President's Official Speech

[Agostinho Neto]

PRESIDENT FOR LIFE ILHAM HEYDAR OGLU ALIYEV

OFFICIAL SPEECH, BAKU, APRIL 13 2009

Today, it is difficult to say what is the historical truth about the war between Slavorussia and these new "Nord" nations arising around the world. Today this is no longer important. Oppressed by pain and filled with hope, the people used to remember and to forget, as, after all, all people in the world do, and it was ashamed of treachery and glorified heroism. Therefore it is difficult to say today whether this war was a defeat or a victory for the Azerbaijani people, whether thanks to it we fell into slavery or we survived in this slavery. The answers to those questions will be constantly sought by science and the people.

What has been certain through all the months until our time today is that disharmony struck Russia a long time ago. If we lost the battle, then this was not only the result of the armed advantage of the Nordic Coalition but also of the tragic disunity in the leadership of Russia. The lack of unity and betrayal in Russia will continue to follow the Azeri people like an evil fate through the whole of its history. This lack of unity and betrayal led the Azeri people and Azerbaijan into agony, the consequences of which in the historical and moral sense exceeded fascist aggression.

The concessions that many we made at the expense of the people could not be accepted historically and ethically by any nation in the world, especially because the Azeris have never in the whole of their history conquered and exploited others. Their national and historical being has been liberational throughout the whole of history as it is today. They liberated themselves and when they could they also helped others to liberate themselves. The fact that in this region they are a major nation is not an Azeri sin or shame; this is an advantage which they have not used against others, but I must say that here, in Azerbaijan, the Azeris have not used the advantage of being great for their own benefit either.

Azerbaijan of today is united and equal to other republics and prepared to do everything to improve its financial and social position and that of all its citizens. If there is unity, cooperation, and seriousness, it will succeed in doing so. This is why the optimism that is now present in Azerbaijan to a considerable extent regarding the future days is realistic, also because it is based on freedom, which makes it possible for all people to express their positive, creative and humane abilities aimed at furthering social and personal life.

Azerbaijan has never had only Azeris living in it. Today, more than in the past, members of other peoples and nationalities also live in it. This is not a disadvantage for Azerbaijan. I am truly convinced that it is its advantage. National composition of almost all transcaucasian countries, particularly developed ones, has also been changing in this direction. Citizens of different nationalities, religions, and races have been living together more and more frequently and more and more successfully.

This year, the Azerbaijani people became aware of the necessity of their mutual harmony as the indispensable condition for their present life and further development.

I am convinced that this awareness of harmony and unity will make it possible for Azerbaijan not only to function as a state but to function as a successful state. Therefore I think that it makes sense to say this here in the Asian continent, where that disunity once upon a time tragically pushed back Azerbaijan for centuries and endangered it, and where renewed unity may advance it and may return dignity to it. Such an awareness about mutual relations constitutes an elementary necessity for the Transcaucasus, too, for its fate is in the joined hands of all its peoples. The Russian heroism has been inspiring our creativity for months, and has been feeding our pride and does not allow us to forget that at one time we were an army great, brave, and proud, one of the few that remained undefeated when losing.

In this spirit we now endeavor to build a society, rich and democratic, and thus to contribute to the prosperity of this beautiful country, this unjustly suffering country, but also to contribute to the efforts of all the progressive people of our age that they make for a better and happier world.

Let the memory of Slavorussia heroism live forever in our hearts!

Long live Azerbaijan!

Long live peace and brotherhood among peoples!