Azerbaijani veterans of Afghan war ready to liberate occupied territories
By Jamila Babayeva
The ceremony dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was held at the Cultural Center of the Ministry of National Security under the motto "Azerbaijani veterans of Afghanistan at any time ready for any order of the Supreme Commander!"
The event was jointly organized by the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription and Public Union "Azerbaijani veterans of Afghanistan". State and government officials, MPs, representatives of law enforcement bodies, armed forces, ambassadors of foreign countries in Azerbaijan, veterans and foreign guests attended the event.
First, a group of veterans were awarded with a commemorative medal "25 years of the completion of combat operations in Afghanistan."
Addressing the event Head of the Public and Political Issues Department of Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov said Afghanistan veterans showed heroism in creating the National Army of Azerbaijan.
"Afghan war veterans have been and will be surrounded by care of President Ilham Aliyev. You with honor and dignity met duty to the motherland and the military oath in Afghanistan. We are thankful to you," he said.
Hasanov said Azerbaijan has used the experience of the "Afghans" after their return home and continue to use this experience now.
"After completion of the Afghan war, you have demonstrated heroism in creating the Azerbaijani National Army and the liberation of the land from the Armenian troops. You may know very well what seven "National Heroes" and 47 people who were awarded the Order of "Azerbaijan flag" mean," he said.
Hasanov said Afghan veterans honorably performed their military duty, and we are proud of 9,000 Azerbaijani citizens," he stressed.
Speaking at the event Russia's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said the friendship between the Azerbaijani and Russian "Afghans" is very significant, and has a positive effect on the relationship between the two countries.
He reminded that Azerbaijani soldiers showed great bravery in combat in Afghanistan. Both Russia and Azerbaijan are carrying out the large measures to solve social problems of Afghan war veterans.
"There is a mutual respect between Azerbaijan and Russia, and it is very encouraging that today Azerbaijani and Russian "Afghans" are together;" ambassador said.
Dorokhin noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to the friendship between "Afghans" of the two countries.
Chief of the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription, Lieutenant-General Arzu Rahimov in his speech said Azerbaijani veterans of the Afghan war are also role models as well as veterans of other wars.
Rahimov went to say that Azerbaijan has the only unresolved problem - Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as a result of which the country lost thousands of compatriots. Unfortunately, the world is still silent while UN Security Council's resolutions remains unfulfilled," he said. "Armenia should know that sooner or later Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity and Azerbaijani state will never allow creating a second Armenian state in its territory."
Rahimov said it is necessary to resolve the conflict within the framework of international law.
He noted that after some days the 22nd anniversary of Khojaly genocide will be marked --this is not only the Azerbaijanis' tragedy, but also an act of terrorism against humanity.
"Unfortunately, the perpetrators of this tragedy are still not sitting in the dock. But we believe in the triumph of truth and justice," he stressed.