The “Yeni Azerbaijan Party”  (New Azerbaijan Party) was established at the initiative and with active participation of Azerbaijani intellectuals during the period of hardship of the Azerbaijan history, when the country was undergoing serious ordeal. Foundation of this party was the result of events that had taken place in Azerbaijan since 1988 and logical conclusion of the existing social-political conditions. The establishment of the “Yeni Azerbaijan Party” coincided with the period of the hard economic, political and the spiritual crisis, when the ruling political forces replacing one another even worsened the existing situation in the country, bringing it to the dangerous crisis.  The government’s policy was directed against the national interests of Azerbaijan, which had just regained its independence. The hope of Azerbaijan, which at that time faced the threat of losing its independence, was in Heydar Aliyev, a wise statesman, an outstanding political figure, who had a rich political experience, guided the supreme interests of the people and the state in his activity.

On 16 October 1992, a group of intellectuals (91 people) addressed Heydar Aliyev through “Ses” (Voice) newspaper with an open letter “Azerbaijan is waiting for your word”. The document get into the modern history of Azerbaijan as the “appeal of 91 intellectuals”, and in reality, it was the expression of people’s wishes and will. At that moment, the persons thinking of the country’s destiny came forward with an initiative to set up a new party able to get the country out of the crisis. This appeal signed by the well-known intellectuals and famous figures and personalities of Azerbaijan urged Heydar Aliyev to be the head of the new political party – “Yeni Azerbaijan”. On 24 October 1992, the national leader responded positively to the call of intellectuals with his article “For a New, Independent Azerbaijan”.

Although Heydar Aliyev agreed to accept the appeal of the people and because he was not allowed to arrive in Baku by those who were in power then, a 550-member initiative group went to Nakhchivan and managed to hold the constituent assembly of the party. The conference, which gathered the representatives of all the regions of Azerbaijan, was held November 21, 1992, in the building of the Nakhchivan State Drama Theatre named after Jalil Mammadgulizadeh in Nakhchivan city with Heydar Aliyev presiding at the event. The Constituent Assembly approved the decision on the establishment of the Party, the Party’s Program and its Statute. Heydar Aliyev was unanimously elected as a chairman of the party. There was elected the Political Council, the Board and deputies chairman were also elected at the conference. So, there was founded the New Azerbaijan Party, which assumed a great historic mission in the history of independent Azerbaijan and became a remarkable event in the life of our people.

The “Yeni Azerbaijan Party” was registered by the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan Republic on December 18, 1992, and opened its regional branches and cells in all the regions of Azerbaijan within a short period of time. The program and statute adopted by the Constituent Assembly of the New Azerbaijan Party were discussed at the First Congress held on 20-21 December 1999 and adopted after being amended. According to the NAP’s (New Azerbaijan Party) Statute and Program, the strategic course was set and the major aims and goals to strengthen and protect the state independency of Azerbaijan, ensure its worthy place in the modern international system, and build a legal state were determined. This marked the emergence of a major political force in Azerbaijan, led by such a prominent statesman with a special reputation on a global scale as Heydar Aliyev.

Due to the return of the national leader to power, the danger of civil war in the country was prevented, as well as all attempts of domestic and foreign ill-wishers to divide Azerbaijan and destroy our statehood. With his return, Heydar Aliyev brought peace, stability, revival and sustainable development to Azerbaijan. Every member of the society has a great confidence in the indestructibility of our state.

With the election of NAP chairman Heydar Aliyev as the President, the Party entered a new era of development. The status of the party was changed in accordance with the new situation, its position in the political life of the country was strengthened with the party stepping up its activity to become a mass political force and achieve the progress in all fields of the social life. The NAP became the ruling party as the majority of deputies elected to the National Assembly during 12 November 1995 parliamentary elections were New Azerbaijan Party members.

There was only one reason why the “Yeni Azerbaijan Party” became the people’s favourite party in a short period of time – the love and trust of the people towards the party chairman. Time has shown that the people, closely united around Heydar Aliyev, believed in their future.

Strong foundations of our statehood were laid in 1993-2003. The national leader was sensitive to all problems of the country and tried to solve them. Major economic projects were realized. Due to political will and professional diplomatic activity of Heydar Aliyev were realized such projects as “Contract of the Century” and “BTC” (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project). Serious work was carried out in the sphere of state and military construction. Azerbaijan entered the international arena. Relying on the political authority of the national leader, foreign countries and international organizations started cooperation with Azerbaijan in various fields.

As a result, today Azerbaijan is a powerful country in the region and has a great reputation in the world. No project in the region is implemented without Azerbaijan’s consent. Stability and security reign in the country, the welfare of the people is improving day by day. There is no area where we do not have achievements to be proud of. The successes achieved in the economic sphere include the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project.

Today, the NAP, led by President Ilham Aliyev, who has successfully continued the ideas of the national leader, has become a force of about hundreds of thousands of members. The party’s members are dominated by young people, who played an exceptional role in winning Azerbaijan’s historic victory. The policy of army building laid down by the great leader eventually gave its positive result. As a result of the 44-day Patriotic War, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity, put an end to the 30-year occupation of its lands by Armenia. Our nation succeeded to write its name in history as a victorious nation.

The multifaceted and effective activity of the “Yeni Azerbaijan Party”, which continues its way with great success as a political organization with international prestige, is organically linked to the tireless activity of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

At present, the President of our country Ilham Aliyev as the chairman of the “Yeni Azerbaijan Party” attaches great importance to further development of the party, improvement of its activity, expansion of international relations and modernization. At the present stage, the “Yeni Azerbaijan Party” acts as the most organized and leading force in the socio-political environment of Azerbaijan. That is why “Yeni Azerbaijan Party” as a new, mature and dialectically developing political party of Azerbaijan not only retains its glory, but also is progressively increasing, expanding and strengthening it. The reforms carried out in recent years in this party under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev are an important achievement in the field of party building in our country. Yeni Azerbaijan Party plays a great role in the achievements of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. Effective activity of First Vice-President of our country Mehriban Aliyeva as First Deputy Chairman of the “Yeni Azerbaijan Party” serves to expand and strengthen the political activity of the party.

Today, we can say with confidence that Heydar Aliyev’s ideas live in the activity of the New Azerbaijan Party founded by the national leader. Against the background of new realities that emerged after the Karabakh victory, under the leadership of President, victorious Commander-in-Chief, Chairman of the Party Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan will move forward more confidently towards a bright future.

Recommended literature:

1. Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası : 1992-2002: Azərbaycanın dünəni, bu günü və gələcəyi. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2002. - 467 s.
2. Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası / Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyasının İcra Katibliyi. - Bakı : [n. y.], 2007. - 263 s.
3. Muradlı, Arzuman Ağamməd oğlu. Heydər Əliyev Partiyası : Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası - 20 / A. A. Muradlı ; məsl., ön sözün müəl. Z. İ. Qaralov, red. İ. Rüstəmov. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2012. - 632 s.
4. Heydər Əliyev - Azərbaycan: dünən, bu gün və sabah : elmi-praktiki konfransın materialları / elmi red. Ş. H. Hacıyev ; ön söz müəl. E. Ə. Əzizov. - Bakı : Azərbaycan, 2016. - 340 s.
5. Əliyeva, Nurlana Müzəffər qızı. Qüdrətli Azərbaycan naminə / N. M. Əliyeva ; red., ön sözün müəl. N. Q. Cəfərov. - Bakı : Mütərcim, 2019. - 440 s.