Page 25 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

23
In his closing speech at the aforementioned meeting of the Constitutional Committee, Heydar Aliyev said: “Thus, we
are both taking a very serious step in the field of Azerbaijani legislation and regulating these matters. That is, the Nakh-
chivan Autonomous Republic, having passed through great historic stages, will finally receive its appropriate status, a
place suiting it within the independent Azerbaijani state, the Republic. This is needed for today and for the future.”
During the second period of Heydar Aliyev’s leadership in Azerbaijan, immense accomplishments were made as well
in the formation and advance of new economic relations, the improvement of people’s living conditions, the strengthen-
ing of the defence of its borders, and its cultural development.51 A majestic sepulcher was erected on the tomb of the
distinguished Azerbaijani poet Hussein Javid in accordance with the Nakhchivan architectural school’s traditions on the
initiative of Heydar Aliyev (1996).
The election of the true follower of Azerbaijani national leader’s political line and a distinguished political figure of
the contemporary world, IlhamAliyev, to the presidency of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 2003 marked a major
historic event in the country’s life. As in June 1993, the Azerbaijani nation again raised their voice: the people trusted
their destiny and the fortune of their native Motherland to Heydar Aliyev’s closest companion-in-arms and deserving
successor, Ilham Aliyev.
As in the times of national leader Heydar Aliyev, President IlhamAliyev also keeps the all-around development of the
country, as well as the Nakhchivan AR, in permanent focus.
The political plan and construction strategy set by Heydar Aliyev and the new reforms program of Ilham Aliyev are
being successfully implemented in the Autonomous Republic. From this standpoint, the successive and substantial activ-
ity of Vasif Talibov, who has worked in the position of the chairman of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Supreme
Assembly since December 1995 and the grand building processes realized under his leadership are worth mentioning.
At present, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic covers seven administrative districts including Babak, Julfa, Or-
dubad, Sadarak, Shahbuz, Sharur, and Kangarli. The Autonomous Republic’s administrative territorial area consists of
the cities of Nakhchivan, Ordubad, Julfa, Shahbuz, and Sharur, eight towns, and 207 villages.
Thus, the Nakhchivan AR has shared in the historic life of the Republic of Azerbaijan as an integral part and it con-
tinues to share in this life. The isolation of Nakhchivan from other Azerbaijani lands due to the Armenian invasions and
the recent blockade of the Autonomous Republic by Armenians have greatly aggravated its state. Nevertheless, all of
these failed to break the will of Nakhchivan and the Nakhchivani people, making them, in contrast, more steadfast. The
resolute measures taken in Nakhchivan did not allow Armenians to realize their aggressive policy regarding Karabakh
either. The brief outline of the ancient and long path of historic development reviewed here proves once again that Na-
khchivan has belonged to Azerbaijan since ancient times as a Turkish land and is an integral part and one of the most
ancient cultural centers of Azerbaijan.
A land of Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan today is a very important district progressing dynamically and integrating success-
fully into the world community as part of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani carpets / NAKHCHIVAN GROUP
View from Heydarabad town, Sadarak region.