addressing the meeting in Minsk, Gorbachov tried
to prove that he is a communist and will remain faithful to the Communist
Party till the very end.
However
his swear he tried to ground by Solghenitsin Òs words, who is known as
ardent enemy of Communist Party, Lenin, October revolution ideas. A question
arises: what idea should we follow?
Some
people try to prove that our republic can’t exist apart from the Union,
independently.
The
idea that the former USSR republics can’t exist apart from the Union,
is widely being spread all over the Union, as they are tightly linked
with each other by economics, technical ties.
All these statements are groundless. First of all Azerbaijan has potentialities
to be an independent country. Relating to this I’d like to say against
many items of the speech, made by deputy Samed-zade. I acn prive their
groundless, if I am given above time-limit.
Secondly, every state in the world has mutual economic, trade, technical
relations with the other states, participates in the world economic integration,
and this relation doesn’t mean they are deprived of independence. That
is why the economic links of the republics can’t prevent gaining the independence
by them. In my opinion, if Azerbaijan becomes an independent country it
can implement bileteral, equal, mutually benificial economic links with
wery republic of the Union and with the Union itself, if the latter remains.
It will be of benefit for further development of independent Azerbaijan.
Friendly relations of Azerbaijan people with other peoples will be independent
and become more sincere, more solid.
It sould be noticed that Azerbaijan people rather than over peoples have
more ground to refuse a new Union agreement. For three years the sovereignty,
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan have been violated. However, the Union
government took no measures to prevent it.
On
20 January 1990 there was an aggression on the Union side against Azerbaijan
people. Having no basis, violating state laws, without letting know beforehand,
the Union military forces brought troops into Baku, being equipped with
modern arms. They massacred the innocent civilians. A lot of people were
killed, injured and missed.Unfortunately this aggression is being continued.
More than a year the capital of the republic lives in the state of emergency.
More than a year Azerbaijan people mourns for the dead. In the cities,
villages monuments to the innocent dead people are being erected. But
the killers haven’t been shown up. It can’t be justified. This questions
should be discussed. The Session of the Supreme Soviet must assess the
Tragedy of January 20, show up those guilty. Data, given by deputy Karayev
have given all graounds fot it. Postponoment and delay of the discussion
of the issue could be consider as premediated avoiding of identification
of real organizers and reasons of the tragedy of 20th January. It can
not be alowed.
As a people’s deputy I can’t understand why there is still the state of
emergency in Baku. I wonder whom the Soviet Army Troops defend from.
Some
people say that on January 20 the troops were brought to Baku without
any body’s invitation. If it is so, the republic government using its
sovereign rights had to return them back. But it didn’t happen. On the
contrary the presence of the troops is being considered as necessary.
Elmira Kafarova threatens people by civil war, which may begin. And these
words are groundless too. It is difficult to understand: who is going
to fight against who?
The
work of the Session shows once again that the Supreme Soviet faces more
complicated problems.
However,
the most important task is to restore the territorial integeity of the
republic and depend our people from Armenian aggression. Last years nationalist
bandit groups have formed powerful military potential. No doubt, they
prosecute an aggressive aim towards Azerbaijan. Urgent measured must be
taken to defend the Republic.
All
national unity should be gained in the republic. Unfortunately, some circles
try to separate it, to oppose some regions, districts, villages even persons.
It should be stopped.
The
Surpreme Soviet must clearly take its right stand work out its platform.
It is clear, that the platform of the Central Committee of Communist Party,
which is the part of the CPSU, can’t unite people. The Communist Party
must decline the power. Party Committee secretaries mustn’t hold a post
in soviet bodies. We must create the situation for the development of
democracy, political pluralism, glasnost. All political parties must act
on equil rights.
People must know the truth. Social justice should be restored. The unity
of Azerbaijan people can be ensured by a new, democratic, independent
state. Certainly, there will be much difficulty. But we have to gain it
at any cost. If we don’t take this path, the future generations will do
it. And neither they, nor history will forgive us. Now every honest Azery
person should think about the fate of his people, about its present and
future, give up his personal interests. The fate of the people must be
above everything.Azerbaijan people must unite, defend the native land
- as the apple of one’s eye. Azerbaijan Republic must take the path of
economic and political independence and struggle for its full independence.
I call
for it all people’s deputies, the Azerbaijan people and I assure you I
will not turn aside.
Thank you for your attention
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