Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijanis celebrate October 18 as a glorious day in their history, their Independence Day.

Exactly, 23 years ago, the people of Azerbaijan raised the banner of independence for the second time and this became a brilliant victory in the political history of the nation in the XX century.

Finally, Azerbaijan had regained its sovereignty and put an end to its dependence on the Soviet empire.

On this emotional day for all Azerbaijanis, the people filled the streets, impatiently waiting for the approval of the Act of Independence.

Azerbaijan, which lost hundreds of its sons and daughters in the struggle for independence, was persistently advancing towards a new life, a new reality. And finally, the coveted day came!

October 18 was announced a holiday and the Parliament approved the national anthem of Azerbaijan in May 1992. Later, the national flag and national emblem depicting an eight-pointed star embedded in flames was approved.

Before long, the parliament adopted a constitution and held a nationwide referendum on December 29 on the question: "Do you support the Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan?"

The Azerbaijani people unanimously voted for national independence, for which they had been waiting so long.

It was the end of people's pain and the beginning of the new history with a clean slate.

Neighboring Turkey was the first country to support Azerbaijan in its independence aspirations. A total of 50 countries recognized the independence of Azerbaijan by January 1992.

The newly established country needed international support, as it had lost its first opportunity for statehood in the beginning of the 20th century. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, established in 1918, was only allowed to exist for 23 months. It collapsed due to outside interference and general political instability.

The first years after gaining independence were a very difficult time for the young country. However, Azerbaijan could choose the right policy path and thanks to its rich oil and gas reserves, as well as its location at the crossroads between East and West, the country could cope with this difficult task.

After signing of “Contract of the Century” in 1994, Azerbaijan acted as an owner of its wealth and increased its influence in both in the region and the world.

Independent Azerbaijan has developed a new track on a solid foundation. It is ready for any test and is learning to overcome difficulties.

The Republic plays an active role in the creation of transport corridors, forming a modern transport infrastructure in the region. It is no coincidence that the East-West and North-South transit routes pass through Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has become a major player, actively initiating huge projects to bring stability and security to the region. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway route, and the South Caucasus Pipeline could greatly contribute to the prosperity of the nation.

Energy projects implemented under the leadership of Azerbaijan, not only serve the welfare of the nation, but also serve in the interest of European energy security.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz