(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Qabil Ashirov read more The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan which was founded in 1918
was a beacon of hope for the Muslim world, as it was the first to
introduce democratic principles and practices.
Failures in the front in WWI resulted in tumults and civil war
in Czar Russia led to the collapse of the Empire. In succession of
this event, the Azerbaijani delegation led by Mahammad Amin
Rasulzade declared the independence of Azerbaijan in Tbilisi on May
28, 1918, and they named the country as the Azerbaijani Democratic
Republic (ADR).
However, the civil war in the Empire affected the newly created
republic. ADR was filled with armed gangs formed by the soldiers
returning from the front, and the country was divided by political
factions. Baku, the only industrial city of then-Azerbaijan, was
under the occupation of the Bolsheviks, and the south of Azerbaijan
was under the occupation of the White Movement.
However, non of these difficulties deterred the government and
they commenced to work. First, they liberated Baku with the help of
Turkish Army and made it the capital city in September 1918. Then
they de-occupied the South of Azerbaijan from whites in August
1919. Later, collaborating with both Communists and Whites,
Armenians in Karabakh revolted in March-April 1920, and ADR was
forced to send most of the newly created army made up of 30,000
servicemen to Garabagh. It would weaken Azerbaijan's resistance
against the danger coming from the North. Besides, following the
pace of Armenians, local Azerbaijani Bolsheviks collaborated with
Bolsheviks and circulated anti-ADR propaganda. Since most of the
officers in the ADR's army were Turkish, the creation of the
Turkiye Republic headed by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk which also would
stand with the Bolsheviks was the last straw in the struggle of
life for ADR. So when Soviet Russia attacked ADR in April 1920,
Azerbaijan could not fight because the Army was in Garabagh
fighting with Armenian rebels and the half of remaining servicemen
together with Turkish officers supported Bolsheviks. Against the
backdrop of these events, the Russian Bolsheviks invaded Baku in
seven hours.
Despite ADR lived for two years, it was managed to do reforms
that paved the way for a bright future not only for Azerbaijanis
but also for other Muslim nations suffering the burden of
backwardness. First up, ADR was one of the first countries in the
world that granted universal suffrage to its citizens. It should be
recalled that ADR also went ahead of even European countries in
turn of granting universal suffrage. From its inception, ADR
started fighting the illiteracy that was widespread at that time,
especially in the East. It established public schools, promoted
literacy, and encouraged parents to send their children to schools.
In education policy, ADR paid special attention to the education of
females. In addition, it opened the first Western-like University
in the East which is called the Azerbaijan State University.
However, the most important heritage of ADR was the will of
independence that Soviet Russia could not suffocate over 70 years.
As a result, in 1991, Azerbaijan re-gained its independence for the
second time. We should note that the political and economic
circumstances in the first days of the second republic looked like
the previous one - Armenia attacked Azerbaijan to invade Garabagh,
factions were fighting with each other in the country, and the
country was at the edge of the abyss.
During that tumultuous days, Haydar Aliyev heard the cries of
the nation and came to the rescue. In a short time, he signed a
ceasefire with Armenia to stop the war. Following the ceasefire, he
strangulated the fights between factions, and at last, stability
came to the country. He signed contracts with big oil companies,
and as a result, the GDP of Azerbaijan increased dramatically in a
short period of time. Unfortunately, Heydar Aliyev died in the
12th year of Azerbaijan's independence. However, his
political heritage was continued by his son, Ilham Aliyev. During
Ilham Aliyev's government, the strength and power of Azerbaijan
increased further. Today Azerbaijan is considered as an economic
hub in the South Caucasus region.
The lands of Azerbaijan, which were under Armenian occupation
for 30 years, overshadowed the independence of the country. The
economy was developing only unilaterally. Thanks to the efforts and
indomitable will of the victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev
and our glorious army, independent Azerbaijan finally said its word
in the 44-day war. The freedom of the occupied lands of the
motherland removed the dark shadow over the country's independence.
Today, Azerbaijan is laying the foundation stone of a new life in
the liberated lands of Karabakh. President Ilham Aliyev's recent
visits to Karabakh and construction works there are a proof of all
this. Today, Azerbaijan really breathes freely and comfortably as a
completely independent state. Azerbaijan is exhibiting a clear
example of independence to the whole world.
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