Pages from history

The liberation of Lachin district from occupation

Lachin district - is one of the charming corners of the Republic of Azerbaijan - is located in the south-western part of the Minor Caucasus. It neighbors with Kalbajar district in the north, Gubadli district in the south, disctricts of Khojaly, Shusha and Khojavend in the east and Armenia in the west. The area of Lachin district is 1835 km2 and its envisages a city, a settlemet and 125 villages. The territory was included in the Karabakh Khanate and Zangezur district from the time of Tsarist Russia until it was organized as an independent administrative district in 1930.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

International Volunteer Day

Voluntary activity first emerged in the French army in the 17th century. This term came into existence after the registration of the French who wanted to become volunteer soldiers. So, in that period in Europe, those who voluntarily joined the military service were called "volontaires", i.e., "volunteers". The basis of volunteering is the philosophy of altruism. Volunteering is considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial or social gain. The history of altruism is inextricably tied to sociology.

Professional holiday of workers of communications and information technologies

The sphere of communication in Azerbaijan has a long and peculiar history. Back in 1501, Shah Ismail Khatai, the head of the Safavid state, laid the foundations of state postal communication. Establishment of the first communication institution in Azerbaijan as post office dates to the beginning of 19th century. The first post office was opened in Ganja in 1818. The first telephone communication in Baku was established in 1881, and on 6 December of the same year the first telephone line was laid by “Nobel Brothers Oil Production Partnership”. By 1885 there were functioning already 14 telephone lines in Baku.

Establishment of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and its Parliament came to the scene in a very difficult and complicated historical period. The special governing committee for the Transcaucasia made of the elected members of the Transcaucasian State Duma was formed after the February 1917 revolution in Russia. The Transcaucasian Commissariat was established in November. Those Transcaucasian delegates who had been elected to the Russian Constituent Assembly but could not join its proceedings after the Bolshevik coup of October were gathered in Tiflis on 14 February 1918.

Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day is celebrated by the international community every year on 10 December. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) based on the thesis that “All human beings are born free and equal” was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected. In 1950, the UN General Assembly invited all states and interested organizations to celebrate 10 December as Human Rights Day.

Memorial Day of National Leader Heydar Aliyev

Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev was born on May 10, 1923, in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. In 1939, after graduating from Nakhchivan Pedagogical School he entered the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute, Faculty of Architecture, but the outbreak of World War II prevented him from completing his education. In 1941-1944, Heydar Aliyev headed a secret division at the Archive Department of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and then served as head of the General Department of the Council of People's Commissars of Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In May 1944, he was sent to work at state security bodies.

Professional holiday of employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

In the modern era, the comprehensive solution to numerous ecological problems primarily lies in the balanced development of the economy, its effective environmental management, and most importantly, ensuring its protection and safety. The Ministry of Emergency Situations employees have undertaken this significant and responsible task. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree establishing the Ministry of Emergency Situations on December 16, 2005. According to the Presidential Decree dated December 8, 2006, December 16 of each year is celebrated in our country as the professional holiday of the Ministry of Emergency Situations employees.

Professional holiday of employees of the Ministry of Defense Industry

December 17 is the professional holiday of employees of the Ministry of Defense Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated November 10, 2009, December 17 is annually celebrated as a professional holiday for defense industry employees. The history of the development of the defense industry of Azerbaijan is extensive and varied. Our people actively participated in many innovative works that are of particular importance in achieving a high level of global military-industrial science, technology, and production.

Azerbaijan joined the Charter of Paris for a New Europe

The OSCE’s origins date back to the early 1970s, to the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the creation of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which during the Cold War served as an important multilateral forum for dialogue and negotiations between East and West. The preparatory talks that marked the start of the actual negotiating process for the CSCE took place between November 1972 and June 1973 in Helsinki. The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe was officially opened on 3 July 1973 in Helsinki. It was the largest regional organization in terms of the number of States it brought together and the geographical area it covered.

Academician Ziya Bunyadov

Ziya Musa oghlu Bunyadov was born on 21 December 1923 in the town of Astara, in Azerbaijan, in the family of a military translator. After finishing secondary school in Goychay, in 1939, he joined Baku Military School. After graduating from the Baku Military School in 1941, Lieutenant Z. Bunyadov fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, took an active part in the battles for Ukraine, Moldavia, Caucasus, Belarus, Poland, and Berlin. He was wounded twice and received a concussion. On 27 February 1945, Z. Bunyadov was awarded the Soviet Union’s highest military honor, Hero of the Soviet Union, for his actions in the battles.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

December 24 is the birthday of the outstanding statesman, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev was born on December 24, 1961, in the city of Baku in the family of a prominent statesman and public figure Heydar Aliyev. He attended a secondary school number 6 in Baku from 1967 to 1977. In 1977-1982, he studied at the Moscow State University of International Relations (MSUIR). In 1982, he embarked on postgraduate studies at MSUIR. In 1985, he defended a thesis to receive a PhD degree in history. On April 30, 1994, by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev was appointed as a vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic.

International Cinema Day

International Cinema Day is celebrated on December 28th. The emergence of cinematography begins with the “magic lamp”, shown in the 20th century. Using this device, a sequence of images drawn on glass could be projected onto a wall (like a slide projector). The device was controlled manually. In 1832, the German Simon Stampfer and the Belgian Joseph Plato made a “living wheel” at the same time, without knowing each other. This wheel worked on the principle of a magic lamp. By rotating it, it was possible to obtain smooth moving frames because of sequential movement of images on it. In 1845, engineer Franz von Uchatius invented a new device based on a combination of these two devices.

Professional holiday of "ASAN service" employees

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to establish a professional holiday for ASAN Service employees December 29. According to the decree, and taking into account that the first ASAN Service center has been operating since December 29, 2012, this day is celebrated annualy as a professional holiday of ASAN Service employees. The State Agency for Citizens’ Service and Social Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been established in accordance with Decree No. 685 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 13, 2012, and “ASAN Service” centers were established of the same decree, subordinated to the State agency.

World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day

December 31 - is the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day. Celebrating the last day of December each year as the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day serves to strengthen the ties of our compatriots scattered across different countries with their historical homeland, independent Azerbaijan. It also aims to establish close communication among them and contribute to preserving our national and moral values and traditions. The foundation of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day was laid in late December 1989 during the dissolution of borders (between the USSR and Iran) in Nakhchivan. Border posts between Northern and Southern Azerbaijan were dismantled.