Salvation Day: establishing strong and powerful state

/By Azernews/

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan is a country that long awaited for its freedom and independence, thus struggling and sacrificing thousands of people. The more it’s difficult to gain independence the more it’s difficult to maintain it. There is no freedom and independence without a strong and powerful state.

Having gone through many ordeals, Azerbaijan is today a flourishing country involved in many major global projects and with an independent foreign and interior policy.

All these became possible because in a particularly difficult period, Azerbaijan's respected son, Heydar Aliyev came to help it restore order and justice and take steps in the path of prosperity.

This is one of the most memorable dates in Azerbaijan, marking an important event in the history of the country.

Time has proven that Heydar Aliyev's policy was the only proper policy which, in essence, saved Azerbaijan from a series of chaotic events and put an end to a period of half-disintegration.

As a result of a nationwide voting, Heydar Aliyev was elected President of Azerbaijan on October 3, 1993.

June 15, 1993 will remain in the memory of the Azerbaijani people as a symbol of the long-awaited national salvation from destruction and disintegration, intra-national conflict and general chaos.

The extent of Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territory was increasing day by day - the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict came in 1991-1994. At a time when Azerbaijan was losing its lands, the country remained without a strong-willed leader.

The young republic faced a harsh struggle between separate individuals and groups for power. In summer 1993, Azerbaijan was really face to face with a threat of civil war. In a heavy day for the country People's Front invited outstanding son of Azerbaijan -- Heydar Aliyev -- to Baku from Nakhchivan. Having persistent invitations from the people and the country's leadership, Heydar Aliyev arrived in Baku.

Building a modern state on a strong and solid foundation and on national values has been one of Heydar Aliyev's main policy directions.

After the establishment of socio-political stability as a result of the consistent and appropriate policy, the decline in production and economic downturn were gradually overcome and a new stage in the economic development of Azerbaijan began. The achieved macroeconomic stability, growth in industry and other sectors, and the initial results of economic reforms reflected the steps of Azerbaijan on the path of market economy.

Heydar Aliyev took important steps to form the national army, and to establish regular armed forces able to protect the motherland. Moreover, all diplomatic and political means were involved to achieve a ceasefire, which led to the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 1994, having a vital importance for the country.

The signing of the "Contract of the Century", the first oil contract, in September 1994 and its implementation in fact gained the country a relative stability and increased an international confidence on Azerbaijan. These were the major objectives of Heydar Aliyev's oil strategy and a concept of economic development of Azerbaijan.

The celebration of June 15 as National Salvation Day is a symbol of endless confidence of the Azerbaijani nation in its great son. The date gained its official status in 1997 and became celebrated as a national holiday since 1998.

The Salvation, which started with the return of the national leader, both saved Azerbaijan from the tragedy and collapse, and ensured its further rapid development.